Introduction: The Heart Of God Is Life, Not Death
God is holy. God is just. But God is also merciful—and He makes one thing clear in Ezekiel 33:11.
He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
This is not a soft sentiment. It’s a direct statement from God Himself to His own people, the house of Israel—people who were in sin, doing wickedly, and feeling hopeless.
Ezekiel 33:10
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
Recently, someone prayed for me to die because I preached that the Sinner’s Prayer doesn’t save. And I stand by that truth—because the Bible says salvation comes by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. A prayer doesn’t save. It’s the believing in Jesus, or trusting in Jesus, or placing your faith in Jesus.
But calling a brother in Christ a reprobate and praying for his death is not of God.
It is wickedness—and the opposite of what God commands. Today we’re going to expose that spirit, lift up God’s mercy, and declare the truth: God doesn’t want anyone to die in their sin. He wants them to turn and live.
I. God Is Speaking To His Own People—Who Are Doing Wickedness
Ezekiel 33:10-11
Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
This is not about the heathen. It’s not about Babylon. This is about Israel—God’s own people—who had fallen into sin. They knew they were wrong. They were broken. And they thought it was too late.
But God says: “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?”
Even in judgment, God’s heart is mercy. Please remember that. The heart of God is filled with compassion, grace, longsuffering, truth, and especially mercy.
Psalm 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
II. God Judges Justly—But Only After He Warns Mercifully
Ezekiel 33:12–16 – God explains that He is judging based on where someone is right now, not where they were. That’s not ignoring the past – it’s showing that God does respond to the present reality. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
- If the righteous turn to sin—they will die.
- If the wicked turn from sin—they will live.
- God is fair. God is patient. God warns before He strikes.
Jeremiah 18:8
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
God pleads with the wicked to turn. He doesn’t rejoice when someone dies in sin.
III. Imprecation Is Right—But Only Against God’s Enemies
Scripture does contain Holy Spirit-led prayers for judgment, called imprecatory prayers. This is different than the people we see in Ezekiel 33. Let’s look at imprecatory prayers
Psalm 55:15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Read the entire chapter and find out the subject people. They committed violence and strife in the city. Day and night they did wickedness. Deceit and guile constantly. Let’s see. My wife and kids know me and what I do. Nathan is with me a good amount of the week. Is that me? Am I constantly committing violence, strife, wickedness, deceit, and guile? No, that’s not me.
Psalm 69:28
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
This speaks of the enemies of God.
Jeremiah 18:23
Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.
But these prayers were aimed at God’s enemies—those who hated righteousness, persecuted the innocent, and despised the truth.
Psalm 139:21-22
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
This is not about personal grudges. It’s about righteous alignment with God’s justice. These are the enemies of God. I am not the enemy of God.
IV. Personal Enemies Are Not Your Target
There’s a difference between God’s enemies and your enemies.
Luke 6:27-28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
You are not called to curse someone because they hurt your pride. That’s not righteous indignation—it’s flesh.
1 Samuel 24:12
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
David refused to kill Saul—even though Saul hunted him. Why? Because David feared God.
Real Talk: Stop Calling God’s People Reprobates
You know what’s wicked? When a Christian calls another Christian a reprobate and prays for their death—not for denying Christ, not for hating the Gospel, but for preaching it boldly.
That happened to me—for saying the Sinner’s Prayer doesn’t save. Let me be very clear once again. The Sinner’s Prayer in itself has never saved anyone. Not once. And I’ll keep saying it—because it’s not a prayer that saves. It’s faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that saves.
These other people are either confused or they are preaching another Gospel. A Sinner’s Prayer is not in the Bible once. But these Christians are calling people reprobates who have the Spirit of God. Imagine that. Calling someone who has the Spirit of God a devil. There is no fear of the Holy Spirit with these people.
Romans 8:33
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
You call someone saved by the blood of Jesus Christ a reprobate – or rejected by God? That’s murder in your heart.
1 John 3:14-15
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Numbers 12:8-10
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
God does not take kindly to people speaking against His servants.
QUICK SUMMARY: Falsely Accused Righteous Men in the Bible
- Jesus – Falsely called a blasphemer, devil, and drunkard (John 8:48, Matt. 11:19).
- Paul – Called a pestilent troublemaker (Acts 24:5).
- Stephen – Accused of blasphemy (Acts 6:11).
- Jeremiah – Accused of treason (Jer. 37:14).
- Job – Accused of secret sin (Job 4:7–8).
- David – Accused of pride (1 Sam. 17:28).
They were all falsely accused by religious people—but God stood with them. We will keep preaching the Bible and doing God’s work as He commanded. We jump for joy
V. Jesus Didn’t Pray For Death—He Pronounced Judgment
Matthew 23:33-35
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Jesus declared judgment on the Pharisees—but He never prayed for their death.
Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus showed us the perfect balance of truth and grace—He rebuked false religion, but He prayed for sinners.
VI. God’s Mercy Is Stronger Than His Wrath—For Now
Revelation 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
The saints are crying out: “How much longer?” God continues to give people time.
Jonah 3:10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Nineveh turned—and God delayed judgment.
Proverbs 24:17-18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Even when judgment is deserved, God is still slow to wrath. Why? Because He still has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.
VII. Call To God’s People: Turn And Live
Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
If you’re saved, but in sin—God doesn’t want you destroyed. He wants you restored.
If you’re hurting, wandering, or bitter—turn to Him. He’s calling. He’s waiting. Take his hand right now. Turn and live.
If you’re out there praying for fellow Christians to die, you need to repent of that horrible sin and get back to the ways of God. You are far from his ways.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Conclusion: Don’t Pray For Death—Pray For Deliverance
If someone’s hurt you—pray for them. If someone is lost—preach to them. If someone is wrong—correct them with truth.
But never pray for the death of someone who has been washed in the blood of Christ.
That spirit is not from heaven. It’s straight from hell. It’s total and complete wickedness. Hoping that your brother dies or is killed is sickening. Not just to us but especially to God. It is a great sin. You need to take a close look at yourself and get things fixed.
The bad part is people are doing this directly in front of children as well. Do you know what this is doing to those children? This is not good.
Ezekiel 33:11 – “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…”
Acts 16:31 – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
John 6:47 – “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Live.
Key Scriptures To Remember
- Ezekiel 33:11 – God takes no pleasure in death—He calls us to turn and live.
- Romans 12:14–19 – Bless and do not curse—even your enemies.
- Psalm 139:21–22 – Hating God’s enemies is not the same as hating personal ones.
- 1 John 3:15 – Hatred of your brother makes you a murderer in God’s eyes.
- Numbers 12:10 – God punishes those who speak against His servants.
- Matthew 23:33–35 – Jesus judges righteously, but never prays for death.
Let’s pray.
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