Deion Sanders -- I'M PRAYING FOR CHARLIE SHEEN ... He's a Good Dude

Deion Sanders says he's praying HARD for his friend Charlie Sheen to win his battle with H.I.V. -- claiming he knows the REAL Charlie ... and it's not the monster Burt Reynolds thinks he is.

Sanders and his GF Tracey Edmonds hung out with Sheen on Saturday night -- and it was clear Deion was very impressed with the actor.

"Love ya my man and praying for u my brother. Anybody and everybody is present when we're up but the realness shows its hand thru trials and tribulations. I wish the world could see your Heart."

He added, "People judge not and be not Judged. #dropyostonesnow."

Sanders seems to be responding to Burt Reynolds -- who ripped Sheen last week ... essentially saying Charlie made his own bed on this one.

"If you're gonna misbehave like that, then you're gonna get yours ... He deserves it. He misbehaved badly, really badly."