Praying With Assurance
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“Praying With Assurance”
1 John 5:13-21
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
INTRODUCTION:
I- I CAN PRAY CONFIDENTLY. (1 John 5:13-15)
I- I CAN PRAY CONFIDENTLY. (1 John 5:13-15)
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
A- Our confidence is based upon our secure relationship with Christ. (1 John 5:13)
A- Our confidence is based upon our secure relationship with Christ. (1 John 5:13)
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.
(Ταῦτα ἔγραψα ὑμῖν ἵνα εἰδῆτε ὅτι ζωὴν ἔχετε αἰώνιον, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ.)
* Ταῦτα ἔγραψα ⸀ὑμῖν(I have written these things to you) ἵνα εἰδῆτε (that you may know [to know or have knowledge of something or someone gained through reflection or thinking]) ὅτι ζωὴν ⸂ἔχετε αἰώνιον⸃(that you have [present tense] eternal life), ⸂τοῖς πιστεύουσιν⸃ εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ ([and that you might] continue to believe in the name of the Son of God).
1- The confidence we have comes from examining the facts and reflecting on them.
a. The facts recorded in scripture make clear our secure relationship in Christ.
2- What do the scripture teach us?
a. Eternal life belongs to those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ.
3- The second goal of John writing is that the believer would continue to live life in continual trust in Jesus!
B- Our confidence is energized by sharing His desires. (1 John 5:14)
B- Our confidence is energized by sharing His desires. (1 John 5:14)
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
14 καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ παρρησία ἣν ἔχομεν πρὸς αὐτόν(and we have this confidence [boldness] before him), ὅτι ἐάν τι αἰτώμεθα κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ἀκούει ἡμῶν (if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us).
1- Not only can the believer have confidence of salvation, but also that God will hear and answer his prayers..
a- John uses the term “confidence” (παρρησία ) three other times in this letter.
(1) Twice in conjunction with the coming judgment (1 John 2:28; 1 John 4:17).
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
(2) Once in connection with prayer (1 John 3:21-22).
21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
b- Here again, the word “confidence” is used in reference to the believer’s standing in prayer.
2- The key to answered prayer is conditional.
a- The request must be pleasing to God.
(1) “according to His plan, will” - κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ
(2) Asking according to God’s will or plan is contingent upon the believer learning to live in constant communion with God and in compliance with God’s plan. (John 15:7)
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
3- Key to remember:
“True prayer is not attempting to bend God to our will and desires, it is instead the surrender of our will to His. It is the heart-felt seeking of the believer to see God’s will done “on earth as it is in heaven.”
(James 4:3)
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
C- Our confidence is magnified by faith in unshakable truth. (1 John 5:15)
C- Our confidence is magnified by faith in unshakable truth. (1 John 5:15)
15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
15 καὶ ἐὰν οἴδαμεν (and if [since] we know) ὅτι ἀκούει ἡμῶν (that he hears us) ὃ ⸀ἐὰν αἰτώμεθα, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἔχομεν τὰ αἰτήματα ἃ ᾐτήκαμεν ⸀ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ(we know that we have whatever we request of him).
1- The believer who is walking with and whose heart is tuned into God’s plan and purpose will pray for that which is God’s will.
2- When the believer knows he is praying in God’s will, he can pray with confidence in the one who answers prayer.
a- John uses the term “know” (οἴδαμεν) twice in this verse.
(1) We know that God hears us.
(2) We know that God will grant the request.
b- The assurance is based upon a present-tense reality.
(1) ἔχομεν = “we have.” (Note this is not future tense “we will have.”)
(2) God grants our request, even though his answer may not be immediately revealed.
(3) The answer is already settled from God’s perspective, even though from our perspective “He will give” us the answer to our request.
(Mark 11:24)
24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
II- I CAN PRAY COMPASSIONATELY. (1 John 5:16-17)
II- I CAN PRAY COMPASSIONATELY. (1 John 5:16-17)
16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
A- Compassion should move us to prayer for fellow believers who err. (1 John 5:16a)
A- Compassion should move us to prayer for fellow believers who err. (1 John 5:16a)
16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
(ἐάν τις ἴδῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτάνοντα ἁμαρτίαν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον, αἰτήσει, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ ζωήν, τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον. ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον· οὐ περὶ ἐκείνης λέγω ἵνα ἐρωτήσῃ.)
1- John encourages believers to pray (αἰτήσει) for another believer (τὸν ἀδελφὸν) who is sins (ἁμαρτάνοντα ἁμαρτίαν= lit. sins a sin) that does not lead to death (μὴ πρὸς θάνατον).
a. The praying Christian can have confidence if the person’s sin is not of the sort that leads to death.
(1) The idea is to pray for the erring believer to return to faithfulness.
(2) The result: “God will give that person life (ζωήν).”
B- Compassion should never lead to unconditional affirmation of a fellow believer’s sin. (1 John 5:16b-18)
B- Compassion should never lead to unconditional affirmation of a fellow believer’s sin. (1 John 5:16b-18)
16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.
(16 ἐάν τις ἴδῃ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτάνοντα ἁμαρτίαν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον, αἰτήσει, καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ ζωήν, τοῖς ἁμαρτάνουσιν μὴ πρὸς θάνατον. ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον· οὐ περὶ ἐκείνης λέγω ἵνα ἐρωτήσῃ.
17 πᾶσα ἀδικία ἁμαρτία ἐστίν, καὶ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία οὐ πρὸς θάνατον.
18 Οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, ἀλλʼ ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ αὐτόν, καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ.
1- The believer is not to condone the rebellious behavior of fellow believers.
a. We must recognize that all wicked behavior is sin. (1 John 5:17)
17 All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
(1) Wicked behavior is not to be the lifestyle of a Christian.
(1 John 3:9)
9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
(2) There is a sin that leads to death (ἔστιν ἁμαρτία πρὸς θάνατον).
(a) Scriptures do not define a particular sin that leads to death.
The closest we come to any indication of this type of sin is in 1 Corinthians 11:27-31.
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
The only other possibility would be the unpardonable sin of Matthew 12:31-32.
31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.
32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
John only states that “there is a sin that results in death.”
(b) Note that John does not give a prohibition against praying for the person who has sinned this type of sin.
He simply does not require believers to pray for such people. (1 John 5:16b)
16 If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
The principle emphasized here is that we should pray for erring brothers and sisters to repent!
Never condone sin- Pray for repentance.
III- I MUST PRAY COMMITTEDLY. (1 John 5:19-21)
III- I MUST PRAY COMMITTEDLY. (1 John 5:19-21)
19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
A- Commitment to living for Jesus in enemy territory. (1 John 5:19)
A- Commitment to living for Jesus in enemy territory. (1 John 5:19)
19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
(οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.)
1- Our commitment is based upon things that we know. (There is no blind faith here!)
a. We know that we are God’s children.
(οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσμεν)
b. We know that we operate in enemy territory!
(οἴδαμεν...ὁ κόσμος ὅλος ἐν τῷ πονηρῷ κεῖται.)
(Ephesians 6:10-18)
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
B- Commitment to living in close fellowship with God. (1 John 5:20)
B- Commitment to living in close fellowship with God. (1 John 5:20)
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
(οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἥκει, καὶ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν διάνοιαν ἵνα γινώσκωμεν τὸν ἀληθινόν· καὶ ἐσμὲν ἐν τῷ ἀληθινῷ, ἐν τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς θεὸς καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος.)
1- We are committed because we know God.
a- It is a knowledge that comes through a relationship that begins with the new birth!
(John 17:3)
3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
(1 Peter 1:3-4)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
2- We are committed because of our fellowship With Jesus Christ! (1 John 5:20b)
20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
a- Jesus Christ is the ONLY TRUE GOD and our eternal life!
(1) οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς θεὸς καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος.
(2) The understanding that Christ gives enables us to know God in a personal, intimate sense. Jesus Christ is the true God; to know Him is to have eternal life.
C- Commitment to keeping Christ first in our hearts. (1 John 5:21)
C- Commitment to keeping Christ first in our hearts. (1 John 5:21)
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
(Τεκνία, φυλάξατε ἑαυτὰ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων.)
1- The believer is to be committed to God alone, guarding his heart from all idols.
a- Anything that seeks to supplant God as our primary object of devotion is an idol.
(1 John 2:15-17)
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
CONCLUSION:
I- I CAN PRAY CONFIDENTLY.
II- I CAN PRAY COMPASSIONATELY.
III- I MUST PRAY COMMITTEDLY.