1 John 5_14_15 prayer

1 John 5:14-15Observations

Words

We have (3) vs. 14 & 15 = ἔχω (echō)– to Possess

We ask (2) vs. 14 &15 asked (1) vs. 15 = αἰτέω aitĕō – Call for

We Know (2) Vs. 15 οἶδα (oida) = possess information

He hears (2) Vs. 14-15 ἀκούω akŏuō = Listens to us…. (Is there a difference between hearing and listening?)

Confidence (1) Vs. 14 παῤῥησία parrhēsia [also 1 John 2:28, 3:21, 4:17) = Boldness

2:28 we have confidence at His appearing (we wont be put to shame because of our position in Him.

3:21 we have confidence before God when our heart doesn’t condemn us (Is there sin in your life)

4:17 We have confidence in the day of judgment because love has been perfected in us casting out fear of judgment. (There is no judgment for the saint)

His Will (Vs. 14) θέλημα thĕlēma – His purpose/His desire

Parallel Verses / Reference verses

Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you;

Matthew 7:8 - For every one that asketh receiveth

John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Intro: A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, “And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention….”

Exegesis

Our confidence is a result of our position with Him. In Vs. 13 we see this confidence in knowing that we have eternal life. This word “confidence” is used four times in this letter, the first use is in 2:28, and we have confidence at His appearing because we know that we have eternal life. The second use is in 3:21, we have confidence before God because we know our sin has been forgiven us and we have eternal life. The third use of confidence is found in 4:17, we have confidence in the Day of Judgment because we have eternal life and our judgment has been cast upon the Son. Therefore, since we know that we have eternal life we can come before Him in prayer with confidence, that He hears us when we pray. What does the word “hear” mean? In the Greek it is the word ἀκούω (akŏuō, ak-oo´-o) which is a verb meaning to give audience. It does not mean that God simply hears us audibly like static background noise but that He listens to us. [Illustration] Two psychiatrists meet at their 20th college reunion. One is vibrant, while the other looks withered and worried. “So what’s your secret?” the older looking psychiatrist asks. “Listening to other people’s problems every day, all day long, for years on end, has made an old man of me.” “So,” replies the younger looking one, “who listens?”

The Bible teaches us that God listens to us, our prayers are more than just noise to Him but that He is attentive. But are there any conditions put upon us in which we pray to be heard?

The apostle John tells us, that God listens to us when we pray according to His will. Jesus teaches this in His model prayer, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)Does this mean that we simply pray, Lord if it be your will? Jesus prayed for God’s will (His Desire) to be done on the face of the earth just as it is always done in heaven. This should be the prayer of every saint and this is the prayer that God listens too and always answers. It has been said that prayer is often man’s request to get his own will done in heaven but prayer is the request for God’s way to be done on earth.

How do we know what God’s will is? Can we know God’s will for earth or God’s will for our lives? The answer is YES we can! God is the God of revelation, He delights in revealing Himself to man through faith. In the early days after creation God revealed Himself to man personally, by meeting with man and speaking with man (Adam/Eve, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses [He met with Moses His friend], He revealed Himself to man by prophets, and God’s greatest revelation to mankind was through His Son Jesus [John 1:14, 18], today we have the written records of His revealing of Himself, THE WORD OF GOD!

If you want to know God’s will it is revealed to you through the Holy Scriptures. Prayer is more than saying words to God, prayer involves searching the Word of God and learning His ways, claiming His promises, applying His principles. You may say to yourself, what an undertaking, but you are not left alone. You will find God’s will by studying the Scriptures and listening to the Holy Spirit of God. In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8:26-27)

Is God simply a listener to prayers? He is also the one who answers prayers. The one who prays God’s will is heard but there is also another condition, it is faith. John does not write, “We shall have the request,” but “We know that we have the request.” The verb “have” ( ἔχω ĕchō) is in the present tense, it means to HOLD. As we pray in faith, we pray as though we have already received our desires (which are His desires because we are praying for His will to be done), is that what faith is? The author of Hebrews defines faith for us when he writes, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1).

When we pray the Lord’s will we pray believing that it is certain to take place, I am reminded of Hannah, the praying wife who was childless yet desperately desiring a child. After “pouring her soul out to the Lord”, Eli the priest said may it be granted and Hannah got up and ate and was sad no more. (1 Sam. 1:18)

When we pray believing God works mightily on the behalf of His people, as the combines armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir rose up to fight Judah, King Jehoshaphat prayed for God to deliver His chosen people, he called the people to fast and the prophet proclaimed victory by the mighty hand of God. As Jehoshaphat lead the army out to battle he appointed singers to go before them, praising the Lord beforehand for the victory He would deliver, and God certainly delivered [2 Chron. 20:21]

Conclusion: It has been said that prayer is not a way of overcoming God’s reluctance but lying hold of God’s willingness. If we have eternal life, and know God’s will we can pray with boldness. When we pray by faith we pray as though you have already received God’s will, because in all practicality you have.

It is a sort of shame that as praying people we don’t realize when our prayers are answered often times that is because our prayers are not specific, ask God for His will to be done in specifics then marvel at His majesty. God is the hearer of prayers and the answerer of prayers, they may not come to be by your expectations or in your timing, but I assure you that God hears and will answer according to His will and His timing.

Pray with the will of God in mind

Pray with faithfulness of heart

Prayer is the hand that takes to ourselves the blessings that God has already provided in His Son. - R. A. Torrey

In one region of Africa, the first converts to Christianity were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special place outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these “prayer rooms” by using their own private footpaths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much.

Because these new Christians were concerned for each other’s spiritual welfare, a unique custom sprang up. When ever anyone noticed an overgrown “Prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly warn, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!

1 John 5:14-15 “Confidence in prayer”

Intro: A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, “And now, Lord, that I have your undivided attention….”

That’s often how we pray isn’t it? Let me do something good so that God will hear me and perhaps answer my request. Our confidence is in our (?)_________(?) however confidence comes from our position (Saved).

The apostle John uses the word “Know” fifteen times in this short Epistle, it is as though he wants you to know something! To know that you are a child of God and to you that you have fellowship with the Lord of the universe, now in 1 John 5:14-15 you can know that your prayers are heard and they are answered.

CPS: Confidence in prayer is a result of your position in Christ and you can be certain they are heard and answered when His will is prayed according to faith.

Pray according to your position

Pray according to His will

Pray according to faith.

Conclusion: It has been said that prayer is not a way of overcoming God’s reluctance but lying hold of God’s willingness. If we have eternal life, and know God’s will we can pray with boldness. When we pray by faith we pray as though you have already received God’s will, because in all practicality you have.

It is a sort of shame that as praying people we don’t realize when our prayers are answered often times that is because our prayers are not specific, ask God for His will to be done in specifics then marvel at His majesty. God is the hearer of prayers and the answerer of prayers, they may not come to be by your expectations or in your timing, but I assure you that God hears and will answer according to His will and His timing.