Christians Pray - 1 John 5:14-15

Scripture Passage

14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

-Context

1 John is written

This passage is part of the author’s way of encouraging other Christians to persevere. In the first several verses he touches on the connection between love and obedience.

“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But also how true Christians have overcome the world - enduring persecution, and conquering flesh and temptation. All we need to be Christian is given to us in Christ - both sanctification and perseverance.

He then highlights the testimonies that divide the world according to Christ. Either you believe and are saved or call God a liar. There is no in between. You either will be with Christ in paradise, or away from Christ in Hell. This is where some of us perk up cause if He’ll really does exists, no one wants to go to Hell.

-So Great an Assurance

One of the simplest marks of a Christian is prayer. P. Joe am I saved? Am I a Christian? Am I God’s elect? Will I go to heaven?

All the same question by the way. And while I’m not saying you’re definitely not a Christian if you don’t pray - I am saying that if you’ve never prayed you can’t be a Christian. I am saying that if you hate praying you probably aren’t a Christian. And I am saying that if you do pray properly and genuinely then you probably are a Christian

-Proper Prayer

But the way in which we pray is guided by Jesus himself. Unfortunately, one of the most common prayers, The Lord’s Prayer, has done some damage to our own prayer lives. Not to say that Jesus has taught us incorrectly, but rather the moment our prayer lives become mundane - thoughtless and emotionless - we have stopped praying altogether.

—Christians pray according to God’s will

Secret ingredient

What do you need to do in order to get to this level of trust?

—Christians pray in confidence

Feeling heard

Expectation

Ask God to help shape your prayers.

“Help me to stop praying for what I want. Instead help me pray that I want what you give me.”