"Commendable Confidence"

1 John 5:14–15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

INTRODUCTION

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING IT WOULD BE IF WHEN WE COUNTED THE WAYS

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER, THERE WERE ONLY THREE......YES, NO AND

WAIT.....AMEN? BUT WALKING THROUGH THIS LIFE OF FAITH I HAVE SEEN GOD

DO MORE, SAY MORE AND ANSWER PRAYERS IN UNEXPECTED WAYS, TIMES AND

PLACES.......

AS WE PRAISE GOD TOGETHER TODAY, YOU’RE INVITED TO REFLECT ON YOUR

OWN FAITH WALK ALONG WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST

RENOWNED AND WELL KNOWN EVANGELISTS, LUIS PALAU, JR. WHO REMINDED

US OF THE WAY GOD LISTENS AND SEEKS TO ANSWER OUR PRAYERS SAYING:

Whatever the answer, your best interest is always in God’s mind.

BUT AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS SERIES ON KEYS TO ANSWERED PRAYERS THIS

MORNING, BELOVEDS, I WOULD ALSO SHARE THE CONVICTION COMING DOWN

TO US FROM THE BENEDICTINE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY........IT IS AN

AWARENESS OF WHAT PRAYER IS, AND WHAT IT BECOMES IN THE LIFE OF A

BELIEVER.......IT IS AN AWARENESS WE ALL ARE CALLED TO BEAR AS WE MOVE

THROUGH THIS LIFE AND ON TOWARDS ETERNITY.......

PRAYER IS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD....BUT FOR US

AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WE ARE CALLED TO ALWAYS REMEMBER......

PRAYER IS WORK. SAYING PRAYERS ALONE AND PARTICIPATING IN

CORPORATE WORSHIP MAKE UP ONE SMALL PART OF WHAT PRAYER IS ALL

ABOUT, AND THESE 2 ASPECTS SOMETIMES CAN SHIELD US FROM THE

AWESOME TASK OF GROWING INTO GOD. WE ARE BELOVED CHILDREN OF

A LOVING CREATOR WHO, THROUGH CHRIST, INVITES US INTO EVER

DEEPENING INTIMACY, AN INTIMACY WE SOMETIMES WELCOME BUT

OFTEN FEAR. PRAYER IS THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE CONFRONT OUR

FEARS, RECOGNIZE RESISTANCE, LET GO OF DEMANDS FOR IMMEDIATE

SOLUTIONS TO LIFE’S DILEMMAS AND LEARN TO WAIT.

AND JUST LIKE PRAYER IS WORK, WE REMEMBER THAT TRUE PRAYER IS ONLY ANOTHER NAME FOR

THE LOVE OF GOD AND THAT IT’S EXCELLENCE DOES NOT CONSIST IN THE MULTITUDE OF OUR

WORDS BUT IN THE DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS TO HEAR FROM THE ALMIGHTY......OUR SCRIPTURE

THIS MORNING ASKS SOMETHING OF US AS WE COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, IT REQUIRES

SOMETHING FROM US....SOMETHING WE’LL CALL CONFIDENCE....

1 John 5:14 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

THERE IS A BEAUTY IN THAT EXCHANGE THAT IT NOT TO BE MISSED, BELOVEDS, AS WE SEEK TO

HEAR FROM GOD IN OUR PRAYERS GOD IS ON CALL, AND LISTENS AND HEARS US WHEN WE

PRAY.............

IN ALL THIS GOD IS TEACHING US TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR WALK WITH THE DIVINE ONE........

IT IS IN THAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THESE 5 WAYS GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS.....

#1 - GOD ANSWERS NO, I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH

IN WEEK #3 IF THIS SERIES, WE SETTLED ON THIS ENCOURAGEMENT TO

REMIND US OF GOD’S ABIDING LOVE AND EVERLASTING WISDOM....

Sometimes, when GOD’S answer is no, you might consider whether God said no

because the timing OF YOUR PRAYER wasn’t right...and find hope and

encouragement in knowing that GOD knows best.

IT IS THE LOVING PARENT WHO KNOWS THAT THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO

HANDLE THE ANSWER YES TO THEIR REQUESTS AS WELL AS THE ANSWER

NO.....

IT WAS THE GREAT ARTHUR ASHE, THE TENNIS CHAMPION AND WONDERFUL

FAMILY MAN WHOSE LIFE WAS CUT SHORT BY AIDS WHO SETTLED ON THIS

GREAT TRUTH:

GOD’S WILL ALONE MATTERS. WHEN I PLAYED TENNIS, I NEVER PRAYED

FOR VICTORY IN A MATCH. I WILL NOT PRAY NOW TO BE CURED OF HEART

DISEASE OR AIDS.

IT TAKES A PERSON OF CONSIDERABLE CONFIDENCE TO KEEP WORKING

THROUGH GOD’S ANSWER OF NO TO PRAYER.....AND TO GO FORWARD LIKE

ARTHUR DID TRUSTING, SOMEHOW, THE DIVINE WILL OF GOD.......

#2 - GOD ANSWERS, “YES, BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT”

IT IS HERE THAT WE AFFIRM THE TIMELESS WISDOM OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH

WHO INSPIRED CHRISTIAN HYMN WRITERS AND BELIEVERS ALIKE WHEN HE

WROTE:

Isaiah 40:30–31 NRSV

Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

WE WILL NOT OFTEN QUIBBLE WHEN GOD ANSWERS YES TO PRAYER......BUT

THAT YES ANSWER CAN BE TEMPERED AND TIMED AND CAN REQUIRE US TO

STAY CONFIDENT IN THE WILL OF GOD UNTIL THAT ANSWER BECOMES EVIDENT

TO US .......

THE PRESBYTERIAN WRITER ANNE LAMOTT TOLD THIS POWERFUL STORY OF A

YES ANSWER TO PRAYER WITH AN IMPORTANT CONDITION TO IT:

A NUN I KNOW, SHE WROTE, ONCE TOLD ME SHE KEPT BEGGING GOD TO

TAKE HER CHARACTER DEFECTS AWAY FROM HER. AFTER YEARS OF THIS

PRAYER, GOD FINALLY GOT BACK TO HER SAYING: I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE

ANYTHING AWAY FROM YOU, YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO ME.....FROM THAT

ANSWER, ANNE CONCLUDED THAT WE ALL HAVE TO PRAY TO GOD FOR THE

WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP THE STUFF WE HAT MOST ABOUT OURSELVES.

WE HAVE TO ASK GOD FOR HELP, AND SOMETIMES BEG.....THAT’S THE

HUMAN CONDITION.

BELOVEDS, IT ALSO TAKES CONFIDENCE....THE CONFIDENCE WE NEED IN

APPROACHING GOD, AS OUR SCRIPTURE SAYS FOR THIS MORNING, WE’VE GOT

TO PRAY LIKE WE KNOW GOD’S HEARING US....EVEN IF GOD ANSWERS OUR

PRAYERS WITH A YES....BUT NOT NOW, YES, BUT HOLD ON.....YES, BUT KEEP ON

BEING FAITHFUL, YES......YOUR TIME IS NOT NOW BUT YOUR YOUR TIME IS

COMING........

#3 - YES, BUT NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED

BELOVEDS, USE THAT MEASURE OF COMMENDABLE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE HAVE IN THE LORD OUR

GOD TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU PRAY.....YOU LEAVE ROOM FOR THE ALMIGHTY TO SURPRISE YOU.....

-YOU MAKE ROOM FOR THE GOD OF ALL CREATION TO CREATIVELY CARVE OUT NEW POSSIBILITIES IN

YOUR YES TO YOUR PRAYER

-YOU ALLOW THE GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS AND THE GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS TO LIFT YOU INTO

SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW AND UNEXPECTED ON YOUR PART.....A NEW PATHWAY TO PURSUE, A

NEW THING TO DO, SOMETHING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU’D EVER ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT GOD ON

YOUR SIDE....

WE CAN BELIEVE THE THEOLOGIAN WHO WROTE ABOUT GOD’S SURPRISES THIS WAY:

AMAZING THINGS APPEAR IN OUR LIVES, ALMOST OUT OF NOWHERE — LANDSCAPES,

SEASCAPES, FORGIVENESS — AND THEY KEEP HAPPENING; SO MANY VISTAS AND SO MUCH

HEALING TO GIVE THANKS FOR. EVEN WHEN WE DON’T COOPERATE, BLESSINGS RETURN TO

OUR LIVES, EVEN SOMETIMES....IN THE AFTERMATH OF TRAGEDY...

WHAT IF WE MAKE IT OUR GOAL, IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES, BELOVEDS TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

FROM OUR GOD......TO ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN GOD PUSHES US OUT OF OUR

COMFORT ZONES, OUT OF OUR PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS OR AWAY FROM OUR OWN SOLUTIONS,

OR EVEN OUR OWN ANSWERS TO EMBRACE WHAT ONLY GOD HAS TO SHOW US......

THE BROOKLYN TABERNACLE CHOIR SINGS A SONG THAT SAYS:

God surprised me with His power, God surprised me with his love (unison)

Just when I thought my case was hopeless, GOD sent an answer from above (harmony)

God surprised me with His mercy, God surprised me with SWEET grace (unison)

Just when I thought my case was hopeless, GOD sent an answer from above

No matter your trial, or difficult hour

My God is able, a mighty strong tower

God always surprises, with His power

God always surprises, with His power With His power, GOD is able to come through

#4 - YES, GOD CAN ANSWER, AND HERE’S MORE

THERE’S STILL A MARVELOUS ABUNDANCE IN OUR GOD AND IN GOD’S PLAN FOR HUMANITY.....

WE REMEMBER TODAY AND CELEBRATE THE TRUTH AND BLESSING IN JESUS’ OWN PROMISE IN JOHN 10:10

John 10:10 NRSV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN ANSWER YES TO OUR PRAYERS AND SHOW US THERE’S MORE TO DO,

MORE TO RECEIVE, MORE THAN ALL WE CAN CASK OR EVEN IMAGINE.......

THERE’S A OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL WHOSE POWERFUL WORDS SAY TO THE LORD OUR GOD:

NO HARM HAVE I DONE YOU ON MY KNEES, ON MY KNEES....NO HARM HAVE I DONE YOU ON MY

KNEES, ON MY KNEES....WHEN YOU SEE ME ON MY KNEES DEAR LORD…COME HERE JESUS IF

YOU PLEASE......

AND WHEN JESUS IS IN THE MIX, BELOVEDS, IF WE EXPECT THE ANSWER TO ALL OUR PRAYERS TO BE

NEAT AND TIDY, WE’RE ONLY FOOLING OURSELVES......EVERY NOW AND THEN, OUR ANSWER WILL

COME WITH OTHERS TO HELP, AND MORE MISSION ATTACHED TO OUR ANSWERS......MORE REACHING

OUT TO DO......MORE DIVINE LOVE TO SHARE....

5th & FINALLY, GOD ANSWERS YES, I THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER ASK

LUIS PALAU, JR., THE NOTED EVANGELIST CONTENDS:

Many people think prayer is complicated. Actually, the simplest prayer can bring you the

miracle you need, when you need it.

IT IS IN OUR REGULAR COMMUNION WITH OUR MAKER THAT WE COME TO KNOW THE BLESSED

ASSURANCES ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.......GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD’S GIFTS AND GOD’S GRACE, ONE AND

ALL ARE SECURED BY PRAYER...........

GOD IS READY ON THE THRONE OF GRACE TO HEAR FROM US WHENEVER WE ARE READY TO PRAY.....

ONE PREACHER SOUGHT TO INSPIRE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS TO DO THIS:

THINK OF PRAYERS LESS AS AN ACTIVITY FOR GOD AND MORE AS AN AWARENESS OF GOD.

SEEK TO LIVE IN UNINTERRUPTED AWARENESS. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S PRESENCE

EVERYWHERE YOU GO. AS YOU STAND IN LINE TO REGISTER YOUR CAR THINK, THANK YOU

LORD FOR BEING HERE. IN THE GROCERY AS YOU SHOP, THINK — YOUR PRESENCE, HOLY ONE,

I WELCOME......

SURELY, THAT IS PRAYER WITHOUT CEASING..AMEN? SURELY THAT IS PRAYER BEYOND THE

EXPECTATIONS GOD MIGHT HOLD FOR US.....SURELY THAT IS PRAYER THAT FULFILLS PAUL’S

MANDATE TO THE ROMANS…IN ROMANS 12:12

Romans 12:12 NIV

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

CONCLUSION

1 John 5:14–15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

WE SHOW THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN APPROACHING OUR GOD EACH AND EVERY TIME WE

PRAY....GOD HEARS, GOD SEES, GOD KNOWS AND AFFIRMS ALL THAT’S IN US THAT GIVES GOD GLORY,

ALL THAT’S IN US THAT MAGNIFIES OUR GOD......

I PRAISE GOD TODAY AND ALWAYS FOR THE COMMENDABLE CONFIDENCE I’VE SEEN ACTIVE IN THIS

COMMUNITY FOR I KNOW IT IS AN AWESOME, DEPENDABLE KEY TO ANSWERED PRAYER......

GO TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, CONFIDENT EVER AND ALWAYS, BELOVEDS

GO TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, CONFIDENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING GOD KNOWS,

GOD CARES AND GOD ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS, DAY BY DAY, HOUR BY HOUR....PRAYER BY EACH AND

EVERY PRAYER......

LET US PRAY......