1 John 5:14, 15 - Essential Condition for Answered Prayer.
1 John 5:14, 15 (NKJV) Now this is the
confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know
that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we have asked of
Him.
1 John 5:14, 15 (CWR) We have confidence in
God to know that He will listen to whatever we
ask in harmony with His will. 15 And if we know
that He listens to us, we know that He will give
us whatever is best.
INTRODUCTION
The emphasis here is on God's will, not our
will. When we communicate with God, we don't
demand what we want; rather we discuss with him
what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to
his will, he will listen; and we can be certain
that if he listens, he will give us a definite
answer. Start praying with confidence! [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
As the will of man co-operates with the will
of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to
be done at His command may be accomplished in
His strength. All His biddings are enablings.
COL333
COMMENTARY
Christ makes it plain that our asking
must be according to God's will; we must ask for
the things that He has promised, and whatever we
receive must be used in doing His will. The
conditions met, the promise is unequivocal.
For the pardon of sin, for the Holy
Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and
strength to do His work, for any gift He has
promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we
receive, and return thanks to God that we have
received.
We need look for no outward evidence of
the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we
may go about our work assured that what God has
promised He is able to perform, and that the gift,
which we already possess, will be realized when we
need it most. ED257, 8
We are to trust His promises. When we come
to Him in faith, we should believe that every
petition enters into the heart of Christ. When we
have asked for His blessing, we should believe
that we receive it, and thank Him that we have
it. Then we are to go about our duties, assured
that the blessing will be sent when we need it
most. When we have learned to do this, we shall
know that our prayers are answered. God will do
for us "exceeding abundantly," "according to the
riches of His glory," and "the working of His
mighty power." [Ephesians 3:20, 16, 19.] {GW
261.3}
Seeking God's Will
Parents train their children to do many
tasks - from knowing which clothes match to
handling money. Perhaps the most important skill we
can teach is how to follow Gods direction.
We are blessed that our omniscient and
mighty Father is willing to make His way known to
us. He wants to reveal exactly what to do in
every situation. In fact, He promises this: I
will instruct you and teach you in the way which
you should go; I will counsel you with My eye
upon you (Ps. 32:8). Lets explore how to
discern Gods will at each crossroad of life.
The first step is to make sure that we
have repented of all sin. Listening to God while
holding onto iniquity in our heart is like using a
foggy and unreadable compass. After confessing and
repenting, we can ask for direction.
Next, we should read Scripture regularly
with a seeking, open heart. The Bible is like a
lamp on a dark path (Ps. 119:105). The last step
involves Gods indwelling Holy Spirit - the
wonderful gift that the heavenly Father has given each
of His children. The Spirit provides truth and
guidance as we read the Word and pray. We should
listen patiently for His leading, which is often
communicated quietly to our hearts as we spend time with
Him.
When asking the Lord to reveal His will,
we shouldnt expect instant answers. The
discipline of waiting builds character, and besides,
rushing the process may lead to a path that misses
Gods best. Take the time to seek Jesus plan
for your life, remembering He'll provide all you
need to follow Him. [In Touch Daily Devotional by
Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org]
ILLUSTRATION
When You Pray for Healing, You Can Pray with
Confidence
Why doesnt God heal everyone that asks
him for it?
When you pray and ask for Gods
healing, you can trust that hell hear and answer
you. But he may not answer in the way you hope.
He wont give you something against his will.
God always wants whats best for you - and the
best thing may be to use an illness in ways you
did not expect.
Sometimes God uses sickness to get your
attention and redirect you. He may have to lay you
flat on your back in order to get you to look up
to him. Proverbs 20:30 says, Sometimes it
takes a painful experience to make us change our
ways (GNT). Most of us could give a story of how
it took a painful experience to make us change
our ways.
Sometimes God allows a sickness to be a
testimony for others. He knows he can trust you with
an illness, and he knows you'll be a good
example to other people, particularly unbelievers.
Paul says in Philippians 1:12, Now I
want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what
has happened to me has actually served to
advance the gospel (NIV). Paul was sick and in
prison when he wrote that, testifying to how God
used his circumstances to spread the Good News.
The greatest witness you will ever have
is your example of the way you handle pain. In
my own life, God has used my deepest moments of
pain as a witness to my neighbors and the world.
When you respond to pressure and pain in a way
that points people back to God, it brings glory
to him.
Sometimes God allows a sickness to take a
person into eternity - a sickness unto death.
Hebrews 9:27 says, Everyone must die once, and
after that be judged by God (GNT). If you could
be healed of every illness just by having
enough faith, then if you had enough faith, you
might never die. That certainly isn't God's will.
When you are sick, you can pray and ask
God in confidence for healing. Why should you
have confidence? This is the confidence we
have in approaching God: that if we ask anything
according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14
NIV).
Thats right: When you pray in Gods
will, he always hears you. His answer may not come
through the method or in the timing you want, but
his answer is always for good and for his glory.
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
ONE LINERS
We may present our petitions to the Father,
claiming all that He has promised. PK157-158
He never asks us to do anything without
supplying the grace and power to do that very thing.
All his biddings are enablings. RH11-09-97
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
1 John 5:14, 15 - Effective Prayer.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201107-0927.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191012-1403.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090624-2133.html
Psalm 32:8, 9 - God Want Us To Know The Way
To Go.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190701-0838.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150210-1148.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
