1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Introduction

One of the areas where the apostle John wants his readers to have confidence in is prayer. Having told them that believers can have assurance of salvation, he now tells them that they can have assurance of answered prayers. John has already spoken of confidence in prayer and of a promise of answered prayer in 1 John 3:21-22, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight”. Here in our text, he brings it up again for the second time for emphasis in 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

Prayer is one of the privileges we have as children of God. And what a privilege it is! Think of what prayer is. Prayer is communion with God. It is fellowship with God. It is speaking with God. As God speaks to us through His Word, we respond to Him in prayer. We who were once dead in trespasses and sins now “have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Ro 5:2). We can now come to God in prayer any time, any place, any situation, and any circumstance. What’s so amazing thing about this is that God wants to hear from us. Our text even says that we can have boldness and assurance before the Holy God. We find this truth expressed also in Hebrews 4:16, where we are invited to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. We are invited to come “boldly”. “Boldly” does not mean proudly or arrogantly, but confidently. We come with true humility but confidently. If we come with true humility before the throne of grace, we do not have to be afraid that we will be rejected and be refused. So, today, I invite you to consider with me the subject of “Confidence in Prayer”. There are three headings I want us to focus on today, namely, the Foundation of Confident Prayer, the Condition of Confident Prayer, and the Realization of Confident Prayer.

I – The Foundation of Confident Prayer

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Now, I want to point out that verse 14 starts with the word “and”, which means, this verse is closely connected with verse 13, which, as we saw last time, speaks of assurance of possessing eternal life. Confidence in prayer is based on the assurance that you have eternal life. Confidence in prayer is founded on saving relationship with God. Notice the phrase, “in him” in this verse. And this is the confidence that we have in him. Our confidence is not in ourselves, but in our relationship with the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Our confidence to pray comes through our relationship with God as our Heavenly Father. We can come boldly into His presence because we have been adopted into the family of God. As our Heavenly Father, God takes care of us. In fact, every need we have, God provides in response to prayer. As our Heavenly Father He promises to supply all our needs. Crystal McDowell puts it this way, “It’s our spiritual birthright to pray with confidence in our heavenly Father’s ability to intervene in any situation. He wants us to pray with boldness and courage—not because we have it all together, but rather that He holds it all together with us in mind.”

Ephesians 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12:  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

But understand that the promise of our text is not for all, but only for God’s children. Confident praying is not for unbelievers. Our Lord made it clear that you must be a child of the God before you can come to Him in prayer. He taught the disciples to pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven.” And the only way God is your Father is if you have been born into the His family through the new birth. Now, this is not to say that God does not hear or even answer the prayer of a sinner. He answers the prayer of a sinner who repents and believes the Gospel. God hears the prayers and responds to those who seek Him with all their heart.

In Acts 10, we see a good example where God responded to the prayers of an unsaved man. Acts 10:1-2, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” Here is an unconverted Roman centurion, Cornelius who regularly prayed to God. Cornelius was unconverted at that time, yet God responded to his prayers by sending Peter to preach salvation and Jesus Christ to him and those in his home. There are examples we read in the Scriptures where God by His sheer grace and mercy responds to the prayer of an unconverted sinner. But understand that unbelievers are not on good terms with God. They do not have relational access to God. In other words, since they are not God’s children, God is not obligated to answer their prayers. Though God sometimes intervenes and responds to their prayer out of His grace and mercy. The only prayer of an unconverted that is guaranteed to be answered is when they call upon Him for salvation. But for those who belong to the Father, who have been redeemed by His blood and adopted into the family of God, can approach God boldly and with confidence that their prayers will be heard and answered according to God’s perfect will. That’s the key phrase according to God’s perfect will. This brings us to the next heading, which is ...

II – The Condition of Confident Prayer

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Here the apostle John tells us about the primary condition for confident prayer and this condition must be met before we can be assured that our prayers are heard and answered by our Heavenly Father. The condition that must be met is that our prayers be made to God “according to His will”. God is not a “genie in a lamp” to be rubbed and receive whatever we wish! God does not answer every prayer we bring to Him. He only answers prayers that are made according to His will.

P. G. Mathew wrote, “How many people think that prayer is persuading God to do our will or trying to make God change his mind! But that is not what prayer is. Prayer means asking God to do His will which we have embraced. In other words, when we make God’s will to be our will, our will be done because it is His will, and His will is done always. If we can understand this truth, we can avoid much confusion and begin to pray aright. Prayer is saying to our heavenly Father, ‘Thy will be done’ (Matthew 6:10). Prayer is saying to God, ‘Not my will but thine be done’ (Luke 22:42). True prayer promotes God's glory.”

We may pray earnestly and ask God for our needs, our wants, our wishes, and our desires. We are free to do that, but we must not command God to do things just because we want them. We must be submitted to God’s will and pray for God’s will. We must always pray with the attitude, “if it be Your will.” This is the secret in confident prayer, even our Lord prayed “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”.

We can be confident that anything we ask God hears, when our desires align with God’s desires, and this can only happen when we delight in the Lord. Psalm 37:4-5, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”. “Delight” means to be dependent upon God and to get our pleasure from Him. “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8). And how do we delight ourselves in the Lord? By doing what pleases Him and by filling our minds with His Word. As we hide His Word in our hearts, He will put His desires in our hearts! In that we can have confidence that He hears us. This is the reason why it is so important that you and I are in fellowship with Christ, submissive and obedient to God, aware of the Bible promises and principles when praying, so that we do not ask amiss or ask to consume something upon selfish and carnal desires.

The great 18th century commentator Matthew Henry wrote, “He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humors of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please Him and to be pleased in Him.” 

God's will, not mine, I make my goal

When I bow to Him in prayer;

I know He'll do what He deems best,

When I cast on Him my care. —Fitzhugh

So, the primary condition and attitude of every prayer should be: “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”.

III – The Realization (Fruition) of Confident Prayer

1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Prayers founded in our relationship with God and made according to the will of God brings result. There is no doubt that our Heavenly Father hears us! This is an amazing thought that God listens to us! Why are we so slow to talk to Him? We are assured that God not only hears our prayers, but He will answer our prayers as well.

1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask ...

Again, this doesn’t mean that God gives everything we ask for; but that we can have confidence He will supply our needs when we pray according to His will for our lives. The key is praying according to the will of God. When we are in His will, our desires will be consistent with His. Mathew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Understand that God answers prayer three ways. Sometimes He says yes, sometimes He says no, and other times He says wait. But what about when God says no? When God says, He has something better for us. Let me give you some instances in the Scripture when God says no. “Abraham earnestly prayed that Ishmael would become the son of promise and the heir of his legacy, but God said no. He had something better, a line of descent through the boy Isaac. Moses earnestly prayed to cross the river Jordan with the children of Israel, but God said no. He had a younger leader named Joshua and a better promised land for the aged Moses. David prayed earnestly for the joy of building a temple to the Lord, but God said no. He had something better—for David to plan the project and for his son Solomon to do the work. Jonah prayed earnestly that he would die, but God said no. He had something better—for Jonah to learn the lessons of compassion and write it down in a book that would thrill the ages. The healed demonic in Mark 5 prayed that he could travel around as a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, but the Lord said no. He had something better—that he go home to his friends and tell them what great things the Lord had done for him and had shown him mercy. The apostle Paul prayed earnestly to be healed from his disease, which he described as a thorn in the flesh. But God said no. He had something better—for Paul to discover the all-sufficiency of His grace. Jesus prayed earnestly that the cup of suffering would pass from Him, but God said no. He had something better—that a fountain would be opened for all the world for the forgiveness of sin” (taken from 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know).

I like how S. D. Gordon illustrates this, “Sometimes when I purchase roses or plants from a nursery catalog, there’s a little box on the order form saying, “If we are out of the item you want, may we substitute one of equal or greater value?” I always say no, because I don’t think the workers in the warehouse know what’s best for my garden. But with the Lord we should always say, “Yes, Lord! You may substitute. You may grant an alternative answer of equal or greater value. I trust You with substitutions.” The purpose of prayer is to get God’s will done.... The greatest prayer any one can offer is “Thy will be done.” It will be offered in a thousand different forms, with a thousand details, as needs arise daily. But every true prayer comes under those four words (“Thy will be done).”

A Soldier's Prayer

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for- but got everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

~ Unknown Confederate Soldier

Closing Thoughts

Prayer is a part of most religions. Non-religious people pray too, especially when they get in trouble. But prayer is the privilege and responsibility of the true child of God. Our Heavenly Father hears and answers the prayers of those who have a relationship with Him. He answers the prayers of His children who delights in Him and in His will. In His grace and mercy God has put Himself under that obligation. This is our confidence. This is our peace and joy—that God wants us to approach Him with boldness and confidence. God is not glorified when we come to Him doubtful and with unbelief.

I heard of a traveler in China who visited a temple and noticed that the worshipers brought with them paper wrapped in mud balls. He discovered that in those papers wrapped in mud balls the devotees would write their petitions. The worshipers would throw them at an idol they are worshiping. If the mud ball stuck to the idol, it meant that the idol would answer their prayers. If the mud ball did not stick, it meant that their prayers were not answered. Aren’t you glad we are not stuck with those kinds of ridiculous rituals and superstitions? Aren’t you glad we have a more sure way of approaching God in prayer? Aren’t you glad we have a Heavenly Father we can approach and who assures us that we can be confident that we have our petitions answered?

In closing let me remind us that our confidence is never in ourselves, but rather in Christ. After reminding us that we have a Great High Priest that is able to sympathize with our infirmities and weaknesses, the author of Hebrews says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Our confidence is never in anything in ourselves, but only in Jesus Christ, who shed His precious blood which gives us access to the very throne of God. As we enjoy this privilege of unhindered access to the throne of God, let us not forget to pray for those who do not have this access we have.

AMEN!