Take Note Podcast

Have the Petitions

1 John 5:13-15

- We address a short passage of scripture today that promises, essentially, that God answers prayers
- At times in life, this promise can seem too good to be true
- At other times we just say "of course He does!"
- Our perspective may depend on whether or not He is answering to our satisfaction at that time
- Or whether we believe He is answering at all

- People who know Jesus Christ as Savior can have confidence
- He hears us
- And if we ask according to His will
- We will "Have the Petitions" we desire of Him
- And that's our theme, from 1 John 5:13-15

- You may have noticed a qualification on our promise of the day
- He will hear whatever we ask
- And grant all the petitions that are…according to His will

- What does that mean?
- How can we pray - how can we ask - according to His will?
- Is it even possible?

- And what about the things we want?
- Should we be asking for those?
- Will God give them?

- Based on our text of the day
- And some other scriptures
- We'll begin answering those questions today

- Let's read our entire passage
- Then have a closer look…

1 John 5:13-15

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
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.

- First, we know that this passage addresses believers in Christ
- Second, we understand that it assumes we will pray and ask God
- Third, it says praying according to His will provides confidence
- That, fourth, He will hear us
- And, fifth, He will give us what we desire

- Let's think about this carefully by studying verse by verse…

1 John 5:13

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

- These things are written to people who have faith in Jesus
- This is a big part of the context of our passage of the day
- The promise of answered prayer is for His disciples alone

- Listen to these verses about coming to know Him
- In John 5:24, Jesus said…

"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

- And He said in John 3:17-18…

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

- The person looking to God for answers to prayer
- Must be a person believing in Him for salvation

- When we have faith in Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us
- He plays a key role in the next portion of our text…

1 John 5:14

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

- Knowing God's will begins with knowing God
- We are clear on this from verse 13
- But what is God's will?

- It is that which God desires
- That which is consistent with His character
- That which can be found in His word
- Which can be discovered, based on the very text of scripture
- And by applying the principles we locate in scripture

- God's will cannot be determined by man's wisdom
- Based on man's fleshly desires
- Or on a pragmatic analysis of "what works"

- His will is revealed to us by Him
- Jesus told us as much in John 14:25-26…

"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

- He provided the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us
- But only those that know Him are guided in this way
- Listen to what He said in the previous chapter…

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

- We find His commandments in His word
- And we obey His commandments, empowered by His Holy Spirit
- Which the world cannot receive

- We ought to be living and desiring things, beyond this world
- Jesus speaks further on this in John 17…

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."

- We are living for that which is above
- Which we are instructed about in the Bible
- Then we are released into this world
- To do His will
- To pray His will
- Not our own

1 John 5:15

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

- Those who know Him
- Who are coming to know Him more daily
- Make His desires, their desires
- And then come to Him with every petition

- Praying according to His will
- Submitting to Him
- Knowing He is good
- That He knows best

- Also knowing that He answers
- That He grants petitions
- Just in time, He intervenes

- We know that He does
- Because He has promised
- And He cannot lie