OceanSide church of Christ
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A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (31)
Answered Prayer
1 John 5:14-15
Victor M. Eskew
With true belief in the Son of God comes a multitude of blessings. One of those blessings involves the Christian’s ability to pray. In 1 John 5:14-15, John addresses the subject of answered prayer. “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him” (1 John 5:15). Some lift this verse from its context, then they argue against prayer. They argue that they pray and pray and pray and their prayers are never answered. Since they are not answered, they doubt prayer. They doubt the Word of God. And, they doubt God Himself. This is the danger of failing to keep verses in their context. Let’s look at the subject of “Answered Prayer” as John addresses it in this epistle.
John notes that prayer should begin with ASSURANCE. “And this is the confidence that we have in him…” (1 John 5:14). When we pray, we must come before God with certainty. There should not be doubting or wavering as we lay our petitions before His feet. James agrees with John. In his epistle he exhorts those who stand in need of wisdom to “ask of God” (James 1:5). He, then, instructs: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James sets both sides of the coin before his readers. Ask in faith is one side. Nothing wavering is the other side. In verse seven, he asserts the end of the one who doubts as he prays to his heavenly Father. He says: “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” Praying and expecting an answer from God is a “sure thing” for the Christian. He knows God is listening. He is confident that God longs to answer his requests.
As we pray, however, we know that our utterances must ALIGN with the will of God. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). John is clear that prayer must be “according to his will.” We think we know what is best for our lives and for the lives of others. This, however, may not be the case at all. What we desire could have disastrous effects on our lives. What we ask of God might do more harm than good to others. Too, we know what we want for our lives, but God may want something entirely different for us. We must remember that God is God. He knows what is best. He is not limited by the immediate. He can see well into the future. He knows what will enrich our lives and make us better servants in His cause. Therefore, we must commit our desires to His will. Jesus is the prime example of this type of submission. Three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed for the cup to pass from Him. Each time, however, He ended His prayer with these words: “…nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 23:42). We know that Jesus’ prayers in the garden were heard. The writer of Hebrews informs us that they were heard. In Hebrews 5:7, he writes about Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane as he prayed. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” If Jesus’ prayer was for complete deliverance from the sufferings to come, it was not answered in the affirmative. Jesus had to endure the afflictions and anguish of the crucifixion. This, however, was acceptable to Him. Why? It was acceptable because that was God’s will. Aren’t we thankful that God’s will was carried out. Through Jesus’ death, we have forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and stand in hope of eternal life to come.
Right here, it is good for us to make a very important point. There are two wills that God has for our lives. One of those is found in the pages of His holy revelation to man, the Bible. There is another will that He has not made known. This will involves all the intricate details that will unfold in our lives as we live on earth. Let’s apply these two points to our prayer life. If we pray in harmony with God’s revealed will, we know our prayers will be answered. God tell us to confess our faults one to another and pray one for another. He assures us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16). In other words, we can be sure those faults will be forgiven by God. However, since we are not aware of the minute details God has for our lives, we must trust Him to carry these out as He deems fit for us. Some of the things for which we pray in this second area may be answered. Some may be delayed. Some may never be received. These are the things that we leave in the hands of a heavenly Father who loves and cares for us. Paul prayed three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed from him (2 Cor. 12:8). God did not grant Paul’s desire. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Cor. 12:9a). Paul resigned himself to God’s will in this matter. He wrote: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:9b-10).
This brings us back to prayers that are ANSWERED. “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him” (1 John 5:15). The penitent Christian can pray for forgiveness and know that his prayers are answered. The Christians who petitions God for fruit to be born in his life will definitely be given opportunities to bear that fruit. Those who ask various blessings from God will receive those blessings if they are in harmony with his will (Ex., Hannah’s prayer for a son, 1 Sam. 1:10-11, 19-20).
Dear readers, God wants to bless our lives. As a loving Father, He wants to grant our petitions. Jesus teaches us this in Matthew 7:11. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him.” However, He also deeply cares for us. He knows what is best for our lives. If He withholds something from us, we must trust that His knowledge and understanding is much deeper than ours. When God says, “No,” to our prayers, it is not to be mean to us or to punish us. He is lovingly protecting us and will eventually bring into our lives what is best. Pray often and fervently. And, always have this mindset as you pray: “…nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39).