CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER!
1 John 5:14-15
INTRODUCTION: The Bible talks about the assurance of our salvation repeatedly in the book of
1 John. In our passage tonight, he’s talking about the confidence we can have in prayer. That
word “confidence” is used often in the book of 1 John. 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:21;
1 John 5:14-15. We can have assurance, boldness, and confidence as we come to our heavenly
Father in prayer. The early Christians set an example for us of having super natural confidence
in prayer. After being beaten for witnessing for Jesus Christ here is an example of super-natural
prayer: Acts 4:23-31. Even today, as the world likes timidity God honors boldness: 2 Timothy
1:7. In 1 John 5:14-15 we find three important facts we need if we are going to have bold
confidence in prayer.
I. THE DIRECTION OF OUR PRAYER!
1 John 5:14a: What John is saying here is that when we engage in prayer and come to
God with our petitions, we have access to the very throne room of God. When we pray to our
heavenly Father we are in His presence! You and I, in Christ are accepted before the very
Creator God! Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 4:16. The direction of our prayer is toward our God! We,
as children of God have access to our God every moment of our lives: Romans 5:2. When we
pray we are asking our God for what we desire if it is His will: 1 John 5:14; Luke 11:9-10.
II. SPIRITUAL LAWS THAT GOVERN PRAYER!
We need to prayer specifically so that when God answers our prayers we know it was
Him. Our God has given spiritual laws that govern prayer that must be met before He will
answer our prayers. First there is the law of believing: Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 9:17-24. If we
are going to have confidence in our prayer we must overcome our unbelief. Second, the law of
praying in Jesus Name: John 14:13-14. Praying in Jesus Name does not just mean an ending to
your prayer. Praying in Jesus Name means I am praying exactly what I think Jesus would pray if
He were here. Praying in Jesus’ Name is the condition for answered prayer. Thirdly, there is
the condition of abiding. John 15:7. Abiding in Christ means you have fellowship with God, you
are resting in God, you are confessed up to date, you have acknowledged your sin and are in
fellowship with the Father: Psalm 66:16-20. Fourth, the law of the will of God: 1 John 5:14.
When we pray according to God’s will it does not mean trying to get things done according to
my will but getting things done according to our heavenly Father’s will. Colossians 1:9-10. We
come to know God’s will through His Word. God’s will is also revealed through the working of
His Holy Spirit. Then you must move out and do the will of God: Matthew 6:9-10. The will of
God is doing what God directs you to do period: John 7:17. God reveals His will to people who
will carry out His will: Romans 12:1-2.
III. WE WILL KNOW THE FRUIT OF PRAYER!
We have got to know the fruit of prayer: 1 John 5:15. First we must pray according to
His will so that He hears us and if we get that far we know we will get what we prayed for.
There are different ways that our Lord can answer our prayers: Jeremiah 33:3. Sometimes
God’s answered are delayed: Isaiah 30:18. God is gracious and He knows best the right time to
answer our prayers. Sometimes our prayers don’t meet the laws of pray so the answer is no!
But don’t stop praying. Learn and obey God’s requirements for answered prayer and pray with
holy boldness!