God Answers Prayers
1 Jn. 5:14-17
Introduction
We are almost at the end part of this beautiful Epistle. Our topic today will be about prayer. John
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit have intentionally put prayer in the last part of this letter. In
this life, there are things that we can be sure of. As per this letter the first thing we can be sure of is
our salvation or having eternal life if you have Christ. The second thing we can be sure of is
answered prayer.
I. What Prayer is:
A. Prayer is simply talking to Jesus
B. Prayer is the soul of man talking or communicating with God either vocally or
mentally.
II. Praying with confidence (1 Jn. 5:14-15)
A. Confidence here means boldness and carries the idea of “freedom of speech”.
Christians have the privilege of talking freely and confidently to God about their
needs.
B. We can be bold in our prayers when we come before the throne of God. (Heb. 4:16)
C. We are commanded to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says “pray without ceasing”. It
means praying persistently and consistently or regularly. The Greek word “without
ceasing” means continuously (repeated frequently) rather than continually (never
stopping)
D. One thing a true believer in Christ should always do is to pray.
E. Confidence in prayer are for real Christians only. However, many are experiencing
frustrations in prayer. They can trust God for their eternal life but they cannot trust
Him in many areas of their life one of which is about financial matter.
F. In our prayers, God answers our needs not our greed.
Illustration 1: An Exercise of Worship
Prayer is more than asking things from God. It is an exercise in the worship of God, to extol His name
and to offer thanks for all His benefits. The child of God is assured that in prayer he is approaching a
throne of grace, not a throne of judgment (Heb. 4:16). The Christian enters the divine presence in
the name of Christ (John 14:14, 16:23). If he prays under the control of the Holy Spirit, he will offer
petitions within the will of his Heavenly Father (Romans 8:26, 27). Prayer should be made in faith
and with thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2). The prayer that Christ taught His disciples, known as the
Lord’s Prayer, is a model to guide His followers concerning proper principles and goals of prayer
(Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). E. Schuyler English. Our Daily Bread
III. Conditions for praying with confidence
A. We must ask anything according to His will. How can a Christian know God’s will?
1. We must read the Bible. The Word of God must be read daily not just on
Sundays or when you feel like reading or just want to tire your eyes so you can
fall asleep.
2. The Bible must be read systematically. Read the New Testament and the Old
Testament. Remember 2 Tim. 3:16-17
B. We must live according to His will. How can we live according to His will?
1. By applying what you have read and learned from the Word of God. Knowledge
apart from application falls short from what God desires for His Children.
2. By obeying His commandments. 1 Jn. 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive
of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are
pleasing in his sight.
3. By doing things that are pleasing to His sight. 1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the
Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
a. The righteous are those who do things that are pleasing in His sight.
b. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availed much (Jas. 5:16).
4. An ongoing abiding life in Christ (having regular fellowship with Him) will allow
your prayers to be heard. When fellowship is broken, so is communication with
God (Jn. 15:7).
IV. He hears us (1 Jn. 5:15)
A. With our gracious and loving Father, to hear means to answer. He will never deny
the prayers of His children who is living obedient lives.
B. By faith we ask, God gives, we receive.
C. The wonderful feeling of answered prayer is one of the best experiences we can
have here on earth. A life of faith that gives not only satisfaction but contentment,
joy and peace that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give.
D. There are so much to write and tell about prayer. There are so many books to read
about prayer but I will limit our study here because time and space will not allow us.
We can study more about prayer in our Sunday School.
Illustration 2: The Link
Prayer is the link that connects us with God. It is the bridge that spans every gulf and bears us over
every abyss of danger or of need. How significant is this picture of the New Testament church: Peter
in prison, the Jews triumphant, Herod supreme, the arena of martyrdom awaiting the dawning of
the morning. “But prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” And what is
the sequel? The prison open, the apostle free, the Jews baffled, the wicked king divinely smitten,
and the Word of God rolling on in greater victory. Do we know the power of our supernatural
weapon? Do we dare to use it with the authority of a faith that commands as well as asks? God grant
us holy audacity and divine confidence. He is not wanting great men, but He is wanting men that will
dare to prove the greatness of their God. – A. B. Simpson Source unknown
V. Praying for others (1 Jn. 5:16-17)
A. A true believer in Christ can still fall into sin.
B. If and when this happens, a fellow believer or a brother is to pray for him.
C. The outcome is, God will grant the sinning Christian preservation of physical life (not
eternal life for a real believer will never lose it and will never lose his salvation).
D. However, this intercession is effective only in the case of sin not unto physical death.
E. There is a “sin unto death”. This is persistent, wilful sinning in a believer in which
“the flesh is destroyed” (physical death) so that the “spirit might be saved”
F. Sin unto death is the physical death which occurs when a Christian refuse to repent
even under the chastening of the Lord.
G. A good example of this in the New Testament are:
1. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).
2. The fornicator in Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5:1-5)
3. Those who took the Lord’s Supper unworthy in 1 Cor. 11:30.
H. In the Old Testament:
1. Moses and Aaron committed sin unto death and because of that they died in the
wilderness and were not permitted to enter the promised land
2. Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2)
3. Uzzah’s sin resulted in his physical death (2 Sam. 6: 1-7)
I. The sin of Samson and Saul are types of this very serious and severe chastening in
the OT.
J. This sin is not to be prayed for because it involves the execution of an immutable
law of God which can not be changed by prayer. (Unger’s Bible Handbook).
K. Sin has different degrees of seriousness.
L. “All unrighteousness is sin, but there is a sin which is “not unto death” (physical
death) involving (lesser chastisements like those in 1 Cor. 11:30). This probably tells
of the beginning of stages of sin when one still has time to repent.
M. We have a duty to pray for those who fall to the sin which is “not unto death”.
Illustration 3: Power of Prayer in Salvation
Some years ago, a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for
Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor
suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they
might put their faith in Him. She took his advice, made a list, and prayed often for each person.
Sometime later God began to stir a revival in the village. The girl heard of the people who were
coming to Christ and prayed even more. As she heard reports, she checked off the names of those
who had been led to the Lord.
After the girl died, a prayer list with the names of 56 people was found under her pillow. All had put
their faith in Christ—the last one on the night before her death.
Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer. Do you have a prayer list?
Our Daily Bread, March-May, 1996
Illustration 4: Hudson Taylor
Eighteen-year-old Hudson Taylor wandered into his father’s library and read a gospel tract. He
couldn’t shake off its message. Finally, falling to his knees, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Later, his
mother, who had been away, returned home. When Hudson told her the good news, she said, “I
already know. Ten days ago, the very date on which you tell me you read that tract, I spent the
entire afternoon in prayer for you until the Lord assured me that my wayward son had been brought
into the fold.” Our Daily Bread, July 19, 1989
VI. Conclusion:
God prayers of real believers in Christ. We can come boldly into the throne of His grace
and ask anything according to His will. We must also live according to His will. One
important thing that we must do is pray for others also. Are your prayers being
answered by the Lord? Why don’t you ask and live according to His will and see how the
Lord Jesus Christ works?
