Confidence & Compassion in Prayer

Keep His commandments (2:3-27)

Abiding in Christ (2:28-3:3)

Loving the brethren (3:11-23)

Indwelling of His Spirit (3:24-4:21)

Believing Jesus is Messiah (5:1-13)

Answers to prayer (5:14-17)

Break patterns of continuous sin (3:4-10)

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death.

There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Confidence

Latin: con (with) + fidelis (faithful)

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him areYes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Psalm 65:2 O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh will come.

A. The Promise: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him...”

1) Our Confidence is in Christ

“And” - the 1st word in verse 14 & the basis of our confidence in God’s promise

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

A. The Promise: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him...”

Mark 11:22–24 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

A. The Promise: “If we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears and grants our requests.”

John 14:13–14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.


John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.


2) Our Access is in His presence

Hebrews 4:14–15 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.


3) Our Approach is in confidence

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


• God hears us

4) Our Expectation is that:

• We have the requests which we have asked from Him

B. The Qualification: “according to His will”

1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

“Spread out your petition before God, and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” The sweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me.”

Dwight L. Moody

1. Pray for things for which the Bible commands prayer. (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 10:2; Col. 4:3; 1 Tim. 2:1-3; Jas 5:13,16; Psa. 122:6)

2. Follow the example of godly characters in Scripture. (Psa. 51:1-2; Acts 4:29; Rom. 10:1)

3. Pray with the right motivation. (Jas. 4:3; Mt. 6:5-6)

4. Pray with a spirit of forgiveness toward others. (Mk. 11:25; Mt. 5:23-24)

5. Pray with thanksgiving. (Col. 4:2; Phil. 4:6-7)

6. Pray with persistence. (Lk. 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17)

7. Rely on the Spirit of God in prayer. (Rom.8:26-27)

“Prayer that Brings Life…

…& Sin that Brings Death”

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

A. The Promise: “He will give life to a brother committing sin”

• Life to a brother

• Committing sin

Galatians 6:1–2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

A. The Promise: “He will give life to a brother committing sin”

• Life to a brother

• Committing sin

James 5:19–20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

B. The Qualification:

• “sin leading to death”:

1. A specific heinous sin (Lev. 20; Num. 18:22)

2. Apostasy (1 Jn. 2:18-27; Heb. 12:17)

3. Blasphemy against the Spirit (Mt. 12:31-32)

4. Sin resulting in physical death (Acts 5:1-11; I Cor. 5:5; 11:30)P

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B. The Qualification:

• “sin leading to death”:

• “sin not leading to death”:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:14–15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)

Spiritual

Confidence & Compassion in Prayer