He Hears Us

He Hears Us

1 John 5:14

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” — 1 John 5:14

We’re called to be a people of prayer... offering up our supplications and petitions before the throne of God. We cast ourselves upon the mercy of the Supreme judge of all things... in the knowledge and assurance that His judgement is immutable; He is righteous and holy and good.

John Calvin said, “God gives us the guidance of the Spirit in our prayers, to dictate what is right, and [to] regulate our affections.” The Holy Spirit teaches us what to ask, in accordance with God’s Word. Jesus gives us access to the Father, and the Father graciously and mercifully hears us.

Every prayer, therefore, becomes an act of faith! Prayer’s not just bringing a laundry list of wants to God! It’s coming before Him with confidence, knowing that we’ve been granted direct access to the King of kings. So we “come boldly to the throne of grace (as Hebrews 4:16 puts it), that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

But, let’s be quick to point out: we approach God with confidence, NOT ARROGANCE.

The original Greek word translated “confidence” in English, literally means “all out-spokenness” or “full freedom to speak.” In other words, we’re called to come before God freely, and openly... plainly and fully stating our case... offering up our most earnest and heartfelt pleas. NOT from a position of arrogance, as if we have any right to directly approach God... but from a place of humble submission, entrusting all things to the Creator of all things!

In fact, the Bible reminds us, that, “God resists the proud (the arrogant, the self-absorbed), but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). Like Jesus’ parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee (which was the topic of our sermon several weeks ago), if our prayers are filled with self-righteousness, we need not waste our breath... but when we pray in humility and gratitude, with contrite and repentant hearts, God not only hears, He restores us. “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

John reminds us that as Children of God, we’re not praying to a distant or indifferent deity. When we, as the chosen and elect in Christ... those who’ve been given the right to be called the Children of God... pray to our heavenly Father, He hears our pleas.

Of course, this confidence by which we’re to pray, is not based upon our ability to pray perfectly, nor is it based upon our deserving an answer. Our confidence rests in God Himself—His character, His promises, His wisdom, and His love.

Makes me wonder if I’m truly confident in prayer? Confident enough to bring anything and everything that concerns me - and those I know and love - but also, and more importantly... am I confident to actually trust that God knows and sees things I can’t. Do I trust him to do his will, regardless?

Thomas Watson said, “We aim at God’s glory, when we are content (listen... when we are content) that God’s will should take place, though it may cross ours.”

Of course, John gives us an important qualification, that’s predicated by one of the most powerful and consequential words in the English language; IF! : “this is the confidence that we have toward him, if we ask anything according to his will.”

Prayer is not a means of persuading God to jump on command... or to accomplish our will. God is not, and will not, play “puppet-on-a-string” to any of us.

Rather, God intends for our prayers to be a means of grace... that brings our hearts into submission (not alignment, but submission) to His will... His good, and perfect, and holy will. We may not always understand (or even appreciate) what God is doing, but we can, and must, trust that His purposes are wiser and better than ours.

Of course, Jesus understood this better than we do, for sure. And he demonstrated this for us... setting the example in what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But... he did more that just tell us how to pray. He showed us, by example, in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He prayed, “If it be possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not my will, but yours, be done.” (Matthew 26:38,42). True confidence in prayer is to say, “Lord, this is what I desire, but above all, I desire what You desire.”

And there’s great comfort in the final phrase of verse 14: “For this is the confidence that we have toward him, if we ask anything according to his will He hears us.” Do you and I realize the utterly magnificent weight of those last three words? He hears us. The sovereign God of the heavens and Earth inclines His ear to His people.

I can’t help but call Psalm 8 to mind: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Yet, this Sovereign God, who is High and Exalted... turns His ear towards my prayer, my supplication, when I pray in accordance with His will. He hears us. Amazing, isn’t it?

No sincere prayer offered in faith ever goes unnoticed or unheard. And our assurance in prayer is NOT confidently telling God what we want; it’s confidently asking God for what He has promised, trusting Him completely with the answer.

May it be so... Amen.