WHAT CAN YOU KNOW? Devotion 15 of 32 "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John 5:14) – Tomorrow:
It may appear as though John has suddenly changed the subject but he has not. He will now show us the impact of knowing we have eternal life. This is nothing less than the fruit of faith, and it is precious. First and foremost, it produces confidence "before Him." Here is something that precious few have ever experienced – to stand before the Living God with confidence and assurance. Isaiah did not feel this way when he saw the Lord "high and lifted up" at least not at first (Isa 6:5). Yet, this is the heritage of the people of God, to stand confidently before the Lord of glory.
Those who are acquainted with the Lord know that He is able to keep us from falling, and present us joyfully confident before Him. As it is written, "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory WITH EXCEEDING JOY " (Jude 24, NKJV). Yet, such marvelous confidence can begin now, while we remain in the body! Many, untaught in the ways of the Lord, are not aware of this wonderful benefit.
ANYTHING!
When it comes to the matter of prayer, there are not many places where we are encouraged to believe "anything" we ask can be received. God once asked Solomon, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (1 Kgs 3:5, NKJV). There was one whom Jesus asked, "What do you want Me to do for you?" (Matt 20:32, NKJV). While yet among them, and in anticipation of His return to heaven, Jesus told His Apostles, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14). Before Christ's enthronement at the right hand of God, such Divine commitments were rare, indeed. Our text, however, shows they have become common to those who live by faith.
But our text puts the promise within our reach: "If we ask ANY THING according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" (NKJV). It is imperative that we avoid taking a view of this wonderful text that dulls its meaning, or puts it far from our thinking. Once again, we are dealing with Divine affirmations – utterances that cannot be shaken, and upon which faith can rest.
THERE ARE CONDITIONS
There are two conditions attached to these statements. First, "If we ask any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL." Second, "IF WE KNOW THAT HE HEAR US." You must be convinced in your heart of the truth of these assertions. If the conditions are met, the promises will be realized! No person of sound spiritual mind can deny this.
ACCORDING TO HIS WILL
God Himself operates in strict accordance with His will. As it is written, "He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth" (Dan 4:35). Further, that "will" is pleasing to God, being the expression of His own Person and purpose. Thus, the appointments associated with salvation are said to be "according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph 1:5).
That "will," while a "mystery" before Christ (Eph 1:9), can now be known by the saints of God. As it is written, "that ye might be filled with THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9). When, therefore, we consider asking according to the will of God, we are not referring to a sort of stabbing in the dark. Asking "according to His will" is a form of fellowship with God. It is, from one perspective, seeing what He is doing, and asking to be involved in the process.
THE SUPREME EXAMPLE
Jesus is the supreme Example of asking according to the will of God. The Divine will was the environment in which Jesus operated. In fact, He confined Himself to that area. As He said, "I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things" (John 8:28). And again, "I speak that which I have seen with My Father" (John 8:38). And again, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). And again, "for I do always those things that please Him" (John 8:29).
Knowing the will of God is more than intellectual acquaintance with that will. It encompasses being personally involved in that will, as was our blessed Lord: i.e., DOING the will of God (Matt 7:21; 12:50). Our Savior clearly declared this is what dominated everything He said and did. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work . . . I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me . . . For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38).
Knowing the will of God includes being acquainted with that will, and able to correlate what is see and heard with it. The individual who is able to recognize the will of God, and pray in accordance with it, is involved in that will. Such a person has an appetite for the Divine will, and is nourished and delighted by it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, direct my heart to pray more and more according to Your own will.