Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 98th. Edition.
Dear Soldiers in the Lord’s Army,
We are at the tail end of our study of 1 John. Today’s passage (1 John 5:14-15) is about the assurance of answered prayer. Prayer is one of four critical spiritual disciplines that every believer ought to practice, the others being the study and meditation on the word of God, fellowship with other believers, and witness to unbelievers. One cannot do without prayer, because it the believer’s communion with God. Even when we do not have a need if, at all that was possible, communion with God is essential for victorious living.
Asking (v14). The basis for confident asking is God’s will. This is an important aspect of prayer that we often overlook. Simply put, God will not answer a prayer that is contrary to his will. The late Kakai Kilonzo of Kilimambogo Brothers fame sang about boys from his village who smoked Marijuana and prayed to God that they would not be caught by the police. This was to demonstrate the absurdity of some prayers. I cannot pray contrary to God’s will and expect a positive answer. The chances are that I will get no for an answer. But what is God’s will? In many cases, this can be found in the Bible. Our most effective prayers are those that are in congruence with the teaching of God’s word. Most of the time, however, we may not have a direct reference to the particular matter in question. Does God always want us to have what we ask for? No. Because at times, what we ask is not good for us, no matter how good it looks to us. At other times, he may want us to learn from our wants. When we pray about things that the Bible has not stated clearly, it is important to give room for the will of God, knowing that whatever the answer, it will be for the best.
Answering (v. 15). If we know that God has heard us, then we can be sure that he will give what we ask. As we have seen and will see again in the next passage, there are things we simply should not ask for. When what we ask is God’s will and we have confirmation of it, there should be no doubt that God will do it. We can begin to act on it, even before the actual answer is supplied. One word of caution: just because we feel strongly about something, that does not make it the will of God. We can be convinced of something and still be wrong. As my friend Dave Robertson used to tell us, you can be sincere, but sincerely wrong.
Do not pretend certainty where God has not communicated clearly. It is not a lack of faith to express a clear desire in prayer but leave room for the will of God.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.