Preached at Northwest Christian Church
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 14, 2010
David P. Kautt
Sunday Morning, November 14, 2010
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| Image credit. |
1 John 5:13-21, "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. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 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. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."
Being a Christian affords to us many blessings, doesn’t it? In calling us to Himself, in making us His own children, God showers us with many more blessings than I think we often realize we have received. At the same time, those blessings God has given us, the gift of His Word and of His Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sins, the gift of love, joy and peace, with these gifts God has bestowed upon us come not only manifold blessings, but also many significant responsibilities. In other words, we, as God’s children, are not only recipients of the gift, or gifts, but we also are entrusted with the management, the stewarding of these gifts, in such a way that God, the Giver of these gifts, might be pleased.
The gift of prayer – the blessing and privilege of prayer is a perfect case in point.
Prayer - the Apostle John knew a great deal about this blessing and he understood the importance of the responsibility that went with it. After all, he had been trained in the subject at the feet of Jesus. He had heard the Lord’s teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. He had listened as his Master provided him and his fellow disciples with a model prayer, a prayer pattern. It’s the one we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’. He had watched as Jesus had often slipped away from the crowds to spend time alone with His Father in prayer. And, yes, he had even been there, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to watch and wait and listen, as his Master wrestled in prayer with His Father’s plan for Him.
As we open up this passage from this marvelous letter, penned by the Apostle John, God’s Holy Spirit directs John to share some of those lessons and insights on prayer with you and me. Let’s take a look and see what they are.
Number one, the Apostle John instructs and informs us about the joy of prayer. I don’t know if you have thought about prayer along these lines recently, but to me, as we consider both the blessing and the responsibility of prayer, to me it is uplifting to read what God’s Spirit led John to write in verses 14 and 15 about prayer.
The gift of prayer – the blessing and privilege of prayer is a perfect case in point.
Prayer - the Apostle John knew a great deal about this blessing and he understood the importance of the responsibility that went with it. After all, he had been trained in the subject at the feet of Jesus. He had heard the Lord’s teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. He had listened as his Master provided him and his fellow disciples with a model prayer, a prayer pattern. It’s the one we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’. He had watched as Jesus had often slipped away from the crowds to spend time alone with His Father in prayer. And, yes, he had even been there, in the Garden of Gethsemane, to watch and wait and listen, as his Master wrestled in prayer with His Father’s plan for Him.
As we open up this passage from this marvelous letter, penned by the Apostle John, God’s Holy Spirit directs John to share some of those lessons and insights on prayer with you and me. Let’s take a look and see what they are.
Number one, the Apostle John instructs and informs us about the joy of prayer. I don’t know if you have thought about prayer along these lines recently, but to me, as we consider both the blessing and the responsibility of prayer, to me it is uplifting to read what God’s Spirit led John to write in verses 14 and 15 about prayer.
1 John 5:14-15, Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
This blessing of prayer – think of it, will you, my friends. It is a joyful thing! Prayer is a joyful thing! Why? Because, for the Christian, for the true child of God – in prayer – there is a confidence, an assurance to do the unthinkable. In prayer I can approach the un-approachable! In prayer, the Book of Hebrews tells us, we can come boldly before the throne of God that there –right there, at the blessed feet of our Mighty God and Merciful Father – we might find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need! (See Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer – it is a joyful thing! In Christ you and I have confidence – holy boldness before God in prayer! Then notice the joy continues – and increases as a result of this blessing – this amazing gift of God called prayer. Look again at that fourteenth verse. Prayer is a joyful thing, for the Christ, prayer is a joyful thing! How do we know that? Have you ever tried to ask a President for anything? Have you ever tried to ask a millionaire for anything? (My son Joel’s going to like this next one.) Have you ever tried to ask a store manager for anything? You stand there trying to present your request, to make your case, to ask what you’re wanting to ask, and the President, Millionaire, yes, Joel, too often, even the Store Manager, looks and acts as if he is a million miles away from you! He’s not listening to me! He’s not paying attention to me! Prayer, look at it, my dear ones, what a joyful privilege it is for all of us who
belong to the Lord Jesus Christ! Why? Because He hears us! (verse 14)
Then, one more, feast your eyes on the truth contained in verse 15 about prayer! Prayer is a joyful thing! For the true Child of God it is a very, very joyful thing! Why? Verse 15, “If we know that God hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Prayer is a precious, joyful privilege for the Christian, simply because we can go about it expectantly! Anticipating, full well, that God will respond to our requests.
Prayer is a joyful thing! It is. But, then, notice the shift of focus and tone, beginning in verse 16. The Apostle John had heard, and I’m sure, smiled, perhaps like he had never smiled before, when we heard Jesus say things like: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it,” (John 14:13-14) and “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” (John 15:7) and “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 15:16) Yes, the Apostle John had heard all of those powerful, confidence-building words Jesus had spoken to His disciples about prayer. And what joy those words must have stirred in his heart. But, listen. John had also watched and
observed as Jesus dealt with faltering disciples, like Peter – cock-a-doodle-do! And with wayward ones, false ones, like Judas Iscariot! And what did he come to realize? What did the Apostle John come to realize, and what should we come to understand about prayer? Verses 16, 17 and 18 – the fact that not only is prayer a joyful thing, an incredibly rich privilege, prayer also is a sobering thing, a solemn and deeply serious responsibility that we must never take lightly!
Prayer – it is a joyful thing! In Christ you and I have confidence – holy boldness before God in prayer! Then notice the joy continues – and increases as a result of this blessing – this amazing gift of God called prayer. Look again at that fourteenth verse. Prayer is a joyful thing, for the Christ, prayer is a joyful thing! How do we know that? Have you ever tried to ask a President for anything? Have you ever tried to ask a millionaire for anything? (My son Joel’s going to like this next one.) Have you ever tried to ask a store manager for anything? You stand there trying to present your request, to make your case, to ask what you’re wanting to ask, and the President, Millionaire, yes, Joel, too often, even the Store Manager, looks and acts as if he is a million miles away from you! He’s not listening to me! He’s not paying attention to me! Prayer, look at it, my dear ones, what a joyful privilege it is for all of us who
belong to the Lord Jesus Christ! Why? Because He hears us! (verse 14)
Then, one more, feast your eyes on the truth contained in verse 15 about prayer! Prayer is a joyful thing! For the true Child of God it is a very, very joyful thing! Why? Verse 15, “If we know that God hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Prayer is a precious, joyful privilege for the Christian, simply because we can go about it expectantly! Anticipating, full well, that God will respond to our requests.
Prayer is a joyful thing! It is. But, then, notice the shift of focus and tone, beginning in verse 16. The Apostle John had heard, and I’m sure, smiled, perhaps like he had never smiled before, when we heard Jesus say things like: “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it,” (John 14:13-14) and “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you,” (John 15:7) and “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 15:16) Yes, the Apostle John had heard all of those powerful, confidence-building words Jesus had spoken to His disciples about prayer. And what joy those words must have stirred in his heart. But, listen. John had also watched and
observed as Jesus dealt with faltering disciples, like Peter – cock-a-doodle-do! And with wayward ones, false ones, like Judas Iscariot! And what did he come to realize? What did the Apostle John come to realize, and what should we come to understand about prayer? Verses 16, 17 and 18 – the fact that not only is prayer a joyful thing, an incredibly rich privilege, prayer also is a sobering thing, a solemn and deeply serious responsibility that we must never take lightly!
1 John 5:16-18, “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. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
We pray, don’t we, because we have the privilege to come boldly before God’s throne of grace! That’s a joyful thing! And, we pray, because unlike Presidents, millionaires and store managers, God actually listens to us! That’s a joyful thing! And we pray, not merely wishing – you know, crossing your fingers and wishing – but we pray KNOWING that God will answer us! And that, too, is a joyful thing!
But, listen – what do you call prayer when it is something you and I are doing for a brother who is struggling with sin in his life? A joyful thing? No! A sobering thing! A deeply solemn and serious thing. Why? Because somehow, some way, God works through our prayers, take a look at James 5:13-20, to give life. Did you hear me? To give life to our erring brother! Listen, my loved ones, prayer is a serious thing because somehow it often can be a matter of life and death! A matter of life, and death. I bet that most of us haven’t thought about prayer in those terms in a while. But look, not only does John supply instructions about the serious matter of praying for the erring brother who is NOT sinning a sin unto death. He also lets us in on an even more serious matter pertaining to prayer. The matter of the person who IS sinning a sin unto death, and what our prayer response should be in that case.
Two or three observations for us to take in right here. Number one, the text very plainly says that there IS such a thing as a sin unto death! It is not clear if John means physical death, spiritual death, or perhaps both! But, either way, the fact that sin - what I believe must be a willful, defiant, rebellious, pattern of habitual sin – leads to death is clear from what the text says. And, that, my friends, is serious, isn’t it?
Secondly, please note what John says regarding praying for such a person whose sinful life style is aimed in the direction of death. In effect, he says, ‘Don’t! Don’t pray for such a person.’ Does that shock you? Allow me to give you a little perspective on this. 3 times in the book of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14 and 14:11 – three times the prophet Jeremiah, preaching and prophesying to God’s people in the face of their willful, deliberate, stubborn, defiant pattern of sin and sinful rejection of God’s Word and will, God told Jeremiah, “Don’t pray for them! Turn them over to Me, and let me deal with them. But don’t pray for them!” Whew! Listen, the apostle Paul points his readers, in 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Timothy 1, the same direction. If they’re going to keep on sinning, willfully, defiantly and unrepentantly, stop praying for them, and hand them over to God (and even to Satan)… Whew!
As I said, my dear ones – prayer, yes it is a joyful privilege indeed! But, listen, it is just as serious and sobering a responsibility also.
But, then, one more thing, one more important aspect to prayer that you and I must always keep in mind, confident prayer – the holy boldness and incredible joy we talked about at the first – and compassionate prayer – lifting up our erring brothers and sisters in the serious responsibility of prayerful intercession. Listen, confident prayer and compassionate prayer must always also we conformed prayer, conformed prayer! Verse 14 one more time:
But, listen – what do you call prayer when it is something you and I are doing for a brother who is struggling with sin in his life? A joyful thing? No! A sobering thing! A deeply solemn and serious thing. Why? Because somehow, some way, God works through our prayers, take a look at James 5:13-20, to give life. Did you hear me? To give life to our erring brother! Listen, my loved ones, prayer is a serious thing because somehow it often can be a matter of life and death! A matter of life, and death. I bet that most of us haven’t thought about prayer in those terms in a while. But look, not only does John supply instructions about the serious matter of praying for the erring brother who is NOT sinning a sin unto death. He also lets us in on an even more serious matter pertaining to prayer. The matter of the person who IS sinning a sin unto death, and what our prayer response should be in that case.
Two or three observations for us to take in right here. Number one, the text very plainly says that there IS such a thing as a sin unto death! It is not clear if John means physical death, spiritual death, or perhaps both! But, either way, the fact that sin - what I believe must be a willful, defiant, rebellious, pattern of habitual sin – leads to death is clear from what the text says. And, that, my friends, is serious, isn’t it?
Secondly, please note what John says regarding praying for such a person whose sinful life style is aimed in the direction of death. In effect, he says, ‘Don’t! Don’t pray for such a person.’ Does that shock you? Allow me to give you a little perspective on this. 3 times in the book of Jeremiah – Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14 and 14:11 – three times the prophet Jeremiah, preaching and prophesying to God’s people in the face of their willful, deliberate, stubborn, defiant pattern of sin and sinful rejection of God’s Word and will, God told Jeremiah, “Don’t pray for them! Turn them over to Me, and let me deal with them. But don’t pray for them!” Whew! Listen, the apostle Paul points his readers, in 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Timothy 1, the same direction. If they’re going to keep on sinning, willfully, defiantly and unrepentantly, stop praying for them, and hand them over to God (and even to Satan)… Whew!
As I said, my dear ones – prayer, yes it is a joyful privilege indeed! But, listen, it is just as serious and sobering a responsibility also.
But, then, one more thing, one more important aspect to prayer that you and I must always keep in mind, confident prayer – the holy boldness and incredible joy we talked about at the first – and compassionate prayer – lifting up our erring brothers and sisters in the serious responsibility of prayerful intercession. Listen, confident prayer and compassionate prayer must always also we conformed prayer, conformed prayer! Verse 14 one more time:
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.
Conformed prayer, what in the world is ‘conformed prayer’? Some would say that ‘conformed prayer’ is praying according to the proper formula, you know, using the proper words – “In Jesus’ name”, “Thy kingdom come”, “Thy will be done”, “hallowed be Thy name” and so forth… But listen, anyone - I mean, anyone – can mouth those words. Anyone can take up that prayer formula and try to use it, as if it were a rabbit’s foot or a good luck charm!
But listen – that’s not what those words are meant to be, NOR is that what prayer, conformed prayer, is all about! So, what is conformed prayer? And, how is it that is serves as the basis, the foundation, for confident, and compassionate prayer?
Read 1 John 5:14 with me, one more time, will you?
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.
Confident prayer, full of all the joy we learned about earlier, and compassionate prayer, soberly interceding for struggling, erring brothers and sisters – unless and until it comes from a “not my will, but Thine be done” heart is un-heard and un-answered prayer. The psalmist said it this way, and with this we will close:
But listen – that’s not what those words are meant to be, NOR is that what prayer, conformed prayer, is all about! So, what is conformed prayer? And, how is it that is serves as the basis, the foundation, for confident, and compassionate prayer?
Read 1 John 5:14 with me, one more time, will you?
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.
Confident prayer, full of all the joy we learned about earlier, and compassionate prayer, soberly interceding for struggling, erring brothers and sisters – unless and until it comes from a “not my will, but Thine be done” heart is un-heard and un-answered prayer. The psalmist said it this way, and with this we will close:
“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Him, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:4-5)
and
“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:18-19)
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