The Great Confidence to Ask for Anything: Your Brother/Sister

 Dear Saints:

Ask for Anything from God? Yes with a big yes! Ok, just a minute; Udo are you now into the nonsense prosperity gospel that says we must be healthy and wealthy if we are Christians and if not, it means we don’t have enough faith? God forbid! But of course God wants you to prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers in the love and knowledge of Christ. 

Ok, let me re-phrase as we continue our study of 1 John 5. Ask for anything according to God’s will. Yes, that’s what apostle John said and it’s in line with the words of Christ in the “Lord’s Prayer” He taught His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13). Prayer is seeing God's will done.

^“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.” 1 John 5:14-15.

The Holy Spirit has already given us the greatest assurance of our faith in Christ because we are “born of God” through Christ and have believed and trusted Him. Now, on this basis of a solid relationship with God have come the greatest confidence in approaching God for anything that concerns us as His children. I trust you have this solid relationship as a child of God.

I love it when Grace my eleven year old daughter hold me to my very words. It happened again yesterday. “Daddy you said you will take me to Chick-fil-A when I finish my homework”. I immediately complied without any hesitation to run for this delicious chicken for Grace. Grace met the requirements and asked according to my words. 

Now, that’s the power of words and of promises. That’s also the demonstration of the rights, privileges, inheritance as a result of a sure relationship. God's Word is faithful and true and trustworthy. Now, though I made the promise, if Grace had not asked, she would still not have received her delicious chicken. We must ask and keep on asking. Asking is a delight to our heavenly Father.

Have you been approaching God without the knowledge of the full assurance of your permanent and everlasting relationship with God the Father and Maker of all things and Creator of the entire universe? The only One God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit? This is the God who gave us eternal life and that life is in Christ Jesus and that life is Christ Himself.

Oh, let me get you excited. This is the God who said. “If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32.

Have you even comprehended who your Heavenly Father is and His Son Jesus Christ?  ^“14 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. 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.” Hebrews 4:14-16.

Jesus said when he comes back will he find faith in people? It’s not the faith of the prosperity gospel to “name and claim” it but faith in Christ Himself who has died and redeemed us. For without faith it’s impossible to please God; we must believe that He exists and God rewards those that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Now back to John. Notice that John immediately gives us example of what to ask for that is in accordance with the will of God:

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. 1 John 5:16-17.

What is then the first and foremost thing I should ask for? I must ask for the salvation and deliverance of my brothers and sisters who are still caught up in sin and sinful lifestyle. Likely, this person apostle John speaks about may not have been “born of God” already or one who have derailed from continuing to believe and trust in Christ the only Lord and Savior.

Prayer for salvation is a sure prayer that will move God and He will answer. Of course we can pray for other things according to God’s will, but John through the Holy Spirit is showing us the thing of greatest importance. For what shall it profit a man/woman to gain the whole world and loose his own soul. Being “born of God” and having Christ the eternal life trumps everything else.

So, are you going to ask for anything? Why and why not? If you don’t ask you don’t receive but we must ask for the glory of God (James 4:3). Are you the one who is getting tired of asking for the salvation of that daughter, son, cousin, brother, sister, neighbor, co-worker, friends, and etc.? You shall see the answers to your prayers; if not now but later. 

There are countless number of people whose loved ones came to faith after they have gone to heaven ahead of them. But there are millions who have come to faith in the life time of the people who prayed and shared the gospel with their loved ones. I am a witness.

Yes, please pray right now. Lord, I pray for Jeans, Oscar, Tom (name yours) that you will please draw him/her to you, remove the spiritual blindness and forgive his/her sins and  “give him [her] life”. Amen.

But Udo I have financial and personal needs too. Yes, go ahead and ask; for our Father is a giver and loves to give and take care of us. But keep in mind: “⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ⁶ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? – Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV).

Lord, thank you for eternal life, for Jesus Christ you have given me. Lord thank you for everything, for all things come from you. Amen.