Let us turn to the portion we've just read, and I want to direct your attention for a while to the words that we have at the end of that portion, reading from verse 13 through 14 and 15. John writes, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that she may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Here then in 1 John chapter 5 and verses 13 through 14 and 15. And to say something with regards to what John speaks of here in terms of that confidence, that boldness, that is ours as we come to see God's face in prayer. This is the confidence, he says, that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. Verse 14. And of course, this confidence is very much related to our confidence, which is to be in the Lord Jesus Christ.

As he says there in the 13th verse, he's writing, he says, unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. This eternal life is found only in Christ, the spiritual life, that we so much stand in need of is there in the person and work of Christ and bound up with our faith as it centers in the Lord Jesus. He says at verse 11, this is the record that God has given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son.

This spiritual life then that we so much stand in need of and that is evidenced by faith, by belief in his name. We have those words on two occasions in verse 13, that you that believe on the name of the Son of God. And then again he says that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And of course this faith is there simply because of that gracious witness of the Spirit As he says back in verse 6, it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

If we would know anything of any real use in our religious lives, it must be because of our dependence upon that gracious working of the Spirit in our hearts. And there are a number of things that he mentions here with regards to the Spirit. It is the Spirit who is the one that is really the originator of saving faith. And we see that in what he says there at verse 13, that ye may believe. In order that, that's the force of that word, that, in order that ye may believe. on the name of the Son of God.

No man can say that Jesus Christ is Lord but by the Holy Ghost, says the Apostle Paul writing there to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 12. Now we need the Spirit then if we're going to be those who have that true faith that is resting in the Lord Jesus. And then here also we see the ministry of the Holy Spirit in relation to the Scriptures of truth. He is the author of Scripture. He is the inspirer of those men who were the human authors of Holy Scripture.

And so he says in verse 13, these things have I written unto you. And John, of course, he's writing under that gracious, that blessed influence of the Spirit. He knows those gracious quickenings. holy men of God speaking as they are moved by the Spirit of God in the language that we find in Peter's second epistle. All Scripture says Paul in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. And here then these things that John is writing are not so much the words of John, but these are the words of the Holy Spirit.

Remember what he says when we come to the end of that 20th chapter in the Gospel that bears his name. These are written, he says, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name. This is why John writes in his gospel, writes in his epistles, writes in the book of the Revelation. It is the Holy Spirit then who is not only the one who gives faith, that faith of the operation of God, but he is the one who is the author of the scriptures of truth and It is that new life that comes by the ministry of the Spirit in association with the Word of God.

Think of that language that we find at the end of 1 Peter 1, being born again, not of corruptible things, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, the Logos of God, which liveth and abideth forever. that is the Lord Jesus, but it is the Spirit who bears his testimony unto the Lord Jesus Christ. And there, Peter goes on and says, and this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. It's interesting, because when he makes that statement, which is, this is the word which by the gospel is preached, he's not using the word logos there, but he's using another word, the word Reime which means the spoken word so the message of the gospel is that it is spoken by the preacher but it is the Lord Jesus Christ as the Spirit comes and by the ministry of the Spirit the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ is heard and so it is the Holy Spirit who gives that new life it is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh prophet of nothing Christ says the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life and then again here we're reminded how it is the spirit who gives assurance he gives confidence he gives boldness those words that we have in the middle of verse 13 that ye may know These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that ye may know. It is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

And Paul, remember the experience of Paul and his great desire that I may know him. and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death. What is that knowledge that Paul is speaking of there in Philippians chapter 3, that I may know him? It's not just an historical knowledge, knowing something about Jesus of Nazareth, it's much more than that. It's that knowledge that has to do with the the deepest needs of his soul. It's that that is really experimental because he mentions first of all the power of his resurrection. It's that knowledge that comes in by the power of God in the gospel. the power of his resurrection, then the fellowship of his sufferings, then conformity unto his death.

And so, here throughout these verses, when we look at the context, we go back to those words at the end of verse 6. It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. And the Spirit's work then in faith, the Spirit is that one who is the inspirer of the scriptures of truth, the Spirit is that one who breathes new life, as the Word of God comes to the sinner and that one who also gives that assurance.

And then, what I really want to say a little about tonight is that that confidence and that boldness in prayer that he speaks of here in verses 14 and 15, this is the confidence. that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He heareth us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Three particular points, really, with regards to what He is saying here, that He speaks Very much of that boldness. Interestingly, the word that he uses, confidence. This is the confidence. It's the same word that elsewhere is rendered boldness. In Hebrews 4.16, let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy. and find grace to help in time of need. And that word boldly there, it's the same word that's there for come confidently. Again in Ephesians 3.12 in whom we have boldness and access. with confidence by the faith of Him. And the word that's used in these particular verses is that compound word that literally means all speech, freedom of speech. Oh, we can speak freely to God when we come to pray.

And the first thing then to observe is that we can be free with that God who is absolutely sovereign in all His ways.

to say something in the first place with regards to God's God's decree in connection with our prayer. What does he say at the end of verse 14? It's if we ask anything according to his will. If we ask anything according to his will He heareth us.

The important thing when we come to pray, although we have that freedom, is that we recognize that God's will is paramount.

As I said, I think last week, some would say that predestination is really a terrible discouragement to prayer. What's the point of prayer if God is sovereign and God is doing according to his will among the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth and no one can challenge him? What is the point of prayer?

Others go the other way and say there is no limit to what prayer can do. There are some who say, well, prayer changes things as if God is changeable. But of course he's immutable, he's the unchanging one, he's the I am that I am.

But this is the way the natural man thinks, this is the way the Arminian, the free willer might think. What's the point of predestination? Predestination is that that discourages any idea of prayer to some to others. Well, it doesn't mean anything at all because prayer can change the mind of God.

Well, we have to remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, if you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. And again, he says something very similar. Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, I will give it you.

It's when we come and we make mention of that name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, But we have to remember that Christ's name really declares to us the truth of His sovereignty because He is God Himself. He is God manifest in the flesh.

God has highly exalted Him as the Messiah, as the Saviour of sinners, giving Him a name which is above every name. that at the name of Jesus every knee is to bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord to the glory of God God has given him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all

so when we when we come and pray and make request in his name we are those who are submitting to that name and recognizing his sovereignty We recognize him as that one who has come to execute that work that the Father had given to him in the eternal covenant.

His will always to do, or his work always to do the will of him who has sent him. As the mediator, he is that one who is ever subject to the will of the Father. And so when we come we are to pray as those who are mindful of what the Lord himself has instructed us to say, his teaching.

Remember those words that we have at the beginning of Luke 11. We're told how he came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place, one of his disciples, when he had finished, said unto him, Lord, teach us how to pray. And what does the Lord say? When ye pray, say, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. There is the first request. Thy kingdom come, there is a second. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

the Lord himself teaches us to pray always in submission to God's sovereign will and we are to seek first and foremost the honor and the glory of his name and as the Lord teaches that manner of praying we also recognize at the same time that he is that one who gives us an example he gives us an example when we see him as the Saviour, the mediator of the New Covenant, fulfilling the work that had been committed to Him, the cross before Him, praying to His Father there in the Garden of Gethsemane. And now we see that His human will is altogether subject to the divine will. He says, Father, if Thou be willing, If thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done."

Well, he doesn't just instruct then, he shows us how to pray. God has ordained all things and we are to pray in subjection to that divine will. But we pray as those who recognize that God is able to do all things. Nothing is impossible with Him. He can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. And so we come as those who recognize the sovereignty of God, and that sovereignty revealed to us in the person and the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we see how God has not only ordained the end of all of these matters, but the means whereby all is to be accomplished, and it is by prayer.

Those familiar words at the end of Ezekiel 36, God says, I will yet for this be inquired. by the House of Israel to do it for them. God will do it, and He will do it for His people. He will do it in answer to the prayers of His people. But they must inquire of Him. I will yet be inquired of by the House of Israel. to do it for them.

And when the Lord is teaching again in the gospel in Luke 18, you remember the parable that he tells of the widow and the unjust judge. And now that parable is introduced to us. He spake a parable unto them to this end. There's a purpose in what he's saying here. He speaks to a specific end. What is it? That we're to be importunate in our prayers. That widow would never give over. She wearied the unjust judge. But we don't weary God with our prayers, because we see in the second place how God delights. God delights in our prayers.

All God is able to do, exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think, And that's our comfort. He heareth us, it says, at the end of verse 14. And then again in verse 15, he hears us. He doesn't say unto the seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain. We can never pray in vain. There's nothing futile about praying. How he encourages us. That's a remarkable text, isn't it, Isaiah 45, 11, where he says to Israel of all concerning the works of my hand, command ye me. Oh, what boldness! We are encouraged to, to command him. Ask, and he shall be given you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, he that seeketh findeth. To him that knocketh it shall be opened."

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ there in the Sermon on the Mount. That one in whom all these promises of God are yay and amen. Oh God, delight in the prayers of His people, the Psalmist. There in Psalm 4 and verse 3, the Lord will hear when I call unto Him, He says. He has had assurance that the Lord will hear him. and answer Him. And we know that all that God is, as Father, Son and Holy Ghost, all that God is, is involved in our prayers. We learn the doctrine of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, when we come to pray to Him. There's words in Ephesians 2, 18, for through him, he's speaking of Christ, he's the apostle. Through him, we both, that's Jew and Gentile, have access by one Spirit unto the Father. It's through the Lord Jesus Christ as the mediator. It's by that gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit. And it's a glorious communing with God, meeting with Him. taking with us words, calling upon his name. All Christ, you see, is in heaven as our great mediator, able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, it says. But as there is one in heaven, so there is one also in the hearts of believers, even God the Holy Ghost, the spirits helpeth our infirmities, maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. And we're told, he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. It's always that, according to the will of God.

All this God then that we deal with in our prayers is He is a sovereign God, He is executing His decree, He has all power, Christ has all authority in heaven and in earth, and He is accomplishing His goodwill and pleasure, and God delights that we come and make our prayers in and through Him.

And so, as God delights in prayer, we should seek to express our desires in prayer. What does it say here at the end of verse 15? We know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. The petitions which we desired of Him. Our desire then is, or should be, that our prayers are in accordance with His purpose. We pray sincerely and we say, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.

What does he say here in verse 14? This is the confidence that we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. But how can we know? How can we know What's according to the will of God? Well, we learn it, of course, only from His Word, ultimately. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God. The things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children. And we have God's Word, and we're to pray over what God says to us here in His Word.

And we have that remarkable prayer recorded that Daniel prayed. Remember that ninth chapter in the book of Daniel? He speaks of Darius coming to the throne. The Babylonians have gone now. The Medes and Persians have overwhelmed the Babylonian Empire. And there in verse 2 of that ninth chapter, in the first year of his, that is the reign of Darius, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem." Now we know where these things are recorded, Jeremiah 25, 11 and 12, and 29 verses 10 and 11. So he must have been reading these words. He understood by books what God would accomplish.

And what is the outcome of his reading and understanding the Word of God, I set my face unto the Lord God to seek my prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes, and I prayed unto the Lord my God and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him and to them that keep His commandments, we have sinned. And we have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, and so on. He makes his confession, but then he pleads with God that God will yet accomplish His work, fulfill His purpose.

Prayer has its place. We should delight then in our prayers. We should pray to Him. We should hold Him fast. by what He Himself has said here in Holy Scripture, we should surround Him with His own promises, though He be the Almighty One. The old Puritans said, we need to thicken our prayers with God's words. That's how we're to pray, and that gives us confidence. We have a right understanding, a right view of God, and we desire above all things the honor, the glory of His Name. in all the earth, the accomplishments of his own great purpose, his gracious purpose of salvation.

And so, here in these verses, John says, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Oh, the Lord help us in to come before God with such views, large views. Thou art coming to a King. Large petitions we did bring for his grace and power as such. None can ever ask too much. Well, the Lord bless his word to us tonight.