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. (I John 5:13)
The Apostle John may sound like a broken record, but just as God used him to deal with some serious moral issues in the new churches in Asia Minor (Turkey) at the time, we have to be reminded repeatedly also, that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, and that we have to believe in Him in order to receive eternal life. God said it, and Christ confirmed it! There is no other way! Once we are sure that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), then ...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. (I John 5:14-15)
People have said, "I prayed and asked God for this or that, and He didn't give it to me or he didn't answer my prayer", therefore they conclude that God's not real. Well, we have to make sure we've asked Him for the most important thing first: that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
The only prayer God will "hear" and answer of an unrepentant sinner is when they finally pray a prayer of repentance and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) Once we are saved, then the lines of communication are opened between us and God, because we have the Holy Spirit of God living on the inside of us, and ...the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts [Hebrews 4:12] knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
Our prayers have to be according to the will of God! Most of us pray selfishly, even after we accept salvation (see Deny Thyself, and Gain EVERYTHING). You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:3) God's commandments make it very clear that the order of our lives, and therefore our prayer lives should be to: 1. put God first in everything; and 2. to put others before ourselves (see Christ Fulfills The Commandments).
If we are now in a right relationship with God, our main desire should be to lead others to the Truth: Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
But if people won't listen to the Truth or believe it, then God instructs us to pray for them: 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. (I John 5:16-17) The only sin that leads to death is the sin of denying the Truth: “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:10; Mark 3:28-29)
We know that we are saved if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, because In [Christ] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) So, we can speak against God, but eventually realize He is real. We can also speak against Christ, but eventually accept that He is real also. But if we speak against the Holy Spirit, we call God a liar, and therefore he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. (I John 5:10, 6)
We can't save anyone, we couldn't even save ourselves (see We Share, God Saves). We can't change anyone's mind, but whenever we have the opportunity, we need to share the Truth with them. After that, ...avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law [Word of God]; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11)
Once we get our beliefs right, get our priorities right, then get our prayer life right, we can get our behavior right, through the power of the Holy Spirit in us: 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. (I John 5:18-21)
No we are not perfect just because we are Christians, but As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12) ...says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:16-17)
God does not condemn us for our sins (John 3:17), but allows His Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins (John 16:7-11); and If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) ...if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)
Therefore, if we want our prayers answered, we first have to believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Then we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, ...the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15) Once we know that we are adopted into the family of God through faith in Christ Jesus, ...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:17) And because we are a new creation in Christ, ...we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:16)
Jesus said, "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God." (John 16:26-27) Because we who are Christians are in Christ and have the mind of Christ, we know our prayers will be answered because we will ask anything according to His will, and He hears us.
So how to pray? Jesus taught the model prayer: "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)
Acknowledge God first and His authority; trust God to give us what we need; ask God for forgiveness while making sure we forgive others; ask that He continue to strengthen us as we navigate through this life; and give Him praise and thanks for Who He is! Always concluding by praying in Christ Jesus name, because ...God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) AMEN!
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