1 John 5:14-15:
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of him.
John addressed this letter to the new church. He wanted them to review and deepen their understanding, by explaining in simple and practical terms what it means to have fellowship with Christ. The church was going through trying times including the attack of false teachers.
In these two verses, John is explaining the reward of our love for Christ: mainly that because we obey Him, we have the right to ask Him to meet our needs however big or small they might be. This is a privilege of every child of God. We often make the mistake of thinking that this is a blank cheque. That is not the case. Note that it specifically states that we must ask according to what God agrees to. We can only know this by having a relationship with God based on love. Once this love bond is established and expressed within the context of our lives, we are assured of God answering our every asking.
The reason for the previous studies on love now becomes clear: GOD WANTS TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS. But before He does that, He wants to make sure that you abide in His love. Asking without this love is failure. Asking from within this love means an answer.
The people that John was writing to did not have any reference frame. They were the first church. This new testament body was the first of its kind. True they had the old testament references, but as a church, they were the first of their kind. They could not phone a friend for help, or google sermons like we do. John understood their worries and predicament, and wrote to address the most important aspect of their life : a thriving and loving relationship with Christ.
The message for all mankind is that Once we are in God’s love He hears our prayer. We can only receive answers to our prayer from that alignment. Before God answers our prayer, He teaches us the meaning of love, so that He can positively answer us. This is the reason why these verses come right at the end of the letter. To ask without the context of eternal love is failure. John develops this context as we have seen over the past two weeks. Having done so he reveals the reward for those who have mastered the love walk. These verses are further encouragement to continue on the love walk.
You should see this “asking truth”in the context of the past teachings. God has showed you how to love, now that you apply this you can ask. The meaning of God’s season of love teaching is the reward of the asking. Many of us including me, have made the mistake of asking amiss because we did not follow the love walk. The principles of Christianity are direct and simple. We do not earn PhD’s in theoretical Christianity. If you are currently not receiving the answers to your prayers, it might be time to check your love walk. If you are on this love walk, then the time has come to ask and receive.
Our priority must be to apply these truths. Christianity is action. The first two letters in the word God are “go”, this means motion and action. We cannot be successful in life until we obey and go, and our lives become book of acts. Faith is measured by the accompanying works. Apply this word, and all that you have been taught to remain in fellowship with Christ, and your life will never be the same. It will be the season daily miracles and reward harmonies, and the fullness of the flight calligraphy of destiny.
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