Go! And Pray With Confidence Series

Go! And Pray with Confidence

1 John 5:14-15 (NLT): "And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for."

Introduction: The Privilege of Prayer

Prayer is not merely a religious duty; it is a divine privilege. Through prayer, we commune with the Creator of the universe. Yet, how often do we approach God with hesitation, doubting whether He hears us or will answer our petitions?

In our key text, the Apostle John assures us of the confidence we can have in approaching God. Let's delve into this passage to understand the foundation of this confidence and how it transforms our prayer life.

I. The Confidence We Have in Him

The Greek word for "confidence" here is parresia, which denotes boldness and assurance. John emphasizes that our confidence is not in ourselves but in Him—in God's character and promises.

This confidence is rooted in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Earlier in his epistle, John writes:

"For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith." (1 John 5:4, NLT)

Our faith in Jesus grants us victory and access to the Father.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT): "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

This verse is a glorious invitation to approach Almighty God—not with fear and trembling, but with confidence. Not because of our worthiness, but because of Jesus’ righteousness. The Greek word translated as “boldly” is parresia, meaning freedom of speech, openness, confidence. What a staggering thought: through Christ, we are granted full access to the very throne room of heaven!

It is not a throne of judgment for the believer—it is a throne of grace. A place where mercy flows like a river, where grace is available in our time of deepest need. We do not come grovelling as beggars; we come as children, welcomed by our gracious Father because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

So come—don’t delay. Come when you're weak. Come when you're weary. Come when you're struggling. Come because Jesus, your great High Priest, intercedes for you. He understands. He welcomes you. And He supplies exactly what you need.

Let us pray with confidence, live with courage, and walk in grace—because Christ has opened the way!

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT): "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence."

What an astounding truth this is! Because of Christ—not our works, not our merit, not our religious effort, but because of Jesus and our faith in Him—we are granted bold and confident access to the throne room of God. The Greek word translated “boldly” (parresia) speaks of freedom of speech, openness without fear. And “confidently” (pepoithesei) carries the idea of firm trust, of knowing we belong.

Once, sin locked the door to God's presence. But Jesus, by His blood, flung that door wide open! We are no longer outsiders peeking in—we are sons and daughters walking in!

So don’t come to God timidly, like a servant afraid of the master's wrath. Come boldly, like a child running into their Father’s arms. The One who made a way through the cross now invites you to draw near. Go! And live in that access. Go! And pray with confidence. Go! And rest in the presence of the One who loves you beyond measure.

When we grasp the depth of God's love and the access we have through Christ, our prayers shift from timid requests to bold petitions. We approach not as beggars but as beloved children.

Tim Keller once said: "Prayer is the way to experience a powerful confidence that God is handling our lives well, that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken from us, and the best things are yet to come."

This encapsulates the essence of our confidence in prayer. It's not about manipulating outcomes but trusting in God's sovereign goodness.

II. Asking According to His Will

John specifies that our confidence is tied to asking "for anything that pleases him." This aligns our desires with God's will.

The Greek phrase kata to thelema autou translates to "according to His will." It's not a blank check for any request but an invitation to align our hearts with God's purposes.

Matthew 6:10 (NLT): "May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

This short but powerful petition is the heartbeat of a surrendered life. In this verse, Jesus teaches us not just to long for heaven, but to live as citizens of heaven now. When we pray, “May your Kingdom come soon,” we are expressing our deep yearning for Christ’s rule to be fully realised—first in our own hearts, then in our communities, and ultimately in all creation.