1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:… I. REGENERATE HUMANITY AS THE SUBJECT OF CONTINUAL NECESSITY. Man is a suppliant. There is no moment in his immortality in which he can declare absolute independence of a Superior Power. Our salvation has not lessened our dependence on the Divine bounty. We feel necessities now of which in our natural state we. are totally unconscious. 1. There is our want of a world conquering faith. Without faith man is the mere sport of swelling waves or changeful winds — faith gives him majesty by ensuring for all his energies an immovable consolidation! 2. There is our need of infallible wisdom. The realities of life rebuke our self-sufficiency. The countless errors for whose existence we are unhappily responsible are teaching us that our unaided powers are unequal to the right solution of life's problems. 3. There is our need of renewing and protective grace. All who know the subtlety of sin feel their danger of being undermined by its insidious influence. Without the "daily bread" of heaven we must inevitably perish. II. REGENERATE HUMANITY INTRODUCED TO THE INFINITE SOURCE OF BLESSING. 1. This source is revealed by the highest authority. It is the Son revealing the Father — the Well-beloved who is intimately acquainted with the feelings which characterise the Infinite Being in regard to an apostate race; so that in accepting this testimony we accept it at the lips of a Divine witness. 2. This source is continually accessible. It would indeed have been graciously condescending had God appointed periodical seasons at which He would have listened to human cries; but He has appointed us audience hours — He is ever ready to hear man's song and to attend man's suit. 3. This source is inexhaustible. The ages have drunk at this fountain, but it flows as copiously as though no lip had been applied to the living stream. III. REGENERATE HUMANITY ENGAGED IN SOCIAL DEVOTION. 1. Prayer is the mightiest of all forces (Matthew 18:19, 20). 2. Special encouragement is given to social worship. 3. Am I surrounded by those who inquire how they can serve their race? I point to the text for answer: you can agree to beseech the enriching blessing of God! IV. REGENERATE HUMANITY CAUSING A DISTRIBUTION OF THE RICHES OF THE UNIVERSE. While man is a moral alien he has no influence in the distribution of Divine bounty: but when he becomes a child he may affect the diffusion of celestial blessings. If God has given us His Son will He not with Him freely give us all things? If He has given us the ocean we know that He will not withhold the drop! This assurance is solemnly suggestive. 1. It silences all complaints as to the Divine bounty. Do you wail that you feel so little of holy influence? The reason is at hand: "Ye have not because ye asked not, or because ye asked amiss." 2. It places the Church in a solemn relation to the unsaved world. That world is given us as a vineyard. The fruitful rain and glorious light may be had for asking. Are we clear of the world's blood in the matter of prayer? 3. It defines the limit of our supplication. "If we ask anything according to His will." There is a mysterious boundary separating confidence and presumption. We must not interfere in the settled purposes of God.Conclusion: 1. Earth is intended to be a great sanctuary — "if two of you shall agree on earth." 2. All worship is to be rendered in connection with the name of Christ. 3. The true suppliant retires from the altar in actual possession of the blessings which he besought. "We know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." We have too long acted as though we wished some visible manifestation or audible proof of answered prayer, whereas the scriptural doctrine is — believe and have. (Joseph Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: |
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