God’s will

Is That What God Wants or Is That What You Want? – 1 John 5:14-15

/ Bob

In 1 John 5:14-15 we read, “Now 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.” It almost sounds as if God is giving us carte blanche or a blank check with our prayer requests.

However, there is a caveat or stipulation if you will – “according to His will.”

What John is telling us that God will hear us and grant our petition when we ask according to His will, His design, His plan, His purpose. God’s ultimate desire is the salvation of the world. The entire Bible highlights God’s efforts to restore His relationship with mankind and that must be our ultimate desire as well. When our focus is in line with God’s focus two things happen in our prayer life. First, we ask for things that advance the Kingdom of God. Second, the things that once seemed so important fade in the light of God’s design and God’s desire.

Of course, “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1) and God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) so there is no need to not go to the Lord with our requests. In fact, we are told to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) Still, we must always submit to the will of God and place our lives as well as our requests in His hands.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 24, 2024. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is Prayer the Moves Heaven: Power with Purpose. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/prayer-that-moves-heaven-study-guide/ .Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .


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Class Notes – 11.24.2024 – Is That What God Wants or Is That What You WantDownload

What You Say and What You Do – James 5:12-10

/ Bob

At the end of the book of James we find some timely advice on what we say and what we do in relation to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as on what we say and do in prayer.

Verse 12 speaks to our integrity in what we say. We shouldn’t have to swear to something or take an oath to support what we say or to prove that our word is good. Our word should stand on its own. Our word should be as good as gold. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no.

In prayer we should submit to God. James has already told us why we don’t get what we pray for in James 4:3. But it goes deeper. Praying for healing is something the church must do. Prayer offered in faith will bring healing. The prayer of faith offered up by the righteous is powerful – as powerful as that of Elijah the prophet.

Finally, in loving our fellow believers, we must be mindful of those who are struggling in their faith. As we read in Galatians 6 we who spiritual are to assist those who have wandered from the faith, remembering that next time it might be us who will be in need of assistance.

This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, November 19, 2023. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is The Making of Authentic Faith. You can find printed and digital versions of this series online at: gc2press.org/the-making-of-authentic-faith-james-study-guide/ .

Handouts with slide content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .

Website – FromTheBackPorch.org

X – From the Back Porch @ nationalfast

Facebook – From the Back Porch in Texas

Email – fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com

class-notes-11.192023-james-5.12-20-what-you-say-and-what-you-sayDownload