1 JOHN 3:19-24
CONFIDENCE
#13, Real Christianity (1 John)
Of all the things you do, when do you feel the most confident?
When do you feel the least confident?
What helps you feel confident?
What hurts your confidence?
Why is confidence important?
What does God have to do with confidence?
We have a tendency toward insecurities and uncertainties. And most of us need more confidence than we have. We don't need more confidence in ourselves. We need more confidence in God.
Martin Luther - "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Paul says in Romans 7:18-19, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Because we are human
Because we are sinners
Because we have such great capacity to fail, we need a greater confidence than in ourselves.
We need a confidence not based on what we feel.
We need a confidence base on what God says.
As we continue our study in 1 John this evening we arrive at 1 John 3:19-24.
This passage tells us how to have the right kind of confidence, the confidence that God is behind. It is confidence that God produces and sponsors.
In this passage we find out how to have:
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
CONFIDENCE WITH GOD - Vs. 21
CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER - Vss. 22-23
CONFIDENCE BY THE SPIRIT - Vs. 24
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
1 John 3:19 - And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
To be of the truth is to be of Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The one who has claimed Jesus Christ as the truth has trusted Jesus Christ as his or her savior. The one who knows Christ as savior is of the truth.
In Vs. 19 John tells us how to tell if we are of the truth, that is, how to tell if we've been born again.
He says "hereby we know we are of the truth". He is referring to the preceding verses.
The one is of the truth practices agape love.
Vs. 16 - It is a love that lays down its life for the brethren.
Vs. 17 - It is a love which sees a need and does something about it.
Vs. 18 - It is a love that is in deed and truth and not all mouth.
I have seen people in this congregation showing this kind of love when they have ministered to other members of the congregation who have been in need.
"A man was trying to get financial help for a widow who was in dire need, but his efforts were meeting with very little success. Even so, most of the people he contacted did express their regret over the sad situation of the poverty-stricken woman.
"The concerned man, refusing to give up, had high hopes as he approached a wealthy acquaintance but he too refused to offer help. In declining the request, the rich man said, "I do want you to know however, that I really feel sorry for the poor woman."
The one who was asking for the money responded, "I'm sure you do, but I'm afraid you don't feel it in the right place."
"Oh yes, I do," replied the man, "I feel it very deeply in my heart."
The other responded, "That's just the problem. You feel it in the wrong place. I just wish those feelings were also in you pocket."
So John is saying that we have assured hearts when we actually demonstrate our salvation through the actions of Christian love.
Our actions of love build confidence of heart.
They assure our hearts that we are of Christ.
The fact that we practice Christian love gives assurance of salvation.
1 John 3:20 - For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
I'm glad John didn't stop the discussion here.
He recognizes and reminds us that there are times when our hearts and minds will try to condemn us.
Another term for a condemning heart might be an accusing conscience.
Many times our conscience will accuse us rightly of sinfulness.
Then we are to confess our sins, and, as 1 John 1:9 says, we are forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness.
Sometimes, however, we have an over-active conscience. We do something wrong, confess it, and still live in guilt.
God is greater than our heart.
God knows when we have truly confessed and forsaken sin.
We need to leave what we have confessed behind.
There are other times, when we have been loving by way of action and striving to help others. And yet it seems that we cannot get enough done to satisfy ourselves. Again, God is greater than our hearts, and knows when we have done our best.
So, what do we do when our hearts start to condemn us?
First, remember that God is greater than our heart!
If what we are convicted of is true, confess it and then make it right, if necessary.
If its something you've already dealt with, just give it back to the Lord, and believe that He's forgiven you.
If it's something you just haven't been able to do, but you have been busy, give that to the Lord, and remember that He understands your heart.
Remember God wants you to have a confident heart!
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
CONFIDENCE WITH GOD - Vs. 21
1 John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
A confident heart produces confidence with God.
When our heart is right, there is confidence toward God.
When our sin has been dealt with.
When we know that we have been forgiven.
When we know that we have been loving by action and trying to do our best, so that God is speaking peace.
When we have confidence toward God we have freedom in His presence. By freedom I do not mean that we are free to show disrespect in His presence.
Disrespect is shown when we rush into God's presence when it isn't necessary to rush.
Disrespect does not address God properly. I have a personal problem when the only way we know how to address our Lord is by His first name. He is our Lord. He is our Master. He is our Savior and we should address Him that way.
Freedom in the presence of God is not disrespect.
The confident Christian comes to God reverently.
The confident Christian comes to God in love.
The confident Christian comes to God respecting the entire Trinity.
There is reverence in God's presence but not a shaking in the boots type of fear.
There is no doubt that God will listen.
There is no hesitancy to be honest with God, even when we are hurting.
This word confidence actually carries the idea of freedom of speech.
It's a freedom of knowing that whatever you say, God will sort it out, correct us, ignore what's worth ignoring, and love us anyway.
I once had two bosses. Actually one followed the other. I was able to talk to the first boss and have good fellowship with him. I always felt comfortable in his presence.
The next boss was rather critical and did things to embarrass me publicly. Even in social situations I could not feel comfortable.
My first boss was more like the Lord than my second boss. God wants me to be comfortable in His presence.
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
CONFIDENCE WITH GOD - Vs. 21
CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER - Vss. 22-23
1 John 3:22 - And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
We sometimes think that what we can safely ask God for is limited. And yet the spectrum of prayers that God answers is very broad.
Matthew 7:7-8 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Why does God give us such a broad spectrum for prayer?
Why does God tell us to pray about so much? "Everything" is so much!
It is because God, Himself, has a broad spectrum of concerns.
He is more concerned about missions than you are.
He is more concerned that you live a godly life than you are.
He is more concerned that Christians have fellowship than you are.
He is more concerned about lost souls than you are.
He is more concerned that you learn the Word of God than you are.
He is more concerned that your interpersonal relationships are right than you are.
He is more concerned that people are sick and hurting than you are.
Here is this caring, loving, compassionate, and yet just and righteous God who says that we can have confidence in prayer.
There are conditions to our praying.
When our heart is right with God we will not ask for those things which are ridiculous, or against God's prescribed will.
James 4:3 - Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
And the one who asks in prayer, as it states here, should be walking with the Lord in obedience. We are to be keeping His commandments and doing things to please Him.
God does not answer prayer based on our works.
God, however, does not hear with a view of answering prayer when there is unconfessed sin in our lives.
Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Obedience is a condition for answered prayer.
Vs. 23 sums up when keeping His commandments means.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
First part of the summary is to believe on Christ.
1. For salvation
2. Praying in His name - Believing that He approves in what we are praying for, and believing that it is because of His righteousness that God will answer prayer.
John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The second part of the summary is to "love one another as he gave commandment."
John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Don't expect God to answer prayer unless you pray in faith in the name of Christ and unless you are willing to act in love yourself.
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
CONFIDENCE WITH GOD - Vs. 21
CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER - Vss. 22-23
CONFIDENCE BY THE SPIRIT - Vs. 24
1 John 3:24 - And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
John gives us a principle here that has to do with obedience.
When we obey the Lord Jesus is in communion with us.
1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
When we obey, we are in communion with the Lord Jesus.
1 John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
John 15:4-5 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
And how do we know that Christ abides in us?
It is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:14-17 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
John 14:16-18 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
My friend, God wants us to have confidence.
He will give us this confidence as we do as He says.
CONFIDENCE OF HEART - Vss. 19-20
CONFIDENCE WITH GOD - Vs. 21
CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER - Vss. 22-23
CONFIDENCE BY THE SPIRIT - Vs. 24