In the sermon 'If We Ask Anything,' David Green explores the assurance believers have in their relationship with God, particularly through prayer. Emphasizing 1 John 5:14-17, Green discusses the confidence believers should have when praying according to God's will, emphasizing that God hears and answers prayers that align with His purpose. The sermon distinguishes between sins leading to death and sins not leading to death, urging believers to pray for those who sin but not to presume on God's responses. Green encourages persistence in prayer, drawing parallels with biblical narratives such as Hebrews 4:16 and the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. He highlights the importance of praying with the right motives, as outlined in James 4, and understanding God's sovereignty in answering prayers. The sermon also addresses common misconceptions about prayer, warning against treating God as a genie for personal desires. Through examples like Ananias and Sapphira, Green illustrates the seriousness of sin and the potential for divine discipline, while also affirming God's grace and the open invitation to approach Him with confidence.

1 John chapter 5 and beginning of verse 14 and going down to verse 17. This is the confidence which we have before Him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for Him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death.

I do not say that He should make requests for this. All in righteousness is sin. There is a sin not leading to death. In my last sermon I preached how that we know that we have eternal life. A great message on assurance.

John wrote and he said there in that previous verse, these things I've written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. But that's not all that you have assurance of. There's assurance. If you believe in Jesus, you know that you have eternal life. We also know that he hears us when we pray.

In fact, John words it this way. He says, this is the confidence we have before him. This is the confidence confidence that we have. Do you remember Hebrews chapter 4 verse 16? Most of us cut our teeth learning that verse from the King James Bible.

It's a blessed truth. The way the translators there put it was let us come boldly Under the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need and every time that was preached or brought up the The the clarification was given Boldly there doesn't mean brashly We're not to come brashly before God, but with confidence. With confidence. In our LSB Bibles, Hebrews 4 and verse 16, If you turn there with me, this is why the translators here brought this the way that they did. And it says, therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The English has changed over time, but what the Bible is telling us, what John is telling us in our text, what the writer of Hebrews is telling us, whether it was Paul or Apollos or whoever it was that penned Hebrews, what we're being told is there's an open invitation. We're welcomed to the throne room of heaven, and it's called the throne of grace. You can find help there. You can find mercy and grace in the time of need. You have confidence knowing that God does indeed answer prayers.

You and I we go there for different reasons. Some have health problems this morning, some have financial issues, maybe you've got both. Maybe you have some struggle with addiction, and even those are varied. I think about all the problems in this world, and yet the door is open to the throne room of heaven. One might struggle with pornography, another with alcohol, someone else might struggle with drugs, someone else might struggle with attention, deficit, disorder, so they call him.

Another with gossip. What did our song say that we... Something just a moment ago? The writer put it to word, put words to pen there. Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Whatever it is, whatever it is, take it to the Lord in prayer. Whether your, whatever your problems are, some major issue, weighs heavy on your hearts this hour, some problems, some concern, whatever it is, No matter how big, no matter how small. We know God hears us and He answers prayer. We know he's able to do exceedingly above what we even think or ask. And when we pray, he hears and answers.

Answers if we ask anything according to His will. According to His will. Now I know that there are some carnal individuals in this world who like to think of God as being some genie in a bottle. They can pull him out anytime they want and rub the lamp as it were and ask God for whatever they desire. Once they get what they want they put him back up in their bottle and carry on with their lives.

But that's not what's been taught here. God is not one who's going to give us our Greeds Our desires of the flesh our lusts Our foolish ambitions all that But he gives us more than what we could ever want or imagine. Some are disappointed at this. But that's why it says, if we ask anything according to his will, if it were any other way, we'd be God, wouldn't we? If we could just go to God and demand that He do for us whatever we ask, then He becomes our servant, our slave.

That's why over in Matthew chapter 6, the model prayer Chapter 6, the model prayer. There are two schools of thought with a model prayer that are prevalent in our world. Just like any other truth, there's ditches to fall on. Some take this prayer and they repeat it verbatim all the time. And it wasn't meant for that reason.

In fact, later in the same sermon he warns against repetitious prayers. So that's a ditch to fall on, but then there's another ditch, and that is those who totally know that this prayer is here, but then ignore it, like as if it's not even there. Certainly, that's a terrible place to be as well. Jesus has taught us how to pray. Sorry it was not later in the sermon, it was earlier.

Right before he got into this model prayer he said in verse 7 and when you are praying do not use meaningless repetition Matthew chapter 6 and verse 7 do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then in this way." So he warns them about meaningless prayers Meaningless repetitions But he gives a structure Here it is our Father who is in heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors and do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom power and glory forever amen And so, and so in this prayer he says, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Your will be done. Not mine, your will, your will. We're to ask according to his will. Over in John chapter 14.

Over in John chapter 14. Verses 13 and 14. Whatever you ask in my name, this will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. This isn't about you or me. This is about Him.

And to ask in Jesus' name is not simply to add a phrase at the end of your prayer, like in Jesus' name, amen. Like in Jesus name, Amen. Lord, give me a Lamborghini or a Ferrari or a really nice sports car. God, give me a mansion and fill my bank account And then throw at the end of it in Jesus name, amen And then wonder why Aren't my prayers being answered? No, no, what Jesus is talking about here is Is is praying the will of God You say well preacher, I get what John is saying.

I get what Jesus is saying. I see it on the paper, but how do we know the will of God? We know the will of God because we have the Word of God. If you know the Word of God, you follow it, obey it, you know the will of God. Know the will of God.

That's what's being taught here. Sometimes though, we don't see our prayers answered for the same reason that the early James chapter four. James chapter four. Beginning of verse one and going down to verse three. What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?

Is not the source of your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have, so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight in quarrel. Do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so you may spend it on your pleasures.

Bear in mind, and I don't want anybody to get discouraged. Sometimes we ask. And we'll get to this here in a moment. It is the will of God, but the answer comes back, not yet. But there are indeed times when we aren't asking or we're asking with the wrong motives.

So we have to evaluate ourselves in prayer lives and consider what's going on. It's simple, really. Brother Rick Smith is pastor of Midland Missionary Baptist Church in Franklin Furnace, Ohio. But when I was growing up, he was a deacon of the King's edition, by this church. He often tells the story of a time, 40 years ago, when men prayed for the salvation of sinners and several young boys were saved added to that church.

When was the last time that you prayed for sinners to be saved? I think it was maybe Louis Kiger posted something on Facebook the other day. Something about that we spend more time trying to keep saints out of heaven through prayer. Praying to keep saints out of heaven than what we do praying that lost souls will come to Christ. Of course, I muddied up the quote, but you get the idea.

We pray and we pray and we ought to pray for people to get well. But how much time do we really pray for sinners to come to Christ, for families to be added to the church? There is a lost world out there. We need the Lord. What a joy it is to have this confidence that we can come to our Lord.

We aren't yet in our glorified bodies, but yet here and now we have this open invitation to the throne of grace. We have confidence in the life to come, yes, but we also have confidence in the here and now, and that we can, right here and right now, enter into His presence. Ask Him freely whatever we need, whatever we have on our hearts and our minds, and He will hear us. God delights in the prayers of His people. This is spoken of so many different ways, but over in Luke chapter 18 Luke chapter 18 and beginning of verse 1, now he was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.

Saying in a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, Give me justice from my opponent. For a while he was unwilling, but afterward he said to himself, Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow is bothering me, I'll give her justice, lest by continually coming she wears me out." And the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said. Now will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them?

I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find that faith on the earth? I love this parable because he uses an illustration that you and I probably would never use to illustrate that we ought to keep coming to the Lord. Keep praying. This poor widow and this unjust judge.

And this unjust judge. And she just kept bothering that judge. And that's the illustration. God wants to hear from his people. You and I, we go through troubles and trials and sometimes, especially in this microwave generation and this high-speed internet generation, we want it now.

God's word says, keep on praying. God says, come on, let me hear from you. Where you at? Far too often, we're busy complaining and fretting and worrying or distracted, scrolling on Facebook, looking on Instagram, instead of going to the throne room where we've been invited. God delights in the prayers of His people.

He wants to hear from us. So whatever it is, whatever problem you're going through as an individual, as a family, as a church, whatever, as a nation, take it to the Lord. Back to our takes there. In 1 John chapter six, or chapter five rather. Or chapter 5 rather.

First John chapter 5 verses 16 and 17. I want to comment on these two verses here. Let me kind of begin to bring this to a close. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. This is an interesting thing that John brings up here in this text.

He says if anyone sees, if you mark in your Bible you can underscore that, sees. That's an important word. This person must be an eye witness of the sin, not get it by hearsay or hear about it secondhand. Well, I know Brother so-and-so did that because Sister so-and-so told me that her cousin's brother, Uncle, told her. No, no, we're not into that sort of thing.

Under the Old Covenant law, by the mouth of two or three witnesses. Every word was established. That was carried over into the New Testament in the commands and writings and the order of even the church. If it's not, if you're not an eyewitness to it, how can you know it's true nature? Now if someone comes to you and says, well, did you hear what hear what my brother so-and-so did?

Because my cousin's uncle's sister told her and blah, blah, blah. It's all secondhand stuff. You can pray about it, but you don't know anything about the true nature of it because a lot of times, by the time that information gets to us, through second, thirdhand and all, it's exaggerated and it's probably not even true. But if we see, if we see, Jonah says, Your brother committing a sin not leading to death. Asking God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death.

There is a sin leading to death. I do not say that he should make request of this. What's he talking about sin leading to death? Well, there's a couple ways to look at this. Even for a believer, the Bible tells us that there is sin which leads to death.

Not spiritual death, not death in the lake of fire, because if you're saved, you'll never end up there. But premeditated sin that's if left unrepented of, will cause the Lord to end the believer's life. You say, now, wait a minute, preacher, that doesn't happen. That's Old Testament stuff. Like when Korah and the others led a rebellion against Moses and the earth opened up and all those sorts of things.

Well, actually it's not. It's not just Old Testament. Over in Acts chapter 5. Over in Acts chapter 5 Acts chapter 5 verses 1 through 11. The man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and kept back some of the price for himself with his wife's full knowledge.

Bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? After it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart?

You have not lied to men, but to God. You have not lied to men, but to God. And as he heard these words Ananias fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came over all who heard. Young men rose up and wrapped him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. There was an interval of about three hours.

His wife came in not knowing what had happened. Peter responded to her, tell me whether you paid this much for the land? And she said, yes, that much. Then Peter said to her, Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door.

They will carry you out as well. And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last. Young men came in and found her dead and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear came over the whole church and over all who heard these things. So this is Ananias and Sapphira.

They lied before the church. They lied before God, and God took them out. Over in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, in the section about church discipline. Notice what he says there in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 4 and 5 he says, in the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." So this one who is committing a dog tree, Paul says he needs to be excluded, removed from the church for the destruction of the flesh, delivered to Satan. Satan can't touch him spiritually, but his flesh can be destroyed.

Of course, we know from the book of Job, the same can only do what the Lord allows. So we see these things happening over in chapter 11 and verse 30 in 1st Corinthians. For this reason many among you are weak, sick, number, sleep. He wasn't talking about the Church of Corinth having a good nap. No, no, this was.

And if you have a Bible with footnotes, that word sleep means that they are dead. The Church of Corinth, there were members of that church who were weak and sick and even dead. Joel MacArthur put it, talking about this sin unto death and so on and so forth, he said, there are believers who have engaged themselves in whatever sin to such a degree that the Lord determines in his sovereignty that they are better off in heaven and the church is better off without them compromising its testimony." And so he says, when those happen, I'm simply telling you that I love the... And he says, I love the way it's stated at the end of 16. I do not say that he should make requests for this.

He doesn't command us, MacArthur says, He doesn't command us not to pray for these people. We don't know who they are. He just says, I can't tell you that you should make requests on behalf of people like that. Which is another way of saying, don't expect the outcome you might otherwise expect. Now, so that's one class of people.

The class of people who are so, who have fallen into sin in such a way that the Lord just takes them out. They're His. But He just takes them out because of dirty bay's nature, because of who they are and how they are, and he just takes them out. The sin unto death. There are others, though, when we think about sin unto death, and those are unbelievers who are who are eternally damned.

They are the reprobate. They've rejected Christ and sin unto death. They're never gonna believe the gospel message. They're never going to be saved. You can go and read Romans chapter 9.

God is sovereign in election and he is sovereign in reprobation. Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated. He raised up Pharaoh for a reason, so he could crush him and show his power. No amount to pray would have done those men any good. And there are men and women, boys and girls in our day that are like that as well.

They're falling to both camps. Believers who will see them to death, we see them. They were once walking, I mean they start out good, maybe they were in their younger years or whatever, they professed Christ and then they've gone off into some sin. We don't know who they are And notice that in all of this, a person might drive themselves crazy. Absolutely crazy.

Trying to determine how to pray, not knowing the spiritual condition of individuals. As I said, if you want to know the will of God, get into God's Word. But when you're dealing with people, Whether it's people who profess Christ and fallen into sin or lost people trying to figure out if they're ever going to come to know Christ. Maybe someone that you've known for years and years and years and you're beginning to wonder are they ever going to come to know about the Lord you've been witnessing to them and all? The Bible doesn't tell you that that neighbor you've been witnessing to for years is ever going to be saved.

The Bible doesn't tell you that that prodigal that run away if he's ever going to come back. The Bible doesn't tell you those things. So how do we pray? Or do we pray at all? Maybe you struggle with that in the light of this verse.

Or maybe, maybe you've read the Psalms. I love the Psalms. Psalms is a source of great comfort. But you know, there's some, they call them the imprecatory Psalms. I'm talking about Psalms such as Psalms 11.

Go with me there for just a few moments. Let's go back to... Someone rightly said that the Psalms is God's medicine cabinet when you're down and discouraged, but look there's some there's some Psalms They Psalms chapter 11 verses 4 through 6 Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh's throne is in heaven. His eyes behold.

His eyelids test the sons of men. Yahweh tests the righteous but the wicked, the one who loves violence his soul hates. May he rain snares upon the wicked. Firing brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For Yahweh is righteous.

He loves righteousness. The upright will behold his face. Or how about the 139th Psalm? Psalm 139 verses 19 through 22. Imagine praying this, and maybe you have before.

You have somebody coming against you and giving you trouble and listen to this. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of bloodshed, depart from me, for they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Yahweh? Do I not revile those who rise up against you?

I hate them with the utmost hatred. They have become my enemies." And so the question is, how are we supposed to pray for those who sin against God and who sin against us and those who even may be in those camps who sin unto death. Unto death. I think the the safest way to pray is realizing that when we pray for something it's always God's will will be done. You and I, we don't know the spiritual condition of everybody.

And I'm glad, I'm glad that God does not need your prayer or my prayer to make the call as to what to do with people. We know our frame. I know my frame. I've seen people be saved that I would have never thought would be saved. And I know people who weren't saved yet that I would have thought would have been saved by now.

I've seen people get so bent out of shape and upset against other Christians that we get confused as to who the real enemy is. Can you imagine How many times, how many times that our prayers would be taken the wrong way in the throne room of heaven? If it were that God was going to take whatever we say and run with it. I'm glad he doesn't. In fact, maybe that's what verse 17 is supposed to be for.

John gets through talking about sin unto death and then he says all unrighteousness is sin. Notice when he talked about a sin unto death, he didn't give us a list of it. The legalist did all of us want a list. It ain't there. It ain't there.

But just in case, just in case that we might look at somebody and suspect because we're looking at them over the casket, we'll read about their obituary and we think, oh, that person, I knew eventually God would get him. Just in case we think we're better than somebody else. Just in case we think we're better than somebody that's laying in a hospital bed even, or just in case we think that somebody's on the cusp of dying and we think we're better than they are, he says all in righteousness is sin. Now not every sin is unto death, but all in righteousness is sin. We ought not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think.

Because just when we start to do that, we're reminded, hey, wait a minute, we're all sinners. It's only by the grace of God that none of us are dead. Are there some terrible things that have happened in this world? Certainly. Certainly.

We just passed through the time when people were celebrating the Reformation. I don't understand everything about all of these things. There were some persecutions that happened and all that. The reformers were being persecuted by the Catholics, the Baptists were being persecuted by the Catholics, and the reformers. And you would think, wait, you know, God could have cleaned the whole thing up by destroying the persecutors, but he didn't.

He didn't do that. As I study history I find it, you know, not... There were some terrible things that came out of the Reformation, but there were some good things that happened as well. I don't understand it, but it's God's business. And so when we come to these things and these people and these whatever, there's some things we don't know, some things we don't understand, there's some things we do know, some things we do know for certain.

John is focusing on that in this text, and we know for certain that if we're believers, we have eternal life. And we also know that as believers, he hears us when we pray. And I thank God for that. What a blessing that is. Thank you for your attention today, and I trust that it's been a blessing to you as it was for me.

Brother Barry would you please.