“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

that we have in Him,

“In Him” is literally towards Him.  This connotes active fellowship with God.  We develop confidence in prayer when we are in fellowship with Him. 

PRINCIPLE: 

We have confidence in prayer when we walk with the Lord.

APPLICATION: 

Our right of asking God for petitions and intercessions is unconditional.  Our right rests on the person and work of Christ.  That is why we come in Jesus’ name. 

Jn 16:24, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

God was accessible to Elijah in his confrontation with the prophets of Baal (1 Kg 18).  The Baal prophets cut themselves so that their god would listen to them, but it did no good.  Their god was inaccessible.  Their prayers were futile.  God heard and answered the prayer of Elijah. 

The Christian today has access to the God of the universe because Jesus broke the barrier between God and the Christian.  The Christian has uninhibited boldness in prayer because of the work of Jesus Christ. 

He 4:14-16,  ¹⁴ “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”