According to His Will

Summary Scripture:

1 John 5:14

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

During their sojourning in this world, John explains that their confidence in Christ was, if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us. He goes on to say, “whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

(1 John 5:14) Sons, if we are going to manifest this same reality of fellowship in our generation, we must walk in this same confidence. But this confidence comes in fellowship. We must communicate with the Father. We must walk in holiness and love. As Christ is, so must we be. Our fellowship must be real and deliberate, loving and preferred. However, here is where many individuals enter into unbelief; and this is where we are able to see another ploy of the enemy in raising false ministers: when we hear whatsoever we ask, it shall be given, we automatically consider the error, lust and greed that we have witnessed in religion. We do not consider the perspective that the Scripture is written from, and for that matter, we do not consider who these passages are written to. However, the Father declared that this is written to Sons who have escaped the lust and pollutions of this world; thus, making their abode in Him. This is written to Sons who have the Mind of Christ, and who will ask for things pertaining to Him. This reality is made crystal clear as the writer continues:

1 John 5:16-20

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

This passage is speaking to ambassadors who are asking or speaking according to the revealed will of God. These are Sons who need the power of God to manifest in a way that is relative to what God has asked of them; not someone who is asking for the things of this world. How does this work? How do we know what to ask for? Let us be clear, God is not asking us to get in situations, circumstances and/or in relationships and enter into a striving to discover His mind or will concerning such matters. Consider what Jesus taught the disciples and you will see it plainly:

John 15:14-16

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

This is a powerful scripture, and it brings practicality to fellowship, which Christ refers to as friendship. Jesus says, Henceforth I call you friends, revealing the change in fellowship, where He would reveal to them the plans of God. Before now none of them really understood Christ, or His plans for that matter. He explains that obedience was key to this fellowship. He also explains that it is because He had chosen them to work ministry that He would do whatever they asked. However, the key is that they would know what to ask, because they would be asking according to His revealed will. In other words, in fellowship, as they walked in obedience, He would always reveal to them the things that were ahead. Consider Jesus with Lazarus. He is found in Scripture explaining what would happen before He got to Lazarus:

John 11:11-15

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Jesus had already fellowshipped with His Father. The Father had revealed that Lazarus was dead, and that it was His will to raise Him from the dead. The Father desired to have a record of His resurrection power in His son. Jesus explained that He was glad He was not there to heal Lazarus, so that they would believe His power over death. Watch what happens…

John 11:20-27

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Jesus explained to Martha that He was about to raise her brother from the dead. However, she was not able to hear Him, because of grief and prior knowledge. What Martha said was a truth: ‘in the last days the dead shall raise to life’. However, Jesus was about to raise the dead right there. Jesus asked her plainly, Believest thou this? She answered that she believed in who He was, but this is not the same as believing in what He just declared. Let’s move forward to Jesus standing at the grave of Lazarus.

John 11:38-45

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Jesus had tried to explain to Martha that she would see the glory of God. However, she thought that she would see it in the last days. However, Jesus spoke of the glory of God that was in Him, not some glory that was in a future day.

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

As Jesus speaks with the Father, much is revealed. Firstly, He says, I thank you that thou hast heard me, speaking to the fellowship that He had with the Father prior to this moment. However, as he says, I knew that thou hearest me always, He is speaking of God’s presence (oneness) in His life. He is speaking of God watching over His word, and that the Father would allow nothing He spoke of the Father to fall to the ground.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

God granted what Jesus spoke. He raised Lazarus from the grave. However, Jesus knew God’s will for Lazarus; therefore, what He spoke and asked for was according to the will that His Father revealed. Jesus is on record teaching the disciples this operation: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (Matthew 6:6). This fellowship and manifestation of oneness was consistent in the life of Jesus. Jesus is on record explaining why.

Matthew 6:6

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

John 5:19-21

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

As Jesus fellowshipped with God, God would reveal His will to Jesus. Jesus went forth working in what the Father revealed. In this, Jesus was always aware of the will of God, and was able to align Himself accordingly. It is this that allowed Jesus to ask according to the will of God. Likewise, as we fellowship with God, He will reveal to us how He has chosen to manifest. In this we are able to depend on God. We are able to minister, ask and speak according to His will. In this we can also have confidence that whatsoever we ask, it shall be given. I find the following verse most appropriate for ending this lesson.

Mark 16:15-20

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

A Sad Truth It is the knowledge of God that is a comfort to the sons of God. In the scripture below, Jesus reveals a truth about the preaching of the gospel that the sons of God must embrace, else we will be forever frustrated.

John 8:42-43

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

There will be people in your sphere of influence that you will minister to, over and over again. However, no matter how you deliver the message of the gospel, they will not hear you. They will not understand and will utterly reject all that you deliver. These may be friends, or foes, relatives or strangers; the bottom line is, they will not hear or receive the gospel for the saving of their soul. In the next verse, Jesus tells us why they cannot hear.

John 8:44-47

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

According to Jesus, those who will not hear the gospel are of the devil. Now let me inject here, that it is not for us to judge these individuals; because it is God who knows whether one will one day repent and enter the Household of Faith. But this scripture is relative to those whom Christ knew would never repent and agree with him. Therefore, they are lost, and the gospel is hidden from them. It is hidden by and because of their preference for darkness rather than light. Sons, as we go forward from fellowship, doing what God has revealed, He will be with us. He will never leave nor forsake us. As we are commissioned, we are given power over everything or every spirit that opposes what we are sent to do. We can have confidence that whatsoever we ask shall be given, because the ability to manifest the Spirit of God is given to us all.