praying effectively: Believe That Jesus is the Son of God (1John 5:1-12)

(1 John 5:1-12)  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we believe Jesus is the Son of God (5:5)

- that we believe in the Son of God (5:10)

- that we love God (5:2)

- that we obey God (5:2)

- that we obey God because we WANT TO (5:2-3)

- that we love our fellow believers, who are our sisters and brothers in Christ (5:1-2)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love, and for the salvation that You made possible.  Help us to grow our faith in You, so that Your sincere and unconditional love in us will grow and spill out to all those around us.  All to You glory, amen.