1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14, AKJV)

John has finished speaking about Jesus of Nazareth and now writes about prayer. Some have taken what the Lord Jesus said, "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13, AKJV)" to mean that whatever we pray must come to pass as we prayed for it. This view would have God as servant to praying people. This view, interpretation, is wrong writes John.

Confidence = has the idea of bluntness, plainly speaking and by extension has the idea of assurance, that is, what is said/written will happen. The idea here is that we can be bold to pray; we can speak freely to God himself of our needs and wants. "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." (Ephesians 3:12, AKJV)

In him refers to the Lord Jesus, whom he has been writing about.

Note the condition. Whatever we pray/ask for must be according to His will. So what He approves of will be granted. That is why we pray, "If it is your will."

Some other conditions:

And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22, AKJV)

You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts. (James 4:3, AKJV)

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16, AKJV)

Hear = not only hearing it but granting the petition.

And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:15, AKJV)

Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 EMTV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Three points:

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God

Jesus was speaking to people who were seeking food and clothes. They probably had worries if there would be enough to live and clothe themselves, but Jesus says there is something more important--the Kingdom of God.

To seek is to look diligently for something. Consider the parable of the lost coin. Luke 15:8-9 EMTV "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? (9) And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost!'

The Kingdom of God is the place where God rules. His rules are followed, because people willingly submit to them. It is now in our hearts (Luke 17:21 KJV Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.) This is the internal, the spiritual kingdom. There is also an external kingdom; there are two ways of this also. A present one that is when Jesus was on earth and in the true church today, who is supposed to living by God's rules in the New Testament. There is a future kingdom also (Revelation 20:4-6 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years).

2. His righteousness

This is God's standard. We are to believe by it, live in it, and die with it. It is to effect our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. It is the standard that we will be judged by in the future when we will given an account of ourselves. Romans 14:12 KJV "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." And 2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

3. These things will be added to you.

The things necessary for living. God will take care of us when we are seeking what is most important.