Base Scripture: 1 John 3:18-22
Apostle John, one of Christ Jesus twelve disciples writes to believers everywhere. He liked to communicate that Christ Jesus was always his Father and in his letters he does his best to relate to us the nature of the Anointed One. Apostle John had seen, heard and was taught by Christ Jesus, Himself. He was right there when Christ Jesus spoke to them saying, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), and “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (John 14:12).
Apostle John writes to us about being “assured” and “confident” about the truth(sincerity) and deeds(works) of our Lord and Savior – in whom God worked through for our salvation. Let’s look at it here in 1 John 3:18-22:
1 John 3:18-22(KJV)
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Let’s look at it again from the Amplified Bible:
1John 3:18-22(AMP)
18Little children, let us not love (merely) in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth(in practice and in sincerity).
19By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,
20Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].
21And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,
22And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
There you have it, we are not waiting on God, God is waiting on us. We must have bold confidence that we are loving one another. We must have bold confidence that we are righteous in the sight of God. We must have bold confidence and believe by faith that we are saved by grace. We must be have confident assurance that Christ Jesus is Lord of all, Lord over your life!
Now we have been taught that when our hearts are troubled, (the word used above was tormented) by self-accusations causes us to feel guilty. Thank you Jesus for this revelation! These self-accusations come to us by thinking, pondering, instant replays in the mind of a fault. You can now overcome that thought by speaking with boldness verse 20 – For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].