Whatever We Ask

Passage- 1 John 3:22

Attention-

Someone once said that “Lack of confidence is not the result of difficulty; the difficulty comes from lack of confidence.

Introduction-

Four high school boys were late to their morning classes one day. They entered the classroom and solemnly told their teacher they were detained due to a flat tire. The sympathetic teacher smiled and told them it was too bad they were late because they had missed a test that morning. But she was willing to let them make it up. She gave them each a piece of paper and a pencil and sent them to four corners of the room. Then she told them they would pass if they could answer just one question:

Which tire was flat???

Imagine how difficult it was to answer that question

The difficulty of that situation surely came out of the lack of confidence...

Main truth-

The same can be true in our prayer life....our confidence has less to do with the difficulty or the striving in it but much more to do with a lack of confidence

There are so many times we come to God with the same level of confidence that those three boys wrote down their answer

There is a reason we lack confidence

There is a reason we feel that so many prayers go unanswered…they don’t, we just are not tuned into God to hear His answer…

But before I get too far down that trail let’s look at John’s words here in verse 22

Transition #1-

What is being taught? (Explain the passage and draw out the 1st century truth)

When we get into verse 22 we John uses prayer as a means to assurance of our faith

Now in the same verse he is also teaching about what prayer should be

John starts with the phrase “And whatsoever we ask”...

The asking, I believe, is in reference to prayer

1- The first thing I want us to notice is that God is a god who answers His people

Because whatsoever we ask…we receive

Before we go any further lets come to an understanding of what John isn’t saying

John is not saying that just because you asked God needs to give

John is not saying that God is your genie in a bottle

That really is how the church often views God

Not in the sense that when we ask we think of Him that way

But what about when His answer is not what we were hoping for

That is the telling response

That is what tells me that the church treats God like a genie

Are we expectantly waiting to see what He has in store for us with an open heart

Or are we waiting with closed minds to anything but what we asked for

But isn't that what the verse says

NO!! That’s what the first eight words say but not what the verses is teaching

It also does not fit within the context of Johns writing

Quite honestly it doesn't fit withing the teaching of any part of Scripture.

If anyone tells you that you have to receive from God what you asked for if you ask in enough faith....ask for a verse and then read the context of the passage…the chapter....the book

So what is John getting at?

We ask and we receive in a way that is contingent on knowing God’s commands…and that word for commands is also translated precepts

A precept is a general rule or principle

It comes from the latin “to instruct”

So God’s Word instructs us in the way that we ought to live life

Are all of the situations of life spelled out for us in the Bible?

NO!!

So there are those moments that we understand multiple principles from the Bible coupled with an understanding of the character and will of God to make wise choices

So one could say that these precepts are derived from the Word of God and are not always taken word for word from the text

So why all this discussion about this word when it pertains to prayer?

Because I think what John is getting at with the keeping of His commandments is that we know this:

When we know the Scriptures

When we know the person and character of God as best we humanly can

When we strive to understand the will of God by way of His Word and His character we ask knowing that God WILL answer and that He will answer according to His will, His character, and His Word.

So asking knowing His commands implies that we are striving to know Him and His character

We are seeking His will by way of His Word and His character

When we ask anything of God…based on His Word, His will, or His character we can know He will respond

And when we add to the asking a heart of Humility that His ways are best

We can ask with confidence knowing that He will not only answer but that we can accept that answer because His ways are far greater than ours.

Transition #2-

How do we understand this in our context? (Bridge 1st century truth to today)

Do you ever come to God and plead for an answer from Him?

You call out to him over and over

You never get an answer

There are moments that God says wait....

But if this is the case, in the mean time, ask yourself “Am I asking in confidence?”

Are you coming to God knowing He will answer you or are you coming hoping He will answer

I know in my own life when I come to God and hope that he will answer it usually turns out that those are the times I am looking for my answer and am oblivious to God

Its when I come to him as a genie

When I am coming for one of my wishes

Not His will

Our family loves our family dinner time

We are that family that purposes to sit at the kitchen table and casually share a meal

To enjoy and experience one another

There are a few things I have learned about family dinner time

There are two people in our family that I don’t even need to ask what they want to drink

One 99% of the time wants milk

The other 99.9% of the time wants water

There are times I am more sure of what they want to drink with dinner than what I want

Over time, observation, and conversation I have come to know what they want

Its still a work in process but our children ask to be excused and work to remember to clear their dishes and put them in the dishwasher

It’s not something they need to ask…they can know it is the will of their parents that they do this!!

Transition #3-

How do we live this out in our context? (Application of the biblical truth to us personally)

How should this change my thinking. (Mental understanding and/or reasoning?)

So what should we take away from this verse?

That in order to have a confident prayer life I need to know the will, character, and Word of God with the most thorough knowledge possible

Will I know Him in His fullness

No, but I need to strive to fill myself with as much of Him as possible

Then, as I know Him more I love Him better

And as I love Him more completely I can desire His will above mine

My heart changes

So that one of two things happens

1- I ask for something I KNOW is within His will

God, I want to know you better

God, I want power over sin

2- When my heart is aligned with His…even if I get an answer I didn’t want I can trust Him and accept the answer

Maybe you ask to grow in holiness and sickness comes

Is it from God or sin?

Does it matter? He knows best

How should this change my whole being? (Behavioral change)

All of this then changes my prayer life

I first align to His will

I do this…remember…when I know his will, word, character

Then I pray with the understanding that I may not get the answer I want

Because honestly…sometimes the answer is a simple No

If I ask and the answer is No my response is telling of my heart attitude

I’m trying not to use too many example phrases because it’s not about necessarily the specific words

It’s about how humble our heart is

Am I prepared to receive any answer?

I have had this pre-prayer warm-up a few times

Before I even go to the Lord…the question ought to be “Am I prepared to receive an answer I am not looking for?”

Then I ought to question my motive

I will not be able to come in confidence

Conclusion

Review-

Do you want confidence in your prayers?

Then it starts before you say “Dear God”

Verse 23…that you believe on the name of Jesus

Verse 23…another exercise in humility, that you love one another

Verse 23…yet another exercise in humility…obedience which yields a closer walk with the Savior

Verse 24…it results in an intimate relationship with Jesus and Jesus with you

Verse 24…it produces confidence in your salvation and your prayer life.

Practically on a daily basis…how do we have confidence in our prayer life?

It starts in your Bible reading

It starts with what you allow your mind to meditate on all day

It starts with knowing God, His Will and His character

Call to action-

If you want confidence in your prayers start with God, not yourself

Closing song-

376- More Love to Thee