Ep 217 – 1 John 3:11-24 PT 7

This is the final episode on 1 John, chapter three, verses 11-24. I’ve entitled it “Kids In A Candy Store” because verses 21 and 22 seem to give the indication that, as God’s children, we have been given a no-holds-barred, get-whatever-you-want promise from God that guarantees us that all our prayers will be answered. But is that really what John is teaching? Is he telling us that God is somehow obligated to give us whatever we ask for, no matter what? As usual, the key to understanding these verses is based on context. We have to keep in mind all that John has said so far in his letter. And a big part of what he has been dealing with is the issue of abiding in Christ. Prayer is to be a byproduct of our abiding. And what we pray for should reflect that we are deeply reliant upon and in step with God’s will for us. This isn’t so much about us getting what we want from God, but about us learning to desire what God wants for us, then asking Him for it. Our willingness to abide in Christ will have a dramatic impact on our ability to pray dependently and receive successfully.