Something More Sure: Scripture!

"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," ¹⁸we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:16-21, ESV)

Peter, in the previous verses, was encouraging the believers to pursue "godliness" given the surety of our beliefs ("knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ"). And in verses 16-21, Peter mentioned 3 "possible" bases of one's beliefs. And he picked one as the ultimate basis of our belief.

Three Possible Bases for One's Beliefs

1. Illegitimate myths (v.16a)

Here Peter put a negative: "we did not follow cleverly devised myths". The Christian faith is not based on invented stories of old, which would make the Christian faith false and untrustworthy.

2. Legitimate personal perception (vv.16b-18)

Peter contrasted "myths" with being "eyewitnesses". Peter is saying that he, along with the other apostles, witnessed the glory of Christ with their very eyes. Moreover, they also "heard" the voice of the Father confirming that Jesus is the Son of God. Peter even emphasized that they "were with him", as we can read in the gospel accounts, commonly called  Transfiguration. (Mk. 9:1-10; Lk. 9:28-36) Personal perception or personal experience is really a persuasive reason why we believe certain things to be true. And Christianity has much of this. However, for Peter, there is something superior to this, namely, the scriptures.

3. Superior Scripture (vv.19a,20-21) 

Peter said the scripture is "something more sure"*. It's above all our senses, above all human perception, experience, or even miracles. The ultimate basis of our beliefs is the Bible. Yes, experience has authority. Yes, tradition has authority. But none of these surpass or equal the scriptures. He described it as a "lamp shining in a dark place". That implies that one is lost in this dark world apart from it. It also implies that it is sufficient to guide us. The reason this is so is in verses 20-21. That is, that prophecy/scripture never came by the prophet's own interpretation** of things. It came through God's will. The Holy Spirit moved them and they spoke from God. The Scripture is superior because it is God's word.

Christians, according to Peter, will take heed to the scriptures "until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts". This refers to Christ's return or our glorification. Christ is also referred in the Bible as "Morning Star" (Rev. 2:28; 22:16 cf. Lk. 1:78, 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:14) and His return relates to an ending of darkness for believers (Rom. 13:12; Rev. 21:3-25). That he "rises in [our] hearts" means that His return will bring us comfort and joy. This is where "faith" and study of scriptures end because everything will be clear to us by that time.

Here are some application of the text:
1. You have the Scriptures. Do Not Turn to myths like fortune-telling, zodiac signs, Feng Sui, etc.
2. Scripture is something more sure. Do not esteem experience, traditions, or other authorities over it. 
3. Scripture is our lifetime lamp. Take heed to it until you meet the Author face to face.

"The faith of the Protestants, in general, embraces only those truths, as necessary to salvation, which are clearly revealed in the oracles of God. Whatever is plainly declared in the Old and New Testaments is the object of their faith. They believe neither more nor less than what is manifestly contained in, and provable by, the Holy Scriptures... The written Word is the whole and sole rule of their faith, as well as practice. They believe whatsoever God has declared, and profess to do whatsoever He hath commanded. This is the proper faith of Protestants: by this they will abide, and no other." (John Wesley)

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*NASB (and others) translates it somehow differently: "we have the prophetic word made more sure". That implies that personal perception/experience confirms scriptures. In any case, it just confirms it. Scripture is still above experience.
**Some translates it "origin". But the meaning of the Greek "epilupsis" is more likely less tied to its etymology. It has various meanings, one of which is "the act or process of explaining, explanation, interpretation."

MAGYC Part III: Divine Dividend Denied (The Simplicity of GOD)

(1) God is holy; (2) God is loving; (3) God is just; (4) God is all-powerful. 

Let's do some arithmetic here. Suppose those four are the only attributes of God, how will you divide God's nature (100%) by them?

a) 60% for Power, 30% for Love, 5% for each of the other two? (coz God is so powerful!)

b) 70% for Love and 10% for each of the rest? (coz "God is Love")

c) 25% percent each? (They must be equal)

d) Other: __________________ .

What's the correct answer? The illustration below gives a hint.

Highlight this to see the answer: none of the above! Yes, not even the letter "d".

Here's the explanation: God is simple. When we say that "God is simple", WE DON'T MEAN that God, His being, or His ways can be fully or easily comprehended. In fact, the Bible says the opposite (Job. 11:7; Rom. 11:33-36). What WE MEAN by "God is simple" is that God is not made up of parts (not composite). His attributes are not parts of His being/nature that make up the whole Him [see the left image]. Rather, each of His attributes is identical to His being/nature [see right image]. So, mathematically, God is 100% in each of His attributes (love, justice, holiness, power, etc.) so we shouldn't divide Him. His attributes are not a divisor, and God is not a dividend. This implies that God does not only have love. God is love (1 Jn. 4:8,16). God does not only have holiness. God is holiness ("God is light", 1 Jn. 1:5). And so on and so forth.

We should note however that the doctrine of the Simplicity of God (or Divine Simplicity) does not eliminate the differences in the attributes. Love is still not synonymous with holiness, and also with the rest.

So what does this have to do with the youth anyway? And why did I start with a characteristic of God that is not usually counted in discussing the attributes of God?

It's because Christians, even the youth, nowadays have the tendency to exalt one of God's attributes over another. So often you can hear them talk about God's love to the point of tolerating sins. God's holiness, righteousness, and wrath are being overlooked (Yes, we should be patient but we should also deal with our sins, not ignore them!). We love to emphasize that God is gracious and is our friend and Father. But we tend to forget that God is the King of Heaven and earth or that God is "a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). Given Divine Simplicity, we shouldn't dare do this. We shouldn't think that God is more loving than He is just and sin-punishing. He is BOTH perfectly loving and perfectly just and sin-punishing. We should love each of His wondrous attributes because each attribute is, in a sense, Him! And as a consequence of doing so, we will increase in our knowledge of God, in godliness, and in joy.

Next time, we shall discuss the holiness of God. And, remember: he's perfect in that attribute, and also in the others. So treat each not as a part of God but as God's very nature viewed uniquely. ;)

MAGYC Part II: My Model and My Hero (Communicable and Incommunicable Attributes)

han hyo joo, superman

What is the difference between a model and a hero?

You admire them both. You look up to them both. In a sense, you need them both. But you approach them in different ways. The former would most likely make you imitate him, and the latter most likely fill you with awe. The model sets an example for you to follow, producing in you the same trait he shows. If he runs, you run. If he speaks that way, you speak that way. On the other hand, the hero sets an example of someone extraordinary whom you can't follow or imitate, producing in you the exact opposite of the trait he shows. If a hero showed his authority, you submit. If power, you sense your powerlessness. Somehow they're different.

But GOD is both your best Model and your best Hero.

GOD as Model: "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1,2)

GOD as Hero: "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!'” (Revelation 5:13)

GOD is both your best Model and your best Hero because of His perfect, wondrous attributes, which can actually be categorized into two: natural and moral or incommunicable and communicable. 

Incommunicable/natural attributes are the attributes of GOD that belong only to His divine nature and cannot be possessed or communicated to other beings. They're attributes that make GOD unique. An example is His omnipotence (GOD is all-powerful). No other being can be omnipotent so it's a natural/incommunicable attribute.

Communicable/moral attributes are the attributes of GOD that GOD can give or communicate to other beings. They are also called moral* attributes because these attributes have something to do with morals or ethics like love and justice. We, humans, can possess these attributes and, as the image of God, are designed to do so.

What makes GOD Hero is His incommunicable attributes. What makes GOD Model is His communicable attributes. And what makes Him the BEST Hero and BEST Model is that He's PERFECT in all His attributes.

Woe to The Youth's Idols!

Youth are fond of idols, not in the sense of pagan idolatry, but in overly esteeming famed persons like celebrities, performers, sportsmen, etc. Oftentimes to the point of setting them as heroes. We buy their posters. We get their autographs. We are excited by their presence. We rejoice in their victories. We sympathize with their downs. We stay updated with their well-being. More than that, we also set them as our models. We wear their trademarks. We buy their stuff. We sing their songs. We imitate their looks, their words, their practices. We pattern our lives to theirs and we end up becoming materialistic, sensual, self-centered persons.

Oh, how far have they molded us! Finite and sinful human beings of media and Hollywood like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have thrilled our souls so much more than the Infinite, perfect GOD who is infinitely far more beautiful and admirable and amazing and famous than any other being in the whole universe. 

GOD is the best Model and Hero whom we should worship, esteem, and imitate.  Let us dwell on His attributes--communicable and incommunicable. Let Him be our Best Model and Best Hero. And if ever there are human beings whom we should set as a model (persons we imitate) and "heroes" (persons we respect), let them be godly persons like the Apostle Paul (see 1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1).

Next time, we shall meditate on each of GOD's attributes.

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*Some differentiate moral attributes with mental attributes like truthfulness and wisdom.

Parody: Reformists

Reformist

(a parody of "Pyramid" by Charice feat. Iyaz)

I.

Shan't we live a life of reformist?

And stand like Luther for a godly end

Let's no more waste another year bestowed

A just, Godward change let's pursue

This song's

Heavy but true love it's from

Scripture is the ground we've known

And cry of it is Church reform

Well, just like Wesley's Holy Club

From pulpit to the Sunday school

Study his Word hard, it's gold

Changing the minutest fault

Now here are the concerns I know:

The sheep lack shepherds

The goats invade us

Wolves and thieves do break away our fold

Chorus:

Reformist, let's build our church on solid Rock

Beliefs and lives be biblical

Together shout and fight

(shout and fight, brethren)

(shout and fight now)

Like a reformist

And let's refrain from all false doctrines

With great fervor, just keep reforming

For God's glory displayed

Let's be reformists

Like a reformist, Like a reformist, hey (3x)

II.

Lord, never ever leave us cold

We don't want the Church destroyed

We're sorry if we've long ignored

Your glorious majesty

And, brethren, see the rod was gone

Look how frail Church life becomes

Sin-tolerating ways are wrong

And watered-down theology

Heretics can shake us

Factions can break us

Politics can take away our light

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:

Let's be reformists, now l'mma mention:

Calvin, Zwingli, Edwards, Whitefield, and John Newton

Even Puritans, Charles Spurgeon

They must the ones to imitate, hey

Fools, don't be lax, God's a consuming fire

Let's admonish one another, with our Bibles and with love

Reformation and revival

Must spark or our children would suffer

Reformist, keep reforming

(Like a reformist, Like a reformist)

Whoa

(Like a reformist, Like a reformist)

(Repeat Chorus 2x)

Like a reformist, Like a reformist, hey (3x)

Reformist

--------------------------------------

"It is today as it was in the Reformers' days.  Decision is needed.  Here is the day for the man, where is the man for the day?  We who have had the gospel passed to us by martyr hands dare not trifle with it, nor sit by and hear it denied by traitor, who pretend to love it, but inwardly abhor every line of it...Look you, sirs, there are ages yet to come.  If the Lord does not speedily appear, there will come another generation, and another, and all these generations will be tainted and injured if we are not faithful to God and to His truth today.  We have come to a turning-point in the road.  If we turn to the right, mayhap our children and our children's children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word." (Charles Spurgeon, emphasis added)

MAGYC Part I: GOD is Not a Barbie Doll! (Understanding Attributes)

This is the second post for the series of MAGYC (Meditations on the Attributes of GOD for Young Christians). Last time we talked about the importance of knowing GOD. Now we will start to talk about God's attributes as the primary concepts to know GOD.

This photo was taken from this URL.

"For Me, In my opinion, I think..."

We, the youth, love these expressions. We love to share what we think of certain things. We love giving our opinions, sometimes to the point that we already think there's no such thing as right or wrong or true or false, that it's just a matter of opinion! But that idea is foolish. It's even self-contradicting. If you said that there is no such thing as correct, then, you must believe that even what you said is not correct. If you believe that all our statements are right and my statement says "Your statement is wrong.", is my statement still right? C'mon!

We must believe that absolute truths (that is, unalterable and permanent facts) exist. Triangles always have three sides, 1 + 1 is always equal to 2, etc.

This is also true with GOD. There are ideas about GOD that are either true or not, no matter what your opinion is. GOD is not a barbie doll which we can dress the way we want, act the way we want, and look the way we want. There are things about GOD that will remain true, even if we don't like them. 

And one of the primary (true) things about GOD that we need to know are His attributes.

An online dictionary defined the word 'attribute' as "a quality or characteristic inherent in or ascribed to someone or something." Attribute could be synonymous with properties or characteristics. Just think of any object. Say a basketball. The color, size, shape, and hardness are some of its attributes. And without these attributes, no one can know what a basketball is.

Same with GOD. GOD is more than a name! He also has attributes, which He revealed in His word. He has attributes that if you distorted, it's no longer Him. 

"The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections [or, attributes] as revealed in Holy Scripture." (A.W. Pink, The Attribute of God)

In this tolerant generation, you can hear lots of people say "Muslims, Hindus, Christians and other religions are just the same because they all believe in GOD." But who is that GOD whom they believe? What's His proper name? What are His attributes/characteristics? How does He act? What does He say? Ask these groups of people and they'll have different answers! That simply means they don't have the same GOD. As Christians, we believe that only the GOD of the Bible is the true GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8; 45:5,6). And, like it or not, whatever He is in the Bible, that He is. You can imagine or invent who GOD is as so many false religions do but that will remain unreal. Simply put: you can't manipulate GOD. He is not a barbie doll or an action figure.

“Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image.” (A. W. Tozer)

It is interesting to note that the very meaning of God's name YHWH or Jehovah is "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:13-15). You can't change Him (unchangeability/immutability is already one of His attributes!). But you can (and must) know and worship Him. In fact, the effect of truly seeing His attributes is worshiping Him:

"The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty,visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped." (Exodus 34:6-8, ESV)

In the passage above, some of GOD's attributes are already mentioned: grace, patience, love, and justice. Next time we will have a closer look at these attributes categorically and individually. Stay updated!

MAGYC (Introduction): Meditations on the Attributes of God for Young Christians

I. Hu U, Young 1?

"I am unique."

"I am not perfect but I get stronger through my mistakes."

"I am not a boyfriend/girlfriend material but my love is satisfying."

"I am a person who never gives up on life."

"I am blah blah blah..."

The list goes on and on...

So often the youth of today wants self-expression. We simply want to be heard. We want to show who we are and what we can do. We want to be identified from others. We pride ourselves on uniqueness, liberty, beauty, and strength. We are filled with I-am's and I-like's! This is obvious in the fact that the majority of people in social networking and the blogosphere are the youth. Even Christian youths have this tendency of focusing on themselves too much.

But I think our biggest mistake is not that we try to express ourselves too much. I believe our biggest mistake is that we think we know ourselves truly and deeply. We think we know ourselves too much. Wondering? Let me elaborate.

II. Everybody Needs a Mirror

To see ourselves physically, we need an object of reflection, a mirror. This is also the same when it comes to knowing ourselves. And we know we have different mirrors. I may think of you this way and you may think of yourself that way. So whose mirror of perspective is right? Or is there any?

Oh, I think I'm hearing someone murmuring: "I know myself better than anybody else!" But that's a deceitful lie. There is Someone who knows us more than how we know ourselves. We should see ourselves in His mirror. We gotta get His perspective of us.

III. We are Creatures

This will be clearer if we go back to Genesis 1:27 (NIV),

"So God created mankind in his own image, 

   in the image of God he created them; 

   male and female he created them".

To be "created" means that we didn't exist on our own. Someone has molded us, designed us, and determined our nature and functions. The best way to know the features and functions of a new hi-tech gadget is to consult the inventor or to read his manual. Likewise, to truly know ourselves, we gotta consult God. We gotta read His manual (the Bible). 

But more than being "created", the verse says that we are created "in the image of God." Evangelical Protestant camps vary in how they define that. Some see it as purely natural (intellect, affection, will), some see it as purely spiritual/moral (knowledge, righteousness, holiness), and some both[1]. But all of them agree that this means that the created essence (image) of man is seen only in God. That implies that if we want to know ourselves deeper--who we are and what we're made for--we gotta see God! We gotta know God.

John Calvin explained it this way:

"Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves."

"...it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself." (Institutes of Christian Religion, emphasis added) [2]

IV. Hu U, GOD?

So instead of listing much of our I-am's, won't we list down our knowledge of GOD-is's?

"GOD is love..." ( John 4:8 )

"GOD is light ".. ( _____ )

"GOD is ____".. ( _____ )

Can you continue the list?

Maybe it's hard to accept but if we know the GOD of the Bible too little (we can't recite at least five verses, mention the books of the Bible in order, etc.) then, we truly know ourselves too little. And we, the youth, are just seeing a very dim and distorted image of ourselves. Deceitful mirrors!

I hope that this series of Meditations on the Attributes of God for Young Christians (MAGYC) will help us deepen our understanding of GOD and, consequently, of ourselves too. We shall see what we mean by "attribute" next time, and I shall try to present each of God's attributes in the context of the youth.

"So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity... Hence that dread and amazement with which as Scripture uniformly relates, holy men were struck and overwhelmed whenever they beheld the presence of God." (John Calvin, emphasis added) 

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Notes:

[1] For the variety of views, click here. 

[2] Although Calvin said that "it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other", he ended it with "But though the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves are bound together by a mutual tie, due arrangement requires that we treat of the former in the first place, and then descend to the latter"

How to Get From God Whatever You Ask

www.scc-umyf.worthyofpraise.org

Wish-Granting Privilege

Shenron of Dragonball Z, Belldandy of Ah My Goddess!, and the Genie of Aladdin—all of them can grant anybody’s wish! Wow! 

The problem is that all of them are unreal.

But in the scriptures, in the book of John, we seem to find the same wish-granting privilege from Jehovah God: 

“And whatever you ask in my name that I will do…” (14:13)

“If you ask anything in my name I will do it.” (14:14)

“…you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (15:7b)

“…whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (15:16b)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (16:23b)

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (16:24)

In these passages, it is explicitly stated that there is a way to get from God whatever we ask. But how does that happen? How do we get from God whatever we ask?

Before answering that, let me give you a warning.

Warning against Positive Confession

There are already lots of religious groups who abuse these verses and the like. Their view is often called Positive Confession, Name-and-Claim-it Theology, and Word of Faith Movement. Some adherents of it esteemed here in the Philippines are Joel Osteen, Kenneth Hagin, and Benny Hinn. These people will usually use the verses we quoted above to say that if we just claim or confess anything and believe it by faith, we can have it from God automatically. The chief error of this teaching is that it makes faith sovereign rather than God and it makes God a slave of our confession. That is totally contrary to what the scriptures teach. God alone is sovereign and he does nothing outside his will, even when you confessed it positively a thousand times:

“All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” (Dan. 4:35)

“…him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” (Eph. 1:11)

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 Jn. 5:14)

(For further discussion, go here.)

The Bible never teaches nor gives us an example of “claiming” anything from God. What we always find is “asking” God through prayer. Now, how can we make sure that God will answer our prayers? I mean, how do we make sure He will supplicate our requests?

Keys for Answered Prayers

John Piper, focusing on 1 John 3:22-23, explained it this way:

“God answers prayers for people who keep his commandments. His commandments are summed up in these two: 1) believe in the name of Jesus, and 2) love each other.” 

“He means that prayer has a specific design, and if you misuse it, it malfunctions. What is the design of prayer? Prayer is designed by God to be the effect of faith and the cause of love. Therefore if we try to pray when we really do not believe in the name of his Son, prayer malfunctions. And if we try to pray when our aim is not to love prayer malfunctions.”

So, according to Piper, God answers our prayers when we seek to magnify Christ through our faith and love.

(See the whole article here)

How do I know I magnify Christ through faith and love so that I can have my prayers answered?

I shall try to elaborate on it using the context of John 14-16. We should note that Jesus said these just a few hours before he died. That means, by this time, the disciples have already abandoned everything for Christ. Yet Jesus had to leave them so he comforted them with these words and repetitively mentioned their privilege of having whatever they asked. And we cannot isolate the promises from the commandments, warnings, and declarative mentioned. That’s why we need to first answer these questions if we are to claim the privilege.

1. Am I seeking to imitate the works of Christ and be used by Him so I am requesting?

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name…” (14:12-13a)

2.  Am I seeking to glorify God through my request? 

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” (14:13) 

3. Am I valuing Christ’s commandments over my request?

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (14:14,15)

4. Am I constantly being dependent on Christ and His words?

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” (15:7)

5. Am I bearing lasting fruit for Christ?

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (15:16)

6. Is my joy centered on Christ rather than my request?

 “…I [Jesus] will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (16:22-24)

Unless we have Christlike and Christ-enabled works, a Christ-glorifying heart, an obedient will, a Christ-dependent attitude, Christ-appointed fruits, and a Christ-centered joy, we cannot have whatever we ask from God because those are the things we needed to magnify Christ. 

“If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Charles Spurgeon)

One More Clarifying Truth

Neither Jesus nor the disciples prioritize this privilege. Jesus’ priority is doing the will of the Father. The disciples’ priority is following Jesus. This means that to get from God whatever you ask is to not prioritize getting from God whatever you ask.

Let me just give three reasons why he who gets this privilege doesn’t prioritize it:

1. He understands that on his own his desires are impure, corrupt, and pitiable. He, therefore, seeks God—the One who can make his heart pure by changing his desires into His desires. 

2. He understands that his finite mind’s judgment is fallible while God’s is good, perfect, and well-pleasing. He, therefore, seeks God’s will to be done first and submits His will to His.

3. He understands that the greatest gift he can have from God is not anything he may still ask. The greatest gift from God is the One whom He already has—God Himself. He, therefore, seeks to get more of this God than to get more from this God.