Ask Me for Anything? John 14:14

There is a wonderful promise given to us as believers in John 14:14.

"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

The problem is that many Christians over the years have claimed this promise and asked for something, yet never received it.

Now some will say that those who didn't receive it did not have sufficient faith. But Jesus said we only need a mustard seed of faith to move a mountain (Matthew 17:20). So that's probably not the issue for many of these disappointed Christians. Some may say that they didn't pray in agreement with two or three others (Matthew 18:19). But the truth is that in many of the cases I'm thinking of there were a lot more people than two or three praying in agreement with the request. So what is the answer? Is God not true to His promises? No, but we have to understand the context and conditions of God's promises.

In this instance, John 14:14 is in the context of doing "the works that I do..." (v 12), referring to Christ. We have been called to do even "greater' works than Christ did (see my last post for details). The point is that when we ask for Christ to help us do His works, He will answer those prayers. Christ is not promising that when we ask for a new house or new car or new job that He is going to give it to us. He is promising to help us do His works that glorify Him (v 13).

Along the same line, in chapter fifteen, verse seven Christ says,

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

Again, in the context, the issue is fruit bearing (v 8, 16). The principle is that when we desire to bear fruit for Christ, we can pray and ask for anything and Christ will give it to us. But the request cannot be selfish or contrary to the will of Christ. That's what is means to pray "in my name". It's not just tacking the name of Christ on the end of our prayers. It involves abiding in Christ and letting His words abide in us (v 7), so that we are asking for what Christ wants, not what we want.

John 14:14 and John 15:7 are wonderful promises. They tell us that Christ is wanting to answer our prayers and do the supernatural in our lives. But we have to be connected with Him, the"true vine" (15:1), and we have to put aside our desires and seek His will. When we do this, prayers are answered and incredible things happen, and we get to be a part of it!