Mark 11:24: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
In John chapter 14, verses 12 through 14 we find the same thing: 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, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
When a person says, "ask anything in my name, and I will do it," what does he mean? Presumably, Jesus means that if you ask for anything, he will do it. What else could he possibly mean, unless he is being dishonest? And Jesus does not say it once. He says the same thing over and over again. In Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you." In Matthew 17:20: "Nothing will be impossible for you." In Matthew 21:21: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
2007-06-13 09:14:11 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It seems pretty obvious Jesus meant He would favorably answer all prayers in His name, but this obviously hasn't happened....so why?
http://godisimaginary.com/i39.htm
2007-06-13 09:15:31 · update #1
Well lets say everyday I pray that God will give me a million dollars..and he did...
Who's hard work would I be ripping off?
There is also a verse that explains that God will do for you, but you have to work at it as well.
and lets say I prayed for the million dollars and when I got it, after ripping a hard working person off...I spent it on shoes and material things for myself...
when a person 1000 miles away prayed for it, to help the needy..and yet I got it...
"Nothing will be impossible for YOU" If you want it, God will make a way for you...but YOU ultimately have to work for it...
2007-06-13 09:19:38 · answer #1 · answered by chersa 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If the person's prayer is self-centered and selfish the Lord won't answer it. It all depends if the prayer is in line with the will of God for that person. What Jesus meant by " anything ", was anything that has to do with his will for the person's life. That's why He wants us to find His will for our lives, in order to bring it to Him in prayer.
2007-06-13 16:27:28 · answer #2 · answered by Canseco J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What a broad promise for prayer. But, note. Who was He talking to? The multitudes? Nope. He was talking to His disciples. Who are these tremendous promises made to as far as prayer is concerned? They are made to disciples. And what constitutes discipleship? First of all: deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Him. So, this is not just a broad promise that anybody can say, "Well, bless God. All I have to do is believe it and say it, and I'm going to have it. Alright! I want a new Mercedes. I want a home on Lido Island. I want a yacht on the dock. I say it; I'm going to have it. Praise God! Hallelujah!" And what's the first thing that makes a disciple? Deny yourself. "Oh, wait a minute. That yacht isn't denying myself." You see, these promises are made not to everybody, but to those who have denied themselves to take up their cross and follow Jesus. So it would follow that you're not going to use this prayer, this power through prayer, to fulfill your own lusts. But you would be using it to bring glory to God.
2007-06-13 16:35:55 · answer #3 · answered by NickofTyme 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It amazing how people add things that aren't there. Like, "Sometimes the answer is no." But, that's not what the book says. It says ask for anything and it will be yours.
So many of the people who say that they have "free will" sure do respond to questions as though they're robots -- they say only what they've been programmed to say.
2007-06-13 16:24:02 · answer #4 · answered by YY4Me 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think He meant this: if we follow His word and have complete faith, then our heads and hearts will be in the right attitude and place spiritually. With the divine peace that comes with that, we become more aware of our fellows and more aware of Christ - with that wisdom comes a giving heart and Christ is happy to give us whatever we ask for, cause it's going to be asked for with a giving heart, not a selfish desire.
just a thought
2007-06-13 16:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by katy_bug56 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
And who is He talking to? The Romans? The Pagans? The Atheists? No, He is talking to His followers. The ones who are walking with Him and the ones who have been chosen by Him. He's telling them that that God is faithful to answer those who are in fellowship with Him, not to those who don't believe and don't walk in the faith.
2007-06-13 16:27:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is all nonsense of course, but it does reveal a lot about some of the Christians here that they assume a person would be praying for selfish reasons.
2007-06-13 16:21:55 · answer #7 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because perhaps they were selfish prayers designed to actually meet a person's own ends.
If you pray just to say "God hasn't granted it, God is fake!", of course its not going to happen; because it is for your own ends.
2007-06-13 16:17:52 · answer #8 · answered by CanadianFundamentalist 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
sometimes what you ask for isn't within reason,,,or God feels you do not NEED what you ask for....God answers prayers that are spiritually asked....if the person asking isn't spiritually motivated or isn't truly Christian he won't answer.
2007-06-13 16:24:24 · answer #9 · answered by creeklops 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus answers me all the time.
Obviously if you are putting in a link that "god is imaginary" then you don't believe.
Sad.
2007-06-13 16:20:40 · answer #10 · answered by Molly 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋