"Ask Anything and Believe"

  Let's begin here on these verses and move forward:

"Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you." (Mark 11:24)

"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  (Matt. 21:22)
"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 18:19)
"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:14)

What do these verses really teach? Are these statements about prayer a blank check from heaven signed by Jesus? If these verses are speaking what it looks like on the surface, does it apply to all or only a few?

 If the Lord has given us a blank check with prayer as some would indicate then everyone would have the same access! If we take the above texts absolutely and every single Christian has a blank check where would that leave us? We could have power over nature, over weather, over life and death! We could have at our disposal power over everything which would mean God doesn't rule but we do. All we have to do is ask!! When we need something changed, wham...ask and it is yours. Like a genie in a bottle speaking, "Your wish is my command!"

Why we could abolish the lost world and save everyone. Look at the Matt. 18:19 account. Two of us pray for the salvation of every person in the world and without exception it would come true! But let's not stop there. Let's ask for the obliteration of sin in the world and it would be done!!

Then comes the words: "But God can do anything!" Yes and no. God is the Creator and all powerful. He is sovereign over all mankind. But He is also just and righteous. God created man in His image to choose and follow with their heart, not blink His eyes and all the things taken care of. To understand such verses on prayer we must understand the context of what Jesus is trying to get those to see within the framework of His purposes. If we use these as blank checks we aren't taking the word of the Lord seriously. Let's continue this in the next blog! Have a great day and spend time in prayer!!