John 15:7-8

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“Lord, I feel connected to You, and I’ve memorized 5 verses now, so Your Word would be in me; now Lord, I want to pray for whatever I wish. Let’s see, Lord, I want a Porsche 911, red, preferably new. I wish for a 4,500 square foot house and someone other than my wife to keep it clean. Lord, I wish for a place at the mountains, AND a place at the beach. Lord, thank You for always keeping Your Word and Your promise. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!!”

Stop laughing! This theology is running RAMPANT throughout the Body of Christ in America. It is a “name it – claim it” “word of faith” “you can speak your own reality into existence” sort of heresy and it sucks in weak and immature believers AND lots of non-Christians. As Satan did with Jesus in Matthew 4, he tempts with subtly twisted meanings to Scripture, and this beloved verse is one that he uses. However, when you finally GET the meaning of Jesus’ words, not only will you complete the relationship loop, you’ll also discover the root of the heresy in the “word of faith” movement.

What does verse 7 SAY?

‍What does Jesus mean when He says “ask whatever you wish”?

Sometimes, getting a perspective from a different Scripture on a similar subject can add a HUGE burst of understanding. Read the following verse and then reread John 15:7-8 and jot down any additional truths to prayer you may have discovered.

Romans 8:26-27

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.