John 14:13-14: Will God Really Give Me All?

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Have you ever heard people say to ask God for anything you want and He will give it to you? Because He gives you the desires of your heart and if you ask for it in His Name, He will do it. They are referring to John 14:13-14. More often than not these verses are used to mean that God will give you anything you want.

This creates a God who spoils His kids and a Santa Claus of sorts. Or a genie in a bottle- just wish for something aloud and boom, it appears. This view of God is not only ridiculous but a creation of man. God doesn’t work that way. If these verses were interpreted and understood correctly, people wouldn’t have this skewed view of God. With this short post, I will attempt to put John 14:13-14 back into context and apply it correctly.

Understanding John 14:13-14

In order to understand and apply these verses in their right context, we must read the verses before and after. I always urge you to do this because it’s important that we know the background and what Jesus was referring to. I recommend you read the entire chapter but at least read verses 8-21.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples about the Kingdom to come and how they could be sure of the way. Phillip then asked Jesus to show them, referring to signs. Jesus replied by saying that they had seen the Father in Him, who was the One doing all the works they’d witnessed. He then said something astounding,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
JOHN 14:12

Jesus said that we would do greater works than he through the power of the Holy Spirit, which he mentions from verse 16 onward. Isn’t that amazing?! This proclamation still shocks and humbles me today.

Then we get to verse 13. After reading through the previous verses we discover that Jesus was speaking about doing works in His name. There is nothing here to suggest that Jesus was talking about giving away material possessions. He was speaking about doing great spiritual works (miracles, healings, etc). Verse 14 reinforces this further- that through the Father miracles and other spiritual works will be done.

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These miracles and spiritual manifestations did take place after the ascension of Jesus. Did the Apostles not receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit through the speaking of tongues? (Acts 2) Didn’t the Holy Spirit work through them to heal the sick and cast out demons? This is what Jesus was referring to when He said that anything asked in His Name would be done. And this promise still stands for us today.

Keeping the Commandments

If we continue reading unto verse 15, Jesus commands us to keep His commandments as a demonstration of our love for Him. You will not hear this one quoted often. People like to receive blessings without obedience. It doesn’t work that way either. Obedience brings blessings.

Let’s meditate on this for a minute. Why would Jesus insert obedience in the middle of his answer talking about Spiritual works and wonders? You’d think, what does it have to do with it? There is no power without obedience. The Holy Spirit cannot work in and through us if we aren’t willing to walk in relationship with the Father because the gift of the Holy Spirit is so great. Read verse 21.

The Holy Spirit

Jesus promised us His never-ending Presence through the Holy Spirit, in whom we are comforted. Do you realize how privileged we are?! Before Jesus, people had to rely on the priest and animal sacrifices in order to commune with YAH but we don’t have to do that anymore. We can go to the Father whenever.

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And what’s more, He left the Holy Spirit to dwell among us as our comforter and the medium through which His glory and power are manifested! So I don’t understand why people prefer to twist Scriptures in order to have it say that God wants to give us cars, houses, careers, money, and fame. That’s garbage! People would rather take the lentils over the birthright!

God Provides

But even God knows our need for material necessities. Didn’t He say not to fret over these? That He would provide all that we need? He said, “seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you,” (Matthew 6:33).

God will and always provides all that we need, and sometimes before we ask! (Matthew 6:8). The key is to focus on the Kingdom and His righteousness and all these shall be added unto us.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:25-33

You Ask Wrong

But be careful not to ask wrongly. God knows the intentions of your heart. If you’re asking for material possessions and seek God only when you need something, your prayers will not be answered (James 4:3). Owning a car or having a great job are not bad things, in fact, we need them. God knows this. But if our love for materialism is greater than our love for the Father, God will not give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Desire Spiritual blessings. Seek Spiritual blessings. I assure you that God will answer those prayers without delay.

I hope this post has helped you understand John 14:13-14 a little better. If you have not read my previous posts in the Misquoted Series, please do so!