::Ask and you shall receive::

Ok, besides the obvious, what is the passgae really saying? It seems to unlikely that anything we ask for we shall receive (i.e. make me a conjillionaire) will come to pass just because we ask for it. So what in that case what are we to ask for that will come to pass and that we will receive?
Mat 21:22 — And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Mat 7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mar 11:24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
etc.

Someone please explain (and debate) the meanings of these verses and why it is that at times it seems as though we may ask, but not receive. Ready, set: debate.

DrCash7 said:

Ok, besides the obvious, what is the passgae really saying? It seems to unlikely that anything we ask for we shall receive (i.e. make me a conjillionaire) will come to pass just because we ask for it. So what in that case what are we to ask for that will come to pass and that we will receive?
Mat 21:22 — And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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Well... you have to read the verse in context...in verse 21 Jesus prefaces the following verse using unwavering faith as the ideal for the power of prayer. NONE of us (with one exception )has perfect faith, but Christ did.

Mat 7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

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Again, context.... I believe Christ is speaking in a teleological sense, not about material items.

etc.. etc.... God is not a "magic genie"... we don't get three wishes.

'seek,and ye shall find;knock,and it shall be opened to you'...you've still gotta get off your butt and look and bang on doors; whatever it is, it isn't coming by Fedex direct to your sofa.
By asking you may find that the way is opened to receive what you want, but you still need to do the legwork yourself. If you're not prepared to do the legwork, then you can't have wanted it too badly.
I think it's a variant of God helps those who help themselves, quite frankly.

Well... you have to read the verse in context...in verse 21 Jesus prefaces the following verse using unwavering faith as the ideal for the power of prayer. NONE of us (with one exception

)has perfect faith, but Christ did.

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Why, then, did he question his father on the cross?

'seek,and ye shall find;knock,and it shall be opened to you'...you've still gotta get off your butt and look and bang on doors; whatever it is, it isn't coming by Fedex direct to your sofa.
By asking you may find that the way is opened to receive what you want, but you still need to do the legwork yourself. If you're not prepared to do the legwork, then you can't have wanted it too badly.
I think it's a variant of God helps those who help themselves, quite frankly.

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I agree.

Druidus said:

Why, then, did he question his father on the cross?


I agree.

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Jesus questioned His Father on the cross because He was keenly aware that the Father could not look upon His Son on the cross with the stench of the sin of humanity that Jesus assumed by shedding His blood on the cross. Regarding the scriptures you referenced, Jesus was not just referring to material possessions/gifts, but also spiritual ones as well. In addition, it required the disciples and all others who follow Him, to submit their lives to Christ and be obedient to Him. If our motives are selfish or our hearts are not committed to Him, that presents a major roadblock in God bestowing any blessings our way. You have to put God first in your life over all other things (Matthew 6:33) and all the other things will be added unto you.

Again, context.... I believe Christ is speaking in a teleological sense, not about material items.

etc.. etc.... God is not a "magic genie"... we don't get three wishes.[/QUOTE]
Well that's what I meant in the first place when I said ask. Yes, the idea is to not ask for merely riches or "things" but whatever it is you are still going to ask, whether it be for peace or peace of mind or simple family stablity. My question now is how do you ask for these things?

Druidus said:

Why, then, did he question his father on the cross?

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You seem to ask this in every thread that deals with the Bible.... do you really need ANOTHER answer to ignore?

You seem to ask this in every thread that deals with the Bible.... do you really need ANOTHER answer to ignore?

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I can't seem to remember asking that question ever before. Hmmm.... Perhaps you are mistaken? If I have ignored any answers, it is because I do not find them satisfactory.

Jesus questioned His Father on the cross because He was keenly aware that the Father could not look upon His Son on the cross with the stench of the sin of humanity that Jesus assumed by shedding His blood on the cross.

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Ah, I see. That does make sense. It would make an awesome scene in a novel too. I can imagine the dialogue and narration, I can see the image and emotion, it's beautiful in that context.

Druidus said:

I can't seem to remember asking that question ever before. Hmmm.... Perhaps you are mistaken?

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My mistake, I guess.

Ah, I see. That does make sense. It would make an awesome scene in a novel too. I can imagine the dialogue and narration, I can see the image and emotion, it's beautiful in that context.

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Glad to see you received a satisfactory answer.

Glad to see you received a satisfactory answer.

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Actually, I just looked it over again and realized I was a bit confused by it. I interpreted it to mean that Jesus hoped to make God open the doors of heaven. But then, my Christian theology is hopelessly rusty. Perhaps you could give me an answer?

Realize, too, that I don't really ignore an answer. If the answer works for you, I'm glad, but I can't help it if it's not good enough for me. Oftimes, as well, I'll forget an earlier answer. Please, bear with me in my ineptitude towards Christianity.

Druidus said:

Perhaps you could give me an answer?

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Love to.... but you'll have to wait for blueman... I don't agree with his answer, so I can't help you.

Please, bear with me in my ineptitude towards Christianity.

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Only if you'll bear with mine.