When you pray for strength and help and blessing to live a godly life, without doubt you will receive it. When you pray for opportunities for witness, without doubt you will receive them. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not the day after, maybe when you are not properly looking the day after, that prayer will be answered and you will have your opportunity. When you pray for a part in the service of the Lord, you will receive it. You pray for things that are connected with fruit, righteous character and the making known of the gospel, and your prayers will be heard – it’s a wonderful promise. All these promises for prayer which seem to be open-ended are all given in a context, such as those that are given to the disciples in the context of their apostolic work, and that’s how we see the promise. It doesn’t detract from its wonder; it adds lustre to its wonder and power.
Does that mean we can ask for anything? The prosperity teacher heretics say, Yes, anything. And they are asking for jets and fancy cars and luxuries and expansive properties. But they are being foolish, and wilfully so. This is Christ who is teaching. Is he attended by the trappings of wealth? It should be obvious to them that they are talking nonsense. The context of the passage is fruit bearing. In connection with bearing fruit, ask for everything, but not for gold-plated bath taps and luxuries and ridiculous things.