We are thinking about the work of God, not things I desire for myself – ‘Lord, I want a bigger car; Lord, I want to this; Lord, I want that.’ It is the corrupt and phony Prosperity Gospel preachers who preach like that. The Lord is talking to his disciples about the work of the church. It is not: if I want gold-plated bath taps badly enough and pray for them, then the Lord will give them to me. If I am a true Christian he will more likely discipline me for having such objectives. ‘What things soever ye desire’ – for the glory of God, for the building of the church, for the winning of souls, for the blessing of others – ‘when you pray, believe that you received them’ – the Lord will bless you in his great wisdom – ‘and ye shall have them.’
What is the condition that we will receive what we ask for? ‘And when ye stand praying [for these wonderful things], forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.’ That simple condition. If we would that our prayers are answered, we must be forgiving people.