perhaps you should consider studying the bible by 'subjects' and not by 'verses'
Even better, I like to read the whole books at once and refrain from cherry picking, let alone "passage picking". Although in many cases, one or two critical verses are necessary to focus on to discuss their context.
1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that, no matter what it is that we ask according to his will, he hears us. 15 Further, if we know he hears us respecting whatever we are asking, we know we are to have the things asked since we have asked them of him.
I should have established that I'm aware it's about asking what is within his will as WELL as living in obedience to what is the truth of the teachings.
So as I said earlier, why exactly is it against his will then to heal Christians from various illnesses, like cancer as you brought up (I don't remember that being addressed) and bring them out of grinding poverty? In this case, one would think that God would heal a true believer and not leave them to languish needlessly, especially in the Tanakh's equating of such suffering with sin and rebelliousness. So thus, in addition to praying for things within God's will, it's also about living within God's will.
Notice how in Peter's epistle he stresses good behavior for the sake of one's prayers.
There's clearly a connection in the NT about one's prayers' effectiveness being affected by their sinful behavior. That is the main gist of what I'm getting at here.
John 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to this one
This is the whole crux of my point, it's about those who do his will. Therefore, those who are sick and in poverty and don't do his will shouldn't be wondering why their prayers don't get answered, it's because their lifestyles are not in conformity to his will.
John 14:13 Also, whatever it is that YOU ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in connection with the Son
Same.
John 15:16 YOU did not choose me, but I chose YOU, and I appointed YOU to go on and keep bearing fruit and that YOUR fruit should remain; in order that no matter what YOU ask the Father in my name he might give it to YOU
Same. If they are not appointed and bearing the fruit he says, their prayers are pretty much useless, and it's a surefire indication that their way of life and beliefs are not at all in line with what Jesus was teaching.
You might be able to glean, from the above verses, that the 'anything we ask' should be 'in accord/harmony with Gods WILL' that it may be for the purpose of 'glorifying God' and that the work to which the apostles were 'appointed' might 'go on bearing fruit'
If I didn't make clear that it's about applying to only those who do his will, then my bad. The whole point of this is to indicate that the basic proof test for any Christian's legitimacy of belief in terms of whether Heaven deems them legitimate, is if basic prayers are answered. If they're not answered, thus they are not in line with God's will, both their prayers and their beliefs and lifestyle..
So if you are asking to win the lotto, it will not be granted because the lotto has nothing to do with Gods will.
Arguably, yes as well as potentially no. It could be God's will for someone to use the Lotto funds to make a mission to save many souls, but only for those who are actually preaching what is correct and true and not just their own personal wishful thoughts.
If you are asking for wisdom and understanding, it will be granted because Gods will is for man to come into harmony with him and draw close to him.
Yes, James says that those who ask for Wisdom in sincerity will be given it liberally....(which makes me realize how few are actually asking sincerely for wisdom!)
do you see the difference?
Again if I didn't make clear that I acknowledge this difference, my mistake. I thought I made the point clear when I said that it's about those who truly are obeying and living correctly and not according to false teachings.
