Go! And Ask Anything? - John 14:14 Series

Go! And Ask Anything? - John 14:14

John 14:14 (NLT): "Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

Introduction: Grabbing the Heart

Imagine for a moment, standing in front of Jesus—He looks you in the eye and says, “Ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” What do you say? What would you dare to ask for?

These are not empty words. They are a divine invitation. A promise. But they are also often misunderstood, misapplied, and misrepresented.

Today in our Go! And… series, we tackle a life-transforming truth with a question as our title: Ask Anything?

Let’s open our hearts, clear our distractions, and allow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to speak to us.

1. Context and Exegesis of John 14:14

“Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:14, NLT)

This powerful promise is given by Jesus during His farewell discourse (John 13–17), just hours before the cross. Jesus is comforting His disciples, preparing them for His departure, and introducing them to the power of prayer in His name.

The phrase “in my name” (Greek: en to onomati mou) does not simply mean adding “in Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer. It means to pray in alignment with who Jesus is—His character, will, and purpose.

Jesus is not giving a blank cheque to satisfy selfish desires. He is inviting us into communion with Him, to align our requests with His mission and nature.

John Piper: “When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are claiming to stand in His place, to ask what He would ask, to desire what He desires.”

Piper reminds us that prayer is not magic—it’s ministry. It’s aligning our hearts with God’s heart so His will is done through us.

Praying in Jesus’ name means being surrendered to His will. It means our deepest desire must be: “Lord, glorify Yourself through this prayer.”

2. What Does It Mean to Truly Ask?

Matthew 7:7 (NLT): “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.”

Jesus used the present imperative in Greek (aiteite), meaning “keep on asking continually.”

This verse teaches us about persistence in prayer—not to manipulate God, but to demonstrate our dependence on Him.

Max Lucado: “God is not a vending machine. He is a Father. And prayer is not pushing buttons—it’s engaging in relationship.”

Lucado hits the nail on the head. If your prayers feel dry, maybe it’s time to stop vending and start relating.

Ask with faith. Keep asking with trust. But ask relationally—not mechanically. Think: not just ‘What do I want?’ but ‘Who do I want to ask?’

3. Aligning Requests with His Will

1 John 5:14–15 (NLT): “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us... we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

The word thelema (will) speaks of God’s preferred will—His divine desire for our lives. Our prayers must be anchored in His priorities, not just our preferences.

Charles Stanley: “Faith is not a force we wield, but a surrender to the will of God.”

Stanley gives us a Gospel-saturated vision of prayer: it's less about power over circumstances and more about peace within them.

Pray not just for outcomes, but for obedience. If God says ‘no’, He is still good. If He delays, He is still faithful. If He says ‘yes’, He is glorified.

4. God’s Generosity to His Children

James 1:5 (NLT): “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.”

James was writing to scattered, persecuted believers. He encouraged them that even in trials, God was near and ready to give.

The Hebrew concept of wisdom (chokmah) is not merely intellectual knowledge—it is practical, Spirit-led living.

R.T. Kendall: “God’s generosity is not based on your merit but on His mercy.”

Kendall reminds us of the Gospel truth—God is a generous Father. He gives not because we are worthy, but because Christ is.

Are you in a confusing season? Ask God for wisdom. Not worldly logic, but godly discernment.

5. The Ultimate Request: Salvation

Romans 10:13 (NLT): “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is the greatest “ask” any person can make. It’s not about health, wealth, or success—but about eternal life.

Gospel Presentation:

Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life. He died on the cross to take the punishment our sins deserved. He was buried. But on the third day, He rose again. Today, He invites you to ask—ask for mercy, ask for forgiveness, ask for salvation.

Tim Keller: “Jesus is not a means to an end. He is the end.”