Wow! That is one big promise. If you remain connected to Jesus, whatever you wish will be given to you. It would seem that the prosperity preachers are right. Being connected to Christ means that you will have all the things you want - all you've got to do is ask. This seems like solid support of the "Name It and Claim It" theology. Right? Wrong!
The problem with prosperity preaching that I've heard is the focus seems to always be on health and wealth. What I'm hearing from proponents is that God wants us to be free from sin and sickness and sagging economics. It seems to put God in the health and wealth business to the degree that you can have all you want and be free from ailment in the bargain.
Basing that theology on this passage is fundamentally flawed as the internal context alone rejects it. Notice the two keynotes to having whatever you wish: 1) "remain in me" and 2) "bear much fruit." The one who asks and receives whatever he asks is remaining in Christ and is focused in bearing spiritual fruit.
Go to the chapter and notice verse 14, which reads, "You are my friends if you do what I command." These "friends," followers of Jesus, "do what he commands." Those who are connected to Jesus, desire the will of Jesus in their lives and therefore would be asking for that will to be evident (or bearing fruit) in their lives.
Jesus followers will be receiving whatever they ask for as they are asking "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10). They are asking for God's will to be accomplished in their lives not that they would have all the stuff they wanted or be free from sickness of all kinds.
Jesus is not promising to be a genie in a Bible so to speak. He is promising to grant us spiritual riches and spiritual health, which may have nothing to do with their material counterparts. While having a big house and a nice car is nice, it has little to do with establishing God's kingdom in the hearts of men. While being physically strong and healthy is nice, it doesn't advance the Kingdom either.
When you are connected to Christ, you will want he wants, you will be praying for his will to be done in you and you will be transformed into his likeness. You will become a fruit-bearer filled with the spiritual fruit of God [which] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness" (Gal 5:22). These are the riches you will seek and receive. As a result, you and those influenced by you will be drawn into the kingdom of God, experiencing all you would ever ask for. Jus' Say'n.
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