Comment received:
At Matt.6:9 Jesus taught us how to pray to the Father. In that instruction, Jesus excluded himself from being directly addressed in the opening of prayer.
My response:
Would Jesus pray to himself in his model prayer?
Jesus was giving us instruction on what perspective we should have, what our concerns and priorities should be, when we are considering which requests we rightly present before the Father.
Should we assume that this instruction must mean that Jesus is not to be prayed to?
Let me present an example.
Imagine that your lawyer gives you instruction on how to present your case to a judge or jury.
Does that necessarily mean that you should no longer speak to your lawyer, simply because his instruction did not include how to speak to him?
You would not assume that conclusion, because you have an ongoing relationship with your lawyer. You know that your relationship remains unaffected by his instruction regarding a third party.
Please consider, based upon the scriptures to follow, what the relationship of one-ness is, that the anointed have with Jesus (John 17:20-22,23-24,25).
Jesus said that proper worship includes both spirit and truth (John4:23-24).
Jesus is the source of truth for the anointed (John14:6; 18:37; 8:45-47; 4:10; Rev.21:6; 3:20).
He is also the source of spirit at work in them
(John16:12-15,7; 15:26; Matt.10:27; 28:20; John17:26; 20:29; 17:20; Acts 1:8)
(Col.2:10-11; 1John2:27; 1Pet.1:2)
(Rom.11:16-18; 15:12; Col.2:6-7; John15:4-5; Eph.4:16; 1Cor.6:17).
Jesus directly teaches his anointed priests, about their mutual Father
(John5:19; 10:36; Gal.3:26). (John17:26; Heb.2:10-13; Matt.10:27)
Consider how the relationship between Jesus and his bride members, is compared to a healthy, loving marriage (Eph.5:29-30,31-32).
Is such a relationship sustainable, without communication?
The anointed continue to be taught by Jesus himself, as he is the one who directly gives them God's spirit and truth, through him.
Jesus told his body members, to ask him for what they need (John15:7; 16:24-25).
Note John 14:13-14...
Note John 14:13-14...
"13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask ME for anything in my name, and I will do it."
Then please reconsider, whether or not Christ's bride members should speak to Jesus, or should not speak to him.
1Tim.2:5 reads;
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind*, the man Christ Jesus".
If we wish to approach God, we are told that Jesus is our mediator. How well would you reach God, if you refused to speak with His only mediator?
Yet Jesus spoke of a time when the anointed who are born of spirit, would no longer be of the flesh... of "mankind*"
(Rom.8:9-11; John3:6; 1Pet.1:23; 1Cor.15:50; Eph.2:6).
In that day, the Father Himself hears our prayers (John16:25-27).
The faithfulness of Stephen is one of loyalty to Christ. He gave a courageous and thorough testimony in the face of certain death (Acts 7:1-54). This exemplary Christian provides to us, a lesson related to our present topic
at Acts 7:55-60 where we read;
"55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep."
Finally, we have the example of the apostle Paul. We can see by the verses to follow, that he took the invitation at John16:24 to heart.
Rom.8:28 and 1John5:14 add, that what we ask for must contribute to the purpose of God. Take note of what we learn from Paul, regarding whether or not we should pray to Jesus...
2Cor.12: "7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
1Cor.6:17 Jesus is one in spirit with his Bride members. They work together intimately, as Christ teaches them, nourishing them with spirit and truth (Eph.5:29). He gives them the divine knowledge they need to be wise and faithful, and to feed others the light of life
(John20:21; Matt.10:27; 5:14-16; Isa.60:1-2; 1Pet.2:9; Rev.22:17; Matt.28:19-20).
If anyone thinks that this takes place without any open communication between Christ and his Bride members, you are mistaken.
Acts 9:3-5; Rev.1:12-13,17; 2:29; 6:10; John5:22-23; Rev.11:12; John17:24; Rev.14:14-16; Matt.3:12; Rev.19:5; 22:16,20)
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