Whom to address in prayer has not been properly taught to Christians today. Most of the modern Christians address their prayers to Jesus, because that’s how many preachers pray. But the Bible consistently teaches that in prayer we must primarily address the “Father” in Heaven. Look at what the Lord Jesus has taught us in His great Sermon on the Mount: “When you pray ... pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Mt 6:6). He added, “In this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in Heaven,...” (v 9). Can words be clearer?
Elsewhere Jesus has given us a doctrinal teaching on this matter. John 16:23,24, “In that day you will ask Me nothing. Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” What does this mean? During
the 31⁄2 years when the Lord Jesus walked and worked with the disciples and taught them, whatever they wanted they asked Him directly. But in this passage He was talking about another dispensation, another era, that would usher in. “In that day you will ask Me nothing.” He amplifies it further in the next verse: “Until now you have asked nothing in My Name.” This is a dispensational change. When you come down in the same Chapter, the Lord reasons about this teaching. Verses 25-27, “These things I’ve spoken to you in figurative language, but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
This teaching is in line with what Jesus in the Garden Tomb told Mary Magdalane, when He appeared to her after resurrection: “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” (Jn 20:17). He was just saying, “You go and tell My brothers that the Father to whom I’m ascending is
your Father too!” A new relationship! Hallelujah!
Who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit? It’s the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what John the Baptist told his disciples: “I baptize you with water; one mightier than I is coming, whose sandals I am not worthy even to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mt 3:11). Yes, Jesus Christ is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. Even then the Lord has taught us to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit: “If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Lk 11:13).
Are you able to see the pattern? This is a progressive revelation for this dispensation. It’s thrilling to know that the early disciples very quickly grasped this change. Here’s an example: The apostles were threatened that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus any longer. So they went back to their companions and reported the matter to them. Look at the prayer they raised to God: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth ... Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word ... and that signs and wonders may be done in the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus” (Acts 4:24-30). See how clearly they were addressing the Father and referring to Jesus as “Your Holy Servant.” Friends, study this prayer again and again. We should pattern our prayer according to the Biblical prescription.
Apostle Paul was consistent in this practice of addressing the Father in prayer—
Ephesians 2:18, “Through Christ we have access by one Spirit TO the Father.” We pray thro’ Christ to the Father by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:14, “I bow my knees TO the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Beautiful, isn’t it?
These are not isolated texts. This practice runs consistently throughout the New Testament—
Romans 8:15, “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father!” By the Spirit of God we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
The present Heavenly ministry of Christ is best understood and realised only when we address “God the Father” in our prayer. As the very “Son of God” He has become our “High Priest” to present our needs before the Father. Here’s a passage which pictorially explains this truth: Hebrew 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Not only as the High Priest but also as an Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ pleads to the Father on our behalf when we go to the Father. Apostle John puts it this way: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn 2:1). When we confess our sins to God the Father, the
righteousness of Christ covers us to make us acceptable before the thrice-holy God who cannot wink at sin!
Christ is not only our Advocate, but He is also our non-stop Intercessor to complete our salvation. The Bible says, “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:24,25).
Thus, the Trinity of Godhead is best understood when we follow the Scriptural teaching of praying to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Does it mean that we cannot ever address Jesus in prayer? Addressing Jesus in prayer can be an exception. It cannot be a general rule. Folks quote Stephen’s prayer at his martyrdom. When Stephen was being stoned by the persecutors, he was bleeding to death and he saw the heavens open and
said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55). He saw Jesus, the One who had been seated, now standing up! Encouraged by that vision, as a prayer of commitment and dedication, he said “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (v 60). This is not a model prayer. We should deduce doctrine from the consistent teaching that runs through the Bible and not from such an isolated incident.
We may teach children to pray, “Jesus, bless me, keep me, come with me and so on.” But when we grow out of childhood, we should embrace the Biblical pattern. We must teach likewise the non-Christian converts as they learn to pray. This change is not easy and cannot happen overnight, because for so many years we have been praying that way. However we must take a conscious effort to correct all our spiritual exercises to fall in line with the Biblical pattern.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are coequal. But they maintain an order. We must recognise it in all our spiritual exercises, especially in prayer. Do not forget the Father!
Elsewhere Jesus has given us a doctrinal teaching on this matter. John 16:23,24, “In that day you will ask Me nothing. Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” What does this mean? During
the 31⁄2 years when the Lord Jesus walked and worked with the disciples and taught them, whatever they wanted they asked Him directly. But in this passage He was talking about another dispensation, another era, that would usher in. “In that day you will ask Me nothing.” He amplifies it further in the next verse: “Until now you have asked nothing in My Name.” This is a dispensational change. When you come down in the same Chapter, the Lord reasons about this teaching. Verses 25-27, “These things I’ve spoken to you in figurative language, but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
This teaching is in line with what Jesus in the Garden Tomb told Mary Magdalane, when He appeared to her after resurrection: “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” (Jn 20:17). He was just saying, “You go and tell My brothers that the Father to whom I’m ascending is
your Father too!” A new relationship! Hallelujah!
Who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit? It’s the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what John the Baptist told his disciples: “I baptize you with water; one mightier than I is coming, whose sandals I am not worthy even to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mt 3:11). Yes, Jesus Christ is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit. Even then the Lord has taught us to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit: “If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Lk 11:13).
Are you able to see the pattern? This is a progressive revelation for this dispensation. It’s thrilling to know that the early disciples very quickly grasped this change. Here’s an example: The apostles were threatened that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus any longer. So they went back to their companions and reported the matter to them. Look at the prayer they raised to God: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth ... Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word ... and that signs and wonders may be done in the Name of Your holy Servant Jesus” (Acts 4:24-30). See how clearly they were addressing the Father and referring to Jesus as “Your Holy Servant.” Friends, study this prayer again and again. We should pattern our prayer according to the Biblical prescription.
Apostle Paul was consistent in this practice of addressing the Father in prayer—
Ephesians 2:18, “Through Christ we have access by one Spirit TO the Father.” We pray thro’ Christ to the Father by the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:14, “I bow my knees TO the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Beautiful, isn’t it?
These are not isolated texts. This practice runs consistently throughout the New Testament—
Romans 8:15, “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father!” By the Spirit of God we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
The present Heavenly ministry of Christ is best understood and realised only when we address “God the Father” in our prayer. As the very “Son of God” He has become our “High Priest” to present our needs before the Father. Here’s a passage which pictorially explains this truth: Hebrew 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Not only as the High Priest but also as an Advocate the Lord Jesus Christ pleads to the Father on our behalf when we go to the Father. Apostle John puts it this way: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn 2:1). When we confess our sins to God the Father, the
righteousness of Christ covers us to make us acceptable before the thrice-holy God who cannot wink at sin!
Christ is not only our Advocate, but He is also our non-stop Intercessor to complete our salvation. The Bible says, “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:24,25).
Thus, the Trinity of Godhead is best understood when we follow the Scriptural teaching of praying to the Father, in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Does it mean that we cannot ever address Jesus in prayer? Addressing Jesus in prayer can be an exception. It cannot be a general rule. Folks quote Stephen’s prayer at his martyrdom. When Stephen was being stoned by the persecutors, he was bleeding to death and he saw the heavens open and
said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55). He saw Jesus, the One who had been seated, now standing up! Encouraged by that vision, as a prayer of commitment and dedication, he said “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (v 60). This is not a model prayer. We should deduce doctrine from the consistent teaching that runs through the Bible and not from such an isolated incident.
We may teach children to pray, “Jesus, bless me, keep me, come with me and so on.” But when we grow out of childhood, we should embrace the Biblical pattern. We must teach likewise the non-Christian converts as they learn to pray. This change is not easy and cannot happen overnight, because for so many years we have been praying that way. However we must take a conscious effort to correct all our spiritual exercises to fall in line with the Biblical pattern.
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are coequal. But they maintain an order. We must recognise it in all our spiritual exercises, especially in prayer. Do not forget the Father!
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