Truth Seeker - Prayer to Jesus and God

This page is a work in progress; however, the information already available is quite good. Therefore this is made available for those who see it. My wife complained that there was too much information here. This should then provide you the reader with enough material to study. (2011.09.27)

Prayer — four kinds

To the Father without praying in the name of Jesus

Mat 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (Jesus did not indicate here that we pray using his name!)

To the Father in the name of Jesus

Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16 ASV)

The following rendering is found in few Bibles, and is not supported by the NWT. (The reason the NWT is part of the argument here is because this material was used to try to persuade the followers of that church that prayer to Jesus is a must.)

DRC: 14:13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Col 3:17: And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ASV)

To Jesus in Jesus’ name

John 14:14: If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do. (DRC)

1 Cor 1:2: To the church of God that is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in every place of theirs and ours. DRC, (Invoking the name our Lord surely means to pray to him!)

Romerne 10:9-13: For if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For, with the heart, we believe unto justice; but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him, shall not be confounded. 12 For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.

Comment: when reading verse 9, it becomes evident that the NWT rendering is a lie and misleads the believers!

Prayer to Jesus when Christians meet together

Matt 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (This is Jesus talking!)

Many who are gathered pray to the father in the name of Jesus for God to send his Holy Spirit to bless their gathering. However, Jesus clearly told his disciples to pray to him, to Jesus, for Jesus to be among them when gathered. It is therefore clear that we should pray in some manner so that we say, 'Jesus we are gathered in your name and ask you to be among us, to bless us our gathering by your presence and to give us of your spirit during this gathering.

Give honor to Jesus in prayer!

How do we honor our heavenly Father! By praying to him and by obeyeing him
How do we honor Jesus as we do the Father? By praying to him and by obeying him.

Jesus is not worshiped as we do the Father, but it is a difference of mental recognition! Jesus told us to worship the Father, however, we must pray to both!

John 5:23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.

Examples of prayers to Jesus

Acts 3:5-6: And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.

Acts 7:59-60:And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord , and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

9:34: And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. 35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord

16:18: And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.

Have the Son

1 John 5:12: He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. (Verse 14, 15 Explains!)

14 And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. (This is Jesus we are requesting things from!)

*Even the NWT reads it this way. The NIV84 has a different rendering that I do not know how they got)

Jesus directs his disciples post-death-and-resurrection

2 Pet 1:14 14 knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.

Acts 18:9 And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace: 10 for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.

(Jesus directed his disciples communicating with them as the head of the church)

2 Corinthians 13:3, 5 NIV: 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. . . 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?"

2 Corinthians 13:14: AMP: The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).

Jesus’ importance in the NWT

Acts 16:7 7 and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;

16:31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house

19:17: And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

21:13: Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

23:11: And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

2 Cor 13:14:.The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Here Christ is being requested - not God. What is said right afterward shows this clearly.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle. 14 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Who reveals spiritual things to his servants according to the will of God? Jesus! Who is going to punish the disobedient in chapter two and three? Jesus, naturally!

2:16: Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

Love

John 16:27: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

1 Cor 16:22: If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.

Servants of Christ

I Corinthians 1: . . . 2 unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

II Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: 13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself. 14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear. 15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth. 16 . . .19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.

II Timothy 2: 22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,

Gal 1:10: For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

Rom 1:1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

Rom 16:18: For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.

Eph 6:6: not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: 8 knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

Jesus' importance

Philippians 3:20, 21 ASV: For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

Philippians 4:23 ASV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.