We don't Pray *to* Jesus...

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Prayer is one of the most profound privileges of the Christian life. It is the means by which we commune with God, and it involves all three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Let us explore the biblical foundation for how we approach prayer as Christians.

“We Pray TO God the Father, IN Jesus’ Name, THROUGH the Power of the Holy Spirit.”

We Pray TO God the Father

Jesus Himself taught us to pray to God the Father. In Matthew 6:9, He begins the Lord’s Prayer with these words: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” This address establishes the pattern for Christian prayer. The Father is the ultimate recipient of our prayers, reflecting the relational intimacy we have with Him as His children. Romans 8:15 echoes this truth: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”

While it is not a sin to pray to Jesus, it is—biblically accurate—to address our prayers to the Father. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, consistently directed glory and attention to the Father. By following this example, we acknowledge the Father’s central role in the divine ministry of prayer.

We Pray IN Jesus’ Name

In John 16:23, Jesus declares, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” This statement stresses the significance of praying in Jesus’ name. As our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), Jesus bridges the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. Through His atoning work on the cross, Jesus has made it possible for us to approach the Father with boldness and confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are acknowledging His authority, His finished work, and more importantly our dependence on Him as the One who makes our prayers acceptable to the Father. Nowhere in Scripture do we see prayers being directed to Jesus Himself. Instead, Jesus consistently points us toward the Father and invites us to use His name as the means of access.

We Pray THROUGH the Power of the Holy Spirit

Prayer is not merely a human endeavor; it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 reminds us of this crucial truth: “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

The Holy Spirit, who dwells within every believer, enables us to pray according to God’s will. He helps us articulate our thoughts when words fail and intercedes on our behalf; He also aligns our prayers with the purposes of God. Without the Spirit’s guidance and power, our prayers would lack the clarity and connection necessary to commune with the Father.

The Triune God in Prayer

In prayer, we see the beautiful cooperation of the Triune God. We address our prayers to God the Father, who is the source of all blessings. We approach Him in the name of Jesus, our Savior and mediator. And we do so through the power of the Holy Spirit, who equips us and intercedes for us.

This divine harmony should inspire us to marvel at the richness of our relationship with God. Prayer is not just a task; it is an invitation to participate in the eternal fellowship of the Trinity. Let us, therefore, approach God with reverence, confidence, and gratitude, knowing that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actively involved in every word we utter and the deep sigh we express in prayer.

God bless you!

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We invite you to study Mark's Gospel with us together.

What will we cover today?
In this session, we will continue our verse-by-verse study of the Gospel. We'll be exploring Mark 1:9-15 verses.

Passage: Mark 1:9-15

Date & Time:
25th January 2025, 6:00 PM IST (Indian Standard Time)
25th January 2025, 7:30 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time)
25th January 2025, 6:30 AM CST (Central Standard Time)
25th January 2025, 5:30 AM MST (Mountain Standard Time)
25th January 2025, 4:30 AM PST (Pacific Standard Time)
25th January 2025, 12:30 PM GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
25th January 2025, 2:30 PM SAST (South Africa Standard Time)

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