Where In Scripture Are We Instructed/Exampled To Pray To Jesus?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Chan

But didn't Stephen pray to God as he was being stoned to death, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59)? It's not a command or an instruction but it is certainly an example.

I have looked a little more into this instance and I only have this to add at this point.

This is the one time (so far) that we have an instance of someone praying to Jesus.

Several issues with it.

1. This is really less of a prayer and more of a crying out at the time of death but I will not lessen it's relevance on that point. I just wanted to make that observation.

2. This was just after (or maybe during) a vision where Stephen had seen Jesus sitting on the right hand of God. This could very well be a lot of the reason this cry was made in the manner it was.

3. They had begun stoning Stephen when he said that he had seen the son of man standing on the right hand of God. It would be a logical course of action to call out to that one (Jesus) to receive his spirit when he was nearing his death.

Random Question: Is there any reference that mentions that Jesus will be the one that receives our spirit?

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I have looked a little more into this instance and I only have this to add at this point.

This is the one time (so far) that we have an instance of someone praying to Jesus.

Several issues with it.

1. This is really less of a prayer and more of a crying out at the time of death but I will not lessen it's relevance on that point. I just wanted to make that observation.

I guess I look at calling on God as a form of prayer.

2. This was just after (or maybe during) a vision where Stephen had seen Jesus sitting on the right hand of God. This could very well be a lot of the reason this cry was made in the manner it was.

Well, Jesus is the image of the invisible God: who else would Stephen have seen?

3. They had begun stoning Stephen when he said that he had seen the son of man standing on the right hand of God. It would be a logical course of action to call out to that one (Jesus) to receive his spirit when he was nearing his death.

See above.

Random Question: Is there any reference that mentions that Jesus will be the one that receives our spirit?

I'm not aware of any specific reference; maybe someone else is.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Chan

I guess I look at calling on God as a form of prayer.

Yes sir... I am definitely not saying that it was NOT a prayer... I was just pointing out that possibility since this is the one time in scripture where we find such a prayer being uttered.

Originally Posted by Chan

Well, Jesus is the image of the invisible God: who else would Stephen have seen?

LOL... Indeed... who else would he have seen.

Which then brings up more questions ( I am full of them)

I wonder what Stephen saw (seeing that God is invisible) to say that Jesus (being the express image of the invisible God) was at the RIGHT HAND of God?

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Yes sir... I am definitely not saying that it was NOT a prayer... I was just pointing out that possibility since this is the one time in scripture where we find such a prayer being uttered.



LOL... Indeed... who else would he have seen.

Which then brings up more questions ( I am full of them)

I wonder what Stephen saw (seeing that God is invisible) to say that Jesus (being the express image of the invisible God) was at the RIGHT HAND of God?

I think that "the right hand of God" was a Hebraism referring to the position of authority.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Wide open & honest question...

I look forward to seeing the scriptural references and reading your responses.

Joh 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1Co 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

Act 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!"

Also the following is evidence that to ask "In Jesus name" is synonymous with asking HIM
Joh 16:26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Notice that? Why would he need to pray the Father for us if we are praying NOT to Jesus but to the Father?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I have brought this list up before on this forum but no one ever seems to want to comment.

In the list of scriptures below I see some evidence that the apostles did see the Father as God and the son as Lord, Messiah, Christ.

I don't think this undoes oneness in any way. I just think that the way I have been taught to view the father and the son is different from the way these verses demonstrate the apostles view of the same.

Jhn 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

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Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Cr 1:3 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Cr 8:6 But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.

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2Cr 1:2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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2Cr 1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

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2Cr 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

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Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

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Gal 1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Eph 1:2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Eph 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

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Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

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Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

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Eph 6:23 Peace [be] to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Phl 1:2 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Phl 2:11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

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Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

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1Th 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

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1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

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2Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

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2Th 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

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1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

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2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Tts 1:4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

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1Pe 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

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1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

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2Jo 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

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Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:

You want everyone here to respond to each and every verse? If this was a debate I would accuse you of trying to win through verbosity! lol

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Chan

But didn't Stephen pray to God as he was being stoned to death, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59)? It's not a command or an instruction but it is certainly an example.

Another good verse...
Paul had a conversation with Jesus.

One more verse I did not add

Joh 14:6 Jesus replied, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Joh 14:7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him."
Joh 14:8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content."

Now, some of you are probably focusing in on the part about seeing him...but notice that Jesus said NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT through Jesus.

Jesus is our mediator. He is our intercessor and right now Jesus is...if you will, our God by proxy sitting on God's throne having ALL power in heaven and earth AND...AND...Jesus is our great high priest.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by nathan_slatter

And I was always taught that "in the name of Jesus" was the same as "by the authority of Jesus", I've learned that it is a bit deeper than that since, but if praying/being baptized in the name of Jesus means praying/being baptized by the authority of Jesus -- then the same interpretation of "I come in my Fathers name" should be "I come by the authority of my father".

The greek word for name means authority..that does not make that word Jesus any less a name! A persons name was their authority just as it is today for so many things, particularly contracts

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by MrsMcD

Just curious as to what you mean by it is more than just authority.

It's HIS name. They called His name Jesus...when you saw him on the Street and you wanted to get his attention you cried out 'Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me'

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Why are you so surprised?

What do you think of the verses that say Christ was the Rock in the wilderness or the Spirit of Christ was in the OT prophets? Still talking about God's name being Jesus.

He's just upset cuz you fight like a dude and he fights like a gurl