CAN WE HAVE A TALK WITH JESUS?
| Q.
Would you mind sharing your knowledge of God's word on just how we
relate to Jesus during the time we are living? I believe
conservative Christians avoid being a cult type "Jesus person"
and avoid Him completely except for a closing to prayers. Do we only
talk thru Him as our mediator or do we also talk to Him directly? I
don't want to ignore Him but I don't want to assume a relationship
that is in any way disrespectful. - JWW. - - answer page #9 |
III. Prayer Must Be Spirit Authorized (continued).
We have determined that the Holy Spirit speaks and writes for the Lord Jesus (2 Timothy 3:16). He does this through His apostles and (NT) prophets (Ephesians 3:5). We have determined from Acts 15 that there are three ways to establish the Lord’s authority through the Spirit’s revelation:i (A) direct command/sii, (B) inspired approved example/s and (C) necessary inference/s from the apostles’ approved actions.iii
A. Is There A Command To Pray To Jesus?
We Are Definitely Commanded To Pray (imperative verb). “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is also commanded in these verses (each one is imperative in the original):
“Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret” (1 Corinthians 14:13, WEB).
“Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25, KJV).
“Finally, brethren, pray for us” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
“Pray for us” (Hebrews 13:18).
“Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him” (James 5:13, 14, ASV).
“And take the helmet of salvation... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… ” (Ephesians 6:17,18). “Take” is an imperative verb; “praying” modifies the command. The Spirit authorizes how we pray.iv
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God… ” (Jude 20, 21). “Keep”, the main verb is imperative; “praying in the Holy Spirit” is a modifier of that command. The Spirit authorizes how we pray.
In order to be faithful, one MUST pray in the Spirit. Therefore, we are commanded to pray according as the Holy Spirit has directed us (Scriptures). Merriam-Webster defines our English word “pray” as “address[ing] God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving.”
Are We Authorized To “Pray” To Jesus? That is, are we to address Jesus with “adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving”? I searched but could not find a “direct” imperative verb to “pray” to Jesus. John 14:14 is suggested by some writers as being a command by Jesus to specifically pray to Jesus. This is because some “reliable” ancient manuscripts has “me” inserted; i.e., they have Jesus teaching the apostles to “ask me” (e.g., see RV) but “ask” is not an imperative verb (i.e., command). It is grammatically a type of subjunctive verb that means that if it is done the result will definitely happen.v Sounds as good as a command? To me, yes. However, I decided this would fit better under “Necessary Inference/s” as something that’s okay.
Worship. Since praying is “supplication”, we have another word that also has this meaning; it is “worship.” The NT word worshipvi, according to Thayer’s Greek Definitions, includes “to make supplication.”
Are We Commanded To “Worship”? We are commanded (imperative) to “worship God” (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). It is a specific command; i.e., “to God.” Jesus answered the Devil during His temptations in the wilderness, that the Moses had required people “to worship and serve only the Lord God” (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20 which, by the way, doesn’t have the word “only.” This confirms that the law of silence exists when God gives specific commands.
Silence
Accompanies
Specific
Commands.
The
Bible does NOT have to make
a list
of
what
one must “not” do. The
positive excludes.
This
is why the ancient
Jews
understood
to permit
David’s
musical
instruments and
cult choir (Deuteronomy 29:25) only
at
the temple
[as
commanded] and
never
at
the synagogues.vii
This
is why the Jewish prophets also
condemned
sacrificing in other locations
than
the Temple at
Jerusalem.
The “worship God” requirement is repeated in the New Testament; i.e., a treasure “brought out” from the Old into the New (Matthew 13:52). Since worship includes making supplication then that means we are commanded to pray to God. John the apostle is commanded to worship God, not angels. In the book of Revelation, the angel declared to John about worshipping him, “See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God.”
Commanded To Ask God. Someone has written, “How about James 1:1-7?” Doesn’t it authorize asking Jesus? James 1:5 does have an imperative verb “ask” but it actually also commands us to “ask God” for wisdom although verse 7 anticipates that the Lord Jesus will not answer the doubting one who asks.
If we are to only “ask” God and only worship God, then does that not exclude everyone else (including ourselves, idols)?viii Does this exclude worshipping Jesus? No, for is Jesus not identified as God?ix Many that refuse to pray to Jesus explain that it is because they do not believe that Jesus is God.x
However, we know that Jesus is identified as God (John 1:1-3). It is not that Jesus was just a good and an innocent person that died for us. Innocent babies die all the time.xi It is because He is God incarnate. “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16b). In fact, even the angels are commanded to worship Jesus. “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).
After His resurrection: “And Thomas [one of the apostles] answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8). “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling... That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (singular which means the “and” gives two adjectives for Jesus, 2 Thessalonians 1:11a, 12).xii The latter is also true for both of these: “The glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, CEV); “through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1, CEV).xiii
Can We Honor Jesus In Prayer? We are commanded (imperative) in Ephesians 5:18 to “be filled with the Spirit” ([or] the parallel “Word of Christ” in Colossians 3:16), added with the participles singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. The “Lord” referred to is identified as Jesus who is the “only Lord” earlier in the context (Ephesians 4:5). “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19); also, its parallel in Colossians, “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lordxiv” (Colossians 3:16). Some responses to this verse is that we are to sing to Jesus, it is true, but we are not permitted to pray to Jesus in this passage. But singing is “Speaking” (v. 19) and can be an avenue of praying: e.g., Paul and Silas did prayer-singing: Acts 16:25. A. T. Robinsonxv translates, “Praying they were singing (simultaneously, blending together petition and praise).” Vincent’s Word Studies interprets, “Lit., praying, they sang hymns.” So this is as close as we can come to a command to address Jesus in praise.
If we didn’t have any other information, we can confidently say that the Spirit commands us to pray to Jesus as God. But we can investigate whether there are examples or necessary inferences given to us by the Spirit. continued...
B.
Is There A Spirit-Approved
Example
Of Praying To Jesus?
C. Is There A Passage That Infers Spirit-Approval
Praying To Jesus?
iActs 15. “COMMANDS or statements to establish the fact in the matter. In verse 12 Paul and Barnabas showed that the miracles and wonders God done among the Gentiles evidenced that God approved of the Gentiles. Therefore, we have given APPROVED EXAMPLES by which divine authority was established to decide the matter. In verse 7-11, Peter tells of the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, and thus reaches the NECESSARY CONCLUSION that God had "put no difference between us and them" (verse 9) and therefore it would not be right "to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples"(verse 10). "We shall be saved, even as they". (verse 11). - http://www.wisechurch.com/topic9.html; https://allanturner.com/authority.html; http://www.insearchoftruth.org/articles/authority.html; http://www.bible.ca/d-authority-acts-15-silence.htm; http://www.fryroad.org/_fryroad/BibleStudy/Authority/EstablishingAuthority/tabid/134/Default.aspx.
ii Some say that direct statements are equivalent to commands.
iii When the apostle Paul makes vows associated with the Levitical system, he makes it clear in his writings that he has freedom to practice circumcision, etc., to not offend but in order to win the Jews. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. … To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:19, 22).
iv “in” (the Spirit); Strong’s G1722; “a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality”
v “The aorist (subjunctive) is used to imply an action.” “If the subjunctive mood is used in a purpose or result clause… should be viewed as a definite outcome that will happen as a result of another stated action” -https://www.ntgreek.org/learn_nt_greek/verbs1.htm
vi Worship: προσκυνέωG4352 Thayer Definition: 1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence 2) among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence 3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication”
vii “Ancient Jewish cultic music was valid only in connection with the cult, and the cult was valid only at the Temple in Jerusalem. When Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 CE, and the Temple destroyed, the cult ceased, and with it cultic music” https://heidelblog.net/2014/01/on-the-absence-of-musical-instruments-from-the-synagogue/
viii “When we come to see men happy rather than God glorified, it’s not worship, it’s idolatry,” Camp stated, reading from Psalm 115:1. https://christiannews.net/2014/08/28/do-good-for-your-own-self-osteen-says-obedience- worship-not-for-god-video/
ix Thayer reminds us that the word “God” or theos in Greek includes the trinity.
x E.g., Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, etc.
xi Enoch walked with God; but he only saved himself (Genesis 5:24).
xii A. T. Robinson points out: there is a singular article which means that Jesus is the only one mentioned here.
xiii A. T. Robinson, “This is the necessary meaning of the one article with theou and sōtēros just as in 2 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 1:11. See Robertson, Grammar, p. 786.” Vincent suggests that this is possible.
xiv Note that the Westcott-Hort text has “God.” WH is a critical text, compiled from some of the oldest New Testament Greek fragments and texts that had been discovered in the 1800s.
xv Robertson’s Word Pictures.
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