I heard this question asked before in a bible study. People saying they are confused because they don't know who to pray to. The Father or Jesus? God didn't bring this confusion nor did Jesus. Man-kind does.
In many religeous beliefs people pray differently. People pray in rituals, they pray to God, to Jesus, and some are taught to pray to Mary in the RCC. And then I hear a lot of people say the Muslems pray to "another" God Allah.
Yes there is a wrong way to pray. God taught this throughout scripture and Jesus also taught the same truth... Because he is the Messiah; Gods' anointed.
The thing is, if one is taught wrong. Does God hear them?
We are all Gods creation and I know God hears the cries of all people.
Even when the Isrealites were in idolotry. God still came to his people.
In some cases people pray to their family members and to the saints, that are deseased. God has instructed not to do this.
Isaiah 8:19b... Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living.
There is nothing in the bible to pray to Jesus. Matter of fact Jesus instructed to pray to his Father in heaven as he did.
Matthew6 :7,8,9
And when you pray do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. They think they will be heard for thier many words. therefor do not be like them. for the Father knows the things you have need of before you ask him. In the manner therefor pray...
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN...
This is known as the Lords' or Fathers' prayer. I identify it as the "disciples prayer," Because it was given to the disciples. In their ministry...to pray to the Father. Its a prayer in service to God for identifying him as Holy, for purification, protection, and service for furthering the kingdom of God in His will.
John20:17b reflects. (We as believers have the same Father, Jesus has and prayed to)...
(Jesus said to Mary)...But go to "my" brethren and say to them...I am ascending to "my" Father and "your" Father. And to "my" God and "your" God.
We are to pray and believe in the God of Jesus. Because the True Gospel; Word of Truth came through him.
Jesus prays and asks of his Father in heaven...
Matthew26:39b...
Oh, my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, Never the less, not as I will but as YOU will...
John 4:24 God is spirit, let us worship Him in spirit and in truth. For the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
(We are to pray and worship God in the spirit that was in Jesus.)
Jesus was sent to lead a people to God, which by his words and following the Word that came through him, did.
God desires all people to be led in His truth and Spirit. God will not mislead us, but people will. And God knows these things.
The Father is the Holy Spirit. We identify the Holy Spirit as the name Father. Holy is the center of everything that is All and pure. Spirit is the active existance. Of all reality. spirit is related into such as all Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Which God created all things by.
John1:1 God is Word.
Word means logos: Wisdom / knowledge
John4:24 God is Spirit...
When God spoke the earth into its beginnings. God spoke wisdom. And all thing of the Wisdom of God created all things. And this Wisdom is the same as everything God is and contains. Which is not bounded.
Proverbs 8:1-(22-31)
John1:13...( Before flesh)
John 1:14 ...(The WORD became flesh)
This is the Word / Wisdom of God that was placed in Jesus.
Matthew 12:18b
I will put my spirit upon him and he will declare justice to the world.
We are to pray to the Father. And in Spirit/ Christ...In the Christ we should pray should pray.
God knows our hearts...
Spirit is not the same as ghost. The word Spirit is not identified of its meaning in the 1611 translation. Which uses ghost. Which is why I use the NKJV. Still do like to read the old KJV though. I was raised with it.
When I was a child I actually thought Ghost was Gods last name. Hey, He never told me it wasn't. He never said to me as a child, "This is my name."
When I prayed as a child before I learned all the terms of Father and such. I never identified anything by name. But I didn't have many words either. But I prayed to an existance that I knew was above me, not in place but in spirit. It was a seeking heart from something I knew before. Thats what I know about prayer.
