Does Jesus Ever Say in the Bible, Pray to Me?

Mar 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

Photo by Flickr user Sandro Lacarbona licensed under Creative Commons

Photo by Flickr user Sandro Lacarbona licensed under Creative Commons

By Mari Kaimo, host, The 700 Club Asia

If Jesus isn’t God, why does He teach us to pray to Him? Wait a minute…

Does Jesus ever say in the Bible, you can pray to Me? But the Bible teaches that there is only ONE God! And only that God can hear and answer our prayers! Only God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent!

So does Jesus claim to have GOD POWERS in the Bible, which powers God shares with NO ONE? He sure does!

How does one gain entrance into Heaven, according to Jesus? He says, call upon Him:

21 “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.”

Jesus is saying we need to call out to HIM to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If Jesus can hear us when we call out to Him…it’s because HE IS GOD!

One other point from that verse above.

It is Who JESUS determines who gets into Heaven and who doesn’t Jesus chooses who gets in and who doesn’t…because HE IS GOD!

Sure, not everyone will be saved except those who do the will of the Father but Who does Jesus say we all have to call on to even get a chance at Heaven?

HIM!

Now why would He tell people to call on Him if He can’t hear them?

Jesus is omniscient (knows everything) and omnipresent (He is everywhere at all times) are GOD powers which Jesus has in heaven because…

He is God!

In John 14:13-14, Jesus said this about prayer (italics mine),

13 “You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.

14 Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!”

He doesn’t say “Ask the Father and maybe He will do it.” Jesus says, “ask Me, and I will do it.”

Why can Jesus say that? Because He is God!

Next, if Jesus isn’t God, why do the Apostles and disciples all pray to Him?

After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven, the apostles pray to the LORD JESUS to ask Him who will replace Judas:

“Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men You have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Acts 1:24-25

Acts 2 tells us “… everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’”

Whose name is that? Why, the LORD’s name, of course…Jesus’ name!

In Acts 7, Who does Stephen pray to as he is being stoned to death?

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.” Acts 7:59-60

In Acts 8:22-23, the Apostle Peter tells Simon to pray to…Who else but JESUS!

Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.

That is proof again, not just that Jesus can hear your prayers, but He is the God Who also forgives you of your sins!

In Acts 9, the Lord Jesus speaks to Ananias in a vision.

(How can He do this if He isn’t God?)

Look at what He says in verse 11:

10 Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord!” he replied.

11 The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to Me right now.” (NLT)

Not only is the blinded Saul of Tarsus praying to Jesus, but Jesus knows EXACTLY when Saul is praying

Jesus is in Heaven, so how does He know what Saul is doing on earth?

He knows exactly what is going on everywhere because…

He is GOD!

In Acts 13, who are the disciples worshiping?

2 “One day as these men were worshiping THE LORD and fasting…

In Ephesians 5:19, we are to “sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and make music TO THE LORD in your hearts.

Why would we be told to make music to Jesus in our hearts if He isn’t God and can’t hear us?

In 1 John 5, the Apostle John explains why we can have confidence when we pray to Jesus:

13 “I have written this to you who believe in the name of THE SON OF GOD, so that you may know you have eternal life.

14 And we are confident that HE HEARS US WHENEVER WE ASK FOR ANYTHING THAT PLEASES HIM.

15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that HE WILL GIVE US WHAT WE ASK FOR.”

How can He hear our prayers if He isn’t God?

How can He answer our prayers if He isn’t God?

How can He give us what we ask for if He isn’t God?

So to the question,

Can we pray to Jesus?

There is only one answer in the Bible:

By all means…

YES! Because Jesus is GOD!

Help us REFRESH others with the life-giving Word of God today!


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