PRAY TO WHOM?-BY STEVE FINNELL

Who are we to address our prayers to, God the Father, the Virgin Mary, Moses, John the Baptist or other dead saints? Are all of the above  acceptable?

Mark 14:36 And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."

Jesus prayed to the Father; Christians should assume that this is an approved example. Jesus did not pray to Moses, Abraham nor any other dead saint. 

JESUS PRAYED TO THE FATHER!

Jesus said: Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door  and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

JESUS SAID PRAY TO THE FATHER! Jesus did not say pray to the Virgin Mary nor any other dead saint.

Jesus said: Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way:'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

JESUS SAID DIRECT YOUR PRAYERS TO THE FATHER! Jesus did not advocate directing your prayers to the Virgin Mary, Abraham, Moses, the apostles, Peter nor any other dead saint.

Jesus said: John 16:23 In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

JESUS SAID PETITION THE FATHER IN HIS NAME! Jesus did not say to petition the Virgin Mary, the apostle Paul, nor any other dead saint.

The apostle Paul said: Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father,

PAUL SAID GIVE THANKS TO THE FATHER IN JESUS NAME! The apostle Paul did not say give thanks to the Father in the name of the Virgin Mary, Moses, the apostles, nor any other saint dead or alive.

Paul said: Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed , do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

Paul said: Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Paul said: 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

JESUS IS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN MEN AND GOD.  The Virgin Mary is not the mediator.

ADVOCATES AND INTERCESSORS

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins , we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The apostle John said that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father. He did not say the Virgin Mary was our advocate to Jesus through whom we might reach the Father. John did not say Moses, Abraham, nor any dead saint was our advocate with the Father.

John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father , and He will give another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. 17 "even the Spirit of truth.....

The apostle John tell us that Jesus the Son of God and the Holy Spirit are our advocates with the Father. The two advocates are God. The Virgin Mary, Abraham, the apostles, nor any other dead saint are God nor are they our advocates with God the Father.

Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and futhermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercessions for us.

Jesus makes intercessions for Christians. The Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, nor any other dead saint is qualified nor has the capability to intercede for Christians.

Romans 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession, for the saints according to the will of God.

The Holy Spirit intercedes for Christians. The Virgin Mary, Moses, the apostles nor any other dead saint can intercede for Christian.

Christians should pray to God the Father. The Christian's mediator is Jesus Christ alone. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are our advocates and intercessors with the Father.

THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT INSTRUCTS ANYONE TO PRAY TO A DEAD SAINT. THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT TELLS ANYONE TO PRAY TO A LIVE SAINT EITHER.

PRAYING TO ANYONE IS WORSHIP.