In a previous article, Solidly Focused on Jesus, I made the point that each of the seven markers in the Way of Jesus is focused on Jesus, and that with respect to prayer, "it is unimaginable to think that you could follow Jesus without speaking to Him and listening for His voice." One reader challenged the idea that we should be praying to Jesus. In response, I would say that there is no difference in praying to the Father, the Son, or the Spirit. 

In the New Testament, prayer is directed at ‘Father’ or ‘Lord.’ There is no reference to prayer directed at the person of the Spirit, but consider that while the New Testament distinguishes Father, Son and Spirit, there is such an inter-relatedness that Paul could write: 2 Cor 3: 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Because there is no jealousy and no rivalry in the Godhead, approaching through any Person is fine.  Jesus does teach us to pray to the Father.  Jesus tells us to ask ‘in His name.’ This is because Jesus is our mediator, our High Priest (Heb 7:25). We also know that the Spirit speaks to His people with divine authority (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 28:25) and directs (Acts 13:4; 15:28; 16:6, 7).

Our focus in the Way of Jesus training is on life in Jesus, but as we have said, Life in Jesus is Life in the Father is Life in the Spirit.  Our new life is sealed with the ritual act of baptism, and we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19).  It is the Spirit Who mediates the presence of the Father and the Son, because He has been sent from the Father and Son. And it is the Spirit Who helps us in our praying: Rom 5:5 God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 Examples of Prayer directed to Jesus:

Acts 1:24; 4:29; 7:59; 8:22, 24; 9:5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 27,42; 10:4, 14, 33; 11:8, 16, 20-24; 13:2; 13:48-49; 14:3, 23; 15:11, 17; 16:14, 31; 18:8, 9; 19:13,17, 20; 20:24; 22:8, 10; 22:18, 19, 21; 23:11; 26:15.

The Book of Acts provides us with the most direct window on the praying of the early church.  The above verses are a selection of verses from the Book of Acts in which you have ‘prayer’, that is either a person addressing Jesus as ‘Lord’ or the Lord speaking to someone.  There are a few verses included which establish that Jesus was addressed as ‘Lord.’  Most, if not all, of the references to ‘Lord’ in the Book of Acts are a reference to Jesus, not the Father. It is evident that for the early church, saying, ‘Lord,…’ had the Lord Jesus in the fore.  If we have embraced a properly Trinitarian understanding of God, there is no issue. 

Christian hymnody has correctly addressed ‘prayers’ to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and some to all three.  In successive verses, we sing, ‘Father, I adore you… Jesus, I adore you… Spirit, I adore you…’ We sing, ‘Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me’ and ‘My Jesus, I love Thee…’ 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Pastor Phil