I have been asked, and I have asked the Lord, to whom we are to pray. Is it the Father, or is it the Son?
Technically, I believe we are to pray to the Father, through the Son, by the working of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the entire Trinity is involved in prayer.
On the other hand, the 15th chapter of John calls us to abide in Christ, or to live in Him. I find for me that a part of living in Jesus involves dialoguing with Him, and that when I look for a vision of the Godhead, He is the image that often appears (Col. 1:15). I find that when I pray with authority, I tend to address the Father, and that when establishing intimacy and friendship, I generally commune with Jesus. When in corporate worship or beginning a class, I often speak to the Holy Spirit, inviting Him to manifest His presence among us.
I have asked the Lord about this, and He has confirmed that it is most proper to pray to Him, through the Son, by the working of the Holy Spirit. However, He has also said that since the Three are One, He will also honor my prayer when it is Jesus and I talking. After all, Jesus only speaks the words the Father has spoken (John 5:19-20).
Actually, in considering 1 John 1:3 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, we find that the Bible tells us we may fellowship with the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.
“…and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3, emphasis added).
“Let the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, be with you all through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 13:14, a paraphrase from the Greek, emphasis added).
Therefore, I believe our fellowship can be with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Mark Virkler is founder and president of Christian Leadership University and co-founder of Communion With God Ministries. The co-author of more than 50 books with his wife, Patti, Mark has received a Master of Theology from Miami Christian University and a Ph.D. from Carolina Christian University.
For the original article, visit cwgministries.org.
