Prayer to Jesus Christ?

by UnDisfellowshipped 11 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  UnDisfellowshipped

  Did the Apostles and Disciples Pray to Jesus Christ?

  2nd Corinthians 12:8: Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
  2nd Corinthians 12:9: He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
  2nd Corinthians 12:10: Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

  Acts 7:59: They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
  Acts 7:60: He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].

  1st Timothy 1:12: And I thank Him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He counted me faithful, appointing me to service;

  1st Corinthians 1:2: to the congregation of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours

  Romans 10:9: that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
  Romans 10:10: For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
  Romans 10:11: For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."
  Romans 10:12: For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on Him.
  Romans 10:13: For, "Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved."

  John 14:14: If you ask Me for anything in My Name, I will do it." (Watchtower's The Kingdom Interlinear Translation, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, International Standard Version, 1965 Bible in Basic English, Contemporary English Version, 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible, The Good News Bible, GOD'S WORD Translation, English Standard Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New Century Version)

  Who is "The One who searches and examines the hearts and minds" of humans?

  Revelation 2:23: ...all the congregations will know that I [Jesus] am the One who searches and examines the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

  Jeremiah 17:10: I, Jehovah, search and examine the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

  John 2:24: But Jesus didn't trust Himself to them, because He knew everyone,
  John 2:25: and because He didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for He Himself knew what was inside of men.

  John 21:17: ...[Peter] said to [Jesus], "Lord, You know everything...

  John 16:30: Now we know that You know all things, and don't need for anyone to question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."

  Matthew 9:3: Behold, some of the Scribes said to themselves, "This Man blasphemes."
  Matthew 9:4: Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?

  Matthew 12:25: Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

  John 6:64: ...Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray Him.

  1st Kings 8:39: ...(for You [Jehovah], even You only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)

  1st Chronicles 28:9: ...Jehovah searches and examines all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

  Psalm 7:9: ...Their minds and hearts are searched and examined by the Righteous God.

  1st Samuel 16:7: ...Jehovah sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks at the heart."

  Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 19 January 2003 1:45:44

  Edited by - UnDisfellowshipped on 19 January 2003 1:49:12
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  onacruse

  I especially like John 14:14, where Westcott & Hort translates to "If you ask ME anything in my name, I will do it." The Kingdom Interlinear shows this reading in the subtext, but in the NWT column it conveniently drops the ME, without even so much as a footnote. I wrote to the Society years ago about this, and the response was "This doesn't mean to pray to Jesus because over here it says blahblahblah and over there it says blahblahblah and our understanding is blahblahblah. Sincerely yours, blahblahblah"

  Of course, Rom 10:13 "calling on the name of the Lord" doesn't mean Jesus, right? After all, the NWT has "everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah." Oh, the name "Jehovah" never occurs in the Greek texts??? Never mind that, it's just a minor technicality. And 2 Cor 12:8 doesn't actually use the word "prayer," so that one doesn't count. Same for Acts 7:59, 60. On and on, more blahblahblah.

  Scripture very clearly supports praying to Jesus.

  Craig
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  yucca

  You are RIGHT. JESUS IS KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORDS. HE IS ALPHA AND OMEGA.Thomas said to jesus my Lord and my GOD.No one comes to the Father except thru the son. Jesus said he is the way the truth and the life. yucca
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  kes152

  Greetings loved ones,

  Just so you are not mislead, Jesus came to his disciples and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18).

  Before our Lord was glorified by the Father, only the Father had "all authority" in heaven and on earth. Hence, only the Father had the authority to hear prayers, answer prayers, receive worship, receive the spirits of men when they died, etc. When our Father glorified the Son and gave ALL things into his hands including all authority in heaven, prayers, worship, the spirits of men, etc. all went to him (John 13:3). The Son was even granted to sit on the throne of the Father and receive all things that the Father received (Hebrews 1:8).

  In the beginning, no prayers went to Christ because he did not have the authority to receive prayers. Now that He is King of those who rule as kings and Lord over those who rule as lords, He has the authority to be glorifed as such, both by men and by God.

  Peace to you,

  Aaron
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  Robdar

  It's a pity that the WT is misleading so many. It upsets me to think of the hold that they still have on me 20 years later. Only recently did I get up enough courage to call on Yesu, to talk to him, to call him Lord. I was so frightened to do it but when I did a feeling of peace that I cannot describe came upon me. The feelings of spirit that overtook me was unlike any I ever had when calling on Jehovah. I will never be the same. I feel as if I have been set free to see the truth after all these years.

  Thank you, Ross/Little Toe, for loosening my chains.

  Robyn
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  MacHislopp

  Hello Undisfellowshipped,

  thanks for this great topic, supported by many clear scriptures.

  Onacruse :

  "I do especially like John 14:14, where Westcott & Hort translates to "If you ask ME anything in my name, I will do it." The Kingdom Interlinear shows this reading in the subtext, but in the NWT column it conveniently drops the ME, without even so much as a footnote. "

  Excellent point. I've used and difended whith the K. Int.

  Result...no defense...because it's true.

  Greetings, J.C.MacHislopp
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  Dawn

  A lot of ex-dubs (and current dubs) do not get any peace by praying to "Jehovah" - it is because the name reminds us of the bad things about the org, the crap we've went through.

  I believe that you should pray to whomever you feel comfortable praying to - whether it be God, Jesus, Jehovah, Yahweh, Adonai, or Lord. What's important is that you pray - not HOW you pray.

  Typical of the org to put the emphasis on PROCEDURE. Appearances and control - that's all that matters.
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  logical

  Well, Jeremiah was written before Revelation and maybe God could grant someone else that ability, such as Christ, as Kes has said.

  Hello Kes, long time no "see", hope you are ok.
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  Brummie

  I was a fan of the Revelation...grand climax book (shame!), Its packed away up my loft now but I am sure it ended the last page with a prayer to Christ. Go have a look if you have it handy. I remember thinking "huh?" ..thats pagan. Perhaps someone can quote the last paragraph to me here, saves me facing the cobwebs.

  Robdar

  I was so frightened to do it but when I did a feeling of peace that I cannot describe came upon me

  I had that exact same experience, later on after searching heart and soul I experienced coming to KNOW Christ as pointed out in John 17:3 in the KIT. KNOWING him, not just knowing about him as the WT used to teach. I can never explain this to anyone as it wasnt an A,B,C thing, it wasnt a vision or anything like that, it was something surpassing understanding...I was able to disassociate myself only after coming to know him. I never had the strength to do it before that.

  I also liked John 14:14 in the KIT.

  Like I always say now, why shouldnt I talk to him? after all, HE isnt disfellowshipped is he?

  Brummie
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  SwedishChef

  Comparing some Old Testament passages with some New. Here we have just a few of many verses in reference to Jehovah in the OT, and in the NT the same attributes are given to Jesus Christ.

  Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

  1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

  Isaiah 41:4 "Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he."

  Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him (Jesus), I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:"

  Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

  John 1:3 All things were made by him [Jesus]; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

  Isaiah 40:3 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

  Mark 1:1-3 "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

  Exodus 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."

  John 8:57,58 "Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

  Isaiah 45:23 "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."

  Philippians 2:10,11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

  Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."

  Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [Jesus] shall be saved."

  Zechariah 12:10 "And I [Jehovah] will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

  Revelation 1:7,8 "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

  Zechariah 14:9 "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."

  Revelation 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

  Zechariah 11:11-13 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

  Matthew 26:15 "And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."