Does it matter which Person of the Trinity we pray to? - John Piper

Transcript: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/AskPastorJohn/ByTopic/35/3491_Does...

The following is an edited transcript of the audio.

Does it matter which Person of the Trinity we pray to?

Yes, I think it matters. But being wrong about doesn't mean that it's in the category of damnable sin and maybe not even in the category of sin at all.

The Holy Spirit is sent into the world, according to John 16, to glorify the Son. And he glorifies the Son by leading us to the Son and causing us to see the Son as the ground for our access to the Father. The Son came to die for our sins in order to bring us to God.

So the pattern that you find almost uniformly—I say almost uniformly—throughout the New Testament is to pray to the Father in the name of the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. So we're said to pray "in the Spirit" in Ephesians 6:18. "Pray in the Spirit."

"Pray in the name of Jesus," I think means "on the basis of what Jesus has done to make our access to God possible," namely his blood and righteousness. So when I say, "In Jesus' name" at the end of a prayer, I mean "because Jesus died for me and rose again, covered my sins, and imparted and imputed righteousness to me, I have access to the Father." "Because of him"—that's what "In Jesus' name" means.

I know of no example or encouragement to pray... No, no, no. That's not true. I was going to say, "to pray to the Holy Spirit." But "Come Holy Spirit" is not an evil prayer to the Holy Spirit. "Come Holy Spirit."

But if you got into the habit of praying to the Holy Spirit all the time—"You're my Benefactor. I pray to you"—you would be out of sync with the pattern of the New Testament.

So my bottom line answer—and I've been asked this a lot—is to follow in general the pattern of the Bible, namely, pray to the Father in the name of Jesus by the power of the Spirit, that is, in reliance upon the help of the Spirit.

But, from time to time, "Maranatha! Lord Jesus, come!" is not a bad prayer. And "Holy Spirit, fall upon us and grant us a fresh baptism" is not a bad prayer.

So, in general, pray to the Father; but occasionally, to express their Personhood and your own love for them, telling the Spirit and the Son that you love them and that you would like them to come in fullness is a good thing.

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[cameronester]

wonderfull

[lydmarol11]

Are you calling God a liar?

Father, son and Holy Spirit...........

if you believe in a different Jesus, you believe a different gospel which will lead to death.

Trinity.

[nepistepa]

@magusdch "There is no evidence ... in the Bible that prayers were offered to ... other than the Father" ??? Acts 7:59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Rev 22:20 Come, Lord Jesus. God does not deny verbal communication with the Son (Paul on the road to Damascus), the Spirit (Philip on the road to Gaza) or with angels (Mary and Gabriel). A legalistic attitude towards prayer can only stunt a genuine spiritual relationship with the Holy Trinity.

[LoudundergroundP]

Thank you! you don't know how long I've been wondering about this!!!

[magusdch]

@triggergnu

There is no evidence or general pattern in the Bible that prayers were offered to none other than the Father. Jesus did not pray to any other Person other than His Father. Those are simple facts orated in the Scriptures. We may argue about doctrines but as far as prayer is concerned it is offered to the Father in the name of His dear Son who is our Mediator, Advocate and High Priest. In a nutshell His Son takes our prayers to the Throne of His Father.

[magusdch]

@JeremyHOOPS10

Abba Father refers to God as "Daddy" and it is NOT lack of reverence to call Him "Daddy" because that is the relationship He wants to have with us. It makes more sense that Daddy visited Adam everyday to have physical communion with him and his wife. Enoch communicated with God as friends would.

[LordSideTV]

it doesnt matter! father son holy ghost are one pray to any its the same

[JeremyHOOPS10]

im a believer and the last thing i want to do is start one of those stupid debates on a Youtube video, but i am curious as to peoples' opinions of referring to the Father in prayer as "daddy." it seems to lack reverence to me, but i have heard others opinions as well.

[actionong]

Measured. Nuanced. Biblical.

[triggergnu]

I'm a unitarian and I don't believe in the Trinity, but this is pretty sound, and I think Piper has given a correct answer. Of course, when in doubt, follow the outline of the Lord's prayer. "Our Father which art in heaven..."