God is Triune [Lesson 1.5]

10 Jun

tri·une (adjective) Being three in one.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=triune

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There are three persons in the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are of the same substance; they are equal in glory, power, majesty, and eternity; and they are one.

The big question many ask is: To whom do we pray?

We could take the lead from some children’s prayers:

Dear Jesus: Please send a new baby for Mommy.
The new baby you sent last week cries too much.
Debbie, 7

Dear God: Who did you make smarter? Boys or girls?
My sister and I want to know.
Jimmy, 6

Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains.
So far he doesn’t have any.
Angela, 8

Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today.
You even fooled the TV weather man.
Hank, 7

Dear God: Please bring me a new brother.
The one I got socks me all the time.
Agnes, 6

Dear Jesus; I am saying my prayers for me and my brother,
Billy, because Billy is six months old and he can’t do
anything but sleep and wet his diapers.
Diane, 8

Seriously, it is important to know whom we should address our prayers to. Jesus told us to address our prayers to the Father (John 16:23, 26 & 27). Since we believe that God has given all authority to Jesus, it is alright to address your prayers to Jesus as well. Some teach differently, saying it is wrong to address prayers to anyone but the Father specifically, but this is Biblically unjustifiable doctrinal hair-splitting. See Acts 7:59; Stephen, with his dying breath, prayed to Jesus, “…calling upon God…”. Also, by the context, St. Paul said in II Corinthians 12:9 that he prayed to Jesus. And last but not least, the famous phrase, “Amen, Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20) is a prayer addressed to Jesus. It is probably also alright to address a prayer to the Holy Spirit. You are certainly invoking the Holy Spirit when you use the words “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen” (Matthew 28:19), and an invocation is a kind of prayer.

It is also important to know whom NOT to pray to. It is absolutely unscriptural to pray to anyone else, such as “Mary” or one of the saints. In fact, doing so is idolatry. An answer from such a source may come from Satan!

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While our friends from India traveled around California on business, they left their 11 year-old daughter with us. Curious about my going to church one Sunday morning, she decided to come along. When we returned home, my husband asked her what she thought of the service.

“I don’t understand why the West Coast isn’t included too,” she replied. When we inquired what she meant, she added, “You know, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the whole East Coast.”

– From Readers Digest

 

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