Be Careful to Whom You Pray!

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14-NIV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:16-NIV)

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 16:23-NIV) It is clear from the above passages that we are to pray to God in Jesus' name, or directly to the Lord Jesus, and the Father, through Jesus, will give us what we ask.

Do you read it this way? I have noticed two other kinds of prayers being offered these days. One kind is prayers and supplications made directly to the Holy Spirit. The other kind is prayers and supplications, sometimes accompanied by directions, to angels or guardian angels.

To my knowledge there is no shred of evidence in the Scriptures that we should pray to or entreat the Holy Spirit in any manner whatever-even in a hymn or chorus.

There is no shred of evidence in the Scriptures that we should pray to our guardian angel or attempt to direct angels in any manner whatever.

Am I incorrect in this?

Since numerous American churches fervently desire revival, sometimes with godly motives and sometimes with motives not as pure, there is a temptation to pray to the Holy Spirit. "Come Holy Spirit. Come and bless us with Your Presence. Come and pour out Your power on us. Work mighty miracles among us. Save the lost. Heal the sick. Comfort the weary."

Doesn't all this sound like the thing to do? It is totally unscriptural. It is man attempting to direct the Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the Administrator of the Kingdom of God.

Where in the Bible are we advised to pray to the Holy Spirit? In the days in which we live it is not enough to do things that seem right or we think are right. We must do exactly what is written. Can you agree with this?

We are to pray to the Father in Jesus' name. And we are to obey God. God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. It is always correct to beseech God in Jesus' name to send the Holy Spirit.

I have just finished reading a book that suggests we should pray to our guardian angel or send out angels on an assignment.

Again, we are usurping the administrative role of Christ.

There is no scriptural basis for asking anything of our guardian angel or sending angels on an assignment to get money for us (as one preacher suggested) or to help someone in distress.

It is always correct to beseech God in Jesus' name to send help from the sanctuary, even to ask God to send angelic help.

Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "O Lord, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." (Judges 13:8-NIV)

It would have been very improper for Manoah to ask the angel himself to return, or to do anything for that matter.

Let us be careful to whom we pray! It would have been very improper for Manoah to ask the angel himself to return, or to do anything for that matter.

Let us be careful to whom we pray!