To Whom Do We Pray?

The Kingdom of God

So Where Are We Going Today?

1. Does God Answer Prayers To Just Anyone?2. Spirit Activity in the Kingdom of Darkness3. Visions from the Enemy and From God4. To Whom do we pray?5. To whom do we not pray?6. How to help those who pray useless prayers.

What Is Praying?1. Two way communication with God2. Dialogue not a monologue3. We talk to God and God talks to us.4. We never pray to one another but we can

pray (intercede) for one another.5. Scriptures say we should pray to God alone.

Can We Pray to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit?

• Do we pray to the Father?• Do we pray to Jesus?• Can we pray to the Holy Spirit?• Can we seek other people to help us get to God?• Should we use objects to help us pray or focus on

God?• Should we pray in front of statues?

To Whom Do We Pray?

Spirit Activity in Each Kingdom

Kingdom of

Darkness

Kingdom of

Light

Spirit Activity in Each Kingdom

Kingdom of

Darkness

The enemy of God will try to mislead those who are trying to find God. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3

Deception through visions or apparitions are one of his tactics.

Appearing as an angel or masquerading as a saint to throw people off the right path to God is another tactic he uses. “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. .” 2 Corinthians 11:4

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10

6. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10

Who Communicated with Paul?

6. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10

Who Communicated with Paul?

After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10Any vision from God will always line up with the scriptures never opposing them.

What Was Communicated?

To Whom Do We Pray?• In the spirit realm, we should only

communicate to God.• The enemy of God would like us to try to

communicate to idols, false gods or even to demons.

• Ouija Boards, séances, palm readings, crystal balls, tarot cards, contacting the dead etc. are all from the kingdom of Darkness.

Entering the Demonic

Realm

Spirit Activity in Each Kingdom

Kingdom of

Darkness

Kingdom of

Light

Role of the Trinityin Communication

Communicate to the Father

Communicate through the Son

Communicate by the power of the Holy Spirit

God

Crank Ya Ca Sur?• Yu all what sum bode to crank ya ca sur?

Crank Ya Ca Sur?• Yu all what sum bode to crank ya ca sur?

Who Not To Pray To

No Communication• Some non-Christian religions encourage their

adherents to pray to a pantheon of gods, dead relatives, saints, and spirits.

• Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Chaldeans, Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt among others are taught to talk to Mary, Joseph and various other saints.

• Making intercessory requests to deceased saints, to Mary or to Joseph are not found modelled anywhere in scripture and are really a form of idolatry.

Who Not To Talk ToPeople who don’t know you.People who can’t understand youPeople who can’t communicate with you.People you really don’t know

Who To Talk To• God know us and our name• “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he

who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

• Jesus knows us and our name• I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14

• The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

• Holy Spirit knows us and our name• “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that

I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

A Proof of Divinity• Only God has the power to hear and respond

to millions of people at once.• Only God could be everywhere at the same

time to hear, engage and respond to people all over the world talking at the same time, who have different languages and with different accents.

• It is a sign of divinity that could facilitate such actions when we communicate with God.

Exalting Mary• How to respond when someone wants to exalt

Mary because she gave birth to Jesus.1. Commend the person for wanting to reach

God by talking to someone.2. Share with the person the time nearly two

thousand years ago when a woman tried to publically exalt Mary on the basis that she gave birth to Jesus in the presence of the Lord Himself and his disciples. Luke 11:27-28

Luke 11:27-28• 27 While Jesus was saying these things, one

of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.”

• 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Mary-exalting Woman• Did the Lord approve of her praise of Mary? • The Lord publicly rebuked that Mary-exalting

woman for that notion and set the record straight on who is blessed with these words:

• “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

• Jesus wants all to know that any person hearing and obeying God's word is blessed more than Mary, the mother of Jesus, on the basis she gave birth to Jesus.

Exalting MaryHow to respond when someone wants to exalt Mary because she gave birth to Jesus.3. Ask the person to read selected scriptures and see if God’s plan for salvation was a mother/son team.4. Share with the person what you believe is God’s plan for communicating with Him using scripture.

A Mother/Son Team?• Come to me, all you who are weary and

burdened, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:28• Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip,

he said to him, "Follow me.“ John 1:43• You diligently study the Scriptures because you

think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:40

A Mother/Son Team?• When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

• "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" John 10:14

• My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

God’s Plan for Communicating

• Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me“ John 14:6

• If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. John 15:7

• "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1

What is God Saying?

This Week• All home groups are running• After Celebration service you are invited to

join us for light refreshment and to go out for lunch with us!

• Invite someone next Sunday to our special service “What’s Happening at the Vineyard?”