Our Father

Introduction 

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father Who art in Heaven…”. So, how do we pray? We pray to our Father in Jesus’ name, sometimes some pray to Jesus alone, and others may pray to the Holy Spirit (because He is God). Praying can become confusing. How should we pray? Throughout my years as a Christian, I’ve found that the Christian community tends to avoid “Our Father” and concentrate more on Jesus and maybe the Holy Spirit. Is this true? Maybe. How was it in the past, and how should it be now? Why does our Father seem relegated to the back burner and not upfront, where Jesus always put Him? When asked, Jesus taught us to pray to the Father this way, “Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” (Matthew 6). Later, Jesus said, “Whatever you should ask the Father in My name…” (John 14). Should this change the way He taught us to pray? Where does our Father fit into the picture today?

Definitions

Didache’

The apostles possibly authored a discipleship manual, “The Teaching of the Lord through the Twelve Apostles for the Nations”. (Amazon books, An Ancient Blueprint for the Supernatural)

Father

Not our earthly father but Almighty God, El Elohim Adonai, Jehovah, the great “I AM”, YWHA

God

The God I am speaking of is the only Divine Being represented by “The Father”, “The Son”, and “The Holy Spirit”.

Shema

The Shema is the Jewish prayer that affirms God is one God from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Shema means “Hear”.

Torah

Torah means teacher, but usually it’s translated into “Law,” representing the first five books of Moses.

Talmud

The Talmud is a collection of writings that cover the full gamut of Jewish law and tradition, compiled and edited between the third and sixth centuries. Written in a mixture of Hebrew and Aramaic, it records the teachings and discussions of the great academies of the Holy Land and Babylonia. With 2,711 densely packed pages and countless commentaries, learning Talmud is the occupation of a lifetime. (Click here for reference and source.)

Tanakh

Acronym formed from the first letters of the three parts of the Hebrew Bible: Torah (Moses’ first five books of the Bible, Neviim (The Prophets – Early Prophets, Historical books, Later Prophets and the Minor Prophets), and K’tuvim (basically the remainder of the OT) and Chronicles

History

When reading the Old Testament (OT), it appears God, meaning God the Father, takes center stage. When reading the New Testament (NT) four gospels, Jesus is the focus of attention. Moving on, we come to the books of Acts to Jude. When we read these books, we find emphasis on the Holy Spirit with gifts, miracles, signs, and wonders, and the building of the Church. Revelation follows, becoming a summary of all things coming to their end on earth, with only God the Father knowing the time of this event. Revelation takes into consideration the entire history of mankind from Creation to the coming of Christ and His thousand-year reign.

Note: Now that Jesus is in Heaven and all things have been given to Him, Jesus may not know the time of His second coming. Not sure, there is nothing to support this except for Matthew 28:18-19 and others, which say the same.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.^”

Now we do notice throughout the Bible that the Divine Trinity is present in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To get a good understanding of the Trinity, you need to read my blog on “The Mystery of the Divine Trinity Revealed”. Please read this account by clicking here.  I do not intend to recap this information.

It is also interesting that in the Talmud, God’s actual name is not mentioned. God’s name was too holy to be written, and He is referred to as “the Holy One, or the Blessed One.” However, in the Tanakh, being it is basically the OT (see definition above), His name is mentioned several times, beginning with “Elohim”, the plural of El or Eloah, “In the beginning God (Elohim)”.

The Father Has Center Stage

God the Father is regarded as the first person of the Trinity, and so He is. There is: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Although not superior to the other Persons of the Trinity, He functions as its head. He is the creator of all things (through the Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit). God the Father is somewhat of a mystery, however, Jesus made it very clear, if you have seen Him (Jesus), you have seen the Father. We must remember, however, that the name Father is a title and not a name. As Father, He is not only our creator but assumes the role of protector and provider just as a father of any household. God the Father’s household is the universe.

Danger

In some religions, God the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not equals. They teach that the Father supersedes all titles and should take the lead being emphasizing Him alone. Jehovah Witnesses, who claim to be Christians, do not recognize the Trinity as we do. These beliefs are not what I am trying to portray in this paper. There is only one God portrayed in three divine and equal persons. Each is God and collectively is God. (My grammar is correct.) Let not this same danger be applied to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

The Nicene Creed is our declaration of belief. (Written by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and was later amended at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.)

Read this again with reason, thought, and the Holy Spirit as your guide.

“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible; And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.”

Jesus’ priestly prayer, noted in the book of John chapter 17, is our doctrine.

This is one of the most awesome discourses on the relation of the Father, Son, and us, His chosen. Within this discourse, it is the Holy Spirit that glorifies the Father through Jesus. God’s Divine purpose is fully revealed.

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Names of God the Father

In the Hebrew culture, a name does not just identify a person; it reveals their purpose, their core being. When it comes to God we see He has many names. Each name reveals a part of His nature and the role He takes in history. The Torah reveals eight names for God, listed below, however, He is called by many more. Per Google there are approximately 967 names for God in the Bible. These names identify His role in the world and His nature. YHVA is His silent name, which is often spoken as Jehovah with many attachments as a sort of suffix to the name. We do the same by saying a name and adding “Junior”, “Senior”, and sometimes a prefix “Master.”. We also see names such as Joseph Baker, Jason Carpenter, John Cooper, and many others, which historically identify an individual’s profession.

There are other names by which God is called in the Bible. These names are often used by the Christian community, referring to Jesus Himself. This list is not complete by any measure, but there may be a couple of names some may not be familiar with.

The Roll of the Trinity

How Do We Pray

Pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name as were were taught. Recognizing Him in your life

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17) ESV

Pray to “Our Father” as Jesus taught.

“Our Father Who are in Heaven….” (Matthew 6)

Given the above, do we pray to the Holy Spirit?

The answer to this question may dwell in the hearts of the believer. I have no problem with praying to the Holy Spirit as long as you remember His function and do not disregard the role of the first two persons of the Trinity. There are no prayers in the Bible that are directed to the Holy Spirit alone. I believe that is because He is the power behind God and will never glorify Himself but will indwell in you being your guide to all things God. It is He who speaks to you, Glorifying Jesus and our Father.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me (Jesus), for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15) ESV

There may be a possible objection to the statement that there is no reference in the Bible about praying to the Holy Spirit when we read Ezekiel as follows.

“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath (or wind or spirit/Spirit; Hb. ruakh, which can take all three meanings); prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Ezekiel 37:9-10

All three are God. Pray to God our Father in Jesus’ Name. Without God the Father, there is no Son, and without the Son, there is no Holy Spirit, who was sent by the Father at Jesus’ request. In your prayers, thoughts, words, and deeds, remember the whole counsel of God. How? Because He is one, and we need all three. (Grammar correct.)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts (by means of a Mezuzah) of your house and on your gates. (The “Shema”” from Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Prayers to the Holy Spirit

The Catholic Church has a specific prayer to the Holy Spirit.

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.”

“Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created (Hereby asking the Holy Spirit to make us a new creation), and you shall renew the face of the earth.”

Here are examples of other prayers to the Holy Spirit not necessarily Catholic. For the source and more prayers, click here.

1. Holy Spirit, lead me in the path of righteousness and guide my steps according to Your will. Grant me the wisdom to discern right from wrong and follow Your divine plan for my life. Amen.

2. Holy Spirit, my Comforter, wrap me in Your peace and calm my troubled heart. Bring me the assurance of Your presence in my darkest hours and help me find rest in You. Amen.

3. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your strength and power. Help me to stand firm in the face of adversity and overcome every challenge that comes my way. Amen.

4. Holy Spirit, grant me the wisdom to understand Your will and the courage to act on it. Illuminate my mind and guide my decisions, so that I may live a life that honors You. Amen.

5. Holy Spirit, nurture my faith and help me grow closer to God. Let Your word take root in my heart and produce fruit in my life that reflects Your love and grace. Amen.

6. Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Calm my fears and anxieties, and help me to rest in the knowledge that You are in control. Amen.

7. Holy Spirit, empower me with courage to face my fears and challenges. Help me to be bold in my faith and to trust in Your unfailing strength. Amen.

8. Holy Spirit, bring Your healing power into my life. Heal my body, mind, and spirit, and restore me to full health according to Your will. Amen.

9. Holy Spirit, sharpen my discernment and help me to recognize Your voice amid life’s noise. Guide me to make choices that align with Your truth. Amen.

10. Holy Spirit, empower me to fulfill the calling that God has placed on my life. Equip me with the gifts and abilities I need to serve Him and others faithfully. Amen.

Summary

Exactly what am I trying to say in this paper. The answer is simple: as Christians, we need to recognize the whole Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I have seen “Jesus Only” movements where Jesus took center stage, where Jesus is the Father and Jesus is the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen Pentecostal movements where the entire emphasis was on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. There is also a greater emphasis in some circles on an individual’s supposed office: Pastor, Teacher, Apostle, Prophet, Healer, or Evangelist. “Which are you?” The answer may be neither, for which we need not be ashamed.

I have written this paper to refocus myself and others on “God the Father”. I do not want to see a shift away from God as our Father. As the apostles taught in the Didache, I try to pray the “Our Father” at least three times a day. As time moves on and as a pendulum swings, Christianity trends sway away from balance to one extreme or another. Do I see a swing now? No, not yet, but I see a possibility happening in my life where balance is needed. I pray, “Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done (in my home, in my family, in my community, in my Church, in the world) on earth as in heaven… The whole counsel of God must be recognized and applied to our lives. All prayers to the Father are in Jesus’ name.

Remember this: there is no salvation in any other name than the name of Jesus, and that

“…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

Listen and let God the Father through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit speak, be heard, obeyed, and be glorified.

Conclusion

I’ve had a great deal of difficulty writing this paper. I started with a thought in mind and changed it several times as I did more and more research on the topic. The greatest amount of research was through prayer and trepidation. I don’t want to get anything wrong, yet I didn’t want to follow modern theological thought process simply because “that’s what everyone says”. I want the truth. Whether or not anyone believes it is of no consequence to me. All the while remembering that truth, maybe, what everyone is saying.

This is the bottom line. “Our Father” is forefront of everything “God”. The head of the Tribune God. All are equal because there is only one God, but our Father’s position and purpose remain the same as the head, first person of the Trinity. Similarly, Jesus, the second of the Tribune God, is our redeemer. There is no redemption, no forgiveness, no heaven without Him. All things have been given to Jesus by He who had all things (and still has) the Father. The Holy Spirit’s primary role is to glorify the Father and the Son. Without Him, there is no power, love, or glorification. We would be helpless without a Helper. It is because of this “Helper” that we even have a chance at Salvation. Therefore, when we pray, remember there is only one God and pray to our Father in the name of Jesus, giving glory to Jesus and the Father by the power and love of the Holy Spirit.

Enough Said

With anything more, it gets too complicated.

“Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) ESV