A common error today is to hear believers asking Jesus to do something in Jesus’ name. You hear folks praying in a manner like “Lord Jesus come and bless this function, take care of every activity. In Jesus’ name we pray”. In everyday language this doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make spiritual sense either. For example you cannot go the vice president in his own name and ask him to do something for you. Since you are seeing him, you can make a direct request. But you can go to him in the name of the President and he is going to hear you because of the name you came with.
It makes a lot of difference how we do things. Someone may say “oh it doesn’t matter, every prayer is prayer”. It really matters. God will only answer you when you come to him according to his word. Nowhere in the bible were we told to pray to Jesus.
If you violate his word and insist on doing your own thing you get nothing. Jesus didn’t teach us to pray that way. Let’s see how he taught us to pray John 16: 23 IN THAT DAY YOU WILL NOT ASK ME FOR ANYTHING, Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 26 In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.
Jesus was very clear. He taught us the protocols in prayer. Prayer is addressed to the Father in His name, not through his name or to him. Notice the verse 26. He said I’m not saying I will receive your requests and ask on your behalf. The apostles understood this and prayed this way.
Notice how Paul prayed here Ephesians 1: 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers 17 and ASKING THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE GLORIOUS FATHER, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. He addressed the prayer to the Father.
Ephesians 3:14 for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
Colossians 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you . You will notice how consistent they were in praying this way.
Please understand that Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Nonetheless they both pray to the Father. Why would Jesus pray to the Father? The bible says that he is currently making intercession for us to the Father Romans 8: 34Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God — and He is interceding for us. . Why would the Holy Spirit Pray? Scripture says that he intercedes for us with groanings, Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
YOU SEE, BOTH OF THEM PRAY TO THE FATHER. THERE ARE PROTOCOLS THAT GUIDE EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN. Simply settle this in your heart that the word teaches us to address prayers to the Father in the name of Jesus.
You can however make a demand in Jesus’ name. That is not necessarily prayer. For example you can rebuke demons or curse diseases in his name. Such instances are not prayer. It is the exercise of spiritual authority in his name.
We can worship Jesus, speak to him, thank him and adore him. We can do same with the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to prayer please pray scripturally for results. Don’t use your own understanding.
Shalom.
OPOKU AGYEMANG EMMANUEL
Reviewed by PASTOR ERIC OWUSU BARNIE.
THE NETWORK OF REVIVALISTS 
God bless you Pastor. This is insightful. We thank God for such teachings.
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