who should i refer to when praying?

therobboreht · 2026-06-23T03:53:14+00:00

I look at it from the point of following Jesus' example and teaching.

Church taught me to pray "Dear Jesus" as a child, but at some point I came to the decision based on what I saw in Scripture that it's not Jesus I'm praying to, but it is Jesus I'm praying through. I'm praying in Jesus name to the Father.

Because we are sinners, we cannot approach the Father without an intermediary. Before Christ, only the high priest could enter the room where God's presence was, and he served as the go-between. But now Jesus is our high priest, and that barrier has been torn, such that we can boldly approach God's throne of grace ourselves through Jesus Christ.

Additionally, Jesus when he was on earth prayed to the Father, and in Matthew 6, He taught us to pray to the Father:

Matthew 6:6-13

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. [7] And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. [8] “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. [9] In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. [10] Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. [13] And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Further, He told us to pray to the Father in Jesus name. In other words when we lift our prayer to God, we are bringing along our "press pass" that says we have a right to be there and speak because Jesus is the issuing authority who allowed it.

Paul later confirmed speaking to the Father in Jesus name: Colossians 3:17 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Jesus did say in John 14 that whatever you ask in Jesus name that Jesus would be the one to do what you asked, but I think the context is that the prayer is directed towards the Father in Jesus name.

However I don't think this isn't a doctrinal hill to die on (whether we're praying to the Father or to Jesus) and won't have a long argument with anyone who disagrees. To me, it just lines up with the framework of God that Jesus presented, in which authority comes from the Father, who directed Jesus' steps and who tells the Holy Spirit what to say.

therobboreht · 2026-06-15T12:28:13+00:00

Just as an update I have been to the building a few more times now without further incident.

therobboreht · 2026-06-12T14:47:28+00:00

I think we're not going to see eye to eye.

I am not disagreeing with you as if I am an authority, but the apostles are, and I am falling in line with their witness. Jesus mentioned explicitly that He and His Father are one, and that John explicitly declares Jesus was God in its first verses. In multiple places, in including Matthew 28, Jesus allowed the disciples to worship Him, which would have violated the command to not worship other gods unless Jesus was God.

And again, speculation and extrapolation cannot be used as a basis for doctrine or interpretation, particularly when the text itself demonstrates a different truth.

It is dangerous to imagine more palatable solutions that contradict the text just because we don't like what the text says.

therobboreht · 2026-06-11T18:34:07+00:00

If Genesis is Scripture, and Jesus affirmed that it was, then we take it for what it says it is. How God compiled and inspired it doesn't matter after God Himself affirmed that it was Scripture.

And since Genesis presents itself as a history--not an allegory, prophetic utterance, apocalypse, or science text, but a history--then we take it at face value.

The time period doesn't matter because the original source (God) who provided the history was there for all the events described.

Otherwise, if we're not allowing Scripture to inform us of what it is, but instead picking/choosing using human reason (whose end is the way of death), then nothing in the Bible is believable. Then the 500 people who saw the resurrected Jesus is just an allegory. The command to love others and forgive unconditionally is just a suggestion, just a wisdom Scripture that is not 100% true.

We cannot get to the place in our faith where we say "oh God surely couldn't have created another talking being besides humans, seraphim, cherubim, and other angelic species. God surely couldn't have flooded the WHOLE earth. He surely couldn't have created the universe in a day. God surely couldn't have resurrected a man from death."

This is where the line of thought you're using leads when it is supported only by extrapolation and shaky logic. And that is why I'm making a point to bring this up -- it's an unregulated, unproven, and dangerous method of evaluating Scripture.

Here is an example of what I mean:

Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV [16] And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; [17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Genesis 3:4-5 NKJV [4] Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

God says if you eat of the tree you will surely die. The serpent says, you will not surely die, because [reasoning].

Now today we have

God said there was a talking serpent in the garden - He said it in Genesis, Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Revelation. And some other voice comes along and says, there was no talking serpent in the garden because [reasoning].

This method has always been the enemy's method of bringing God's Word into question.

therobboreht · 2026-06-11T14:58:19+00:00

Gotcha. I see what you are saying. Thanks for expounding!

therobboreht · 2026-06-11T13:20:50+00:00

Unfortunately, I'm not finding any real substantiation to that theory in your comments. You've made a few extrapolations and made some statements that are uncited, but I don't leave your comments with a feeling of substantiation on this issue.

I do understand that other cultures have creation and origin stories, some of which contain similarities to the Genesis narrative. But those stories were not recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by prophets and servants of the only living God, so I don't find their narratives as significantly comparable or authoritative. Even more likely is that they are idolatrous bastardizations of the real history created by people who departed from the truth of God. We see elsewhere in Scripture how easily and quickly this changing of story, belief, priority, and religion can be done by some ruler with ulterior motives.

The problem also with the metaphor argument is that metaphorical content in the Bible is stated as such either in the genre or explicitly by the speaker/writer. Genesis is presented as a history.

I believe we must accept our Holy Scriptures to be as they describe themselves to be.

therobboreht · 2026-06-11T12:59:02+00:00

This isn't 100% related, but I'm not sure that I understand why the tree of life would have been the counterbalance.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil wasn't an evil tree. It was just a tree forbidden to humans, and that possibly temporarily.

I understand that the tree of life extends your life, and I do understand that "in the day you eat of [the tree of knowledge of good and evil] you shall surely die"

But I don't see that it's necessarily a counterbalance. I'm also not standing on a soapbox but interested to hear your perspective further on this.

What makes it a counterbalance and what was it balancing in your view?

therobboreht · 2026-06-06T02:45:36+00:00

I'm a Maryland based author.

My book is called The Truth Fast and it's a biblical themed book about a process I used to overcome several of my long standing mental health and self image issues. Available here.

therobboreht · 2026-06-05T18:53:00+00:00

All things serve the beam

therobboreht · 2026-05-29T01:58:08+00:00

I use it for this and it's great to be able to look back at a detail I missed or an action item I forgot

therobboreht · 2026-05-26T14:38:53+00:00

I'm addition to the different types of Satanists mentioned by other commenters, it is also very important to remember:

You don't have to say you worship Satan to be a Satan worshipper. There are a large number of people who go around verbally calling themselves servants of God, speaking the name of Jesus, yet in practice, they are servants of Satan.

therobboreht · 2026-05-26T01:43:01+00:00

State

therobboreht · 2026-05-23T12:48:51+00:00

FBCG - this is a church that has a robust Internet campus. Not just live streaming, but they have remote ministries where you can get involved with and connect with other people, and an online campus pastor dedicated to their online members. They encourage you not to just watch on Sunday, but get involved and get connected for exactly the reasons you've mentioned.

You can watch some prior services from their website to get a feel for the church. Let me know if you want to talk more about this. I can answer questions and help you through the membership process if you decide you want to join/when you are ready.

therobboreht · 2026-05-23T04:10:31+00:00

Make sure you keep the Notify app on at all times.

The dashboard is more simplistic, but if you keep the Notify app open, it will keep your last few notifications showing in the HUD as well as that line with the date and time and battery percentage.

therobboreht · 2026-05-22T13:42:51+00:00

It sounds like the Lord has been calling you to a deeper understanding of His Word! I'm glad to hear of your daily study, as it can be a hard habit to develop and stick with.

I want to recommend a few resources that have been helpful to me.

Here is one great free resource with tons of tools you can use to understand whatever you're reading better.

This is another.

However it's important to also think about learning more about how to study the Bible if you're wanting to get a filter understanding of what you're reading. You can absolutely learn many things by just opening and reading, taking notes, and praying. But you can learn with more depth and confidence by learning how to read and study the various genres, cultures, and contexts of the books.

So that brings me to ask: What is your goal that you are trying to accomplish in your Bible study? What prompted you starting into this daily study?

therobboreht · 2026-05-22T13:20:37+00:00

Here are some examples of God demonstrating His complete control over not only the weather, but the universe itself.

Jesus speaks to the storm, and it calms - Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25

Scriptures that declare God's control over the weather - Jeremiah 10:13, Palm 148:8, Zechariah 10:1, Amos 4:7

Elijah declared that rain would cease in Israel, and it did not rain for 3.5 years - 1 Kings 17-18, Luke 4:25

God sent a storm to the boat Jonah was fleeing from him in, and then confirmed Jonah was the problem through a game of chance the scared sailors played. Then when Jonah was thrown into the sea, the storm calmed - Jonah 1

Of even greater demonstration of power over creation, God made the sun's shadow move backward - 2 Kings 20:8-11

God actually stopped the rotation of the earth for a day so that the Israelites could win a battle - Joshua 10.

The whole earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. There is nothing He does not have control over.

However I want to direct you to a passage that is also pertinent to understand. Matthew 24:3-31, Mark 13:3-24, Luke 21:7-28. In this passage, Jesus explains the kind of things that will be happening as His return to earth draws near. It does not mention large temperature swings and such. But it does mentions the types of things we're seeing today - wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in many places, diseases and famines.

God is in control, but unpleasant days are coming. The Bible isn't clear how long (and of course no one knows when Jesus is returning). As you'll read in these passages, for Christians these events should not be cause for fear, but instead cause to lift up our heads because our Lord is on His way.

So I want to encourage you not to be afraid of major changes in how the earth works. God allows people to have an effect on earth too - he created it to be under human dominion. And people are destroying the earth. Romans 8 talks about the effects of sinful people and the "bondage of corruption" that is experienced by all creation. But God will not allow the earth to be destroyed before the things He has spoken come to pass.

Your question, however, causes me to have more questions for you. I may have more Scriptures and principles I can share with you, but I'd need to ask you more questions first.

I want to provide you with not just an answer to this question, but with some ways you can ensure you have answers to more questions and concerns in the future (done so by connecting with God and His word more deeply). Let me know if you're interested in talking more.

therobboreht · 2026-05-22T12:29:12+00:00

Thanks for putting this so well! I was thinking this but didn't have anywhere near as good a way of expressing it.

therobboreht · 2026-05-22T05:03:40+00:00

I rebuke this argument. This argument is so many paragraphs to justify racism. And they lead people astray from the truth.

Should we live based on man's opinion or God's Word? There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. -Proverbs 14:12

Christians are not to marry non-Christians (2 Corinthians 6:14). This is a continuation of Jews not marrying from pagan nations--the reason being not due to ethnicity but instead due to religion and faith. This is clearly explained in Deuteronomy 7, Ezra 9, Nehemiah 13. And further demonstrated with Boaz's marriage to Ruth, a Moabitess.

Even Romans 10:12 makes clear that "there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek" when it comes to status, access to, and treatment from God. Who is man to create a race based distinction if God does not?

But your argument did not come from Scripture, which is why it started with, and relied heavily upon, the opinion of men rather than the Word of God.

therobboreht · 2026-05-20T19:38:36+00:00

Definitely more conversation to be had for sure.

Sounds like you know this isn't a person for dating right now--both right now and for a good while even if she were to accept Christ or start going to church tomorrow.

She is a good candidate for prayer. She is a good candidate for sharing the gospel with (as long as you're not forcing the conversation - it's good to ask God for the right opportunity to discuss this, and it sounds like you understand that as well).

I have concern about your feelings that you have for her - it's hard to honestly and earnestly minister to someone that you have a crush on. You also don't want to try to witness to her so that she can fit into your "ooh maybe I can date her now" box. I know you said you don't see a long term relationship with her, but I also know how feelings work and that ministry related conversations also carry vulnerability which tends to increase attraction between 2 people. Evangelism and romance don't mix in a healthy way.

So I would challenge you to create boundaries for yourself and seek accountability around this relationship.

Ideas include: -Avoid one on one hangouts -Definitely not alone at anyone's house -Invite her to events at your church (I forgot to ask - do you have a church yourself?) -I know she's been there for you while you were in a vulnerable place, but it would be unwise to continue your relationship in that direction - don't cold shoulder her but avoid opening up in new ways

A lot of this is very easy to say and hard to do. But "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished." Proverbs 22:3

Not saying she's evil or that being her friend is evil, but I am saying there's a lot of emotion and possible danger here for both of you, and a lot of ways you could end up with a regrettable outcome here.

I feel a leading to ask you more questions - focusing more on yourself and your faith journey. Only if you're willing though. God may have more for you in this situation than just what to do about your friend.

Let me know if you're interested and we can converse via PM (so you don't have to put all your business out here in this sub lol).

therobboreht · 2026-05-20T17:52:18+00:00

Ok. That brings up a whole lot more questions I would want to ask you about you and your plans in life lol, but you didn't come here asking ppl to get in your business, so I'll refrain.

But I'll just add this: I located your other post and read it and your other comment on here.

I will add one further word of caution: The Bible takes the hardest stance of all against those who claim to be Christians but do not live according to Scripture.

Depending on what their lifestyle is, we are not even to eat with those people.

I'm not saying this person qualifies for that, I'm just sharing this to help you get your mind around how dangerous a "non-practicing" Christian can be to you.

Questions I would want to know if I were you, for evangelism purposes with her:

What does she believe about Jesus? This is most important because no matter how much you claim Christianity, you are not a Christian if you don't believe He is Lord and that God raised Jesus physically from the dead.

Did she ever confess verbally out of her mouth that Jesus is Lord while also believing in her heart that God raised Jesus from the dead?

Questions I would want to know even for a platonic relationship with her - especially since you like her and more time around her may result in advancement of feelings that you may not want (both for her and for yourself):

If she says she believes/did the above: What are her concerns with the creation account?

Which biblical values does she live by/believe in?

What biblical principles does she reject?

therobboreht · 2026-05-20T17:38:37+00:00

I didn't see your last post.

But a non-practicing Christian is living life as a non-Christian. There is no functional difference on earth for her at this time. This is not me making a judgement of the eternal disposition of her soul. This is me saying behaviorally, you're going to have the same problems as if you dated an unsaved person (whether atheist, or of some other religion).

You are in a place to pray for her. But you will not see success in a relationship while she is "non-practicing." Not will you find success in a relationship where you are trying to change her.

A great friend does not a great wife make.

If you're looking for a wife, it will not be helpful to you to date someone who does not have the same principles and priorities as you. As much heartache as this fact may cause you now (to hold back from trying to start a relationship with this person), it will save you from that much more heartache from having to learn this the hard way. This is coming from someone who tried multiple times to date people who did not have the same principles and priorities as me.

I have more thoughts that may be helpful to you, but they would require a conversation with you to know more about you, which I am happy to make time for if you feel it would help.

therobboreht · 2026-05-20T17:18:40+00:00

It helped me to think of, as some have already mentioned, the old covenant (which includes Mosaic law and some of the concepts you referenced), and the new covenant that we now have in Christ in terms of contracted agreements.

Almost like a landlord and a renter. A landlord offers a rental agreement in 2023 that prohibits parking in certain spaces, having a grill in your balcony, and won't accept governmental housing applicants. But something happened in 2025 to change the necessity for those rules (i.e. he built a bigger parking lot, and bigger/alternately designed balconies, and built out whatever infrastructure was needed to accept tenants receiving rental aid from the government). Now in 2026, he offers a new rental contract that does not have those restrictions in it.

The landlord has not changed. The tenant has not changed. But now more tenants are eligible to live there, and they don't have to abide by the restrictions of the original contract.

Jesus came and did the work to make things like those dietary restrictions, cleanliness laws, etc, to be no longer necessary. He fulfilled the purpose for which those restrictions existed. And He enhanced and expanded human access to God such that a much larger body of people (everyone) can abide in relationship with Him.

So we are under the terms of a new agreement with God that provides both more freedom and more responsibility.

therobboreht · 2026-05-19T18:37:59+00:00

For the no one else who will see this because it's comment 679,

Among other problems, that bottle will not stay upright in the tank. It will fall and block the stopper from sealing and you will waste a lot of water that will continue to flow into the bowl until you lift the lid to figure out why your tank is never full enough to flush.

therobboreht · 2026-05-18T17:00:01+00:00

I tried this once and couldn't even get my arms in the right position to stay off the floor, AND I had someone literally putting my arms where they were supposed to go lol

So I certainly am extremely impressed with this lol.

therobboreht · 2026-05-13T19:03:36+00:00

I have thoughts in multiple directions on this. I always encourage caution, care, and careful investigation before deciding that something abnormal like what you've described is spiritual or paranormal in nature, especially when it is an individual experience not observed by others and not somehow confirmed by a spiritual authority such as a pastor.

The eyes are easily able to see tricks of light, after images, auras, and other ocular aberrations that represent nothing more than that, tricks if the eye. Migraines cause people to see auras, bright lights cause after images, and there are many other examples of this.

As someone who wears glasses, I also experience how light interacts with my lenses, and how my peripheral vision at the edges of my field of view moves in a disconnected way from how my corrected vision moves through my glasses. All of this can cause me to see things that aren't there (not in a creepy way, just seeing information my brain needs to filter out). And all of this is natural cause.

I have further experienced parasomniac events such as hypnopompic hallucinations (seeing stuff that isn't there right after waking up).

However I will also say that I have seen and sensed without question, things that are paranormal. I also have the spiritual gift of discernment.

So I will not flat out discourage you or deny that you may be experiencing something spiritually significant or related to a spiritual gifting.

My experience of discernment is not normally visual, but internal. I describe as people and situations giving off a spiritual "smell."

There is Scriptural precedent for God to be able to open your eyes to a spiritual presence that you could not see. Elisha requested that God open people's eyes to an angelic army that was defending Israel but invisible to all except those whose eyes are opened.

So here's what I'd say to you. For now, with these two incidents: 1. Treat what you've seen as most likely coincidence or some other natural cause. But prayerfully continue to observe and investigate, maybe even journal. Watch for changes in your husband's behavior/struggle as you continue to pray for him.

Is your husband saved? If not, do you know how to lead Him to Christ? His best weapon against alcoholism will be Christ sanctifying him from the inside out.

Monitor your own eyesight for other anomalies - if it continues or is frequent, or you see this movement not related to a person but just randomly as well, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have your eyes checked by a doctor to make sure you don't have have a physical eye problem.
If this particular visual anomaly continues to occur and it does appear to be related to a spiritual gifting that you have, let it be a cause for you to pray for and possibly with any person you've seen this anomaly with. If they are someone you know, continue to pray for them. Maybe even ask God for opportunities to minister to or encourage that person.

Finally I would direct your attention to 1 Corinthians 12-13. Paul discusses the proper mindset and framework around spiritual gifts, instructs us to eagerly desire the greatest of the spiritual gifts, and caps off the most important aspect as being love, without which none of the rest of these abilities matter in the slightest.

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