Translate

Thursday, September 8, 2011

How the Trinity makes Prayer Possible

Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

The Trinity is The Relational God
What is prayer?  Prayer in its simplest definition is me talking to God and God talking to me.  It is where the child of God, based upon faith in the word of God, through the blood of Calvary's cross, approaches the throne of God to gain an audience with the Son of God by means of the Spirit of God.  Understand that when we speak of God's Triune nature, we are talking about how God relates within Himself.  He is at the most fundamental level the God of Relationship - since by nature He relates in and of Himself. 

How the Trinity makes prayer possible
In the two passages above, we are given insight into how the God of the Bible relates to the Christian in their prayer life.  If God were not Trinity, prayer would be impossible, since by its nature prayer is based upon relationship.  In using the two passages above, we can briefly outline how it is that the Trinity alone can make the Christian's prayer-life a reality:

1. The Father in Heaven is the Recipient of prayer.  What did Jesus pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 concerning the Lord's prayer?  "Our Father, who are in Heaven".  God the Father becomes the Christian's Heavenly Father at salvation.  The Holy Spirit, "God in us", enables the Christian to refer to God the Father as "Abba" or "Daddy".  (Romans 8:15). 

2. The Spirit here on earth relays our prayers. Did you ever watch a relay race?  One runner passes the baton off to another runner, who in turn takes the baton across the finish line.  What happens when we pray?  The Holy Spirit, God "in us", actually burdens us with the prayer.  In order for God to receive prayer, He must initiate it in us.  Prayer does not change God, rather it is designed to change us.  God is constantly communicating within Himself as Father, Son and Spirit.  It is the Spirit - our advocate here on earth - who take the prayers of the saints into the heavenly throne room. 

Contrary to what many Christans may think, our prayers don't just bounce off of the ceiling.  According to Revelation 5:8, each prayer of every child of God is recorded in Heaven (described as bowls full of incense), ever before the presence of the Father and the Son.  Incense wafts its way through the heavenlies, ever in the nostrils of the Triune God.  Luke 18:7 reminds us of how God ever hears the prayers of those whom He has set His affection upon, who cry out to Him day an night.  What happens next once God the Holy Spirit has brought our requests before the throne?

3. The Son represents the praying Christian to the Father.  Jesus, ever at the righthand of the Father, takes the request brought by the Spirit, and enters into conference with the Father.  In reality all Three persons, as One God, are ever communicating, agreeing and working forth in what the Bible calls "the counsel of God". (please compare Ephesians 1:11)  God Himself meets with Himself over your prayer.  God the Son brings up the fact He purchased the saint of God with his blood in his humanity.  He also brings up that the child of God has been called by the Father, convicted by the Spirit and gifted with faith to believe upon Him for their everlasting enjoyment. 

The Father in turn responds, and the Advocate in Heaven, Jesus Christ nods to the Holy Spirit, who brings the request back to the child of God. 

Why only the Triune God can make prayer possible
Now all of this occurs instantaneously.  Imagine if God were not Triune?  He really could not be at all places at all times.  He could not relate.  He would be isolated from everything here, since His Triunity makes it possible for Him to be at more than one place and to truly relate.  He does this for billions of Christians every day.  This ongoing activity, whereby we have an advocate here on earth - the Holy Spirit, and an Advocate in Heaven - Jesus the Son, appealing to the Almighty Father, is the sum activity of Holy God relating to His people.  As Christians, we have opportunity to be part of this wonderful ongoing dialogue of the Triune God.  Praise God for His goodness.