Intro:
There is graduated authority in the Godhead. God the Father being the first person. God the Son the second. God the Holy Spirit the third. While they are equal as regards deity, they are not, and never have been equal as regards authority. See (1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28). While the Holy Spirit isn't listed here in the "chain of command", the Father and the Son are. The fact that Christ "sent the Holy Spirit" to His chosen apostles establishes the fact that He is the third person I believe. (John 15:26; 16:12-13).THINGS GIVEN HIM BY THE FATHER:
To be able to give to another suggests that whatever it may be, you possess it and have the right to give it to another. God the Father being the first person in the God-head, gave the Son "all authority in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). In (Matthew 11:27) Christ affirmed that "All things are delivered unto me of My Father."(1). AUTHORITY:
(Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:18; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 10:12-13).(A). RESULT: "For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth:
and He will show Him greater works than these that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up
the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth
no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. THAT ALL MEN SHOULD HONOR
THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER. He that HONORETH NOT THE
SON HONORETH NOT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT HIM" (John 5:20-23). The
way we serve and honor our heavenly Father, is by our submission to His Son and His authority in
every facet and phase of our lives (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:27).
(2). WHAT JESUS IS TO THE CHRISTIAN:
(A). Our King: (Revelation 1:5; Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14; 1 Timothy
6:14-16; Revelation 19:16).
(B). Both Lord and Christ: (Acts 2:36).
(C). Our Savior:(Matthew 1:18-23).
(D). Bridegroom: (Romans 7:4; Ephesians 5:22-33).
(E). High Priest:(Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 2:1-9).
(F). Our Master: (John 3:2; 13:14).
(G). Our Brother:(Romans 8:17; Matthew 12:50.
(H). Our Friend: (John 15:13-14).
(I). Advocate: (1 John 2:1).
(J). Light of the men: (John 1:4).
(K). Our Mediator: (1 Timothy 2:5).
(L). Propitiation for sin: (1 John 2:2). Etc., etc., etc.
(3). CONSIDER WHAT ALL CHRIST OWNS:
(A). The CHURCH belongs to Christ (Matthew 16:13-18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 10:19-23; Hebrews 3:1-6). THE LORD'S CHURCH!
(B). The KINGDOM belongs to Christ (John 18:36; Colossians 1:13-14; Luke 22:29-30; Luke 1:31-33).
(1). THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST: & THE CHURCH ARE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP (Matthew 16:18-19).
(C). The FIRST DAY of the week is the LORD'S DAY:
Revelation 1:10).
CHRIST gave FIRST DAY it's SIGNIFICANCE!!
(1). He arose the FIRST DAY (Luke 24:1-3; 13-52).
(2). They gave on THE FIRST DAY (1 Corinthians 16:1-2); Therefore so do we.
(3). We observe the LORD'S SUPPER each FIRST DAY of the week (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34).
(a). It is a COMMUNION of the BODY and BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST (1 Corinthians 10:16).
(D). Christians are CHRIST'S PURCHASED POSSESSION (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
(1). The LORD'S PEOPLE, HIS CHURCH, CITIZENS OF HIS KINGDOM, MEET EACH LORD'S DAY, AROUND THE LORD'S TABLE, TO OBSERVE THE LORD'S SUPPER UNTIL THE LORD'S RETURN (1 Corinthians 11:26). Surely we may say, "Thank you Jesus!"
In this last dispensation of time, Jesus is the central figure. God the Father wills it to be so. Many times folks refuse to give Christ His due for fear of by-passing the Heavenly Father. I can understand this up to a point, but when we exalt Christ to His rightful position, then it is that we are honoring the Father, for we are accepting the system as He, Himself, has set it up for those in Christ's kingdom. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, THAT WILL I DO, THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I WILL DO IT" (John 13:13-14). In our lives as Christians we need Christ daily. There are things which we face that we don't know how to handle on our own. Paul recognized this, and so wrote, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). Therefore we often sing the song which expresses this idea. It goes like this:
"Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus, Tell it to Jesus, Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone. Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus, He is a friend that's well known; You have no other such a friend or brother, Tell it to Jesus alone". Page 240 in "Sacred Selections For The Church."
The very first martyr to die for "the faith of Christ," Stephen, after preaching to his people about their history and pointing them to "The Christ" as their only hope, Him whom they had crucified, whom God had raised up and exalted, was stoned to death by the angry Jews.
As he was dying he looked into heaven and saw Jesus standing at the Father's right hand and
prayed to Him in the following words: "...LORD JESUS, receive my spirit. And he kneeled
down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said
this, he fell asleep" (Acts 7:59-60). Stephen died with a prayer to Jesus on his lips and there was
no one who corrected him. Today, many would condemn Stephen saying something like "don't
you know that prayers are to be uttered only to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus?"
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST AND THE
CHRISTIAN IF YOU WILL PLEASE!
(1). Christ is the "one in charge" of everything that affects my spiritual life (1 Corinthians 15:27), but I can't talk to him?
(2). Christ is the Head of the body of which I am a member, but I can't talk to Him?
(3). Christ is the Vine in which I am a branch (John 15:1-8), from Whom I derive all of my spiritual sustenance, but I can't talk to Him?
(4). Christ is the King of the kingdom of which I am a citizen, but I can't talk to the King?
(5). Christ is the Captain of my salvation (Hebrews 2:10), but I can't talk to my Captain?
(6). Christ is my Brother (Hebrews 2:11), but I can't talk to my Brother?
(7). Christ is my High Priest (Hebrews 3:1) He offered Himself for my sins, He is touched with all of the feelings of my infirmities (Hebrews 4:15), and is over the house of God of which I am a part (Hebrews 10:21), but I can't talk to my High Priest? (1 Timothy 2:5).
(8). Christ is my Physician (Luke 5:31), but I can't talk to my Physician?
(9). Christ is the Bishop of my soul(1 Peter 2:25), but I can't talk to my
Bishop?
(10). Christ is the Bridegroom of the church (His bride)(2 Corinthians
11:2; Ephesians 5:22-33, but the bride can't talk to the bridegroom?
(11). Christ is my "Counsellor" (Isaiah 9:6), but I can't talk to my Counsellor?
(12). Christ is my Friend (John 15:14-15), but I can't talk to my Friend?
(13). Christ is the "Great Shepherd of the sheep" (Hebrews 13:20), of which I am one, but I can't talk to my Shepherd?
(14). Christ is the "Minister of the sanctuary" (Hebrews 8:2), of which I am a part, but I cannot
talk to my Minister(servant)? Why, it is amazing to even contemplate! It is much more logical as
well as abundantly Scriptural to "TELL IT TO JESUS."
Another song we often sing:
"Jesus lover of my soul
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high!
Hide me of my Savior, Hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!"
S.B. Marsh (pg 258).
"Tarry With Me" O. my Savior, (Page 660).
"Take The Name Of Jesus With You" V-3...Breathe that holy name in
prayer." (Page 661).
"In The Hour Of Trial" Jesus, plead for me (Page 536).
Multiplying songs in which we address Jesus, some of which are prayers put to music, would do
no good after we have shown just one case in point. One of two things must follow. If we cannot
address Jesus in prayer, we cannot address Him in song. (1). We should either stop using the
songs so written, or (2). Begin to practice what we sing. It is so easy to settle into certain beliefs
and practices with which we have become familiar, and which are so comfortable for us. In fact it
is so easy and so comfortable that often we don't want to be challenged to re-think our position.
That reminds me of what one fellow was heard to say. "Don't confuse me with those facts, I've
got my mind made up already."
Most people will not be so brash nor so bold as to say anything akin to that, but some come pretty
close. One well known preacher friend of mine wrote in an article on the subject we are now
pursuing, "Have you ever heard anyone in a church of Christ address Jesus in prayer?"
That was actually a plea to determine what "we believe" and practice on this subject, not by a
"thus saith the Lord," but by our practices over the years. "What we have always done" my
brethren and friends that isn't the method of establishing authority for any belief or practice! Is it
taught in Christ's word is what we must determine. Who believes or teaches something isn't how
we determine its truthfulness. How long we may have believed and practiced it. Nor how many
may believe and practice it isn't the criteria. Is it authorized in the word of Christ is the way it is
determined to be Scriptural (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:6).
The Bible is right. When I take my stand on any subject in keeping with what it teaches either by
direct command, necessary inference, or approved apostolic example, by generic or specific
authority, I can be sure that I am pleasing to the Lord. We have said over the years that something
only has to be found taught in one place to forever determine that it is Scriptural. We can
show you several places where prayers were addressed to the Son of God as well as to the Father
in heaven. Will you accept them is now the question? And finally, a couple of Scripture contexts
on this subject and this lesson is yours. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Acts 1:16-26). Who answered
their prayer? Who chose the apostles? Christ.