Prayer to the Saints

Jesus preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom

Due to the currently existing trend, it seems that we may have difficulty in counting the number of people who do not truly comprehend the holy teachings – known as the Gospel of the Kingdom - that are quite popular to those who read the holy works (Bible). This specifically pertains to the words of Jesus Christ – that have been spoken and written by the twelve (12) apostles. Luckily, among these, the books of Matthew and John were included in the olden works of the Roman Empire so that it would a beneficial part of the New Testament of the Roman Bible.

Anyone can actually agree to what is presented by the holy teachings if these things would show that they are truly the words of God that were known to be spoken by Jesus himself.

Because of this,  what Jesus has spoken has been considered by many as believable and true. That is why whatever other holy teaching is then acknowledged as false or a twisted form of the truth – especially if it includes or talks about any incidence of rebellion or opposition to anything that may run contrary to what he himself has spoken.

Now, based on the belief of the biblical truths (that were spoken by Jesus), we can now give light to the issue that, clearly, has something to do with the “holy prayers.” There will also be an explanation on some passages of the Old Testament – in the attempt that the word (Gospel of the Kingdom) be strengthened in conformance with reality.

Associated with this case is the public knowledge regarding whoever is acknowledged by God in the state of true holiness. For this case, there are some who have presented complete diligence in doing good. If this is to be explained, these people are those who have dutifully followed the teachings of the one and only God in heaven. The patriach Abraham and his sons are among these people. The prophets, kings and other chosen people in ancient history.

Perhaps, from the Old Testament of the Bible, there is no actual need to list the names of these people detail, whose holy state has been considered as a popular servant of God.

The state of righteousness and works of God are with the servants of God, and because of this, it has then been a policy of heaven to listen to their complaints and prayers. Aside from that, according to history, it has also been known that the Holy Spirit of God also talks to them, and through their physical state (physical body) they have fulfilled the purpose of the spirit during the periodical stages in their own time. So, we also have focused our attention through the prayers of these holy people.

At the height of the ministry of the Spirit of God, who lives and reigns in Jesus, the words which comes from his own mouth, and has thus been shared to his apostles (to whom he taught the Lord’s Prayer), says:

MAT 6 :

6   But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, PRAY TO THY FATHER which is in secret; and THY FATHER which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7  But WHEN YE PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YE ASK HIM.

It is clearly stated from the teaching of Christ, that our prayers must be in secret and is only addressed to our Father in heaven, and NOT, EVER to anyone else – direct to Him that will never, ever pass through to no one. This is not like a nonsensical REPETITOUS form of prayer (rosary or “oracion”) recited by the pagans, because it is but right for all to accept that He knows the things that we need – even before we ask such from Him.

To stop this unacceptable manner of praying - by those who do not truly comprehend the teachings that came from the mouth of Jesus -  as he told his apostles to pray in the equitable way as stated below:

MAT 6 :

9   After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10   Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

From these verses, it is absolutely clear that these are the words of Jesus that have been spoken to the holy apostles – the rightful manner of praying to the Lord God. These verses show that there is no need to go through another who would carry or relay the prayer to God. Instead, it relates the uncontestable truth that whoever among us can go directly towards our Father in heaven. Moreover, Jesus did not mention that people should offer their prayers to him.

In a symbolic manner, it’s just like saying that there is no need to use a knife and a chopping board when our own bare hands can actually do the work in cutting the bread. It is a complete absurdity to use another person like you (who is living or dead) to act as a mediator when you can freely share what is in your heart and mind to the one and only God who is our Father in heaven.

Yes, the prayers of the holy ones are as based from what has been written, which states:

PSA 34 :

15   The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the RIGHTEOUS, and HIS EARS [ARE OPEN] UNTO THEIR CRY.

Job 36 :

7   He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous:…

It was given a clear emphasis and understanding that God is listening and looking over those who are in the right path on earth. He listens to their prayers. Thus, those who have passed away – whether holy or otherwise – have never been considered (in any of the biblical verses) by our Father as a direct messenger for God to relay the prayers of the people, nor were these people considered to serve as those to whom the prayers of the people would be solely directed to.

Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon and the other prophets of the Old Testament and more are those who were acknowledged by God among those who have reached the true state of holiness. In other words, they are holy people. Even if this matter is as such, it has never been taught in the holy scriptures that prayers should be directed to these holy servants of God who had passed away.

During their time, the prayers of these people have been a great help to their country and countrymen, as it has been written in the Bible, which states:

NEH 1 :

5  And said, I BESEECH THEE, O LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that THOU MAYEST HEAR THE PRAYER OF THY SERVANT, which I PRAY BEFORE THEE NOW, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.

NEH 2 :

4   Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I PRAYED TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN.

During Prophet Nehemiah’s time, who was known to be among the holy people, he was known to frequently pray to God (our Father in Heaven) even though there is no clear indication that his prayers are indeed reaching heaven. But in the apocalypse of John it seems that he has mentioned something that is related to the prayers of the holy, which states:  

REV 8 :

3   And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the PRAYERS OF ALL SAINTS upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4   And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

This precisely states the truth that the prayers of the holy people on earth for God our Father in Heaven accumulates on top of the golden altar. Meanwhile, the angels burn the incense using the golden censer, and its smoke (holding the prayers of the holy people) goes up to God like a sweet-smelling expensive perfume.

Regarding this matter,  James says:

JAM 5 :

16  Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.

What is being tackled here is that the brothers of holiness should discuss things among themselves, and from this manner, their sins would come out from their own mouths. Subsequently, their fervent prayers come after this – showing that people should pray using the Lord’s Prayer taught by the Holy Spirit through Jesus as shared to his apostles. Also, it shows that a fervent prayer by a person who is still living can greatly help a lot. This gives importance to the prayers uttered by a person. Never has it been mentioned in the holy scriptures that the holy people who have died can also do this as well.

As stated below:

1JOHN 5 :

16   If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

1JN 5 :

16  Kung makita ng sinoman na ang kaniyang KAPATID ay nagkakasala ng kasalanang hindi ikamamatay, ay IDALANGIN SIYA at bibigyan siya ng Dios ng buhay, na ukol sa mga nagkakasala nang hindi ikamamatay. May kasalanang ikamamatay: hindi tungkol dito ang sinasabi ko na idalangin niya.

In this verse of John, it shows that he adviced the people around him. He said that whosoever among them would find their brother in holiness to commit a minor sin that would not bring upon death, they should pray for that person, so that this holy person would receive life from God according to the degree of this minor sin. One of the obvious explanations of this is that people should merely offer their prayers to our Father and not to anyone else. As Jesus has taught, it is only through the Father should the prayers be directed or offered to. This is done through the Lord’s Prayer.

When a holy person has already passed away, his duty towards this matter also dies with him. This is how the fruit of being a holy servant of God is measured; nothing else but the achievement of everlasting life in the glory of our Father who is in heaven. That said, it doesn’t mean that people should offer their prayers to them or they would serve as a messenger of God to the people. No matter how holy they are, they still offer their prayers and concerns to the one and only God.

Contrary to this truth, which was given emphasis in the Gospel of the Kingdom, is the continuous efforts of the Roman pagans to show that the spirit of the holy people who have died are still alive and highly consciousness. Their point with regards to this issue is clearly not opposed to the authoritative biblical facts. In truth, if it would be searched in the holy scriptures – the offering of prayers to the holy people in this manner has not been mentioned at all, or has not been set as a command to be done and practiced by the people. Thus, it is clear that – with regards to the “prayers to the holy people” – that which they try to impose goes against the will of God.

In connection with that, it would be righteous and wise for anyone to stand strong from the words spoken by the mouth of Jesus with regards to the said issue. As was stated below:

MAT 6 :

6   But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, PRAY TO THY FATHER WHICH IS IN SECRET; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7   But WHEN YE PRAY, USE NOT VAIN REPETITIONS, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8   Be not ye therefore like unto them: for YOUR FATHER KNOWETH WHAT THINGS YE HAVE NEED OF, BEFORE YE ASK HIM.

In which case, he who is virtuos and wise pray exactly the way Jesus taught to the apostles.

This is a very concrete canon regarding the prayers of the holy servants of God, and to emulate those holy people in such a vigorous effort is in deed righteousness to everyone. Consequently, stick to the habits and attitudes of these holy people regarding how we are to offer our direct prayers to God - bearing our concerns about ourselves, our country and our fellow countrymen.

The prayers to the holy people who have died – which in the eyes of the one and only God in heaven is a clear abomination of this rule and merely shows an abhorrent manner of living by the people on earth. As stated below:

DEU 18 :

10   There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that USETH DIVINATION, [or] an OBSERVER OF TIMES, or an ENCHANTER, or a WITCH,

11   Or a CHARMER, or a CONSULTER WITH FAMILIAR SPIRITS, or a WIZARD, or a NECROMANCER.

12   For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13   Thou shalt be PERFECT with the LORD thy God.

The holy people or saints that Roman pagans are praying to have already left the earthly plane, and this disgusting habit is an obvious form of communicating with the dead. That is why this detestful doing is wholly tackled in the holy teaching contained in Deut 18:10-13. This deed does not earn favor in the eyes of the one and only God – anywhere and at anytime, this manner of offering prayers have not been considered as a true act of holiness.

Moreover, the offering of prayers by the Roman pagans to their proclaimed saints (living or dead) also adds to the graveness of their actions because these saints have only been revered and acknowledged by their churches and not by God. Truly, they are the false saints (mga santo-santohan) which are also like the false Gods (mga dios-diosan) that they proudly praise and serve.

But the prayers of the holy servants of God who are presently living on earth wholeheartedly declares their love for God and their love for their fellowmen. Let us follow their examples that they live by and practice in life, so that we can also be imbibed with their holiness – even for just a small amount of value.

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom that compels anyone towards the true state of holiness. Whatever creed that clearly opposes this is a sign of rebellion against the will of God and should be considered as false religious belief for they are against the holy teachings of Christs. Steer away and ignore these untrue articles of faith, because they do not cater to the Gospel of the Kingdom. You should be cautious and careful for there are currently an abundance of false teachers (priests and pastors) around who twist the word of God. Amen