The bible does instruct us to pray to the saints as there is no difference
between those dead and those who are alive.
Scripture Catholic - SAINTS AND INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Scripture
I. We are One Family in Christ in Heaven and on Earth
Eph. 3:14-15- we are all one family ("Catholic") in heaven and on
earth,
united together, as children of the Father, through Jesus Christ. Our
brothers and sisters who have gone to heaven before us are not a
different
family. We are one and the same family. This is why, in the Apostles
Creed, we profess a belief in the "communion of saints." There cannot
be a
"communion" if there is no union. Loving beings, whether on earth or
in
heaven, are concerned for other beings, and this concern is reflected
spiritually through prayers for one another.
Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-32; Col. 1:18,24 - this family is in Jesus Christ,
the
head of the body, which is the Church.
1 Cor. 12:12,27; Rom. 12:5; Col. 3:15; Eph. 4:4 - we are the members
of
the one body of Christ, supernaturally linked together by our
partaking of
the Eucharist.
Rom. 8:35-39 - therefore, death does not separate the family of God
and
the love of Christ. We are still united with each other, even beyond
death.
Matt. 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30 - Jesus converses with "deceased"
Moses
and Elijah. They are more alive than the saints on earth.
Matt. 22:32; Mark 12:27; Luke 20:38 - God is the God of the living not
the
dead. The living on earth and in heaven are one family.
Luke 15:7,10 - if the angels and saints experience joy in heaven over
our
repentance, then they are still connected to us and are aware of our
behavior.
John 15:1-6 - Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The good
branches
are not cut off at death. They are alive in heaven.
1 Cor. 4:9 - because we can become a spectacle not only to men, but to
angels as well, this indicates that angels are aware of our earthly
activity. Those in heaven are connected to those on earth.
1 Cor. 12:26 - when one member suffers, all suffer. When one is
honored,
all rejoice. We are in this together as one family.
1 Cor 13:12; 1 John 3:2 - now we see in a mirror dimly, but in heaven
we
see face to face. The saints are more alive than we are!
Heb. 12:1 - we are surrounded by a great glory cloud (shekinah) of
witnesses, our family in heaven. We are not separated. The "cloud of
witnesses" (nephos marturon) refers to a great amphitheatre with the
arena
for the runners (us on earth), and many tiers of seats occupied by the
saints (in heaven) rising up like a cloud. The "martures" are not mere
spectators ("theatai"), but testifiers (witnesses) who testify from
their
own experience to God's promises and cheer us on in our race to
heaven.
They are no less than our family in heaven.
1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 20:6 - we are a royal family of priests by virtue of
baptism. We as priests intercede on behalf of each other.
2 Peter 1:4 - since God is the eternal family and we are His children,
we
are partakers of His divine nature as a united family.
1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 1:7 - we are called to be saints. Saints refer to
both
those on earth and in heaven who are in Christ. Proof:
Acts 9:13,32,41; 26:10; 1 Cor. 6:1-2; 14:33; 2 Cor. 1:1; 8:4; 9:1-2;
13:13; Rom. 8:27; 12:23; 15:25,26, 31; 16:2,15; Eph. 1:1,15,18; 3:8;
5:3;
6:18; Phil. 1:1; 4:22; Col 1:2,4,26; 1 Tm 5:10; Philemon 1:5,7; Heb.
6:10;
13:24; Jude 1:3; Rev. 11:18; 13:7; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6;18:20,24; Rev
19:8;
20:9 - in these verses, we see that Christians still living on earth
are
called "saints."
Matt. 27:52; Eph. 2:19; 3:18; Col. 1:12; 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 5:8;
8:3-4;
11:18; 13:10 - in these verses, we also see that "saints" also refer
to
those in heaven who united with us.
Dan. 4:13,23; 8:23 - we also see that the angels in heaven are also
called
"saints." The same Hebrew word "qaddiysh" (holy one) is applied to
both
humans and angels in heaven. Hence, there are angel saints in heaven
and
human saints in heaven and on earth. Loving beings (whether angels or
saints) are concerned for other beings, and prayer is the spiritual
way of
expressing that love.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> Angel,
> We pray for each other because the bible insttructs us to do so. It
> builds up the body, but the bible does not instruct us to ask for
> prayers from the saints and angels. There is a huge difference
> between those who have died and those who are alive, here on
> earth. As far as angels, the bible says that we will judge
> them. They are of a different status altogether. Asking them to
> pray for you is a distraction when you can speak directly to Jesus
himself.
> Kathy
>
>
> At 10:51 PM 8/21/2006, you wrote:
> >Why do we need each other here on earth to pray for us. I know I was
surely
> >happy to receive any prayers you all offered for me in my time of trouble
I
> >will tell you. Let me take this opportunity to thank you rite now for
them.
> >My petitions would be much less meaningful without them. It is for this
> >reason I am thankful to all the angels and saints who have gone before me
to
> >be with our blessed Lord, and who have offered their prayers in
conjunction
> >with those you offered on my behalf. I thank them as well. Do you think
> >our communion with the saints ends with death? I don't. Our dear loved
> >ones and our angels care just as much for us now they are in heaven as
they
> >did here on earth, and they are more than happy to assist us because they
> >are without bodies and can see and are able to offer us more assistance
than
> >they could here on earth. We are all one body in Christ, and it matters
not
> >if we live here on earth or in heaven.
> >9----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Jenifer Gilley" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:17 PM
> >Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> >
> >
> > > but y? I mean... y do we need saints... or souls praying for us?
> > > Jenifer gilley
> > > check out my blog
> > > http://claudastar.blogspot.com/
> > > AIM: jenibear1998
> > > msn
> > > [log in to unmask]
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Angel" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 9:15 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> > >
> > >
> > > > AS I said before, we don't pray to anyone else. We ask the angels
and
> > > > saints
> > > > to pray for us to the lord our god as we ask those on earth to pray
for
> > > > us.
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Jeremy Gilley" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 5:44 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Amen, Amen, and Amen.
> > > >> I would have to agree, Unless I have mist reading it growing up, I
just
> > > >> in my opinion have I never heard about praying to someone else for
> > > >> guidance/help.
> > > >>
> > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > >> From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On
> > > >> Behalf Of Jenifer Gilley
> > > >> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 5:33 PM
> > > >> To: [log in to unmask]
> > > >> Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> > > >>
> > > >> Ok... You want my two cents?
> > > >>
> > > >> Phil sent an article here about a week or so ago. All we need is
the
> > > >> name
> > > >> of Jesus! I pray to Him and Him only because He is the only one
that
> > > >> interceeds on my behalf... right now he is praying with and for us
at
> > > >> the
> > > >> right hand of His father. I do believe in Intercessory prayer... I
> >know
> > > >> it
> > > >> works first-hand. But Jesus is the Great Intercesser. I can't
locate
> > > >> the
> > > >> passage right now and it's bugging me... but there is a scripture
that
> > > >> states **paraphrased** that He is at the right hand of His father
> > > >> Interceeding on our behalves. If we pray in anyone's name but
Jesus...
> > > >> doesn't that also mean we are praying to them? There is only one
name
> > > >> by
> > > >> which man can be saved... the Name of Jesus! There is only one
> > > >> meadiator
> > > >> between God and Man... the man Christ Jesus!
> > > >> Jenifer gilley
> > > >> check out my blog
> > > >> http://claudastar.blogspot.com/
> > > >> AIM: jenibear1998
> > > >> msn
> > > >> [log in to unmask]
> > > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > > >> From: "Angel" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >> Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 10:23 PM
> > > >> Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> > That is what the saints in heaven do for us. They pray with, and
for
> > > >> us
> > > >> > to
> > > >> > God the father. The only difference is they are in heaven and we
are
> > > >> > still
> > > >> > here on earth. I don't understand the difference between asking
for
> > > >> your
> > > >> > prayers to God for a difficulty I might have and in asking my own
> >dear
> > > >> > parents or my Jesus, who is my elder brother, to pray with and
for
> > > >> me.
> > > >> > If
> > > >> > According to your religion, I am not permitted to ask my dear
parents
> > > >> to
> > > >> > pray for and with me then how can I ask you. we and those
Christians
> > > >> who
> > > >> > have gone before us are neither of us divine in nature. Is
this
> > > >> some
> > > >> > sort
> > > >> > of a divine mystery like that of the holy Eucharist which changes
> >from
> > > >> > merely bread and wine in to the precious body and blood of our
> > > >> precious
> > > >> > lord
> > > >> > and savior. Is it meant to be something we mere mortals are not
> >meant
> > > >> to
> > > >> > understand?
> > > >> > ----- Original Message -----
> > > >> > From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >> > Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 7:12 PM
> > > >> > Subject: Re: Intercessory Prayer
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >> Angel,
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> An intercessor isn't praying for you, they are praying with you.
We
> > > >> >> don't
> > > >> >> pray to intercessors because there is no need when you can pray
> > > >> directly
> > > >> > to
> > > >> >> the Father through Jesus Christ. It might sound confusing but
> >that's
> > > >>
> > > >> >> only
> > > >> >> because humans are explaining it. Jesus isn't confused about it
at
> > > >> all.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Phil.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> He's ready when you are.
> > > >> >> www.SafePlaceFellowship.com
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >
> > > >
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