I am a person who tests the spirits and to do this I need biblical verses that back up your claim that Saints, or people dead who are alive in heaven spiritually pray for us and that we should ask them to pray for us. Not saying you are trying to lead me wrong, I just can't take something as truth unless it is in the Bible.
And so you should -- I wouldn't take anything like this at face value, and I wouldn't encourage it either.
I mentioned that these things are in the Bible, but I didn't give Bible references (shame on me). Though in my defense, I was riding a crowded metro and couldn't get too deep into it.
But here are the passages:
1: Do not communicate with the dead.
Leviticus 19:31 -
Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.
100% agree. Though I'll give passages as to why this is not what intercession of Mary and angels and saints is. We're not talking about not necromancers.
2: God is a God of the living.
Matthew 22:32 -
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
We first have to establish this. We recently got into the subject of heaven in a thread. We got into the souls of the saved and the resurrection of the bodies after the second coming, but that this is a gift to those who accepted Christ.
3: We receive eternal life in heaven.
Romans 6:23 -
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is completely grounded in the Gospel as it our gift from God. So understanding that God is a God of the living and we receive that eternal life in heaven, not death, we have to conclude that it is a continuation of life (albeit, fulfilled spiritually and in the presence of God).
4: Why ask those in heaven to pray for us if we could just pray ourselves or at least ask friends on earth to pray for us?
1 Timothy 2:1 -
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
Of course we know to pray for others and ask others to pray for us, but why people in heaven? Well, while it is always a good idea to pray to God one-on-one and with friends and church leaders, it's still a great idea to ask those in heaven to intercede and pray for and with us. Why? Because they are literally in God's presence. They have reached their fullness and are with Him. No one is closer to Him than those who are literally with Him. But just because they aren't on earth doesn't mean they are now kicked out of the body of Christ -- in fact, they are more a part of it.
5: Are there any passages on the saints?
Hebrews 12:1, Revelation 8:3, Revelation 5:8 -- they directly talk about the support they offer in helping us see God's love and truth. In the passages in Revelation, they mention the prayers of the saints being lifted. In fact, if you go to some churches, the reason why they burn incense is to symbolize our prayers being lifted up to God. It's nothing meant to be New Agey or voo-dooey, but to help us focus on where our prayers ultimately lead to, which is God.
One of the best things we could have in life is a friend or role model that will help us in our spiritual walk. Someone who will always help us up when we fall. While it's obvious that God will always be the best friend we could ever have and that He will not disappoint us, sometimes it can be easy to fall away from God. So having support from other Christians is what is not just recommended, but expected. It's something we need. This is the role of Mary and the saints -- and it isn't done for their glory, but for God's.
One passage that sticks out to me when it comes to Mary's role in directing us to God is John 2:3-5 at the wedding in Cana -
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
This passage is very important as it illustrates what Mary has always done and continues to do.
So these are the passages and logic behind why Mary is held in such a high regard (not on the level of worship, but as an important figure in the Church). The ultimate goal isn't to have a relationship with Mary -- that's a path -- the destination is to have that relationship with her son, Jesus.