Scripture teaches that in God’s revelation of Himself to man, the divine persons of the Godhead differ in aspects of activity and government, we recognise these differences in our teaching and discussion as well as in our prayers, while still acknowledging the divine persons as One, so when we speak of God we may use the proper nouns: God the Father, God the Son or God Holy Spirit.

It wasn’t God The Father or God Holy Spirit who died on the cross or bore the sins of many, so we don’t thank them for those things. It would be error to thank Holy Spirit or Jesus for giving us our physical daily bread as we have been taught by Jesus to request this of our Heavenly Father, but we do thank heavenly Father for revealing Himself to us through Christ Jesus by Holy Spirit:

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Ephesians 3:1-6

In this world where sorrow and grief sometimes turn people to alcohol, drugs, suicide, crime, pursuit of pleasure or other avenues, God’s children have heavenly hope and earthly purpose, which we’re encouraged and directed in through counsel and consolation from Holy Spirit through Jesus’s request, as He told us in John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;“, so I believe scripture teaches we should thank Him for His comfort with all He imparts, in Jesus name.

We’re not left to ascertain the truth of Gods Word through human intellect, we’re told in John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, who the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,”, so I believe scripture teaches we should thank Him for teaching us the truth in Jesus name.

We’re told of Holy Spirit’s provision of gifts, I believe scripture teaches we should thank Him for these in Jesus name as they serve for the glory of God among His people; gifts such as are written of in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit;
to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy;
to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues: 

I believe scripture teaches we should also thank Him in Jesus name for revealing Jesus to us, as In John 15:26, Jesus said “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:“

We can thank Him in Jesus name according to scripture for revealing God’s plans for the future through The Word: John 16:13 

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

We can thank Him according to scripture for delivering the Father’s governmental warnings and commendations to the church as taught in Revelation 2&3 “…He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches;”

I’ve used the phrases “according to scripture” and “scripture teaches” as a basis of reason to thank Holy Spirit, the reference for this basis is as follows:

Apart from the fact that God’s creation proclaims His worthiness to be honoured, praised and feared, The text of the Bible itself teaches that honour is to be given to God. We’re told in Matthew 15:4 to honour our Father and mother, then in John 5:23 “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son honours not the Father which has sent him.”. Honour is instructed again in Romans 13:7

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed,
respect to whom respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed.

Honour is such a serious instruction from God that as example of its importance, we’re told in Matthew 12:31-32

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
(see also Luke 12:10 and Mark 3:28-29).

The Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are infinitely more worthy of and due honour than any created being. So I believe we are directed in scripture to express honour to Jesus and Holy Spirit, in prayers of thanks and praise to the glory of God the Father, just as it is done in heaven, as we’re told of in Revelation 4:8, where Father, Son and Spirit are honoured by each individually being praised as being Holy, so God should also be praised on earth:

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within,
and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

We’re also taught by scriptural example that requesting of Jesus is right, as in the nature of such things as are written in:
• Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 12:7-8  So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me…

• We’re to look for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus and ask Him to return soon: Rev 22:20 
He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

I believe It’s scripturally taught that it’s right and respectful to acknowledge both Holy Spirit and Jesus in praise and thankful prayer, doing all things in Jesus name to the glory of God the Father.

There could be extensive writing about the instructed extent of and blessed privilege of praying to God The Father, and we are eternally grateful that He has graciously granted us to approach Him in prayer, but in short summary without intending to diminish perspective of the Divine Person God The Father, He instructs us specifically to ask, praise, acknowledge, confide in, and thank Him in Jesus’ name.

Our relationship to, our communication with, and our understanding of God, may not be all it should be, until we are in his presence after our present sin affected existence ceases, but God’s love toward us isn’t inhibited by our lack of understanding or the sin in this world, because His love is primarily and eternally guaranteed by His will, through Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.

2Corinthians 13:14

AP Overton 5May25