The Bible doesn’t teach that Christians should address their prayers to the Holy Spirit. The New Testament pattern of supplication is to the Father in the name of the Son by the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Let’s examine the Bible support for that:
The Model Prayer
Jesus Himself taught us that we are to address our supplications to the Father in His name. This is clearly seen in the Lord’s Prayer. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Thus, supplications should be addressed to the Father. We may be unworthy to address the Lord as “Father,” but whenever we do so in sincerity, He receives us with rejoicing (Luke 15:21–24) and acknowledges us as His children. For this form of worship leads the believer into God’s throne.
In Jesus’ Name
And Jesus said to His disciples that whatever they asked in His name—meaning in His will—would be granted to them (John 15:16). The fact that men are to petition the Father in the name of Jesus, but that Jesus is the One who brings about the answer, emphasizes the oneness of the Son with the Father. And in John 16:23, the Father assures us that He answers the petitions presented before Him.
Paul wrote, give “thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). God is the recipient of thanksgiving, but it is offered in the name of Jesus Christ. The Father is entitled to gratitude because He is our Father (Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 4:4–6). He has demonstrated His Fatherhood in the giving of His Son; therefore, supplications and thanksgiving are offered in the Son’s name. Since through Christ all that the Father has to give has been made available to men, we can approach our God with the utmost confidence (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23, 24).
By the Holy Spirit
Paul wrote, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). Even though believers may have the best of intents, their supplication often shows wrong motives and lack of knowledge of what is best for them. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit revises their supplications, as it were; and presents them to God in such a way that He could answer them.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26,27)
Conclusion
The Bible teaches that we are to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9), through (or in the name of) the Son (John 14:13), by the guidance of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 6:18). All three persons of the Godhead are active participants in the believer’s prayer (2 Corinthians 13:14).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
