Worshiping the Holy Spirit

Having recently been reading the Worship Central website, Tim Hughes posed the question: Should we worship the Holy Spirit?  Here are some thoughts...

I believe it is right to worship the Spirit.  Although we are never told explicitly to worship the Holy Spirit in the Bible, there are plenty of indications that he is not only a person but also deity and worthy of praise and worship.

He is referred to in personal terms in the book of John several times (15:26; 16:7-8,13-14).  There is also mention of Him acting like a person, and like Jesus in that he speaks (1 Tim 4:1) he loves (Rom 15:30) he teaches (John 14:26) and he prays for us (Rom 8:26).

The Holy Spirit is neither angelic or human in essence and as such possesses the nature of deity.  Hebrews 9:14 mentions his eternal nature.  Psalm 139 :7-10 mention he is omnipresent while 1 Cor 2:10-11 shows His omniscience.

Some passages in the Old Testament that are attributed to Jehovah, are applied to the Spirit in the New Testament for example Isaiah 6:8; Acts 28:25 and Exodus 16:7; Hebrews 3:7-9.

Divinity is worthy of worship.  Throughout the Bible we are told to worship Jehovah, the great "I am" who is not only Father but son and also Holy Spirit.  If we are to embrace the concept of Trinity being three in one, then surely it would be wrong to only worship Father and Son and condemn those who worship the Holy Spirit too.

Francis Pieper, a noted scholar, stated that the worship of the Holy Spirit is “taught in all those Scripture passages where divine majesty, attributes, and works are ascribed to the Holy Ghost [Spirit]”  Therefore, the command to “worship God” (PSalm 18:3, 48:1, Matt 4:10 and Rev 19:10, 22:9) includes the Holy Spirit.

For centuries Christians have worshiped the Holy Spirit, along with the Father and Son.

For example:

(written by Bourgeois in 1551):

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

along with: 

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

(Heber, 1826)

In light of these examples, along with, I'm sure, many others, there seems to me, no reason not to worship the Holy Spirit, and in fact only more reasons to do so!

(adapted from an article by Wayne Jackson, January 2006)