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Are we supposed to worship the Holy Spirit?

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TL;DR:

The Bible teaches the doctrine of the Trinity—meaning that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God—even if the term Trinity is not used. As part of the Triune Godhead, the Holy Spirit, then, is due our worship.

what does the bible say?

The Bible indicates that God alone should be worshipped (Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Exodus 20:3). Scripture also teaches the doctrine of the Trinity, which means God is three persons in one: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2). As the third Person of the Triune Godhead, the Holy Spirit has perfect knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:11), a mind (Romans 8:27), love (Romans 15:30), and a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). He can be insulted (Hebrews 10:29), lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Acts 7:51), and grieved (Ephesians 4:30). He is fully equal with God the Father and God the Son, and He should be worshipped as such. The New Testament presents examples of the worship of the Holy Spirit along with worship of the Father and the Son (Colossians 1:6–8; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In fact, Scripture affirms that worship of God cannot take place apart from the Spirit of God since the Spirit lives within believers (Romans 8:16) and causes us to respond in worship. The Bible shows we can worship God through our actions and with our words (Romans 12:1). The Holy Spirit can and should be worshiped as God.

from the old testament

  • Deuteronomy 6:4–5 clearly teaches that we must worship only God: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." But other parts of Scripture show that this one God consists of three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Because of this, as we worship God, we are worshipping the Holy Spirit.
  • After God saved David from his enemies, David praised Him in Psalm 18:3: “I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” God is worthy to be praised, and that includes all members of the Trinity.

from the new testament

  • In many Bible passages, such as John 15:26, the Holy Spirit is referred to as a Person: Jesus told His disciples, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” The Holy Spirit is co-equal to God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
  • Paul ends his second letter to the Corinthians with this from 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” In this passage, Paul mentions all three members of the Trinity, including the Holy Spirit. When we worship One, we worship All.
  • The personal nature of the Holy Spirit is manifested in that He can be grieved, as indicated in Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Just as God the Father and Jesus could be grieved (Genesis 6:6; Mark 3:5; John 11:35), so can the Holy Spirit, showing His co-equal status.

implications for today

Any regular churchgoer has probably recited this traditional Doxology:

“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.” These words are so familiar that you’ve probably memorized them. But hopefully, they’re not so familiar that they become devoid of meaning. The Doxology’s meaning is important: The Holy Spirit is as worthy of praise as the Father and the Son. The Spirit is the “Helper” Jesus promised to send His followers (John 15:26). The Spirit enables us to do what we could not accomplish by our own strength (Romans 8:26–27). In Western nations, messages about self-empowerment can sometimes cloud believers’ understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A good example of this is the hesitancy that some believers have about evangelism. They may feel unsure about what to say or doubt their skill in convincing others. But ultimately, all believers must realize it isn’t our facility with words or a skill at argumentation that draws others; it’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Blessedly, the Bible shows that God allows us to participate in this kingdom work but doesn’t leave us on our own because the Spirit is at work in us to accomplish God’s will. We are responsible for preparing to do God’s will, but success or failure in evangelism does not depend on us. When we realize this, we can’t help but also be grateful for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Indeed, the Holy Spirit can and should be worshiped as God.

understand

  • The Holy Spirit is God and is worthy of worship.
  • Scripture affirms the Holy Spirit’s divinity and role in the Trinity.
  • Worship of God includes worshiping the Holy Spirit.

reflect

  • How does recognizing the Holy Spirit as fully God change the way you worship?
  • How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in your life?
  • How can you intentionally acknowledge and honor the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with God?

engage

  • Why are some Christians hesitant to worship the Holy Spirit directly?
  • How does the Bible’s teaching on the Trinity shape our understanding of worship?
  • What role does the Holy Spirit play in guiding and empowering us to worship God?

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