“be filled with the Spirit…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:18, 20).
One of the errors surrounding prayer is the practice of addressing petitions of heaven to Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit. It is intimated by some that the super spiritual are on such an elite plane they have the unique privilege of praying to Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit.
Note from the passage above the protocol for prayer given to those who are being filled by the Spirit. It is to address God the Father in the name (by the authority) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is not higher, more elite spiritual privilege than to be granted an audience with the great “I AM” in His heavenly throne room. Because of Christ and the adoption into God’s spiritual family He provides (Ephesians 1:5), you can address as “Father” the august occupant of the throne which governs our universe. Because of His spiritual credentials as our High Priest and the one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5), Jehovah’s ears listen attentively to our petitions made in Jesus’ name.
Not only does God expect his Spirit-filled children to give thanks always for all things, He has also provided the ways and means for us to properly carry out His expectation!
When prayer’s protocol of addressing the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is followed, we can and ever ought to give thanks for all things.
