When do I receive the Holy Spirit?

Ephesians 1:13-14Now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

God gives us the Holy Spirit when we believe in Jesus Christ. In fact, it is through the promptings of the Holy Spirit that we are able to believe in Christ.

Ezekiel 36:25-27“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

Acts 2:16-18“What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.’”

The gift of the Holy Spirit was promised long ago but was not made available to all believers until Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Peter’s preaching at Pentecost marked the dramatic outpouring of the Spirit, fulfilling the prophecies of old.

Luke 11:11-13“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Though the Holy Spirit lives within us, we can pray expectantly that God will release more and more of the Spirit’s power in our lives. When we foster an active relationship with God, his Holy Spirit will become more active in our lives.

Luke 12:11-12“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The Lord gives us an extra measure of the Holy Spirit’s power whenever we need special power and courage to witness for him.