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Glory · The Holy Spirit
The Spirit is a gift, received through faith in Jesus Christ, not earned by works or by feelings. When you trust Christ, you are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit; and as you walk with Him, you are filled again and again.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/how-do-i-receive-the-holy-spirit · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Acts 2:37-41
As you read: Peter's answer to the crowd, and the promise that is 'to you, and to your children.'
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
John 7:37-39
As you read: Jesus' invitation to the thirsty: John explains it is about the Spirit.
37Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!
38He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.”
39But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.
Romans 8:14-17
As you read: The Spirit makes us cry 'Abba, Father': sons and daughters, not slaves.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
15For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
Paul's question to the Galatians is the key: 'Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?' The Spirit comes by believing the gospel, the same way salvation itself comes.
“I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?”Galatians 3:2
“He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?”Galatians 3:5
“in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,”Ephesians 1:13
Peter's answer to 'What must we do?' was: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins: 'and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' The promise is not for a select few; it is for everyone the Lord calls.
“Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.””Acts 2:38-39
“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.”Acts 2:41
Paul writes that having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise: the seal, the down payment of the inheritance. Jesus described the Spirit as rivers of living water flowing from within the believer.
“in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.”Ephesians 1:13-14
“Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water.” But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn’t yet glorified.”John 7:37-39
The Spirit of adoption replaces the spirit of fear. Through Him we call God our Father with the intimate confidence of a child, and He Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;”Romans 8:14-16
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.”Romans 8:9
Receiving the Spirit is the beginning; being filled is the ongoing life. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit, and to walk by Him, and not to grieve Him. The filling is not one dramatic moment, but a continual surrender.
“Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”Ephesians 5:18
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.”Galatians 5:16
“If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.”Galatians 5:25
“Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”Ephesians 4:30