Three passages come to mind addressing the reception of the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit of God impress their significance upon you — Ezekiel 36:27, Acts 2:38, and Ephesians 1:13.
Future Relationship With God’s Spirit Predicted. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27 KJV). Under the Old Covenant, God’s people were promised a future, abiding relationship with Yahweh, which was typical only of prophets or specially called servants of God. In the OT, the Spirit of Jehovah Himself would come upon His servants to accomplish appointed tasks, such as the recording of Holy Scripture. Joshua was called to lead Israel into the Promised Land and to judge Israel (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9). “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Peter 1:21). But, the new relationship would not be limited to the prophets, but to inspire all of God’s people to obey Him.
Present Relationship With God’s Spirit Promised to All Who Repent and Are Baptized. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). In the first sermon of the NT Church, Peter promised the same Holy Spirit, which had just been poured out upon the initial 120 disciples, to all who repent and are baptized. The question raised by the Jews at Jerusalem was not how to obtain the supernatural gift of diverse tongues spoken and understood by all, but how to rectify their sin of crucifying Jesus, whom God has made “both Lord and Christ” (2:36). God ‘s Indwelling Spirit was promised in exchange for the obedience of repenting and submitting to water baptism, whereby they covenanted their loyalty to Christ Jesus as Lord. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Again, obedience is both the result and the requirement of those who receive the Holy Spirit. “And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey Him” (Acts 5:32).
Past Relationship With God’s Spirit Established Through Faith. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). No mention of anything but faith in establishing the sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2Timothy 2:19). Though the argument of faith without works is dead (James 2:17) is still true, the Holy Spirit commands departure from iniquity for those sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise.
Father, thank You for Your love in sending Jesus to save us from our sins. Thank You for the Gift of your Spirit to inspire us to obedience and good works. May we never consider our obedience as any indication of our goodness, but only of Your goodness working within us. “Hereby know we that we dwell in [You], and [You] in us, because [You have] given us of [Your] Spirit” (1John 4:13). Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 