We have been looking into the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 for the
past few weeks. And in so doing I have encouraged us to seek the Holy
Spirit's guidance as we look for a deeper understanding of what the Bible is
saying to us. Let us now begin to look at Scripture concerning the mighty
Holy Spirit Himself.

In his prayer Paul says in 3:16,
"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power
through His Spirit in your inner being."

Jesus' words to the disciples just before He was taken up to heaven,
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth." Acts 1:8

In both Old and New Testaments there is the promise of an outpouring of the
Holy Spirit:
"'And I will not hide my face from them any longer, for I shall have poured
out My Sprit on the house of Israel,' declares the Lord." Ezekiel 39:29

"And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Sprit on all
mankind..." Joel 2:28

John the Baptist tells us,
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is
more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Matthew 3:11

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13

"And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but
you are to stay in the city until your are clothed with power from on high."
Luke 24:49

Responding to the Apostle Peter's sermon on Pentecost the hearers asked,
"...Brethren what shall we do?
"Peter's replied, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.'" Acts 2:38

Of the Holy Spirit's dwelling in Believers we see:
"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if
the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9
(Please note we are to be 'controlled' by the Spirit of God if we are His.)

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit
lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16  (This is Paul's question to the
Corinthians concerning the sinful behavior that was going on in their midst.
(We too need to take heed.)

I will close for this week with some examples of men receiving the gift of
the Holy Spirit:
Gideon:
"So the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and
the Abiezrites were called together to follow him." Judges 6:34
David:
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his
brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day
forward..."  1 Samuel 16:13
Believers at Pentecost:
"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest
on each of them all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit..." Acts 2:3-4
The Samaritan Christians:
"Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy
Spirit." Acts 8:17
Cornelius and those at his house:
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message." Acts 10:44

The Holy Spirit is for all who believe (trust in, cling to, rely on) Jesus
Christ our Savior and Lord! How gracious is our Father for His provision of
the blessed Holy Spirit who guides us moment by moment in our walk on earth.

All praise to our Mighty God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen