Question:
Do we have to ask for the Spirit, or do we just receive Him when we are saved?

Answer:
Ephesians 1:13 says: “After that ye believed [or the moment ye believed] ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” It is impossible to be saved and not have the Spirit indwelling us for we are told: “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9).

When we are saved, our body becomes the “temple” or dwelling place of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). The Holy Spirit is a real Person, just as the Father and Son are Persons of the Godhead (Ephesians 2:18). One of the first things the Spirit does in a soul is to convict of sin (John 16:7-16). When we trust Christ as our Saviour the Spirit gives us life, and we are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

Those who are saved are told to “be filled [or controlled] with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). We should judge (and be done with) anything that would “grieve” the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-32), for this would hinder Him from controlling us. We should also not “quench” the Spirit by “despising” (or holding down) prophesying, which is telling forth the Word of the Lord for the time (1 Thessalonians 5:19,20). To hold down the Word would also hinder the Holy Spirit from filling and controlling our lives.