What are the prerequisites to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit?


Acts 1:4-5,8 declares,
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence....

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(Acts 1:4-5,8 KJV)
The early church, the first time, had to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In every other example we have of people receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, no waiting was necessary.

Notice what Paul said in Acts 19:1-2,6 regarding the gift of the Holy Spirit.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost...." And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
(Acts 19:1-2,6 KJV)
Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Believing is the only prerequisite to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit immediately. The believers at Ephesus did not have to wait and neither do you.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is an act done by faith. "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith" (Gal.3:2 KJV)?

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