2nd Corinthians 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
The earnest of The Spirit here spoken of has to do with the initial gift of the Holy Spirit which is given to all those who truly accept Christ as Lord and Savior. The Gift is given in portion sizes, according to our capacity to wisely appropriate and be used by Him. When we choose to serve Jesus our choice cannot be made effectual, or be put into practice without the enabling work of the Spirit of God, and because of this, a down-payment as it were, is given to get us started on our way. However, as we continue the Christian journey we will need additional portions in order to successfully meet the challenges, obligations, and increased pressures that are a part of the Christian's life, and therefore we are not be satisfied with the initial down-payment, but are to ask God for additional installments according to His good will and according to our needs.
When we go to a car dealership to purchase a vehicle on credit, we usually have to make a down-payment to get us started, however additional monthly installments are needed if we are to stay in possession of the treasured item, or else the chances of us losing the car become significantly increased. Similarly with the Gift of the spirit that is initially given to them that believe. If additional installments are not requested and given, we will also stand to lose the gift in entirety, for the Holy Spirit is given to move the process of spiritual growth and development from one stage to the next, until Christ is fully formed within.
However there is something very important we should always bear in mind when dwelling upon the Gift of the Spirit; He is never given to us so that we could continue in disobedience, but rather to help us overcome all cultivated and inherited tendencies to evil by obeying God. A misunderstanding of this point has caused many Christians to think of the Holy Spirit as a mere influence that is given to enable us to speak in tongues and to carry on our worship services in a state of hyper euphoria. But nothing can be further from the truth, for when God imparts His Spirit to the believer, we are made sober and balanced in our approach to life, and over time He causes us to become more obedient and willing to do God's revealed will. This fact is clearly stated in the scriptures and must be given due consideration when speaking of the "Earnest" of The Spirit. Let's read:
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Any claim that one has The Spirit, whilst they are living in blatant and deliberate violation of God's commands is entirely false, because the scriptures teach us in several places that when a person continues in willful disobedience to God, The Holy Spirit is finally withdrawn from that person, and the other spirit in the world takes up permanent residence in the heart. This is what happened to king Saul who was given a down-payment like every other professed follower of God, but who refused the additional installments, until the repossessor came, and he was then filled with an evil spirit which then drove him to his death. Let's read:
1st Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
1st Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit" ... troubled him.
It is of critical importance for us to live in harmony with what God says is right, and not be motivated merely by feelings and emotions, which are unstable as water. A very good gauge of whether or not the Holy Spirit is actively working within our hearts, is not how much hype we can display during worship, or how many tongues we can speak in, but rather how much we are obeying God, and subduing the evil propensities which strive for the mastery in our lives. This method of evaluation is much better than the spurious manifestations of The Spirit that have now become so popular in Christendom, and for this reason we end with a passage of scripture which confirms the serious and sacred nature of the work of redemption in our hearts, that was begun and continues through the effectual working of The Holy Ghost, in tandem with our freedom of choice. Let's read:
Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!