Question: John 7:37-38 ESV

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> 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as[f] the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
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We are told that during the feast of Booths Christ cried out extending an invitation to those who are thirst.The text describes the invitation as referring to the giving of the Holy spirit,yet later in the same book it seems the coming of the the Holy spirit is connected to Christ ascension

John 16:7 ESV

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> 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, ***for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you***. But if I go, I will send him to you.
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Did Christ intend giving the Holy spirit prior to his ascension?

Answer: 
The answer to this question is in the next verse so let me quote the John 7:37-39 -

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> **37** On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me
> and drink. **38** Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said:
> ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ” **39** He was
> speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him **were later
> to receive**. **For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus
> had not yet been glorified**.
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Thus, there is nothing inconsistent between John 7:37-39 and the other references to the Holy Spirit in John 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7 that likens the Holy Spirit to an Advocate, Helper, comforter, or "paraklete" in Greek.

The Holy Spirit would come "with power" (Acts 1:8, 10:38, Eph 3:16, 1 Thess 1:5, Rom 1:4, 15:19, etc) only after Jesus' ascension as described in Luke 24:49 (NLT) -

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> “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But
> stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with
> power from heaven.”
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And also in John 20:21, 22 after the resurrection -

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> Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent
> me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed
> on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
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The giving of the Holy Spirit to all believers as a component of their salvation was not given prior to the ascension. However there is multiple pieces of new and old testament evidence for the presence and action of the Holy Spirit prior to Jesus' ministry, including creation (Genesis 1:2), Gideon (Numbers 6:34), and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15). I hope this answered your question. Keep studying :)