Statement of Faith #7-Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Official Assembly of God Statement of Faith #7-All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as:an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, and a more active love for Christ, for His word and for the lost.

In Joel 2:28 it states,"I will pour out my spirit on all people...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Then in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4, Jesus tells his followers(those who are already saved) to wait for the arrival of the Holy Spirit to come and give them power. We can read over and over in the bible, in the early days of the Christian church, of the Holy Spirit coming upon believers and as a different and separate event than salvation.(Acts 11:15, Acts 15:7-9, Acts 8:16) In our church we believe that, at the time of salvation the Holy Spirit comes into the believer to help guide them and change their life. We call it an indwelling of the Holy Spirit but we also believe that, sometimes, at the time of salvation, but more often at a later time, the Holy Spirit fills the person to give them a greater power for living and ministry, an infilling of the Holy Spirit.

With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit come the fruits of the spirit into the person's life-love, joy , peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control(Gal. 5:22). With the infilling of the Holy Spirit come the gifts of the spirit-wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation(1 Cor 12). Those gifts of the spirit provide the believer a certain power not only for daily living but for ministry as well. Not all who have been filled with the Holy Spirit will receive all of the gifts. According to 1 Cor. 12:7-11, and 13, the Holy Spirit gives the gifts to each as he sees fit for the betterment of the church.
It is important too, to remember that the Assembly of God church believes we have an unchanging God and that He still works the same with Christians today as He did with them in the early church days. This is why we still believe that healings, miracles, prophecy and other gifts of the Spirit are still for today. More will come about that in later statements of faith as well.

Although this is a main doctrinal statement of our church and most other churches do not teach it or even believe in it, I have seen people from many other denominations receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Often, they do not know what it is or what happened that changed them and often they know exactly what it is. I also know many people in my own denomination that have not yet received it or are not even seeking it. I just know that I do believe in it, that I have experienced it(as have Shannon, Collin and Molly) and that I desire all to receive it.

To receive the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit one must first be saved(John 14:16,17). The person should be obedient to God(Acts 5:32), ask(Luke 11:13) and believe(Galatians 3:14).

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