General Church Doctrine of the Assemblies of God

The doctrine which distinguishes the Assemblies of God from other churches deals with one of it's four cardinal doctrines: the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The Assemblies of God believes the baptism in the Holy Spirit gives believers several benefits as indicated in the New Testament. These include: power to witness and serve others; a dedication to the work of God; a more intensive love for Christ, His Word, and the lost; and the bestowment of certain spiritual gifts.

Acts 1:4      Acts 1:8      Acts 8:15-17

The Assemblies of God believes that when the Holy Spirit initially fills the believer, that person will speak in an unknown language as did the 120 believers in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. While this belief is distinctive,it is not more important than other doctrines.

Acts 8:15-17

All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit 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.