Bible Study: What Does the Assemblies of God Believe About the Holy Spirit?
- Boundless Team
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
The Assemblies of God believes the Holy Spirit is fully God, the third Person of the Trinity, who brings new life, lives within believers, produces holy character, and empowers Christians for witness and service. AG teaching also affirms a distinct baptism in the Holy Spirit, with speaking in tongues as its initial physical evidence.
Why does the Holy Spirit matter?
Many people are curious about Pentecostal faith but unsure what it means to be “Spirit-filled.” Is the Holy Spirit a feeling, a force, or something reserved for unusually spiritual Christians?
The biblical answer is more personal and more hopeful: the Holy Spirit is God with us.
The Holy Spirit does not draw attention away from Jesus. He reveals Jesus, forms Christlike character in us, strengthens us when we are weak, and sends us into the world with courage and love.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal energy or religious atmosphere. He is God, the third Person of the Trinity, eternally united with the Father and the Son.
Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “another Advocate” who would be with His followers forever (John 14:16–17). The Spirit teaches, reminds, guides, convicts, comforts, and empowers. These are personal actions, not the activity of an abstract force.
The Holy Spirit is present in the work of salvation. When a person turns from sin and trusts in Jesus Christ, the Spirit brings new birth and begins the lifelong work of sanctification.
Definition: Sanctification Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through which believers are shaped into the character of Jesus. It begins when we belong to Christ and continues throughout our lives.
The Spirit’s presence is not an optional accessory to Christianity. Every genuine believer is made alive by the Spirit and called to walk with Him (Romans 8:9–11; Galatians 5:25).
What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
The Assemblies of God teaches that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience following salvation. It is promised by the Father, announced by Jesus, and poured out at Pentecost.
Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). A few verses later, Acts 2 describes the disciples being filled with the Spirit and speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This experience is not about earning salvation. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by spiritual performance, religious vocabulary, or supernatural experiences (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Spirit baptism is an empowering gift for believers. It strengthens Christians for:
Bold witness
Spirit-led prayer
Christian service
Spiritual gifts
Perseverance in difficult seasons
Greater dependence on God
The Assemblies of God encourages every believer to seek this promise earnestly. Spirit baptism is not reserved for pastors, missionaries, or a spiritual elite. The promise of the Spirit is for God’s people and reaches across generations and cultures (Acts 2:17–18, 38–39).
Why does the Assemblies of God teach that speaking in tongues is important?
According to the Assemblies of God’s Statement of Fundamental Truths, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance is the initial physical evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
This teaching is rooted in several passages in Acts, including Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44–46, and Acts 19:6. In these moments, people received the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues.
The AG position makes an important distinction: tongues as the initial evidence of Spirit baptism and the ongoing spiritual gift of tongues described in 1 Corinthians 12 are related, but their purpose and use are not identical.
In public worship, Scripture also teaches that spiritual gifts should strengthen the gathered church and be exercised with order and interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:26–33). Pentecostal faith is not a pursuit of confusion or emotional pressure. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ and produces edification, holiness, love, and mission.
Speaking in tongues is not a badge of superiority. It does not make one Christian more valuable than another. It is not a reason to mock those from other Christian traditions, nor is it a tool for manipulating people.
The gift should be received with humility, biblical discernment, and love.
What does the Holy Spirit do in everyday life?
The Holy Spirit’s work is not limited to a church service. He meets believers in ordinary places: at the kitchen table, during a difficult conversation, in a hospital room, on the commute through Memphis, and in the quiet moments when no one else sees the struggle.
Here are several practical ways the Spirit works in believers:
Work of the Spirit | Scripture | What it means for daily life |
He gives new life | John 3:5–8 | Faith is more than behavior modification; God transforms us from within. |
He lives in believers | Romans 8:9–11 | You do not face temptation, grief, or uncertainty alone. |
He produces spiritual fruit | Galatians 5:22–23 | The Spirit forms love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. |
He empowers witness | Acts 1:8 | You can represent Jesus with courage and compassion. |
He gives gifts for service | 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 | God equips believers to strengthen others, not simply to impress others. |
He helps us pray | Romans 8:26–27 | When words fail, the Spirit meets us in weakness and intercedes for us. |
What are common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit?
“The Holy Spirit is only for certain Christians.”
No. The Holy Spirit is involved in every believer’s salvation, growth, and relationship with God. The Assemblies of God teaches that Spirit baptism is available to all believers who seek the promise of the Father.
“Speaking in tongues saves me.”
No. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. We are justified by grace through faith in Him. Speaking in tongues is not a substitute for repentance, faith, obedience, or love.
“Being filled with the Spirit means I will never struggle again.”
No. Spirit-filled Christians still face temptation, grief, questions, and weakness. The difference is not the absence of difficulty; it is the presence of God and the power to remain faithful within it.
“The Holy Spirit only works through dramatic experiences.”
The Spirit certainly works through powerful moments, but He also forms steady character. Galatians 5 emphasizes fruit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
A person may speak eloquently about spiritual experiences while treating people harshly. Scripture calls us to test spiritual claims by biblical truth and spiritual fruit.
“I have to understand everything before I ask God for more.”
No. Jesus invites His followers to ask, seek, and knock. In Luke 11:13, He says the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
You can come honestly. You can bring your questions. You can ask God to teach you, fill you, guide you, and make you more like Jesus.
How can I respond to the Holy Spirit today?
The life-changing takeaway
The Holy Spirit is not a theological subject meant to remain at a distance. He is God’s presence within and among His people.
He brings us to new life, walks with us through sanctification, empowers us for witness, helps us pray, gives gifts for service, and forms the character of Jesus in us.
The goal is not spiritual spectacle. The goal is a life surrendered to Christ, strengthened by the Spirit, and poured out in love for God and people.
A simple study guide
Use these questions for personal reflection, family devotion, or a small-group conversation:
What does John 14:16–17 teach about the identity and presence of the Holy Spirit?
How is salvation distinct from baptism in the Holy Spirit?
According to Acts 1:8, what is one purpose of Spirit empowerment?
Which fruit of the Spirit do you most want God to develop in you?
Where do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to pray, serve, or witness this week?
What step toward Christian community can you take now?
You can print or save this section as a study guide, and you can connect with a Life Group at FA Memphis for conversation and discipleship.
Want to go deeper?
We’d love to connect with you. Visit www.boundlessonlinechurch.org to join our community from anywhere, or if you’re in the Memphis area, including Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Millington, Atoka, West Memphis, or the wider 901, find us at www.famemphis.org.
Stay connected
Phone: Call or text 901-213-7341.
Dual invite: Visit www.famemphis.org for local connection or www.boundlessonlinechurch.org for online church community.
Prayer line: Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341. (Note: This line is for prayer and pastoral support, not emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, please call 911.)
Ministry office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. CST. Sunday streaming and online community connection are available through Boundless Online Church, including live chat from the Pastor.
For further reading, explore the Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths, FA Memphis beliefs, and FA Memphis prayer resources.
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