We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person; equal with and of the same nature as God the Father, and God the Son. The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit involves the restraining of Satan; Convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He leads men toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation; regenerates all believers, and gives them His own nature. He indwells, seals, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and comforts, all believers. It is the privilege and duty of all Christians to be filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit (John 14-16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18).
We believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer for the purpose of edifying the local church. We believe the sign gifts given in the New Testament (Speaking in tongues, Apostles, healing, etc.) were temporary, and were never the common or necessary signs of the baptism or filling of the Holy Spirit. The deliverance of the body from sickness and death will not be known until the great resurrection day, though God frequently chooses to answer the prayers of believers for physical healing (Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 1:22; 13:8; 14:21-40).
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ...
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.