AG Fundamental Truth #12: Divine Healing: How to Pray with Faith and Wisdom
- Boundless Team
- Feb 26
- 5 min read
HOLD FOR REVIEW — DO NOT PUBLISH
Divine healing is one of the four cardinal doctrines of the Assemblies of God: alongside salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the Second Coming of Christ.
It's not a fringe belief or optional add-on.
It's central to the gospel message.
The core claim: Physical healing was purchased for us through Jesus's death and resurrection. Every believer has the right to pray for healing and believe God can: and often does: heal today.
But prayer for healing requires both faith and wisdom.
Let's explore what Scripture teaches, how to pray effectively, and when to seek medical care: all with pastoral sensitivity and biblical balance.
The Biblical Foundation: Christ's Atonement Includes Healing
The Assemblies of God grounds its healing doctrine in three key passages:
Isaiah 53:4–5
"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering... and by his wounds we are healed."
This prophecy about the Messiah connects physical suffering to spiritual redemption. Jesus didn't just die for our sins: He bore our sickness and pain.
Matthew 8:16–17
"He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.'"
Matthew explicitly ties Jesus's healing ministry to Isaiah 53. Physical healing is part of what the cross accomplished.
James 5:14–16
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up."
This passage gives the church a clear model for healing prayer:
Corporate prayer : praying together as a faith community
Anointing with oil : as a sign of the Holy Spirit
Calling on the Lord's name : invoking Jesus's authority
Faith : trusting God's willingness and ability to heal
Confession of sin : when sickness results from spiritual issues, repentance opens the door to healing
Mark 16:17–18
"And these signs will accompany those who believe... they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Jesus commissioned His followers to continue the healing ministry. It didn't end with the apostles.
It continues today.
How to Pray for Healing: Five Practical Steps
Praying for healing isn't complicated, but it is intentional.
Here's a simple framework based on James 5 and the broader witness of Scripture:
1. Pray in Community When Possible
Call the elders, small group leaders, or trusted believers to pray with you. Corporate prayer adds strength and accountability.
If you're alone, Jesus still hears you. But don't isolate yourself when help is available.
2. Anoint with Oil
Anointing with oil is a biblical practice that symbolizes the Holy Spirit's presence and power. It's not magic: it's a sign of faith and obedience.
If oil isn't available, don't stress. The key is prayer in Jesus's name.
3. Invoke the Name of Jesus
Healing comes through Christ's authority, not our own. Pray boldly in His name, based on what He accomplished at the cross.
4. Pray with Faith
Faith isn't pretending to be certain when you're not. It's trusting God's character and leaning into His promises: even when the outcome is unclear.
Remember: in 13 of Jesus's 24 recorded healings, faith wasn't even mentioned. He healed because there was genuine need. God's grace often operates beyond our conditions.
5. Confess Sin (If Relevant)
Sometimes: not always: sickness is connected to sin or unrepentant behavior. If the Holy Spirit convicts you, confess it and receive forgiveness.
But don't assume all sickness is punishment. That's not what Scripture teaches.
When to Seek Medical Care: Faith and Wisdom Work Together
Here's where pastoral sensitivity matters most.
Prayer and medicine are not opposites.
The Assemblies of God affirms that believers should pray for divine healing and seek appropriate medical care. Doctors, nurses, and medicine are gifts from God: tools He uses to bring healing.
Consider these principles:
Pray first, but don't delay emergency care. If someone is having a heart attack or severe injury, call 911 while you pray.
Use wisdom in chronic conditions. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other ongoing health issues, follow your doctor's advice while believing God for healing.
Don't guilt people for taking medication. Faith isn't measured by refusing medical help. It's measured by trust in God's character: however He chooses to bring healing.
God heals through prayer, medicine, or both. All healing is divine, even when it comes through a doctor's hands.
If someone tells you that taking medicine means you lack faith, they're teaching bad theology.
God is sovereign. He works through multiple means.
A Testimony-Style Example: Faith in the Waiting
Rachel had been dealing with chronic pain for three years.
She prayed. Her church prayed. She anointed herself with oil more times than she could count.
But the pain remained.
One Sunday, her small group leader asked, "Have you seen a doctor?"
Rachel hesitated. "I didn't want people to think I didn't have faith."
Her leader smiled gently. "Faith isn't refusing help. Faith is trusting God to guide you: even through doctors."
Rachel made an appointment. The specialist found a treatable condition that physical therapy and medication could address. Within six months, her pain decreased significantly.
She later said, "I learned that faith doesn't mean choosing between God and doctors. It means trusting God to heal me however He sees fit."
That's wisdom.
Holding Faith and Sovereignty in Tension
Here's the hard truth: not every prayer for healing results in immediate physical restoration.
Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" that God didn't remove (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).
Timothy dealt with stomach issues (1 Timothy 5:23).
Epaphroditus nearly died, and Paul grieved it (Philippians 2:27).
Does that mean healing isn't real? No.
It means God's wisdom exceeds ours. He sees the full picture: past, present, and eternal. Sometimes He heals instantly. Sometimes He heals gradually. Sometimes He sustains us through suffering for reasons we won't fully understand until heaven.
Every believer has the right to pray and believe for healing.
But that doesn't guarantee God will answer every prayer exactly as we expect.
Our job is to pray with faith. God's job is to answer according to His perfect will.
And His will is always good: even when it's mysterious.
The Bottom Line: Pray with Faith and Wisdom
Divine healing is part of the gospel. It's a cardinal doctrine of the Assemblies of God for a reason.
Jesus paid for our healing at the cross. We have every right to ask for it.
But asking with faith doesn't mean ignoring wisdom. Pray boldly. Seek medical care when needed. Trust God's timing and methods.
And above all, remember: God is good.
Whether He heals through prayer, medicine, time, or eternity: His love for you never wavers.
Let's Keep the Conversation Going
Have questions about prayer, healing, or how faith and medicine work together?
We'd love to hear from you.
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Dr. Layne McDonald | Online and Connection Pastor | Boundless Online Church
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