Bible Study: What Does the Assemblies of God Believe About Healing?

The Assemblies of God believes that divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel, provided through Christ’s atoning work on the cross. It is a privilege available to all believers today, received through faith and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Heart of the Matter: Why Healing Matters

In the middle of our most difficult days, whether we are facing a physical diagnosis, the weight of anxiety, or the chains of addiction, the question "Does God still heal?" isn't just a theological debate. It’s a lifeline. For those of us in the 901 and our friends joining us across the globe via Boundless Online Church, understanding the Assemblies of God (AG) position on healing provides a foundation of hope that is both biblically anchored and practically powerful.

Healing is one of the four "cardinal doctrines" of the Assemblies of God. This means it isn't a "side dish" to our faith; it’s part of the main course. We believe that the same Jesus who forgave sins in the New Testament is the same Jesus who walks through our neighborhoods in Memphis, Cordova, and Bartlett today, offering wholeness to the broken.

Theological Term	Biblical Definition
Divine Healing	God’s supernatural intervention to restore health to the physical body, mind, or spirit, provided through the Atonement.
The Atonement	The work of Jesus Christ on the cross that provides for the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the body.
Privilege of Believers	The belief that every follower of Christ has the right to ask for and expect God’s healing touch.

Divine Healing: An AG 101 Definition

Before we dive deep, let's clarify what we mean.

Definition Block: Divine Healing Divine healing is the supernatural power of God bringing restoration to a person. It is not "magic," and it does not replace medical science; rather, it is the Great Physician working through His Spirit to bring life where there is sickness, and peace where there is turmoil.

The Foundation: Healing in the Atonement

The most important thing to understand about the AG view of healing is where it comes from. We don't believe healing happens because a person is "good enough" or because they said a specific formula of words. We believe healing is possible because of what Jesus did on the cross.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

This verse tells us that Jesus didn't just die to get us to Heaven; He died to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to us. In the AG, we interpret this to mean that Christ’s suffering covered the whole person, spirit, soul, and body. This is confirmed in the New Testament when Matthew 8:16-17 describes Jesus healing the sick and explicitly links it back to Isaiah’s prophecy.

Sin vs. Grace: The Battle for Wholeness

One of the most frequent questions we hear in Memphis is, "Am I sick because I sinned?"

It’s a heavy question. In AG theology, we recognize that we live in a fallen world where sickness exists because of the general presence of sin. However, we do not believe that every individual illness is a direct result of a specific personal sin.

Grace is the answer. Where sin brings brokenness, grace brings restoration. We teach that healing is a gift of grace. You cannot earn it, and you don’t have to be perfect to receive it. Just as we are saved by grace through faith, we are often healed by grace through faith. While the Bible does encourage us in James 5 to "confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed," the focus is always on the restoration that follows confession, not the condemnation that precedes it.

Healing the Mind: Overcoming Addiction and Anxiety

Healing isn't always about a broken bone or a fever. In our modern world, and certainly in the fast-paced life of the 901, some of the greatest needs for healing are in the mind.

The Assemblies of God believes that God’s power is fully capable of breaking the chains of addiction and calming the storms of anxiety. When we talk about "Deliverance," we are talking about God setting a person free from the mental and spiritual strongholds that keep them bound.

• Anxiety: We lean on the promise that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

• Addiction: We believe that the Holy Spirit provides the strength to overcome what we cannot conquer on our own.

Whether you are seeking a church in Memphis to walk with you through recovery or you are connecting with our online small groups at Boundless, we believe that "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed."

Memphis Miracle Stories: God at Work in the 901

At First Assembly Memphis, we don't just talk about healing as a history lesson; we see it as a current event. From the hospital rooms at Methodist Germantown to the living rooms in Cordova, we have seen God do the "impossible."

We’ve heard testimonies of:

1. Restored Marriages: Where decades of bitterness were healed in a moment of prayer.

2. Physical Recovery: Doctors being baffled by the sudden disappearance of symptoms after the elders of the church prayed.

3. Peace Amidst Grief: The supernatural "peace that passes understanding" for those walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

These aren't just "lucky breaks." These are the evidence of Fundamental Truth #12 in action.

How to Seek Healing: The Practical AG 101 Steps

If you or someone you love needs a touch from God, how do you actually go about it? We follow the model laid out in James 5:14-16:

1. Call for the Elders: Reach out to your church leadership. Don't suffer in isolation.

2. The Prayer of Faith: We pray with the expectation that God hears and acts.

3. Anointing with Oil: The oil itself doesn't heal; it is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence and a physical act of obedience.

4. Expectation, not Demands: We trust God’s sovereignty. We believe He heals, but we also trust His timing and His ways, knowing that ultimately, every believer will receive "final healing" in the presence of the Lord.

5 Things to Remember About Divine Healing

1. It’s Biblical: Grounded in both the Old and New Testaments.

2. It’s Available: Not just for "special" Christians, but for all who believe.

3. It’s Comprehensive: For the body, the mind, and the spirit.

4. It’s Collaborative: We believe in prayer and we thank God for the gift of medical professionals.

5. It’s Relational: Healing often happens in the context of community and connection.

Taking Your Next Step

Whether you are walking through a season of physical pain, battling the fog of anxiety, or looking for freedom from addiction, you do not have to walk alone. The God who created you is the God who can restore you.

Want to go deeper?

If you're in Memphis, Cordova, Arlington, Bartlett, or the 901, we would love to welcome you in person for worship and prayer: 🌐 www.famemphis.org

If you're outside our area or unable to attend locally, join our global online church community for discipleship and care: 🌐 www.boundlessonlinechurch.org

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.)

You are not alone. There is grace for today and hope for tomorrow.