Church Health: What Does the Assemblies of God Believe About Divine Healing?
Updated: Oct 14
The Assemblies of God teaches that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel, provided for in Christ’s Atonement and available as a privilege to every believer. It calls Christians to pray in faith, including prayer by elders and laying on of hands, while recognizing that healing is God’s work, not a formula, demand, or reason to blame the sick.
This article explains the Assemblies of God position on divine healing through Fundamental Truth 12 and the Scriptures that support it. It also addresses unanswered prayer, medical care, spiritual gifts, pastoral responsibility, and how believers can respond with both confident faith and compassionate wisdom.
What Does Fundamental Truth 12 Say About Divine Healing?
The Assemblies of God Statement of Fundamental Truths says:
“Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.”
This statement is concise, but it carries several important convictions.
First, divine healing is not treated as an embarrassing or optional subject. The Assemblies of God regards healing as part of the good news revealed in Jesus Christ.
Second, healing is connected to the Atonement. The Atonement refers to Christ’s saving work through His life, death, and resurrection. Through Jesus, God provides forgiveness, reconciliation, new life, and the hope of complete restoration.
Third, healing is described as the privilege of all believers. This does not mean every Christian can command a specific outcome or that every illness will immediately disappear. It means every believer may come to God in faith, ask for healing, and trust the compassionate power of the Lord.
The wording protects two truths at the same time: God heals, and God remains sovereign over the timing and manner of His work.
Why Does the Assemblies of God Connect Healing With the Gospel?
The Assemblies of God believes divine healing belongs within the larger biblical story of redemption.
Isaiah 53:4–5 describes the suffering servant who bears griefs, carries sorrows, and is wounded for transgressions. Matthew 8:16–17 connects Jesus’ healing ministry with Isaiah’s prophecy, showing that Christ’s compassion toward the sick was not separate from His mission. Healing revealed the mercy and authority of the Messiah.
The Gospels repeatedly show Jesus touching, restoring, and welcoming people who were suffering. He did not treat sick people as interruptions. He saw them as people created in God’s image and worthy of compassion.
Psalm 103:1–3 calls God’s people to remember the Lord’s benefits, including forgiveness and healing:
“Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.”
This does not reduce faith to receiving physical benefits. The psalm begins with worship and remembrance. The believer praises God for who He is and for His mercies, whether standing in a season of strength or walking through a season of pain.
The Assemblies of God therefore sees healing as part of God’s gracious character and redemptive purpose, while refusing to turn healing into a transaction between God and humanity.
How Do Isaiah 53 and Matthew 8 Support This Teaching?
Isaiah 53:4–5 is one of the central Old Testament passages associated with divine healing. It speaks of the suffering servant bearing human grief and sickness while also carrying sin and transgression.
Matthew 8:16–17 applies Isaiah’s words to Jesus’ healing ministry. After Jesus healed many people, Matthew wrote that this fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah.
The passage shows us that Jesus is not indifferent to human suffering. His ministry displays the heart of God toward people who are hurting.
However, the passage should not be used carelessly. It does not authorize believers to shame people who remain sick. It does not teach that every individual will receive immediate physical healing in this present life. It points us to Jesus as the suffering Savior who has entered fully into the brokenness of the world and who has authority over sickness, sin, death, and every power opposed to God’s purposes.
The Assemblies of God reads this passage with confidence in God’s healing power and with humility before the mystery of God’s timing.
What Role Does James 5 Play in Assemblies of God Teaching?
James 5:14–16 gives the church a clear pattern for responding when someone is sick:
The sick person calls for the elders of the church.
The elders pray over the person.
The elders anoint the person with oil in the name of the Lord.
The church prays the prayer of faith.
The community continues to respond with care, confession, humility, and trust.
This passage teaches that prayer for the sick is not meant to be a private burden carried alone. The church is called to come near.
The practice of anointing with oil is not magical. The oil does not possess independent healing power. It is a visible sign of dependence on God and a physical expression of prayer in Jesus’ name.
The “prayer of faith” is not a technique for controlling God. Faith is not positive thinking, emotional intensity, or a way to force a result. Biblical faith rests in the character of God and brings our requests honestly before Him.
James also connects healing prayer with humility and confession. This does not mean sickness is always caused by personal sin. Rather, it reminds the church that spiritual care involves the whole person. We bring our bodies, souls, relationships, fears, and questions before the Lord.
Does the Assemblies of God Believe Healing Is Guaranteed on Demand?
No. The Assemblies of God teaches that believers should pray boldly for healing, but it does not teach that healing can be demanded as an automatic result.
God is not a formula. Prayer is not a vending machine. Faith is not a spiritual force that overrules God’s wisdom.
The Bible includes many examples of faithful people who suffered, waited, or died without receiving the specific outcome they desired in this life. Paul prayed about his “thorn in the flesh.” Timothy experienced ongoing physical problems. Epaphroditus became seriously ill. These passages do not weaken the church’s belief in healing. They show that Christian faith includes both confident prayer and faithful endurance.
Romans 8:11 gives believers hope that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead gives life. This promise points to God’s present work in believers and to the future resurrection of the body. Our ultimate healing is not limited to temporary relief. The Christian hope is complete restoration in the presence of God.
That future hope does not make present suffering irrelevant. It gives suffering a horizon. We pray for healing now while looking toward the day when Jesus will finally remove sickness, death, grief, and pain.
Does Unanswered Prayer Mean Someone Lacks Faith?
No. A person’s continued illness is not proof that he or she is spiritually defective.
This is one of the most important pastoral boundaries in any discussion of divine healing.
Jesus never taught His followers to mock the sick, accuse the grieving, or measure someone’s worth by physical health. The church must never say or imply:
“You were not healed because God does not love you.”
“Your illness proves that you are a worse Christian.”
“If you had enough faith, this would already be over.”
“Medical treatment means you do not trust God.”
“Your disability or chronic condition is your fault.”
These statements create shame rather than healing. They place a burden on already-weary people and misrepresent the kindness of Christ.
The Assemblies of God position allows believers to pray with expectation without pretending to understand every outcome. We can say, “Lord, please heal,” while also saying, “Lord, sustain, guide, comfort, and teach us as we wait.”
Faith does not require pretending that pain is easy. Faith brings the truth into God’s presence.
How Should Prayer and Medical Care Work Together?
The Assemblies of God teaches that prayer and wise medical care belong together.
Belief in divine healing does not oppose physicians, hospitals, medication, counseling, rehabilitation, or responsible treatment. God may heal directly, through the work of medical professionals, through a gradual recovery process, or through forms of care that bring strength and peace even when a diagnosis remains.
Using medical care is not a confession of unbelief. Seeking treatment is not an insult to God’s power. A doctor’s skill, a nurse’s compassion, a therapist’s wisdom, and a caregiver’s faithful presence may all become instruments of God’s common grace.
At the same time, medical care should not replace trust in God. Christians can receive treatment while continuing to pray. They can ask God for wisdom about decisions, strength for difficult procedures, peace during uncertainty, and compassion for those providing care.
A healthy church does not force people to choose between prayer and responsible care. It walks with them through both.
What Are the Five Most Important Assemblies of God Takeaways?
1. Is divine healing part of the gospel?
Yes. Fundamental Truth 12 calls divine healing “an integral part of the gospel.” Healing belongs within the church’s proclamation of Jesus’ saving and restoring work.
2. Is healing provided for in the Atonement?
Yes. The Assemblies of God connects healing with Christ’s Atonement while recognizing that the full completion of redemption will be revealed when Christ returns and death is finally defeated.
3. Can every believer pray for healing?
Yes. Healing is described as the privilege of all believers. Christians may pray for themselves and others with confidence in God’s compassion.
4. Does prayer guarantee a specific result?
No. Prayer is not a formula, and faith is not a method for controlling God. Believers pray boldly and trust God’s wisdom, timing, and purposes.
5. Should Christians reject medical care?
No. Prayer and wise medical care are compatible. Christians may seek qualified care while continuing to trust God as the ultimate source of life and healing.
These five points offer a balanced summary: expect God to work, pray with faith, receive care wisely, refuse shame, and trust the Lord with the outcome.
What Do Spiritual Gifts Have to Do With Healing?
First Corinthians 12:9 identifies gifts of healings among the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The wording is important because it places healing within the Spirit’s gracious activity in the body of Christ.
Spiritual gifts are not personal trophies. They are given for ministry and the strengthening of others. A person may be used by God in a ministry of healing, but that person is not the healer. God remains the source.
This protects the church from celebrity-centered ministry. No minister, prayer leader, or Christian celebrity should receive the glory that belongs to Jesus.
The gifts of the Spirit should operate with humility, biblical discernment, love, and accountability. They should never be used to manipulate vulnerable people, guarantee outcomes God has not promised, or create fear around those who are still waiting.
You can continue exploring the Assemblies of God understanding of spiritual gifts in Assemblies of God: What Are Spiritual Gifts?.
For a broader look at the doctrinal framework, read Assemblies of God: What Are the 16 Fundamental Truths?.
How Should a Healthy Church Pray for the Sick?
A healthy church prays with courage and tenderness.
It does not rush past a person’s grief. It does not turn every prayer moment into a public performance. It does not demand emotional displays. It asks permission, listens carefully, honors privacy, and remembers that the person is more than a diagnosis.
A healthy church may pray:
For physical healing.
For wisdom for doctors and caregivers.
For strength during treatment.
For peace in the waiting.
For emotional and spiritual support.
For practical help with daily needs.
For reconciliation and restored relationships.
For grace when the outcome is different from what everyone hoped.
Mark 16:17–18 includes signs associated with believers, including prayer for the sick. Whatever form prayer takes, the focus must remain on Jesus rather than on spectacle. Biblical ministry is not about impressing an audience. It is about loving people in the name of Christ.
The church should also remember that healing ministry includes presence. Sitting beside someone, preparing a meal, driving them to an appointment, listening without offering shallow answers, and continuing to pray months later are all expressions of Christlike care.
What Can You Do When You Are Waiting for Healing?
If you are waiting for healing, you do not have to choose between hope and honesty.
You can ask God for healing without hiding your fear. You can receive medical care without feeling condemned. You can pray again when you have prayed many times before. You can grieve what your body cannot currently do. You can accept help without believing you are weak.
You may also find it helpful to:
You can share a request through the Prayer Wall, where prayer becomes a shared expression of care rather than a burden carried alone.
You can also continue studying Scripture with others through the Bible Study Club.
What Does Divine Healing Teach Us About the Character of God?
Divine healing teaches us that God is compassionate, attentive, and powerful. It also teaches us that God cannot be reduced to our expectations.
The Lord is not distant from suffering. In Jesus, God entered human weakness, carried sorrow, endured pain, and conquered death. The cross shows us that God’s love is not theoretical. The resurrection shows us that suffering and death will not have the final word.
Psalm 103 calls us to remember God’s benefits. James calls us to pray. First Corinthians 12 reminds us that the Spirit still gives gifts. Romans 8 points us toward resurrection life. Together, these Scriptures form a theology that is hopeful without being careless and honest without becoming hopeless.
The Assemblies of God believes God heals. The church is called to pray. The sick must be treated with dignity. Medical care should be received wisely. Unanswered prayer should never become an excuse for blame. And through every season, Jesus remains near.
A Digital Altar Call for Healing, Hope, and New Life
Perhaps you are reading this with a physical diagnosis, an exhausted mind, or a heart that has grown tired of waiting. Perhaps you believe in Jesus but have never personally surrendered your life to Him.
You can turn toward Christ right now.
You do not need perfect words. You can simply pray:
“Jesus, I need You. Forgive my sins, receive my life, and teach me to trust You. Bring healing where You choose, give me strength for today, and help me follow You. Amen.”
This prayer is not a magic formula. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ, not in repeating a certain sentence. But a sincere turning of the heart toward Christ matters. He sees you, loves you, and invites you into new life.
How Can We Pray for You?
Father, thank You that You are compassionate toward the suffering and present with every person who is waiting for healing. Strengthen those who are sick, encourage caregivers, guide medical professionals, and give wisdom to families making difficult decisions. Help Your church pray with faith, serve with humility, and refuse every form of shame and blame. Where healing comes, receive the glory. Where waiting continues, provide daily grace. In every circumstance, make Your presence known through Jesus Christ. Amen.
If this article answered a question you have been carrying, visit www.boundlessonlinechurch.org/blog for more Scripture-centered teaching, prayer support, and Christian resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Assemblies of God believe God still heals today?
Yes. The Assemblies of God believes God still heals today and that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Believers are encouraged to pray in faith while trusting God’s wisdom and timing.
What is Fundamental Truth 12?
Fundamental Truth 12 teaches that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel, that deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement, and that healing is the privilege of all believers.
Does the Assemblies of God teach that sickness proves a person lacks faith?
No. The Assemblies of God does not teach that sickness automatically proves a lack of faith or that people who remain ill should be blamed. Christians are called to respond with prayer, compassion, wisdom, and practical care.
Can Christians use medicine and still believe in divine healing?
Yes. Prayer and medical care belong together. Christians may seek physicians, treatment, medication, counseling, rehabilitation, and other responsible forms of care while continuing to trust God as the ultimate source of life and healing.
What does James 5 teach about praying for the sick?
James 5 teaches that sick believers may call for the elders of the church to pray, anoint them with oil, and pray in faith. This practice expresses dependence on God and the loving support of the church community.
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