What Does the Assemblies of God Believe About Divine Healing?
- Boundless Team
- Mar 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Tier 2 – Seekers & Newcomers to Pentecostal Tradition
The Assemblies of God believes divine healing is an integral part of the gospel, a provision made through Christ's Atonement on the cross. Healing is available to all believers through faith-based prayer, and while God alone is the source of healing, believers may pursue medical treatment as a complement to faith.
Why This Matters to You
If you've ever wondered whether it's "okay" to pray for healing, or whether God still heals today, you're asking the right question. At First Assembly Memphis and Boundless Online Church, we believe healing isn't just a nice theological idea from 2,000 years ago. It's a present, active promise rooted in Scripture and available to every believer right here in the 901 and around the world.
FA Memphis Series: so we can make sure we know that these are being posted to Boundless Online Church (www.boundlessonlinechurch.org) Boundless Online Church is an online outreach ministry of FA Memphis Church, here in Cordova, TN.
The Biblical Foundation: Healing and the Atonement
Let's start with the bedrock. The Assemblies of God teaches that divine healing is part of the Atonement, meaning when Jesus died on the cross, He didn't just pay for our sins. He also made a way for physical healing.
This comes straight from Isaiah 53:5, which says, "By His wounds we are healed." The Apostle Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
Now, some people read that and think, "Okay, so if Jesus paid for my healing, why am I still sick?" Great question. We'll get to that in a second. But first, let's be crystal clear on what the AG position is: healing was provided for in the Atonement, and it's a privilege available to all believers.
This isn't fringe theology, it's part of the 16 Fundamental Truths that guide Assemblies of God churches worldwide, including right here at 8650 Walnut Grove Road in Memphis.
God Is the Source of All Healing
Here's where things get practical. The AG believes that God alone is the ultimate source of healing. Doctors, medicine, therapy, surgery, these are all tools God can use. But they're not the source. He is.
This means two things:
Think of it like this: if your car breaks down, you can pray for God's provision and call a mechanic. Both are valid. Both honor God. The key is remembering who's ultimately in control.
How Does Divine Healing Actually Work?
So let's talk logistics. How do you actually receive divine healing?
1. Faith-Based Prayer
James 5:14-16 gives us the blueprint:
"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 isn't a magic formula. It's a call to community, faith, and the power of Jesus' name. At First Assembly Memphis, our pastors and elders are ready to pray for you, whether you're here in person or connecting with us through Boundless Online Church.
2. The Gift of Healing
The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:9), and one of those gifts is the gift of healing. Some believers are particularly gifted in this area, not because they're "super Christians," but because the Spirit has equipped them to minister healing to others.
3. Corporate Prayer
There's something powerful about the church praying together. When the Body of Christ comes into agreement, whether in a Sunday service, a small group, or even over the phone, God moves.
If you're in Memphis and need prayer, you can reach out to us anytime. If you're tuning in from anywhere else in the world, Boundless Online Church is here for you, too.
The "Already and Not Yet" of Healing
Okay, here's the tension we all feel: Why doesn't everyone get healed?
The Assemblies of God acknowledges this honestly. Healing operates within God's sovereignty. Some people experience instant healing. Some heal gradually over time. And some, despite fervent prayer and deep faith, don't receive physical healing in this life.
That doesn't mean God failed. It means we live in the "already and not yet."
Already: Jesus defeated sin, death, and sickness at the cross.
Not yet: We still live in a fallen world, waiting for Christ's return when all things will be made new.
The Apostle Paul himself prayed three times for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed, and God said no (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Paul didn't lose his faith. He leaned deeper into God's grace.
This is the hopeful, realistic tension we hold. We pray with bold faith. We expect God to move. But we also trust His wisdom when the answer is "not yet."
Healing as a Sign of the Kingdom
Here's something beautiful: every healing, big or small, is a sign that God's Kingdom is breaking into our world.
When Jesus walked the earth, He healed the sick as proof that the Kingdom of God had arrived (Luke 11:20). Today, when someone is healed through prayer, it's a foretaste of the complete restoration we'll experience when Jesus returns.
Healing points to life. Healing points to hope. Healing points to Jesus.
And that's why we keep praying for it, not because we're entitled to perfect health, but because every miracle reminds us that God is real, present, and actively working in His people.
What This Means for You in Memphis (and Beyond)
If you're reading this from Memphis, Cordova, or anywhere in the 901, you're surrounded by a community that believes in the power of prayer and the reality of divine healing. We're not a "name it and claim it" church, but we're also not a "God doesn't do miracles anymore" church.
We're a church that prays in faith, trusts God's sovereignty, and walks alongside each other, whether the healing comes instantly, gradually, or in eternity.
If you're part of Boundless Online Church, the same is true for you. Distance doesn't limit God's power. Whether you're in Memphis or Mumbai, you're part of a global family that believes God still heals today.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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.)
If you're in Memphis:
Join us in person at 8650 Walnut Grove Road for Sunday services, and let us pray with you. You can also submit a prayer request anytime at famemphis.org/prayer.
If you're connecting online:
Head over to www.boundlessonlinechurch.org and submit a prayer request. Our team is ready to pray for you: no matter where you are in the world.
Healing isn't just theology. It's hope. And it's available to you today.
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