My pastor says we are already healed, don't need prayer?

Question

I go to an assembly of God church. Recently I've been questioning some of my pastor's teaching. He teaches that we were already healed at the cross. He will not hold prayer services and will not pray for sick people. If someone sick from the congregation asks for prayer, he annnoints them with oil, and says, "Be healed in Jesus name." Then they are supposed to say back, "I accept my healing in Jesus name." (My pastor won't even see a doctor because he says he is already healed by Jesus).
I've been born again for 5 years, and I am just confused by this. I used to go to a Methodist church, and we were taught that prayer releases God's power to heal us. My old pastor held Wednesday night prayer services where we would lay hands on each other and pray for their healing. I've also read books by Dutch Sheets with similar beliefs about prayer releasing the power of God.
What do you think? Are we already healed so we don't need prayer or are we supposed to pray for each other to be healed?

Answer 1

I am also an Assemblies of God Pastor and I am telling you your Pastor is wrong!!!!!!
He is correct in that Jesus paid for our healing when HE took those stripes upon His back, but we still need to pray for healing because God wants us to express our needs and desires to Him. Yes the Bible teaches that we are already healed but we still need to lay hands on and ask for that healing.
That is like saying that if someone is looking at my Bible and I want it back all I have to do is reach out and take it from them. We need to ask even though we already own it.
Since the Assemblies believes in "healing by the laying on of hands" I suggest your Pastor revisit his studies and revise his thinking.
Pastor Bill

Answer 2

Unfortunately the Assemblies of God church can get caught up in this junk from time to time.

If prayer is so unimportant, why did Jesus himself spend so much of his time praying? After Jesus died and rose again and accended into heaven, the church founders gathered together and prayed together.

I have been in this experience before (the Holy Ghost church, slain in the spirit, etc. ) Haven't heard the part where prayer is not needed, but am not surprised.

I would first grab a friend and confront the pastor, get his side of the story. The Assemblies of God has a 16 tenants of faith to adhere to and a good governing body. You can take this issue to the District superintendant. He can weigh in, but cannot tell individual churches what to do. Certainly talk to your board members about your concern.

From my own experience, I actually had to leave the church and find another. It ended up being the best thing for my family, but was a hard decision at the time.

God bless you, I know this is tough. I will be praying for you.

Answer 3

Prayer is an act of faith. If you don't need to pray, then where is the act? If you are already healed, then why are there ailments such as cancer. Cancer sufferers are not only non-believers. The human body is fragile and can be affected many ways. I have seen people be healed (over time, not in an instant), so I know it can happen against odds. Doctors are there for a reason. If God didn't want people to see doctors, there wouldn't be any.

And just because you pray for someone and they aren't healed doesn't mean God didn't hear your prayer. He has a reason for that, but you may not know what it is until after you die. Things will be explained.

Answer 4

From a biblical standpoint, God is the great physician. Yet, God helps those who help themselves. You are put in "charge" of your body therefore you are expected to take care of it.
Though God has the ability to heal at any time and he did send Jesus to take the sin away and the pain . . you do have to pray when the time comes. You have to be willing to admitt that your body is afflicted and know and have faith that Jesus can heal you.

You also have to go to the doctor. My Pastor's daughter is a doctor . . .she prays over the medicine that she gives people. :)

Your pastor is in denial if he will never go to the doctor, things may go away in time, he might be healed but there can be an underlying problem like diabetes or hypertension that needs a lifestyle change.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I think your pastor needs to brush up on James Chapter 5 and see that we do indeed "lay hands on the sick" as the Scripture says. He is right in saying that our healing comes from the Cross through His stripes, but we must pray and seek God's face through a SHOW OF FAITH (laying on of hands in this case) in order to receive our healing!

Answer 6

Doctors and medicine are God's tools for healing people. Prayer also is another tool. But sometimes people need BOTH, not just prayer.

My great grandmother had a diabetic daughter who was 15 years old when she died from it. My great grandmother had refused to take her to the doctor but only prayed instead. The daughter died, and my great grandmother was so upset that she gave up religion as being fake, and went out and adopted a diabetic child (male) from an orphanage, and this was my grandfather. She made sure that she took him to the doctor and got his medicine, and he lived.

There is a story about a man who was stranded on a desert island, and prayed to God to rescue him. After a while, along came a ship, but the man kept praying and praying for God to rescue him. Then after another while, along came a helicopter, but the man kept praying for God to come and rescue him. Finally, God got angry and told the man, "What do you think I sent the ship and the helicopter for!"

The purpose of every person on earth is to help others and bring about the manifestation of God's energy and love in plain sight where everyone can see it. That is the real purpose behind the medical profession, to heal people, their knowledge was God-given, they didn't make it up themselves. They are tools in the hands of God, for bringing about God's healing on this earth.

Prayer can release the power of God's healing, yes. It lets God know that a person WANTS to be healed (we still have free will), and then the tools for healing will be given, such as going to a doctor who has the medicine we need. All of this is God's healing power, the prayer AND the tools.

To throw away the tools is stupid, and it's pure EGO on the part of any pastor or teacher who says that all we need is the prayer part of it. Who is he to say such a thing anyway?! He is nothing but a human being, and has no more special connection to God than anyone else does, including you.

Answer 7

I can only speak as a Catholic. Prayers are very important. It gives you inner peace and strength. In the New Testament Jesus taught us how, when and where to pray so why would he teach us this if we're not suppose to pray? Yes when you ask God for something you have to believe it's already been granted but it doesn't mean you have to stop giving God thanks for all the grace he's given you and will give you.

Answer 8

Prayer is our direct line to God. He is the only healer. He even lets us know in the Bible that we he answers prayers. To ask for forgiveness and we will be forgiven. I am not in agreement with the things your preacher has told you. God gives people the gift of education to work for the good of man, yes some people abuse their education and make things that should not be done (cloning). My Grandma used to say: Just because we ask God to protect us doesn't mean we need to go play in a busy street! God gave us common sense to use. It sounds like your preacher forgot that.

Answer 9

It sounds like a you are attending a Cult rather than a church IMHO. Is it possible that the pastors own views are being expressed in place of the correct views of the church ?

If you are ill you really should go to a Dr (by doing so you are helping yourself);

The only point that is almost valid is one he has hit upon by accident which is simply that the majority of answers lie within you - it is simply a matter of accessing, and using that knowledge.

Answer 10

As a former born again, I am thinking you won't have to worry too much about your pastor's teachings for long, assuming he sticks to his plan not to see a doctor.

If he does get ill, it will be interesting to see if he decides that God changed his mind and wants people to seek medical advise, it is amazing how a life threatening event can effect belief.

I wonder if he and fireball feel responsible for providing advise that can kill people?