Laying on of Hands

Hebrews 6:1-2 AMP  THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,  (2)  With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.]

•              How many of you are still in Elementary School? Of course not!
•             This doctrine or teaching is a fundamental.  You build on foundation, you don’t forget & leave it behind.

Used for Blessing  (With prophetic element)

Genesis 48:14-16 KJV  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.  (15)  And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,  (16)  The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

•             This is an Old Testament example of how the blessing was passed on.
•             Hands are important!

Impartation of Authority and Honor

Numbers 27:18-20 KJV  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;  (19)  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.  (20)  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

Deuteronomy 34:9 KJV  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Joshua had something after hands were laid on him that he didn’t have before!

• The spirit of wisdom was imparted by Moses laying hands on Joshua.
• Notice that he already had “the spirit.”
• You don’t get everything God has at once!

Acts 6:5-6 KJV  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:  (6)  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

• Not every instance of laying on of hands is for ordination into the ministry.
• Here Stephen was set apart for service in waiting on people in serving food.

 Transfer of Sins to Scapegoat

2 Chronicles 29:23 KJV  And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:

• Here and many places in Leviticus is an example of sins being “transferred” to the scapegoat . . .
• You don’t want just anyone putting their hands on you!
• 1 Timothy 5:22 KJV  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

 Jesus Imparts Blessing Through Prayer and Laying on of Hands

Matthew 19:13-15 KJV  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.  (14)  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.  (15)  And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

•  People recognized that there was something special about Jesus touching them.
• I want you to notice that in each of these examples from Scripture that someone in authority has done the laying on of hands.
• Whether it was a leader/prophet like Moses or a grandfather like Israel or as we shall see a group of church leaders

Hebrews 7:7 KJV  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

“The blessing here spoken of,” says Dr. Macknight, “is not the simple wishing of good to others, which may be done by inferiors to superiors; but it is the action of a person authorized to declare God’s intention to bestow good things on another. In this manner Isaac and Jacob blessed their children under a prophetic impulse; in this manner the priests under the law blessed the people; in this manner, likewise, Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God, blessed Abraham.”                                               Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

Faith Plays a Role in Receiving

Mark 6:5-6 KJV  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.  (6)  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

• Faith plays a major role in what you receive by laying on of hands.
• In this case Jesus Himself was the one doing the laying on of hands and unbelief kept the people from receiving!
• You can always teach the Word.  This is the only way to get the faith level up anyway.

 Healing is Ministered Through the Laying on of Hands

Luke 4:40 KJV  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Luke 13:11-13 KJV  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. . . . And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Mark 16:18 KJV  . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Baptism in the Holy Ghost Ministered Through the Laying on of Hands

Acts 8:15-19 KJV  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:  (16)  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  (17)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.  (18)  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,  (19)  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:5-6 KJV  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

• Not only did they speak with tongues, they also prophesied!
• When they Holy Ghost came on them.
• (They were already saved or they wouldn’t have been baptized)

Acts 13:2-3 KJV  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  (3)  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

It is remarkable that the imposition of hands in the ordaining of elders was not used among the ancient Jews, probably never under the first temple; and rarely, if ever, under the second. See Lightfoot on this place. The Church at Antioch, however, did depart from this custom: they put their hands on the heads of Barnabas and Saul; thus designating them to be the persons whom they, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, sent to preach the Gospel of Christ to the heathen.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

Not ordination to the ministry, but a solemn consecration to the great missionary task to which the Holy Spirit had called them. . . . Clearly Barnabas and Saul had to finance the tour themselves.

Archibald Thomas Robertson; WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Special Ministry Endowments Imparted

1 Timothy 4:14 KJV  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

1 Timothy 4:14 AMP  Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].

Gifts From God Were Imparted When Paul Laid His Hands On Timothy!

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6 AMP  That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

Inner Fire through the laying on of hands

• Paul imparted something to Timothy

Romans 1:11 KJV  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

Something supernatural takes place when hands are laid on you.

• Impartation may take place.
• Activation of gifts you may have already received.
• Healing
• The transfer of anointing
• Supernatural abilities.
• While we can receive a general blessing from any believer there is something special when someone with divine authorization does the laying on of hands.
• Sometimes spiritual authority may authorize someone temporarily, by direction of the Holy Spirit, to do the laying on of hands.
• Faith is always part of it.  Hunger and thirst are key roles as well.

Be ready to receive from God when hands are laid on you.

Make it a point of contact, that the moment hands are laid on me I will receive something from God.

Who is the Enemy?

When World War I broke out, the War Ministry in London dispatched a coded message to one of the British outposts in the inaccessible areas of Africa. The message read: “War declared. Arrest all enemy aliens in your district.”

The War Ministry received this prompt reply: “Have arrested ten Germans, six Belgians, four Frenchman, two Italians, three Austrians, and an American. Please advise immediately who we’re at war with.”^[1]

Paul tells us that we are not at war with flesh and blood but principalities, powers, etc.

Eph 6:12 KJV  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

• People are not our problem. We have to live as seeing the unseen realm.
• The marriage is the target. (In counseling, the marriage, not individuals, is the client)
• Please advise immediately who we’re at war with. The devil is the enemy.
• If we realize this we won’t turn on each other, together we will turn on the devil!

Jesus had some interesting things to say about how to treat your enemies:

Matthew 5:44 KJV

“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

Jesus’ example at Calvary

Jesus’ enemies:

1. Cursed him.

2. Hated him.

3. Insulted, slandered, and falsely accused him.

And how did Jesus repay this treatment?

1. He loved them.

2. He blessed them.

3. He did good to them.

4. He prayed for them.

We are to treat all people the same way as our enemies; that includes friends, strangers, politicians, bosses, co-workers . . . and spouses.

Will this really work?

We were God’s enemies.  He treated us this way.  And now (assuming you are a Christian) you and I have become His friends.

The strategy, again, has these four elements:

1. Love them.

2. Bless them.

3. Do good to them.

4. Pray for them.

“Unforgiveness is holding someone accountable for a past offense.”

“Forgiveness means that we give the offender a gift which he does not deserve.”

Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Ro 12:20 | To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Jas 3:2 KJV  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Saved By His “Worse Enemy”

During the Revolutionary War there lived in Pennsylvania a pastor by the name of Peter Miller. Although Miller was greatly loved by everyone in the community, there was one man who lived near the church who hated him and had earned an unenviable reputation for his abuse of the minister. This man was not only a hater of the church, but it also turned out that he was a traitor to his country, and was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.

The trial was conducted in Philadelphia, and no sooner did Miller hear of it than he set out on foot to visit General Washington and interceded for the man’s life. But Washington told him, “I’m sorry that I cannot grant your request for your friend.”

“Friend!” Miller cried. “Why, that man is the worst enemy I have in the world!”

“What?” the general exclaimed in surprise. “Have you walked sixty miles to save the life of an enemy? That, in my judgment, puts the matter in a different light. I will grant him a pardon for your sake.”

The pardon was made out and signed by General Washington, and Miller proceeded at once on foot to a place fifteen miles distant where the execution was scheduled to take place that afternoon. He arrived just as the man was being carried to the scaffold, and when he saw Miller hurrying toward the place, remarked, “There is old Peter Miller. He has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today by seeing me hung.” But scarcely had he spoken the words when Miller pushed his way through to the condemned man and handed him the pardon that saved his life. —Bible School Journal^[2]

Luke 6:27-36 NASB  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  (28)  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  (29)  “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.  (30)  “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.  (31)  “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.  (32)  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  (33)  “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  (34)  “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.  (35)  “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.  (36)  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

God Directed Faith 3

• Is our faith directed towards God’s ends or our own? Kingdom first . . .
• “Pray about what you pray about before you pray.”
• Am I in any way limiting what God would do for me for fear of what someone else will think of me being so blessed? (With persecutions, blessed are you . . .)
• Who or what is directing your faith? Circumstances? Lack?
• There is a difference between faith and fantasy.
• When is enough, enough? At what point does saving become hoarding? (Where your treasure is . . .) Faith works by love. Love is opposite of selfishness.

One under Authority

Mat 8:8-10 KJV  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  (9)  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  (10)  When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

• We tend to think that we can operate as we desire . . . (unanswered prayers!)
• Sometimes it appears that Jesus operated at will, but remember He said that He didn’t do anything He didn’t see the Father do. He did not speak on His own initiative.
• Faith is meant to operate under authority.
• A revelation of authority caused the Centurion’s faith to operate at a high level.
• “Speak the word only” was what the centurion said to Jesus not vice versa!

Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit speaks on their own initiative.

If anyone could, you would figure it would be them.

Joh 16:13 KJV  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Understanding Authority

Lordship:  I understand the authority of the believer, but it is delegated authority. It operates under the direction of God.

You may raise one from the dead but you won’t raise everyone from the dead. We need to stay under authority and not presume that we can continue to do something just because we did it before.

• At times people of faith move by presumption rather than faith.
• IF nothing else, the actions that faith takes need to be directed.

Mat 8:13 KJV  And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

1Co 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  (13)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

• We speak the wisdom of God (rev. of what we’ve been freely given – grace)
• God revealed this wisdom to us by His Spirit (can’t remove the Presence . . .)
• The Spirit we have received gives knowledge of what God has freely given to us.
• Php 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Unauthorized activity is not looked upon kindly in Scripture . . .

Mat 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Lev 10:2  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

There are things that are obviously God’s will in Scripture: salvation, healing, prosperity, and the like, but we should let Him lead us in how to minister to others and pursue Him.

Gill: . . . (strange fire)

without any instruction and direction they rushed into the holy place with their censers, and offered incense, both of them, when only one priest was to offer at a time,

when a man performs religious duties, prays to God, or praises him without being engaged, or obeys commands not from love, but selfish views;

Mat 6:8 –  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Joh 15:7 –  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Mat 21:22 –  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Joh 14:13-14 –  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  (14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Joh 15:16 –  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Joh 16:23-24 –  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.  (24)  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

1Jn 3:22 –  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1Jn 5:14-15 –  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  (15)  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Eph 3:20 KJV  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,