Wayne's World...(30Sep09)

"Laying on of hands"

Wayne Duncan 

Laying hands on people and praying with faith for a transference and impartation of power and presence is a part of the normal Christian experience.

Hebrews Chapter 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 

Here the laying on of hands is listed among the elementary doctrines. It's part of the primary school concepts of Christianity, and an essential ingredient in order to move onto maturity. If we want to be well schooled in ministry, we have to graduate to fuller understanding in this area.  

For the receiving of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

They had heard the Gospel, and believed it, but had not yet received the promised Holy Spirit. By the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit was received. 

There is no age limit.

Matthew 19:13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Jesus showed that the laying on of hands is also for children. There is no junior Holy Spirit, only one Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Children, I want you to know that you have the power of God in you, just like Jesus did. You can heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and encounter God in powerful ways if you believe in Jesus.

The children were brought to Jesus, so he could lay His hands on them. Jesus not only endorsed this act, but taught us that we can learn from these little ones.

Simple acceptance and faith in totally part of the laying on of hands. There is as aspect of humility in receiving ministry from others. Children simply come to receive. We should also have a simple faith that says "I want to receive".

The Holy Spirit is for everyone.

Acts 2:15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.(That is, 9 A.M.)  16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

There is a blessing.

Mark 10:16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

When hands are laid on you, you are imparted a blessing.

There is healing.

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Here we see healing by the laying on of hands.

Please see the promise here. These signs will accompany those who believe! This is the only qualification. If you believe in Jesus you can do this!

There is power

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you

It was extra ordinary.

Acts 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, 19saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit

Something very profound was released over the believers through the laying on of hands, why did Simon want this ability? First look at what Simon already had, and what he already could do.

9But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great." 11And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic

What the apostles were seeing through the laying of hand s was more that what Simon had, more than what he could already do. Simon wanted to buy this ability in order to mkae4 money.

Look at what Simon's inferior ministry could produce:

Magical results.

Amaze all the people.

All paid attention, smallest to greatest.

Had great power.

Has great reputation in the City.

People paid attention.

All were amazed at the constant results.

Now the apostles through the laying on of hands were producing a superior ministry of signs and wonders and power. Simon was so blown away he wanted what the apostles had, for it was superior.

That same ministry is now every believer's inheritance. We can release and receive it freely. 

Releases gifts.

II Timothy 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  

Many various kinds of gifts can be imparted and received.

There must be an expectant faith.

I Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands

There must be an expectation, a faith that something will happen. There is a holy and supernatural element to the laying on of hands.

We need to engage our receptors, and realise that we are receiving through a mere person, but from God himself through that person. If a person has no desire for God, and no expectation to receive, no desire to receive, then laying on of hands would be wasted. Don't be hasty with people like this.

The laying on of hands is a sacred, special gift to believers. Let's pray often, receive often, and enjoy every benefit this powerful ministry has to offer.

To deny yourself or a community this elementary experience, on a regular basis would be to deny a great source of power and joy.