Laying on of Hands

Operating in the Divine

Jesus tells us that with the arrival of the Holy Spirit we will do all the things He has done and more.

It is a marvel to see a church body that is not truly seeing the power of God moving but insists on living the way it has now for decades.

It would be enough if that were the only issue but when we see glimpses of divine power many flock to it without discerning if it is the Holy Spirit that is operating through His people or if it is an imposter who is using demonic power to persuade the people of God.

We must understand that we are called to be vessels of the Living God, and being these vessels we are to operate in His divine power.

In advancing towards maturity we come across this fourth elementary doctrine of Jesus Christ which is the laying on of hands.

It should be noted this is not our power, it is the power of the Living God, wisdom should be exercised in this work, and this power can only be given through the Holy Spirit.

The Laying on of Hands is the Authority and Power of the Kingdom of God Made Manifest.

Hebrews 6:1–3 ESV

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, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

We examine the doctrines of Jesus Christ, not religion, not man, the very things Jesus taught

The laying on of hands is not for the immature; it is for those who are being transformed by the Holy Spirit

Is the first of two divine actions in which the finite interacts with the infinite God.

Caution Before Engaging

Not a Game

Acts 19:11–20 ESV

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Paul operating in the HS

Diseases were healed

Oppressed were set free

Demons would flee

He was not present that how much anointing was coming from him

Itinerant Jewish Exorcist

Elsewhere noted by the disciples as casting out demons

They traveled from place to place in search of the divinities being performed

Their Lack of Relationship With Christ

they called on the name that Paul preached

They were in it for the wow factor

The Demon mastered them

it knew them

dominated them

beat them

caused them to leave broken, wounded, and ashamed.

Surfaced those who had been practicing the same and notes them as having been practicing MAGIC

Dont be Quick to Lay Hands

1 Timothy 5:21–23 ESV

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

Refers to the imposition of hands in general

Caution to not become participant in their sin

Symbolizes Participation

Numbers 8:9–10 ESV

And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,

Extending Hands and coming in agreement

Baptism asked to stand united, dedication a symbol of the unification

We commit to be participant in that action

Symbolizes the Giving of a Blessing

Genesis 48:14–16 ESV

And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

There is much to say about what Israel does in the crossing of hands

For now it is enough to see that with the laying on of hands he blesses

Symbolizes an Impartation

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

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, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

The work of commissioning another into service

I do not give giftings or callings these are given by the Lord my role is to affirm in the natural what the divine has already declared

This impartation is an act of agreement and alignment in your calling, and the commissioning into service

Symbolizes the Bestowal of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:14–17 ESV

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

Water baptism had occured

Sealed into the Body Because of the Holy Spirit

Laying on of hands for the infilling of the Holy Spirit which is our commission

For Healing

Mark 8:23–25 ESV

And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Yes Healing

Sometimes we say just pray for healing and thats enough

Seeing Jesus take someone lay hands on them and then the person is healed

These five are noted as functions of laying on of hands. They tell of how in this space we the human vessels truly operate in the divine.

It should be noted this is done through the Holy Spirit and not our own… As we grow into this work of divinity we must remember its not our… Freely we have received, freely we shall give.