C101: Lesson 9; The Laying on of Hands

The Laying on of Hands

Key Verse: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” 1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize the student with the meaning and purpose of “laying on of hands” as a source of impartation and blessing when released under the covering and operation of the local church.

The Spiritual Principle Behind the Doctrine of the Laying on of Hands

The Bible is filled with examples of how God uses things in the natural to symbolize spiritual realities when ministering to people (see 2 Corinthians 4:18 and Romans 1:20). Look at communion (Lord’s Supper) for instance: Jesus used wine to symbolize His blood and He used bread to symbolize His broken body. In another situation Samuel poured oil on David’s head to symbolize the anointing of God. In the same way, James gives instruction for the sick to be anointed with oil in the name of the Lord. The oil is a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit for healing. Baptism in water is a symbol of the new birth and the washing away of sin. In each of these cases, the natural agent has no power at all within itself. When God chooses a natural agent to symbolize His spiritual ministry in our lives, it is our faith and obedient response to God that releases His spiritual work in our lives through that agent. The ministry of the laying on of hands is one of the prescribed means through which God has chosen to impart spiritual gifts and blessings into our lives.

The laying on of hands is a foundational Christian DOCTRINE.

Hebrews 6:1-2 (NKJV) “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

The right hand of the Lord represents God’s POWER, His SALVATION, and His STRENGTH.

Exodus 15:6 (NKJV) “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.”

Psalm 20:6 (NKJV) “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.”

Isaiah 62:8 (NKJV) “The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength…”

The Significance of the Doctrine of the Laying on of Hands

In the Bible, men of God were directed by God to lay hands on people at special times for various reasons. Eight of these reasons are listed below. With each scripture consider the following three questions:

Who is the one laying on hands?

Upon whom are hands being laid?

What is the purpose?

IDENTIFICATION

Leviticus 4:22-24 (NKJV) “When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it at the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord. It is a sin offering.”

A RULER

A GOAT

SIN OFFERING

Leviticus 16:21-22 (NKJV) “Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”

AARON (HIGH PRIEST)

A LIVE GOAT

IMPART (TRANSFER) SINS

Numbers 8:9-11 (NKJV) “And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel. So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites; and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the Lord.”

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

THE LEVITES

REPRESENTATION

IMPART SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

THE ELDERSHIP

TIMOTHY

IMPART “THE GIFT”

2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV) “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

PAUL

TIMOTHY

THE GIFT OF GOD (IMPART)

Romans 1:11 (NKJV) “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—”

PAUL

ROMAN BELIEVERS

IMPART SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Deuteronomy 34:9 (NKJV) “Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

MOSES

JOSHUA

IMPART THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM

IMPART BLESSING

Leviticus 9:22 (NKJV) “Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings.”

AARON (LIFTING HANDS TOWARD THE PEOPLE)

PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

IMPART BLESSING

Genesis 48:14-20 (NKJV) “Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said: ‘God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.’ Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, ‘Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’ But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.’ So he blessed them that day, saying, ‘By you Israel will bless, saying, “May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!”‘ And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”

ISRAEL

EPHRAIM & MANASSEH

IMPART GENERATION BLESSING

Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV) “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”

JESUS

CHILDREN

IMPART BLESSING

IMPART HEALING

Luke 4:40 (NKJV) “When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.”

JESUS

SICK PEOPLE

TO HEAL THEM

Mark 5:22-23, 41-42 (NKJV) “And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.’ … Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.”

JESUS

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER

TO HEAL OR RESURRECT

Acts 28:8 (NKJV) “And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.”

PAUL

FATHER OF PUBLIUS

TO HEAL HIM

Mark 16:15-18 (NKJV) “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”

APOSTLES & BELIEVERS

THE SICK

RECOVERY (HEALING)

IMPART THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 8:14-18 (NKJV) “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,”

PETER & JOHN

SAMARITAN BELIEVERS

IMPART THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 9:17 (NKJV) “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’”

ANANIAS

SAUL (PAUL)

RECEIVE SIGHT / BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 19:1-7 (NKJV) “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.”

PAUL

DISCIPLES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

IMPART THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

APPOINT MINISTRIES

Acts 6:1-6 (NKJV) “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”

THE TWELVE APOSTLES

SEVEN DEACON CANDIDATES

DELEGATE AUTHORITY

INAUGURATE LEADERSHIP

Numbers 27:16-20 (NKJV) “‘Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.’ And the Lord said to Moses: ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.”

MOSES

JOSHUA

COMMISSION / DELEGATE

COMMISSION / ORDAIN MINISTERS

Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV) “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

PROPHETS & TEACHERS

BARNABAS & SAUL

TO SEPARATE (COMMISSION)

1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

ELDERSHIP

TIMOTHY

IMPART GIFTS

We must be careful to ordain leadership through the laying on of hands only under the direction of GOD to avoid sharing in the SINS of those we appoint, commission, and ordain.

1 Timothy 5:22 (NKJV) “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.”

It is normal to expect PROPHECY to accompany the laying on of hands in ordaining leaders.

1 Timothy 1:18 (NKJV) “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,”

1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

That thing which is committed to us through the laying on of hands is a STEWARDSHIP that must be kept with the help of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:14 (NKJV) “That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”

We are responsible to STIR UP the gift of God imparted to us and not let FEAR keep it suppressed.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV) “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

We must give attention to DEVELOP the gift that we have received.

1 Timothy 4:14-15 (NKJV) “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What gifts or prophetic words have you received through the laying on of hands?