Sermon Tone Analysis

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