The principles of the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ are foundational principles of the believer. Sadly, most "Christians" couldn't give two plain Scriptures teaching each of these six principles. Then they will have the audacity to blame God or the devil for their lack of holiness. Instead of fully grasping these principles and moving forward Christian perfection, they will try to learn everything but the truth of these principles. Very rarely are these principles touched on, much less taught by plain Scriptures on the subject, in modern day "Churchianity."

The church today has taught so little on the laying on of hands that some Christians believe it was only a practice of the apostles and is not for today. Let me assure you that the laying on of hands is an important principle like our knowledge of repentance, faith, baptism, resurrection, and eternal judgment. Paul lists them all as foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ.

Of course repentance and faith are the most important doctrines in the foundation of a Christian's belief. The others are similarly important. The church today has many "Christians" in it that have a shaky foundation, because they only understand a few of the foundational doctrines. Some believers don't even know about the laying on of hands! Even among Spirit-baptized Christians where the laying on of hands is Scripturally practiced, very few teach about it.

THREE WRONGS

It truly is a sad thing when someone has been sitting on a church pew for 40-years and still doesn't understand water baptism, much less the laying on of hands. This leads me to believe that one of three things is happening with the doctrine of laying on of hands:

1. It is not being taught or even mentioned
2. People do not care to understand this doctrine
3. Ministers tell their congregation that it is not for today

WHAT IS THE LAYING ON OF HANDS?

As I have already explained, the laying on of hands is a foundational principle in a believer's life. It is a way of transmitting the power of God, healing, deliverance, and blessings. During the Old Testament times, the laying on of hands was used for the blessing of children, kind of like a symbol of a passing-down of a mantle, or a gift.

Leviticus 4:14-15
14   When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
15   And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.

The elders were to lay hands on the head of this sacrificial bullock before it was killed. This was symbolic of a transference of the sins of the congregation to the animal. The bullock was slain for their sins. This particular sacrifice was for sins committed because of ignorance of God's will.

In this case, the laying on of hands was for a blessing of the congregation, and a curse for the bullock. So, the laying on of hands can cause a transference of blessings or curses. This is why you should not let just anyone pray for you through the laying on of hands. There are many devil-possessed and sin ruled ministers in the church today (2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:10-22). Such ministers should be avoided like the plague (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Timothy 3:5), and you shouldn't dare let them lay hands on you.

People have had hands laid on them and have "fallen under the power of God." After about ten-minutes they "came to" and saw that the person who prayed for them was someone they knew who had just been released from an mental ward (a place they put people with devils of insanity and the like).

The person who received prayer from this mental patient later complained of attacks on her mind. Thoughts came to her that were not of God. This person experienced a transference of an evil spirit through the laying on of hands. This is an extreme case, and fortunately, doesn't happen regularly. It only happens if you open yourself up to demonic forces by sin and a failure to walk in the Spirit. If that woman would have been in a attitude of prayer full of the Spirit and the word she wouldn't have received a devil, because only a backslider can receive a devil (Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26; James 4:7. See Can a Christian be devil-possessed?).

A believer cannot receive an evil spirit from the laying on of hands if they are filled with the Holy Spirit, full of the word of God, and full of faith. No spirit can enter you against your will. So, if you give the devil a way into your life through sin, you are opening yourself to the devil's attack and potential devil possession.

The devil will attempt to make a counterfeit of everything God does. Satan doesn't want people to believe in God's power, so he tries to cause unbelief through counterfeit miracles and wonders (Exodus 7:10-12, 19-22; 8:5-7; Matthew 24:24; Mark 18:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Although the cults may have people be healed and miracles occur, they always have a string attached. It's like the devil will take the cancer he put on someone, only to replace it with mental problems. You will always be bound by Satan if you partake of counterfeit miracles.

Numbers 8:9-10, 14
9   And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:
10   And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
14   Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.

The children of Israel were to lay hands on the Levites for a prayer of consecration. The Levites were being separated unto God. They would not partake of the things other people would. God chose them as the ones from which the ministers of the Lord should come from.

This group laying on of hands shows us that the laying on of hands is important in the ordination of a called minister of the Lord. All ministers should have a mentor who can impart spiritual gifts or other blessings through the laying on of hands (Romans 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). A prayer of dedication unto the Lord should be accompanied with the laying on of hands from fellow believers.

The Lord uses the laying on of hands as a point of contact between Himself and His children. The laying on of hands stimulates the anointing on the inside of us. The same way you would pat a friend on the back for emotional encouragement, the laying on of hands accompanied with the prayer of faith will provide spiritual encouragement.

AN IMPARTATION BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

Numbers 27:18
18   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;

Numbers 27:23
23   And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Moses laid hands on Joshua in obedience to the Lord. Joshua was being set apart through the laying on of hands as the leader of Israel. Now let's look at the results of Moses' laying on of hands:

Deuteronomy 34:9
9   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 received the filling of the Spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 12:8). This filling of the Holy Spirit in Joshua's life enabled him to lead Israel out of the wilderness into the promised land (Joshua 3:7-17). The Holy Spirit gave him wisdom in his daily life. This wisdom could be seen in everything he did for he was a mighty leader of Israel.

Some of you may be wondering why Joshua did not speak in tongues when he received the Holy Spirit. This is simple. Joshua was under the Old Covenant. Speaking in tongues is a gift for all born-again believers in the New Covenant, and generally accompanies the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is why John the Baptist, Elizabeth and others were filled with the Spirit did not speak in tongues. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is strictly a New Testament gift. While men were filled with the Spirit in the Old Testament, they were never baptized in the Holy Spirit. Tongues was not an established spiritual gift until Jesus was resurrected from the dead and poured out the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, for He was not yet glorified (John 7:39).

JESUS PRACTICED THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

Mark 5:22-23
22   And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.
23   And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

The Scriptures go on to say:

Mark 5:38-42
38   And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39   And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40   And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41   And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42   And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, made a profession of Jesus' will to heal. He asked Jesus to lay hands on his daughter so she would be healed. Jesus agreed to go to Jairus' house. When He got there, the girl was already dead. Jesus spoke the end result and said, "she's not dead." He grabbed her hand and commanded her to rise. She was healed and resurrected from the dead instantly by the Lord through the laying on of hands!

Jesus didn't lay hands on her head or shoulders like many people today do. He simply grabbed her hand. This is still the laying on of hands, and it produces results if done in faith.

PRACTICING THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

I remember a time when I received a phone call early in the morning. I answered the phone to find a distant brother in Christ telling me of his uncle's heart trouble. This brother asked me to go to the hospital where his uncle was so we could pray the prayer of faith.

The doctors had given up on his uncle. They told the family that there was nothing more that medical science could do for him. So, the doctor said that it was in God's hands.

I went with my friend into his uncle's hospital room, and the family was gathered around while I grabbed his hand and prayed the prayer of faith. Thinking nothing more of it, we left the hospital. I knew that my friend's uncle was healed when I prayed, even though he was still in the bed. I knew by faith that man was healed! Yet, I had fasted from the moment I heard of the man's problem, and sought the Lord for the proper faith to cast that devil of infirmity out of that man's body (Matthew 17:20-21).

A few days later my friend informed me how his uncle miraculously recovered was now at home functioning 100%. The laying on of hands in faith works!

I also found out that one of the people in the uncle's hospital room was an atheist. Although he bowed his head when I prayed, he thought it was just a waste of time. He had told someone else that "If medical science couldn't do it, then God can't either!" So, through the laying on of hands someone was healed, and an atheist saw the power of God. The laying on of hands will produce results when done in faith!

It is sad that fools (atheists, Psalm 14:1; 53:1) see so little of the power of God in supposed Christians around them, that it gives them a supposed excuse to ignorantly deny the obvious truth that there is a God! The family members of the atheist were all supposedly Christians, but were not any more Christ-like than the devil. When will the church wake up out of the bed it has made in compromise, and truly "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17; Revelation 18:4)?!

IMPARTING BLESSINGS

Matthew 19:13-15
13   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 depart thence.

Little children were brought to Jesus so that Jesus could lay hands on them and pray. Jesus was asked to pray a prayer of blessing and to lay hands on these children. The disciples started to rebuke people for doing this, but Jesus wanted to lay his hands on these children. He laid His hands on them in blessing and went on His way.

JESUS HEALED THE SICK

Luke 4:40-41
40   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.
41   And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Through the laying on of hands, Jesus healed all the sick and diseased that came to Him. He even cast out devils through the laying on of hands and the spoken word. Many times the casting out of devils and healing of sickness and disease go together. People can be sick because they are devil-possessed. When the devil is cast out, the sickness leaves too.

We have seen that even Jesus practiced the laying on of hands. The main reasons that Jesus laid hands on people was to:

1. Heal the sick
2. Cast out demons
3. For blessings

The apostles and the first church regularly practiced the laying on of hands. They laid hands on people for healing, Holy Ghost baptism, deliverance, and spiritual gifts. These reasons make the laying on of hands very important.

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

Paul was exhorting Timothy to use the gift that was in him. The prophecy came to Timothy, by the elders, when they laid hands on him. Spiritual gifts were imparted into Timothy. The elders' laying on of hands and prophecy established that gift in his being.

Paul wrote Timothy again reminding him of his gift. Paul exhorted Timothy to stir up the gift of God. Timothy was obviously not using his gift to the best of his ability. This neglect caused Paul to write this Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:6
6   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.

Paul was telling Timothy to use the gift that God had given to him by Paul, through the laying on of hands. We as believers need to have spiritual gifts given to us through the laying on of hands. If we already have spiritual gifts, then we need to stir them up. Stir up the supernatural gift of God that dwells in you!

Acts 13:2-3
2   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,

Through the laying on of hands, ministers can be commissioned. They can also be stirred up in the gift that the Lord has already given them. Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were called of God to be separated ones. This separation process was completed by the laying on of hands for the commissioning of Barnabas and Paul.

The laying on of hands should be used as a means of conferring blessing upon an individual before they minister. It is a way the believer can link his anointing. So, the laying on of hands can produce a better unity in the body, and a stronger anointing.

BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT

Laying on of hands is often the way many believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit. I personally received the baptism in the Spirit by faith through private prayer, but the laying on of hands is a Scriptural way to receive. Many evangelists will attest to the fact that the laying on of hands produces results if done in faith.

In a Bible study I attended, the woman with whom another woman and I were studying wanted to receive the Holy Ghost with the biblical evidence of speaking with other tongues. So, we prayed for her. Then I laid hands on her head and she fell to the ground.

I told her she must get back up, and we then picked her back up off the floor, and I laid hands on her again. Within minutes she had received her gift of tongues! She was praising God in other tongues, because of the laying on of hands in faith. This all happened in this woman's kitchen, because God will baptize you with His Spirit anytime, anywhere!

Paul the Apostle had an interesting experience while he was in Ephesus. He met twelve believers, who had not received the Holy Ghost baptism. They were born-again, but they didn't have the power of the Holy Ghost. So, Paul asked these believers a few questions and found out they were John the Baptist's converts. Let's pick up the story with that:

Acts 19:4-6
4   Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5   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.

Paul laid his hands on these believers and they received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with tongues. These newly Spirit-baptized believers also started operating in the gift of prophecy! Paul didn't tell them to go read all the Scriptures on the baptism in the Spirit. He just laid his hands on them in faith, believing for them to be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

There was a time when Philip went to Samaria and preached God's word. Many people believed on the Lord Jesus because they saw the signs and wonders done by Philip's hands. Most likely Philip was laying hands on the sick, and praying the prayer of faith.

The apostles were in Jerusalem and heard that the citizens of Samaria had received the word of God. So, they sent Peter and John to Samaria, so that the Samaritans would receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:15-17
15   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.

Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritans and they received the Holy Ghost. This ministry of laying on of hands is for all believers. God didn't give only Peter and John the power to lay hands to heal the sick, raise the dead, or for others to receive the Holy Spirit. The ministry of the laying on of hands is a ministry for all born-again believers.

LAYING HANDS ON THE SICK

Healing is a central part of the gospel. The forgiveness of sin and healing go together (Isaiah 53:4-5; Psalms 103:3; 1 Peter 2:24). Sickness and disease came into the world because of sin. When a believer is washed in Jesus' blood, they have no more sin and are free from sin's curse. One of the curses of sin is sickness and disease.

Through the laying on of hands, the Lord has given us a means to restore health to all. Yes, the Lord has promised to heal all believers who come to Him in faith. Many people are trying the Lord, instead of trusting the Lord. You must truly believe in your heart that He will heal you, and He will do it. That's why the Lord said that believers would heal the sick.

Signs Should Follow Believers!

Mark 16:17-18
17   And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18   They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The signs that will follow all true believers in Christ are:

1. Casting out devils in Jesus' name (not only out of people, but out of circumstances)
2. They shall speak in tongues (praying in their heavenly language)
3. They shall take up serpents (immunity from accidental animal attacks)
4. Deadly things will not harm us (protection from physical harm)
5. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover (the word shall means "will have to")

So, we as believers can lay hands on the sick and know in faith that they are healed. Jesus wants all people to benefit from His suffering on the cross. The laying on of hands for healing is one of these benefits.

Special Miracles

Acts 19:11-12
11   And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12   So that from his body were brought unto the sick handker-chiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Paul had such an understanding of the anointing that special miracles occurred at his hands. The miracles were not special in the sense that Paul was the only one that could perform them. They were special in the sense that Paul was the only one performing them. Of course any believer could have these miracles occur in their ministry, because God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34; Colossians 3:25; Ephesians 6:9; 2 Samuel 14:14; 2 Chronicles 19:7).

Acts 28:7-9
7   In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8   And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9   So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

Paul laid his hands on Publius' father and he was healed. This healing started a mighty "healing revival" in which everyone on this island was healed. God has called all Christians to have this same Holy Ghost boldness (Proverbs 28:1; Acts 1:8) that Paul had in laying hands on the sick. Healing will manifest if we truly believe that those we lay hands on will be healed.

James 5:14-15
14   Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15   And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Anointing a believer with oil requires the laying on of hands. In this verse, the anointing with oil is symbolic of the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Mark 6:13), and produces like results. The repentant sick who call upon the elders and have prayer offered in faith for them will be healed. God will heal everyone who asks in faith.

Conclusion

The laying on of hands is a fundamental doctrine in our Christian faith. Without a good understanding of it, we cannot go on to perfection. God has established the laying on of hands as a means of transferring His anointing.

The anointing in a believer is stirred up when hands are laid in faith. This Holy anointing will heal, restore, deliver, and prosper. Even sinners can be healed through the laying on of hands, and it generally leads them to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Next time you see someone who is sick, saint or sinner, ask them if you can lay hands on them and pray the prayer of faith (as the Holy Ghost leads you). You will be surprised to find that most people will let you. Miracles, signs, and wonders will occur if Christians start operating in faith and in the Holy Ghost.

We need to have our spiritual gifts stirred up within us, and move into a greater anointing through the laying on of hands. This practice is very common among Pentecostals and Charismatics, but not practiced at all in most mainline denominations. This lack of laying on of hands has produced spiritual impotence, and most of these denominations have suffered numerically because of it (Praise God for that!).

Christians need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in our midst. If the Spirit tells you to lay hands on somebody, do it. Don't worry about the opinions of the world, and the opinions of worldly professed "Christians." Stand on God's word and lay hands on the sick so they can be healed.

People may fight you on it, but remember that God's word is the final word. If they don't like it, they can take it up with God. As for me, I choose to be Scriptural in all of my activities, so I generally accompany all one-on-one prayer through the laying on of hands. If it was practiced by Jesus, then we should practice it with similar results. Whenever you lay hands on someone in faith, whatever you are praying for according to the word will happen! Hallelujah!

You can get ICQ at www.icq.com and ICQ me at ICQ #29231018! If you do not have ICQ but would like to initiate a chat with me then click here!

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