FTR 5

"Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray...and He laid His hands on them and departed from there" (Matt. 19:13,15).

Jesus also healed people through the laying on of hands.

Mark 6: 5 "He laid His hands on a few sick folk and healed them."

Luke 4:40 "When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them."

Evil spirits also departed from people when Jesus laid His hands on them.

The Bible records that a woman with a spirit of infirmity who could not raise herself up straight came to Him.

He said to her: "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight..." (Luke 13:11-13)

And Jesus also told His own disciples that they would "lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:18).

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We find this principle of the laying on of hands all the way back in the Old Testament.

Under the O.T. law, the priest laid his hands on the lamb that was to be sacrificed for the sins of the people.

This representatively transferred the sins of the people onto the innocent sacrifice.

It illustrates how our sins were placed on Christ.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

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Let's look at some OLD TESTAMENT examples of laying on of hands, and how this truth was developed over time:

First, Joshua’s ordination, where he took the place of Moses in leading God's people, was accompanied by the laying on of hands:

“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” (Deuteronomy 34:9).

We see here that Joshua had received "the spirit of wisdom" through the laying on of the hands of Moses!

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And Moses also imparted some of his own authority to Joshua by the laying on of hands:

“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; And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” (Numbers 27:18, 20).

So not only did Joshua receive a spirit of wisdom, but also a portion of Moses' authority through the laying on of hands!

So there was a TRANSFERENCE of spiritual power thru the laying on of hands!

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Then in the NEW TESTAMENT we see even more examples of the disciples of Jesus operating in the laying on of hands for various miracles:

As already stated, Jesus said that His disciples would "...lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).

We also see the infilling of the Holy Spirit poured out on others through the laying on of hands:

“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given...he offered them money” (Acts 8:18).

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Every time we find the Ordination of Ministers in the Bible, it was accompanied with the laying on of the hands of elders.

When the first seven deacons were appointed in the early church, the Bible records:

“Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them” (Acts 6:6).

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And never do we find ministers being sent out to the mission field without the laying on of hands:

“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” (Acts 13:2-3).

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Now, let's talk a moment about the SCRIPTURAL GUIDELINES surrounding the laying on of hands:

First, we must Use Discernment...

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

This is warning us not to lay hands on someone for ministry without first being certain they are spiritually clean and mature enough to handle it.

If they are ordained hastily and end up sinning, the church bears some of that responsibility.

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And just for the record, the church should never lay hands on a person because they like them, or because they are a big giver, or for any other carnal reason:

“I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone” (1 Timothy 5:21).

The last thing you want is someone commissioned into a ministry for which they have no divine call or gifting!

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Now, I want to close by saying that this ministry of the laying on of hands is FOR ALL BELIEVERS!

Every believer has been given authority to minister in Jesus’ name by the laying on of hands.

The laying on of hands does not require some "magical" touch from a special faith healer.

It operates on the principle of delegated authority.

Delegated authority simply means that I am representing someone else's authority, not my own.

I am doing something on behalf of, or in the place of someone who really does have authority, and has sent me to represent them.

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ILLUS: That little man in a striped suit on the football field called a referee can stop a 400 lb. halfback in his tracks by just blowing a whistle!

How? Because he represents the NFL, not himself.

And behind that whistle he blows in front of a charging 400 lb. halfback rests the full authority and power of the NFL.

That football halfback has the power to crush that referee.

But that referee has the authority to bind his power!

FACT: Authority is greater than power.

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Jesus said in Matt. 28:18 "All AUTHORITY has been given to Me in heaven and on earth..."

This is why Jesus taught us to cast out devils "IN HIS NAME," and to lay hands on the sick "IN HIS NAME."

We don't go in our own authority, for we have none.

We go as His representatives, sent BY Him to testify ABOUT Him!

The born again child of God goes forth in His name, under the authority of that name, commissioned by that name, and speaking on behalf of that name.

TESTIMONY: Altar call and demonized girl.

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One day Jesus sent out 70 men to preach.

The Bible records their report on returning from their journey:

"The seventy returned joyously, saying, "Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name" (Luke 10:17).

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Conversely, the Book of Acts tells us of 7 men called The sons of Sceva who had seen the miracles Paul was performing in Jesus name and decided to try it themselves.

They said to the evil spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!”

"....when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered." (Acts 19:13-16)

MORAL of the story: Don't try using the authority of a team you haven't joined!

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So likewise, the true child of God can "LAY HANDS" on a sick person, or a demonized person..."

And "in HIS name" bring HIS power to bear on that situation as HIS representative!

In summary, the laying on of hands is an often-overlooked but foundational biblical truth.

Among its proper biblical uses are:

• healing

• ordinations

• sending qualified, called people out in ministry

• receiving the baptism with the Holy Spirit

• imparting spiritual gifts

• imparting a blessing

LETS PRAY

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