The Power and Purpose of Laying on Hands

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Gifts Through the Laying on of Hands

The laying on of hands is a profound biblical practice that symbolizes the impartation of blessing, authority, and healing. This act serves as a reminder that these gifts are not products of human effort or will but are divine gifts from God. In both the Old and New Testaments, this practice is seen as a conduit for God's grace and power. It is a tangible expression of faith, where believers acknowledge that true spiritual gifts and authority come from God alone. This practice challenges us to recognize the divine source of all blessings and to approach God with humility and gratitude. [07:26]

Numbers 27:18-20 (ESV): "So the Lord said to Moses, 'Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.'"

Reflection: Consider a time when you received a blessing or gift that you knew was from God. How can you express gratitude for that gift today, and how might you use it to bless others?

Day 2: Recognizing and Affirming God’s Calling

In both the Old and New Testaments, the laying on of hands serves to publicly recognize and affirm God’s calling and equipping of individuals for specific roles within the community. This act underscores the importance of divine authority in ministry, reminding us that our ability to serve comes from God. It is a public acknowledgment of God's work in an individual's life, affirming their calling and equipping for ministry. This practice encourages believers to seek God's guidance and confirmation in their roles and responsibilities, ensuring that they act under His direction and authority. [13:54]

1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV): "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you."

Reflection: Reflect on your current role or responsibility within your community or church. How can you seek God's guidance and confirmation in this role, and what steps can you take to ensure you are acting under His authority?

Day 3: Faith and Obedience in Healing

The practice of laying on hands for healing, as instructed in Mark 16, is an act of faith and obedience. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty in healing and encourages believers to trust in His will and timing. This practice is a demonstration of faith, where believers act in obedience to God's command, trusting that He has the power to heal according to His will. It challenges us to step out in faith, believing in God's ability to heal and restore, while also submitting to His perfect timing and plan. [24:08]

James 5:14-15 (ESV): "Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is in need of healing. How can you step out in faith today to pray for them, trusting in God's power and timing?

Day 4: The Principle of Giving

The principle of giving is central to the laying on of hands. We are called to be givers, imparting blessings, wisdom, and encouragement to others, reflecting the abundant grace we have received from God. This practice challenges us to consider what we have received from God and how we can impart that to others. It encourages believers to be conduits of God's grace, freely giving as they have freely received, and to actively seek opportunities to bless and encourage those around them. [46:03]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: Reflect on the blessings and gifts you have received from God. How can you actively seek opportunities to share these blessings with others today?

Day 5: True Spiritual Authority

Spiritual authority and blessing cannot be manufactured or bought; they are gifts from God. We must be careful not to misuse or impersonate divine authority, as true power and blessing come only from God’s will and direction. This principle serves as a caution against the misuse of spiritual authority, reminding believers that true power and blessing are gifts from God. It encourages humility and reverence, recognizing that all authority comes from God and must be exercised in accordance with His will and purpose. [33:30]

Acts 8:18-20 (ESV): "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' But Peter said to him, 'May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!'"

Reflection: Consider a time when you may have sought authority or recognition for the wrong reasons. How can you realign your heart and actions to seek God's will and direction in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through Hebrews, we have been exploring the foundational principles of the Christian faith, and today we delve into the significance of the laying on of hands. This practice, often perceived as less critical than others like faith or baptism, is indeed a fundamental aspect of our spiritual journey. The laying on of hands is a symbolic act that has its roots in the Old Testament and carries through to the New Testament, signifying the impartation of blessing, authority, and healing.

In Genesis 48, we see Jacob laying hands on his grandsons, imparting blessings that were divinely directed. This act underscores that blessings and authority come from God, not from human will. Similarly, in the New Testament, Jesus laid hands on children, blessing them, which illustrates the continuity of this practice as a means of imparting divine favor and grace.

The laying on of hands also serves to appoint individuals to specific roles within the community, as seen with Joshua and the Levites in the Old Testament, and with the apostles and deacons in the New Testament. This act is not merely ceremonial but is a public recognition of God’s calling and equipping of individuals for ministry. It is a reminder that our authority and ability to serve come from God, and we must act under His direction.

Moreover, the laying on of hands is associated with healing, as seen in Mark 16:17-18, where believers are encouraged to lay hands on the sick. This practice is a demonstration of faith and obedience, trusting in God’s power to heal according to His will.

Ultimately, the principle behind the laying on of hands is about giving—whether it be blessings, healing, or authority. It challenges us to consider what we have received from God and how we can impart that to others. We are called to be conduits of God’s grace, freely giving as we have freely received.

Key Takeaways

1. The laying on of hands is a significant biblical practice that symbolizes the impartation of blessing, authority, and healing. It is a reminder that these gifts come from God and not from human effort or will. [07:26]
2. In both the Old and New Testaments, the laying on of hands serves to publicly recognize and affirm God’s calling and equipping of individuals for specific roles within the community. This act underscores the importance of divine authority in ministry. [13:54]
3. The practice of laying on hands for healing, as instructed in Mark 16, is an act of faith and obedience. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty in healing and encourages believers to trust in His will and timing. [24:08]
4. The principle of giving is central to the laying on of hands. We are called to be givers, imparting blessings, wisdom, and encouragement to others, reflecting the abundant grace we have received from God. [46:03]
5. Spiritual authority and blessing cannot be manufactured or bought; they are gifts from God. We must be careful not to misuse or impersonate divine authority, as true power and blessing come only from God’s will and direction. [33:30]
** [33:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Hebrews 6
[00:45] - Elementary Principles of Faith
[02:20] - The Laying on of Hands
[03:40] - Old Testament Foundations
[05:19] - Jacob’s Blessing
[07:26] - Divine Determination
[09:42] - Irrevocable Blessings
[12:46] - New Testament Practices
[18:05] - Jesus Blesses the Children
[23:41] - Healing and Authority
[28:05] - Imparting the Holy Spirit
[34:12] - Appointing Leaders
[39:48] - Caution in Laying on Hands
[46:03] - The Principle of Giving
[52:03] - Freely Received, Freely Give

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 6:1-3
Genesis 48:13-20
Mark 16:17-18

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Observation Questions:

In Hebrews 6:1-3, what are the elementary principles of Christ that the writer encourages believers to move beyond? How is the laying on of hands included in this list? [00:45]
In Genesis 48, what significant action does Jacob take with his grandsons, and what does this signify about the impartation of blessings? [06:26]
According to Mark 16:17-18, what are some of the signs that will follow those who believe, and how does the laying on of hands fit into this context? [23:41]
How does the sermon describe the continuity of the practice of laying on of hands from the Old Testament to the New Testament? [03:28]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why might the laying on of hands be considered as important as other foundational principles like faith and repentance, according to the sermon? [02:36]
How does the act of laying on of hands serve as a public recognition of God’s calling and equipping of individuals for ministry, as seen in the examples of Joshua and the Levites? [13:54]
What does the sermon suggest about the limitations of human authority in the act of laying on of hands, especially in relation to God's sovereignty? [07:26]
How does the sermon explain the principle of giving in the context of laying on of hands, and what implications does this have for believers today? [46:03]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you received a blessing or encouragement from someone in your faith community. How did it impact your spiritual journey, and how can you pass on a similar blessing to others? [46:03]
The sermon emphasizes that spiritual authority and blessing come from God and cannot be manufactured. How can you ensure that your actions and words align with God’s will and direction in your daily life? [33:30]
Consider the role of the laying on of hands in healing as described in Mark 16. Have you ever prayed for someone’s healing? How did you approach it, and what was the outcome? [24:08]
The sermon discusses the importance of recognizing God’s calling in others. How can you support and affirm someone in your community who is stepping into a new role or ministry? [13:54]
The principle of giving is central to the laying on of hands. Identify one way you can be a conduit of God’s grace this week, whether through words, actions, or prayer. [46:03]
How can you cultivate a mindset of freely giving as you have freely received, especially in areas where you might feel lacking or inadequate? [52:03]
Reflect on the idea that blessings and authority come from God, not human will. How does this perspective change the way you view leadership and service in your church or community? [07:26]

Sermon Clips

The laying on of hands remains pretty much unchanged from the Old Testament through the New Testament so we can look at the Old Testament and see how it functioned there and then we're going to look at the New Testament and see how that it operates there and then what we want is the principle we want to extract the principle out of this. [00:03:28]

We cannot by the laying on of hands change anything that God has determined. We cannot tell God that he must bless this one and not bless that one. God is the one who blesses and we'll see that again in Jacob in a moment and so Jacob is simply doing what God had directed him. [00:07:33]

If we do if we lay hands on someone without God's approval, that has no power at all, but clearly this had God's approval. How do we know that? Because Jacob now has to flee from his brother Esau. He runs for his life to his uncle Laban, and that night or the night after, he lays down to sleep. [00:11:13]

The second thing that the laying on of hands was used for in the Old Testament was to appoint officers or ministries. Numbers chapter 27 verse 22 so Moses did as the Lord commanded him he took Joshua and set him before Eliza the priest and before all the congregation. [00:12:50]

The practice of laying on hands for healing, as instructed in Mark 16, is an act of faith and obedience. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty in healing and encourages believers to trust in His will and timing. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. [00:23:41]

The principle behind laying on of hands is imparting or giving. It's giving a blessing, it's giving healing, or it's giving authority in the case of Joshua being appointed or the Levites being appointed so it is giving something to the person who is being prayed for. [00:26:52]

We have no power in our hands unless we're acting as the hands of God. Now remember in 1 Corinthians 12 it speaks about the body of Christ and it says that one is the ear and one is the eye and one is the hand and one is the foot. [00:28:49]

We cannot lay hands on someone that God has not chosen. We can only recognize what God has already done and so it's a very serious and a very important step. Now in 1 Timothy 5:22, Paul says to Timothy, do not lay hands on anyone hastily. [00:39:39]

The context is the appointment of elders. Remember that Paul is telling to determine Timothy you need to appoint elders he gives them a list of the qualifications of an elder but then he says don't lay hands on anyone hastily other words be careful because this is a serious serious step. [00:40:07]

You cannot give what you have not received. I mean that's simple. If you only have a dollar in your back pocket you cannot give a hundred bucks. I mean it's not difficult is it? You can only give what you got and spiritually you can only give what you've received. [00:45:01]

The problem is that instead of laying hands on people and giving, we have our hands out wanting a handout from God, wanting a handout from the church or from somebody else and I'm not talking about money I'm talking about spiritual stuff. No we shouldn't be having a handout, we should be imparting. [00:50:28]

Freely you have received freely give. Now obviously this speaks about not charging for the gifts of God so those healers who charge people to be prayed for they're out of line Jesus says if you have a gift you received it as a gift you didn't buy it from God. [00:52:09]

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The Power and Purpose of Laying on Hands

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Gifts Through the Laying on of Hands

Day 2: Recognizing and Affirming God’s Calling

Day 3: Faith and Obedience in Healing

Day 4: The Principle of Giving

Day 5: True Spiritual Authority

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Power and Purpose of Laying on Hands

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