| There are many reasons throughout the Bible that people used the laying on of hands. Here are a few examples that are still used today: 1) Commissioning, or setting apart and authorizing Five men were worshiping one day when the Holy Spirit said, �Set a part for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.� So the men did just that. The other three men laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul in order to set them apart and give them authority for the tasks ahead. (Acts 13:1-3) A modern day example of commissioning comes from my mission trip to Peru. Before we went out to the streets to talk to the people, we had a commissioning service. We prayed together, and our leaders came to each of us, laid their hands on us, and prepared us for the task ahead. 2) Giving Spiritual Gifts 2 Timothy 1:6 tells us that the gift of God is in us through the laying on of hands. In Acts 8:14-18 , Peter and John placed their hands on some apostles, who then received the Holy Spirit. In chapter 19, Paul laid his hands on some disciples and they were able to speak in tongues. In these two examples, the laying on of hands was used to give others spiritual gifts. 3) Healing Throughout the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), there are numerous examples of healings done by Jesus. Many of them were done when he laid his hands on them. Luke 4:40 says, � When the sun was setting, people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sicknesses and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.� In Mark chapter one, Jesus laid his hands on a women in bed with a fever and a man with leprosy and they were both healed. For more examples, check out Matthew 8:1-4, Luke 13: 10-13, and Mark 8:22-26. This kind of healing was not left to Jesus. In Acts 9:17-19, a disciple named Ananias placed his hands on Saul�s eyes and Saul was able to see again. In Acts 28:8, Paul laid his hands on a man who was sick in bed, and the man was healed. And even today, people are being healed through the laying on of hands. Another example comes from my mission trip. Everyday we encountered sick and disabled people everywhere we went. And everyday, people were healed after we laid our hands on them and prayed. Some more important facts about the laying on of hands: As you can see from the examples above, healing through the laying on of hands is not just for Jesus, ministers, or people in the Bible. It�s for all Christians, today! In John 14:12 Jesus tells us that anyone who has faith will be able to do what he did. Anyone with faith can do this! But remember-we�re not the ones doing the healing. It�s by God�s power in us that people are healed when our hands are laid on them. �Jesus looked at them and said, �With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.� (Matthew 19:26) Healing is not something that is done through some magic power that humans posses. It is God�s power doing miraculous things through us! |
| Laying on of Hands |