The Laying on of hands

The Laying on of hands
Introduction
The laying on of hands is all about touching people with the love and power of God. There is no arm twisting, no tricks, and no lies. There are fakes and liers that say they operate in the power of God but their tricks are always exposed. What I'm talking about is God displaying His real power and love through one of His completely yielded believers. This cannot be done by anyone other then a true Christian believer that is operating under the anointing of the living God. False Gods cannot do true miracles. The actual "Laying on of hands" is simply a touch and it only takes a very light touch. The touch is generally limited to socially acceptable parts of the body. Many miracles and healings occur with a simple prayer without anyone being touched. The laying on of hands is not mandatory to receive a healing or miracle of any kind but is often done when a person is prayed for.

A. The Old Testament
In the Old Testament the average person's relationship with God was God for us, and God with us. The sacrifices only rolled back their sins for one year. A person was never truly cleansed of their sin and therefore was never a suitable temple for God. Only Prophets and Kings had the anointing of power from God to do miracles. God Himself is the source of all power and all miracles and God did not live within people, all miracles came directly from God. God always operated from outside of His people. Even in the case of people like Moses who seemed to do miracles the miracles were actually done by God from outside of His servants.

Examples of God doing miracles without working from within people
-	Exodus 3: especially verses 1-7. God talks to Moses from the burning bush.
-	Exodus chapters 3-13, There are examples that seem to show God Working through people, an example is when Moses was dealing with the Pharoah to release the Jewish people. In each of those cases God was with Moses but God was not operating from within Moses.
-	Genesis 1: 29 (and many others). God talks to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God walked with them but was never in them.
-	Leviticus 16:1-2 God appeared on the Ark of the Covenant.

Jeremiah 1: 4 - 9, In the Old Testament only God laid hands on people.
9.	Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my (Jeremiah's) mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Isaiah 55: 11 - 13, The use of God's Word brings victory and joy!
11.	So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where to I sent it.
12.	For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13.	Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55: 13 (above) says, "and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." The Old Testament Jews knew God by many names that were all based on actual events that God did for them. This is all because their relationship with God was God "for" them and God "with" them. If God did something they praised Him by name for what He did. The Hebrew Names listed below are the real names used in the original Hebrew manuscripts. The English Translation Name is what you will find in today's English language Bibles instead of the Hebrew Name. The Reference is where you will find that Name. And the Meaning is what that name meant to the Old Testament Hebrew people. There are over 80 Old Testament names for God, this is just a sample.

The Original HEBREW Names	ENGLISH Names	REFERENCE	MEANING
Elohim (el-lo-heem)	GOD/LORD	Deut. 6: 4 Gen. 1:1	Strong Creator
Jehovah (je-ho’-vah)	LORD	Gen. 2: 4 Exo. 6: 3	Self-existent God (Personal name)
Adonai (a-do-ni’)	LORD/MASTER of a slave	Judges 6: 1, 11-16 (Note 13, 15) Gen. 15: 2	Headship name of God
Jehovah Rohi (Ro’-ee)	The Lord is my Sheppard	Gen. 48: 15 Ps. 23: 1	The caring name of God
El Shaddai (el shad-di’) (greek=Pantokrator)	Almighty God	Job 5:7 2 Cor. 6: 18 Rev. 1: 18	The God who supplies my need. The all sufficient one. The source of strength & comfort
Jehovah Jireh (yeer’-eh)	Lord (or seer)	Gen. 22: 8, 14 Isa. 30: 10	The Lord will provide, A sacrifice; forseer
El Gibbor (el-ghib-bore’)	Mighty God	Psalm 24: 8 Isa. 9:6	The strong name of God. champion
Pater	The Father	Matt. 6: 9, 30 John 5: 18 Jer. 31: 9	Intimate name of God The favorite title for God used by Jesus
Jehovah shalom (shal-lom’)	God, Messiah	Judges 6: 24 Isa. 9: 6	The Lord my peace
Jehovah Rophe (ro’-phay)	Lord	Jer. 3: 22 Jer. 30: 17 Exod. 15: 26	Jehovah our healer
Jehovah Shammah (Sham’-mah)	God, Angel	Ezek. 43: 1-7 Exod. 3: 14-15	Emmanuel, God with us.
Jehovah Tsidkenu (tsid-kay’noo)	Lord	Jer. 23: 6 Jer. 33: 6-26	The Lord our righteousness

B. The New Testament
In the New Testament a persons relationship with God is God for us, God is with us and God is in us. The presence of God actually living in us makes all the difference because now God is everywhere a true believer is! The salvation that Christ gave us truly cleansed us of all sin and made us a perfect temple for God.
In the miracle that was done in Acts 3 and 4, the apostles Peter and John laid hands on the man that was laid by the temple. In Acts 4:16 the Jewish priest call it a notable miracle. In Acts 3:12 the apostles said that they did not do it by their own power. In Acts 3:21 they said that all men glorified God for what was done.

John 9: 31, (Jesus gave us access to God)
31.	We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if any one is God-fearing and a worshipper of Him and does His will, He listens to him. (The only prayer that God hears from a sinner is a prayer of repentence. Once you repent of all of your sins God hears everything you say)

John 14: 12 - 21, (Amplified) God wants to show Himself to the world through you.
12.	I (Jesus) assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if any one steadfastly believes in Me (Jesus), he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I (Jesus) go to the Father. (You have the power of Jesus in you, because the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost live in you when you give your heart to Christ.)
13.	And I will do - I Myself will grant - whatever you may ask in My (Jesus) name so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.
14.	(Yes) I will grant - will do for you - whatever you shall ask in My name (Jesus).
15.	If you [really]love Me you will keep (obey) My commands.
16.	And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby) that He may remain with you forever,
17.	The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, nor know and recognize Him, But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.
18.	I will not leave you orphans - comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless - I will come [back] to you.
19.	Just a little while now and the world will not see Me any more (because He will be crucified), but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
20.	At that time - when that day comes - you will know [for yourself] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.
21.	The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me, and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him - I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him. (in all things, always, even: protection, health, etc. Matthew 28:18-20; also John 14: 23-26)

Romans 8: 31, He wants to show the world that He is the living God and Shepard.
31.	What then shall we say to (all) this? (These things that have come against us) If God be for us, who (can be) against us? - Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?

Romans 8: 32, He wants to show that He is still living and working for and with His children.
32.	He who did not withhold or spare (even) His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all (other) things? (including our loved ones)

Romans 8: 37, He wants to show that He is still in the miracle business.
37.	Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through him who loved us.

Romans 8: 38 - 39 (Nothing can separate a believer from God)
38.	For I am persuaded beyond doubt - am sure - that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers,
39.	Nor heights, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 6: 32 - 33, But you need to show Him that your serious about Him too.
32.	(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye (you) have need of all these things. (worldly things)
33.	But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(He really has recreated you in his likeness)

Matthew 16: 13 - 19, For those who walk the walk and talk the talk the sky is the limit.
19.	And I will give unto thee (you) the keys of the kingdom of heaven (which is the understanding and authority to operate in and with the Spirit of God): and whatsoever thou (you) shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou (you) shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Acts 3: Amplified, An example of the presence of God in His believers

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
(Every day this man heard the people that were going through the gate talking about the miracles that were being done by the apostles. He heard people talking about their new understanding of God's Word.)

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, look on us.

And he gave heed unto them expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand (He laid hands on him), and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Notice the five important steps for healing:
1.	Receive the Word
2.	Use the Word of God with Authority
3.	Touch the person that needs help (This is optional)
4.	When someone prays for you you need to put action with your faith. The man needed to get up and get moving.
5.	Praise God for what he has done in an unashammed open way.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
(Notice that many people saw him and praised God too.)

10.

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

11.

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's greatly wondering.

12.

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye (You) men of Israel, why marvel ye (you) at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

13.

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye (you) delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14.

But ye (you) denied the Holy One and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15.

And killed the prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16.

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea (yes), the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
(Give credit where credit is due, Jesus healed the man.)

17.

And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye (you) did it, as did also your rulers.

18.

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord

This is a textbook example of how the laying on of hands is done in today's Christian church. The power of God operates through yielded people to bring people closer to God. The first person that came to God was the man that was healed. Everyone knew the man and knew that he was sick, there was no faking here. That miracle bought praise to God, and unbelievers to the people of God. The people of God gave the unbelievers the Word of God and led them to make a decision for Christ. This is God at His best, blessings all around!

More examples of God living in and acting through His believers from the book of Acts.

16.

In Acts 4: 21, When "All men glorified God for that which was done." 24 - (30) - 31 They prayed about laying hands on people.
In Acts: 1 - all Ananias & Sapphira died just by Peter saying the word. It did not require anyone to touch them.
In Acts 5:14 - 16, many people were bought to the apostles.
In Acts 6: 1 - 6, they laid hands on people to administer business with wisdom.
In Acts 6: 8, Stephen did miracles.
In Acts 8: 1 - 8, Philip did miracles and taught the Word & salvation.
In Acts 8: 14 - 18, They received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They also received the Holy Spirit as a separate step from being saved.
In Acts 8: 19 - 21 Simon heart was not right.
In Acts 9: 10 - 17, A "disciple" called Ananias laid hands on Saul who would become Paul.
In Acts 9: 32 - 35, Peter healed a man by speaking the Word to him. Peter never touched him.
In Acts 19: 1 - 7, when hands were laid on the disciples they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
In Acts 19:11 - 12, God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul.
In Acts 19: 13 - 17, the seven sons of Sceva. The Devil beat them up and Jesus was magnified because everyone understood that only by the power of the living interactive God can anyone do miracles.

Mark 16: (Jesus speaking) Amplified
15.	And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race).
16.	He who believes - [that is,] who adheres to and trust in and relies on the Gospel and Him whom it sets forth - and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe - who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him whom it sets forth - will be condemned.
17.	And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18.	They will pick up serpents, and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well. (because the living, active, and interactive God, Jesus, is home and is open for business!)

This is the record that God gave of his Son, that Jesus came to give us life, and to give us life more abundant. Pray with me now and fill your life with Life.
Father, I do believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and that he was raised the third day. Lord, I pray that you would forgive me of my sins for I forgive all those that have sinned against me. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and guide me, fill me with your Holy Spirit, give me the strength to withstand anything the Devil can throw at me, and mold me into what you would have me to be, I pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Congratulations you are now a new creature in Christ! Well done!

Notes from the author: This lesson was written and distributed by: Apple Sauce Kids on the Internet at http://applesaucekids.com. or we can be E-mailed at aplsauce@applesaucekids.com
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