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This article is an elementary exploration into the depths of the doctrine of the laying on of hands. (Heb. 6:1-3) While many believers practice certain aspects of it, relatively few understand its full implications. Biblical understanding and years of practical experience have convinced me that it’s one of God’s primary agents to transmit blessings. Through it people are healed of physical infirmities and endowed with the authority to fulfill their spiritual callings. It’s also the Lord’s appointed means to pass the potentials for blessed lives from one generation to the next. The latter is the primary focus of this article.
Purposes
- To bring about physical healing (Mar 16:17-18)
- To impart the Holy Spirit (Act 8:17-19, 19:6)
- Through the laying on of hands both spiritual gifts and authority are transmitted from one believer to another. (1Ti 4:14)
- Act 19:11-12 speaks of a form of the ministry of the laying on of hands. Inanimate objects that have touched the bodies of Spirit-filled believers can be sent to those in need of salvation, healing and deliverance from evil spirits. In cases where the recipients might be resistant to the Gospel, relatives and friends can do so secretly. Articles of clothing have hands laid on them while specific prayers are offered. Afterward, senders simply keep quiet about the matter and wait for God to bring about changes while the subject ignorantly wears the anointing. Later they can disclose how the recipient got blessed through one of God’s secret-agent-007 tactics.
- The blessing for fruitful lives can be passed from one generation to the next through this sacrament. (Gen 48:8-20)
Right-hand
Please note from the last cited passage that it makes a difference which hand is used when blessing others. Manasseh was Joseph’s eldest child and Ephraim was the younger brother. Joseph knew that the strongest blessing comes through the right-hand, so he positioned the older child to have Jacob’s right-hand laid upon him. When he saw Jacob cross his arms and place his right-hand on younger Ephraim he tried to correct his father. Jacob told him that he knew what he was doing, as the younger son was to receive the greatest blessings.
Both hands can be used, but the right-hand is essential. This stems from the fact that through faith we are seated with Jesus at the right-hand of God. We signify the authority delegated to us by Jesus as we confidently stretch forth our right-hands with the assurance of power.
Mindset
One should never lay hands on others for spiritual purposes in a casual manner. It needs to be done with purposed intentions of transmitting specific graces and qualities. Freely we have received and freely we give. We must have the confidence that as we lay hands upon people that God will honor our requests by endowing the recipients with that which He is has either given to us or is momentarily channeling through us as unique gifts for particular individuals.
The most common reasons to lay hands on others are to bring healing; to deliver from bondages; and to confer spiritual authority for particular callings in the Lord. There is however another vital use that pertains to parental blessings as exampled with Isaac, Jacob and Esau and Jacob and the sons of Joseph. (Gen 27)
Rite of Passage
The Jewish rite of passage for young boys and girls who are coming of age is a festive ceremonial occasion. Bar Mitzvahs are for boys and Bat Mitzvahs for girls. The purpose is to confer upon a child the blessings needed for a long and productive life. The ceremony is considered a strategic juncture in life of every child. It’s not unusual for a family to spend tens-of-thousands of dollars for the festivities. Such occasions imprint children’s minds with the reality that they have the full blessings of their families and friends to be successful in life. The fruit is clearly visible by the fact that the Jews have made more contributions for the overall betterment of mankind than any other single ethnic group.
Christian Application
Children have always needed parental-patriarchal blessings to enhance their potentials for successful lives. It’s much more so in today’s dysfunctional society. It would behoove the Christian community to adopt a practice similar to Jewish Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Since so many adult believers were raised in dysfunctional homes, it need not be restricted to children. Anyone who desires this type of ceremony qualifies. I was in my mid-forties when I asked my father to lay his hands on me and to loose me to life with a prayer authenticating that his blessings were passing to me. Though by most people’s standards my life was already bore evidence of blessing, subsequent to that event I felt a new sense of confidence and anointing.
Preparations
The person to be blessed should be mature enough to recognize several things about life. Successful lives are not accidental and can seldom be attributed solely to an individual’s cleverness. The blessings of God and the favor of man are required.
Most every parent, grandparent, and guardian has blessed qualities and giftings of which they are aware. In addition, they have such of which they may not be aware; but nonetheless have been noted by the cherished one who is to receive a blessed impartation from them via the laying on of hands. The lists should be mutually exchanged prior to the ceremony. All concerned will be blessed by knowing what is treasured about them and what can be anticipated subsequent to the experience. With younger children, parents should lay groundwork by speaking of the day when they will be old enough to have their own blessing ceremony. Father and mother figures in the Body of Christ can be substituted in situations where adults are to be blessed who don’t have living parents.
The Ceremony
Make it festive inviting all meaningful relatives and friends and serve a sumptuous meal. Token gifts should be given by the blessed to all who take part in blessing him/her. The blessing portion should be the highpoint of the evening. The person to be anointed should read the list of what they expect to receive when the various participants lay hand upon them. Such would be the beneficial giftings and character qualifies that have helped them through life that they want to bestow on the recipient. Instituting this type of ceremony will enrich the lives of all concerned.
Closing Testimony
The son of our next-door neighbor in Lubbock, Texas, was a young fellow named Mike. His parents were alcoholics and he was addicted to hard drugs. Our four-year-old, Holly loved to spend time with him. She would come home and tell us that she had told Mike all about Jesus. One day I needed a reel-to-reel tape recorder and I knew that Mike had one. I sent Holly to ask him if we could borrow it for a couple of hours. He kindly came over, set it up for us and then he left. Before returning it, we employed a biblical tactic for his salvation and deliverance from drugs. We laid hands on the tape machine and anointed it with oil, banished the spirits of addiction, and agreed in prayer that Mike would be saved.
Several days later, he came over to bid us goodbye. He was leaving for San Diego to work on a sailing yacht during a year-long Pacific cruise. About six months later, we received a letter that was postmarked Tahiti. It was from Mike. It started off in this manner, “No one else would understand, but I know that you will understand what has happened to me.” It turned out that the couple who were the yacht’s owners happened to be dedicated Christians. They had Bible studies and devotions with the crew each morning. Mike had been gloriously born again. He reported that he had lost all desire for drugs. One plants, another waters, and God gives the increase. (1Co 3:7-8)
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