Symbolic Laying on of Hands – Where is the Reality of the Spirit’s Power? Once more the Church of England has failed to show the true reality of the Cross and the power of God unto salvation by using symbolism and the dullness of ecclesiastical ceremony. Where is the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and His mighty power, which attended the preaching of the Apostle Paul?
■ 1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . The most senior woman bishop in the Church of England was consecrated recently in Canterbury Cathedral and has now become the new Bishop of Gloucester. The religious affairs correspondent of the BBC writes, This marks the start of a new and important phase of women’s long journey within the clergy, and towards wielding real power and influence in the established church. Hundreds were in attendance at the ceremony during which the new Bishop preached her first sermon in office, and she used symbolism by wearing a cross made in Mozambique out of spent cartridges retrieved from the country’s civil war; can an empty bullet case, which was used to kill in a bloody war, really be a symbol of Christ’s cross? Certainly not. The one, the bullet, was the symbol of death unto death, and the other, Christ’s cross, is the symbol of life unto life eternal and the power of God unto salvation.
More symbolism, but no apparent power As part of the consecration, all the bishops’ who were present took part in the ‘symbolic’ laying on of hands on Mrs. Treweek, the new bishop. Since when has the laying on of hands been symbolic? The Apostle Paul would be spluttering with indignation at the very idea of such a thing! The laying on of hands is for impartation, not as a symbol, but actually, powerfully and spiritually under the instigation of the Holy Spirit for a gift or infilling of the Holy Ghost. If, in the book of Acts, Stephen one of those chosen to do the job of deacon, after the laying on of hands was filled with the Holy Spirit and power – what ought a Bishop to be?
■ Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. The Church of England gives us the appearance of the Pharisees and Sadducees, stuck in the Old Testament fulfilling the law to the letter, with their eyes blinded to the fact that they ought to be serving by the Spirit’s power and not symbolically in the letter of the law.
■ Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. They enjoy the ritual and the symbols and their positions, but are apparently unlearned of working under and through the Holy Spirit. How can they be able ministers of the Gospel message if they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Page 1 of 7 ■ 2 Corinthians 3:6 …(God) also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Jesus is the One who builds His church by empowering His chosen men and women with gifts and talents and no one in the church will wield true power or any influence of consequence using only symbolism – for the power lies in the Holy Spirit, who is the only means through which true power can be channelled in those who are willing to humbly submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
■ Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit , Says the LORD of hosts. Symbolism is an expression of something, but not the real thing. For instance, wearing a cross made from the spent cartridges of war can surely only remind one of untimely and tragic death – whereas the cross of Christ gives us a living hope, a firm assurance and a connection to Christ through the Holy Spirit – this is the reality. Jesus did not tell us to wear a cross, but take it up and follow Him.
■ Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross , and follow me. The C of E needs to stop playing types and shadows and grab hold of the Antitype – Our Living Risen Head Jesus. The Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that there is a doctrine of the laying on of hands with biblical precedents for us to follow; these are explained below with both Old and New examples. The purposes shown in the Word for the laying on of hands are as follows: 1. To confer a blessing (OT and NT) 2. Ritual of sacrifice and transfer of sin (OT) 3. To bear witness of guilt (OT) 4. To inaugurate into service or position (OT and NT) 5. To release the power of God for healing (NT) 6. To impart spiritual gifts (OT and NT) 7. To receive the Holy Spirit (NT) Examples are given from scripture; no other explanation being necessary. In the Old Testament, often examples show that hands were placed on the head; however, in the New Testament, healing scriptures do not give any information as to where the hands were placed if this method was used.
1. To confer a blessing Genesis 48:14-18 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his
Page 2 of 7 father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. Matthew 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. Matthew 19:15 And he laid [his] hands on them, and departed thence.
2. The ritual of sacrifice and transfer of sin Exodus 29:10 And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock. Exodus 29:15 Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. Exodus 29:19 And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram. Leviticus 4:15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. Leviticus 8:14 And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. Leviticus 8:18 And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. Leviticus 8:22 And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. Leviticus 16:21-22 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat into the wilderness. Numbers 8:12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. 2 Chronicles 29:23 And they brought forth the he goats [for] the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them.
3. To bear witness of guilt Leviticus 24:14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard [him] lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. Deuteronomy 17:7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Page 3 of 7 4. To inaugurate service or position Numbers 8:10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: Numbers 27:18-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. Numbers 8:10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them. Acts 13:2-3 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
5. To release the power of God for healing Mark 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: [I pray thee], come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. Mark 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed [them]. Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. Mark 8:25 After that he put [his] hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. Luke 13:13 And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Acts 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
Page 4 of 7 6. To impart gifts Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7. To receive the Holy Spirit Acts 8:17 Then laid they [their] hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
BY WHOM WAS THIS CARRIED OUT :
A father to his descendants (OT) Genesis 48:14-18 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
An offerer of a sacrifice (OT) Leviticus 4:15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
Page 5 of 7 A priest (OT) Leviticus 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.
The people (OT) Numbers 8:10 And thou shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites.
A leader (OT) Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
A witness (OT) Deuteronomy 17:7 The hands of the witnesses shall first be upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Jesus (NT) Mark 1 40-42 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
The apostles (NT) Acts 6:3-6 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
The presbytery (NT) 1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Page 6 of 7 New believers (NT) Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The symbolism ended with the Old Testament being surpassed by the New Testament in Jesus’ blood. It is a fact that Jesus sets us apart by sending the Holy Spirit as the down payment on our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. We need power to witness, which the Apostles received at Pentecost, and which we believers also ought to have in order to serve God.
OUR SUPERNATURAL GOD DOES THINGS SUPERNATURALLY, NOT BY RITUAL OR SYMBOLS , BUT BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD .
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