Volume XVI, Issue 1

T HE T EACHING L EGACY OF D EREK P RINCE

The Laying on of Hands Imparting blessing, authority and healing

Had it been left merely to human understanding to decide which are the six basic doctrines of the Christian faith, it is quite probable that this doctrine of laying on of hands would never have been included. However, in the last resort, the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. In this teaching letter, we will be examining the aspects of the fourth of these doctrines—the laying on of hands.

hat precisely are we to understand by this action. As a religious act, the laying on of hands phrase, “laying on of hands”? It is an act in normally signifies one of three possible things. Wwhich one person places his hands upon the First, the person laying on hands may thereby body of another person, with some definite spiritual transmit spiritual blessing or authority to the one upon purpose. Normally this act is accompanied either by whom hands are laid; second, the person laying on prayer, a prophetic utterance, or both. hands may thereby acknowledge publicly some spiritual Outside the sphere of religion, this act of laying on blessing or authority already received from God by the of hands is not something strange or foreign to normal one upon whom hands are laid; third, the person laying human behavior. For example, in some parts of the on hands may thereby publicly commit to God for some world, when two men meet who are friends, it is special task or ministry the one upon whom hands are normal for them to lay their hands upon each other’s laid. At times, all these three purposes may be combined shoulder. This act constitutes an acknowledgment of in one and the same act of laying on hands. their friendship and of their pleasure at meeting each other. Or when a mother has a child complaining of a Two Old Testament Precedents headache or fever, it is quite natural—in fact, almost instinctive—for the mother to place her hand upon her If we now turn directly to the Bible, we find that the child’s brow and in this way soothe or caress the child. laying on of hands was already an accepted practice in Within the sphere of religion, the practice of laying the earliest records of God’s people, as provided by the on of hands may thus be considered as an extension or book of Genesis. For instance, in Genesis 48:14 we an adaptation of what is basically a natural human read how Joseph brought his two sons (Ephraim and Volume XVI, Issue 1

Manasseh) to his father Jacob to for Moses to make provision for By this divinely ordained act, receive Jacob’s blessing: this need is recorded in Numbers Moses accomplished two main 27:18–20: purposes. First, he transmitted to Then Israel [Jacob] stretched Joshua a measure of the spiritual out his right hand and laid it on And the LORD said to Moses: wisdom and honor that he had Ephraim’s head, who was the “Take Joshua the son of Nun received from God; second, he younger, and his left hand on with you, a man in whom is the publicly acknowledged before the Manasseh’s head, guiding his Spirit, and lay your hands on whole congregation of Israel God’s hands knowingly, for Manasseh him; set him before Eleazar the appointment of Joshua as the was the firstborn. priest and before all the congre- gation, and inaugurate him in leader who was to succeed him. At first, Joseph thought his their sight. And you shall give father had made a mistake, and he some of your authority to him, New Testament tried to make his father switch his that all the congregation of the Ordinances for Healing hands, placing the right hand children of Israel may be upon the head of Manasseh, the obedient.” Let us now turn to the New firstborn, and the left hand upon Testament and see what part this the head of Ephraim, the younger. The way in which Moses carried ordinance of laying on of hands However, Jacob indicated that he out this commandment of the Lord plays there. We shall find that had been conscious of divine is recorded in verses 22 and 23 of there are five distinct purposes for guidance in placing his right hand the same chapter: which laying on of hands may be upon Ephraim and his left hand So Moses did as the LORD used, according to the precepts upon Manasseh. With his hands commanded him. He took Joshua and examples of the New Testa- still crossed in this position, he and set him before Eleazar the ment. They are: the laying on of then proceeded to bless the two priest and before all the hands for physical healing, to boys, giving the first and greater congregation. And he laid his impart the baptism in the Holy blessing to Ephraim and the lesser hands on him and inaugurated Spirit, for imparting spiritual gifts, blessing to Manasseh. him, just as the LORD commanded for sending out Christian workers This passage shows plainly that by the hand of Moses. from the local church, and for the it was an accepted practice that the The result produced in Joshua is appointment of deacons or elders. blessing of Jacob should be trans- recorded in Deuteronomy 34:9: The first of these purposes mitted to his two grandsons by (which is the only one we will be laying his hands upon their heads; Now Joshua the son of Nun was looking at in this study) is directly and, furthermore, that the greater full of the spirit of wisdom, for associated with the ministry of blessing was transmitted through Moses had laid his hands on physical healing. It is authorized Jacob’s right hand and the lesser him; so the children of Israel by Jesus Himself in His final com- through his left hand. heeded him, and did as the mission to His disciples at the close For our second example, we LORD had commanded Moses. of His earthly ministry, as recorded read that as Moses came near to the From these passages we see that in Mark 16:17–18. In these verses end of his earthly ministry he this act of Moses laying his hands Jesus appoints five supernatural asked the Lord to appoint a new upon Joshua was one of great signs that are to accompany the leader over Israel who should be significance both for Joshua preaching of the gospel and which ready to take Moses’ place. The individually and for the whole may be claimed by all believers way in which the Lord ordained congregation of Israel collectively. through faith in the name of Jesus.

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The fifth of these supernatural In this way the two ordinances are therefore that this ordinance of signs appointed by Jesus is: combined in one. However, this anointing with oil is intended “And these signs will follow need not necessarily be so. It is primarily for those who already those who believe: In My name perfectly scriptural to lay hands on profess faith in Christ and are they will . . . lay hands on the the sick without anointing them associated with a Christian church. sick, and they will recover.” with oil. Likewise, it is perfectly The second important lesson scriptural to anoint the sick with contained in this passage from the Here the laying on of hands in oil without laying hands on them. epistle of James is that God expects the name of Jesus is appointed as a The question naturally arises: Is Christians to associate themselves means whereby physical healing there any difference in use or with a church and that the leaders may be ministered to those who purpose between these two or- of this church should be ready to are sick. Later on in the New dinances—that is, laying hands on minister in faith, according to the Testament, in James 5:14–15, the sick and anointing the sick with Scripture, to the physical needs of another slightly different ordin- oil? Are there times or situations their church members. The phrase, ance is appointed: when it is more appropriate to use “Let him call for the elders of the Is anyone among you sick? Let one ordinance rather than the other? church, and let them pray over him, him call for the elders of the And if so, what are the scriptural anointing him with oil in the name of church, and let them pray over principles guiding their use? the Lord” carries both of these him, anointing him with oil in implications: first, that every the name of the Lord. And the For Christians Christian is associated with a prayer of faith will save the church in such a way that its sick, and the Lord will raise him The passage in the epistle of leaders both know him and are up. And if he has committed James about anointing with oil known to him; and second, that sins, he will be forgiven. begins with the following words: these leaders are ready to minister The ordinance here appointed is “Is anyone among you sick? Let him physical healing to its members in that of anointing the sick with oil call for the elders of the church.” faith, according to the ordinances in the name of the Lord. Since the epistle of James is appointed by God for the church. Both of these ordinances alike addressed primarily to professing If we now turn back to the other are effective only through the Christians (although among the ordinance of laying hands on the exercise of faith in the name of the Jewish people), the phrase “among sick, as set forth in Mark 16, we Lord Jesus. In the case of anointing you” would seem to refer mainly to shall see that the context suggests with oil, it is specifically stated that believers. This fits in also with the that this ordinance is intended to prayer must accompany this act. In commandment that immediately go together with the preaching of the passage about laying hands on follows: “Let him call for the elders of the gospel to the unconverted— the sick in Mark’s gospel, no speci- the church.” that its primary use is therefore for fic mention is made of prayer. A person who made no pro- those who are not yet converted or However, in most cases it would be fession of faith and was not who have newly come to the faith. natural to pray for the sick person associated with a Christian church We form this conclusion from as well as lay hands on him. would not be included in the the fact that this, like the other Again, when anointing the sick phrase “among you”; nor would supernatural signs ordained by with oil, it often seems natural— such a person know who the Jesus, follows immediately after indeed, almost instinctive—to lay church elders were for whom he His commandment to evangelize hands upon them at the same time. should send. It would seem the whole world, as given to His

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disciples in Mark 16:15–17: are members of churches, but rather for the unconverted or for those And He said to them, “Go into Gradual process? who have newly come to the faith. all the world and preach the In what way will healing come gospel to every creature. He At other times, however, there is as a result of the laying on of who believes and is baptized no sensation of power at all, but the hands? The Scripture does not give will be saved; but he who does laying on of hands is simply an act of any precise or detailed answer to not believe will be condemned. naked faith and of obedience to this question. Jesus says merely, And these signs will follow those God’s Word. However, if there is “They will lay hands on the sick, and who believe . . .” genuine faith, healing will follow they will recover.” In place of the even though there may be no Jesus then goes on immediately to phrase “they will recover,” we dramatic or supernatural experience. enumerate the five supernatural might translate alternatively, “they Again, Christ does not specify signs, ending with the healing of the will become well,” or more simply the length of time that the healing sick through the laying on of hands. still, “they will be well.” process will take. Sometimes com- This indicates that each one of these By these words of Jesus, two plete healing is received instantly, supernatural signs, including the things remain within the sov- as soon as hands are laid upon the healing of the sick, is intended by ereignty of God: the precise way in sick person. At other times, how- God to bear testimony to the divine which healing will be manifested, ever, healing comes only as a truth and authority of the gospel and the precise length of time that gradual process. In this latter case message in places where this message the process of healing will take. it is most important that the per- has not previously been heard. Side by side with this we may set son seeking healing shall continue This is in line with the account the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians to exercise active faith until the of the disciples’ evangelistic ac- 12:6: “And there are diversities of process of healing is complete. tivity with which Mark’s gospel activities [operations], but it is the Taken from an article in closes—that is, in Mark 16:20: same God who works all in all.” In Renewal magazine. this matter of laying hands on the And they went out and For further study, we recom- sick, there are what Paul calls mend Derek Prince’s booklet: preached everywhere, the Lord “diversities of operation.” That is, Transmitting God’s working with them and con- Power the process of healing does not firming the word through the We are making this material available to always operate in the same way accompanying signs. Amen. you at no charge. Just use the enclosed each time. reply slip to request your copy. Reproduction of articles from This indicates that the primary In one case, the laying on of the DPM Archive for free dis- tribution is permitted. To purpose of these supernatural hands may be a channel through receive regular teaching and signs—including the healing of the encouragement by e-mail, which the supernatural gift of subscribe at derekprince.org. sick through the laying on of healings operates. In such a case, hands—is to confirm the truth of the person who lays on hands by the gospel message among people this act transmits the supernatural who have not previously accepted it. healing virtue, or power, of God to It seems clear, therefore, that the the body of the one on whom method of ministering to the sick hands are laid; and very often this through laying on of hands in the latter person actually feels within Derek Prince Ministries name of Jesus is primarily intended his own body the supernatural P.O. Box 19501 Charlotte, NC 28219 not for established Christians who power of God. 704.357.3556 www.derekprince.org TL081

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