The practice of laying hands on someone or something occurs frequently in the Old Testament - particularly the laying of hands on the head of an animal intended for sacrifice. In the account of the ritual of the 'Day Of Atonement' the priest laid his hands on the Scapegoat. This probably symbolized the transferral of the sins and guilt to the people to the goat which was taken away into the wilderness.

The act of laying on of hands in the Old Testament was also associated with blessings, installation to office [ serves as a form of ordination ] and the setting apart of Levi. These passages indicated the transferral of authority and quality, symbolizes God's sovereign power. The hand of God, [ laying on of hands ] a prominent Jewish symbol and later, 'the laying on of hands' was promulgated and perpetuated by the Christians.

Joseph saw that his father was laying his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and this upset him. He took his father's hand and tried to shift it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasseh. Joseph protested to his father, 'Not like that, father! This one is the elder; put your right hand on his head.' - Gen. 48:17-18 - Deut. 34:9 - Num. 8:10-11 -

In the New Testament, the placing of hands upon a person by a body of believers [ The Church ] in ceremonial fashion to symbolize that person's authority or his appointment to a special task. The Lord Jesus Christ laid his hands on children and on the sick when He healed them. In the early Church the laying on of hands was also associated with healing, the reception of the Holy Spirit, the setting apart of persons to particular offices and work in the Church, the commissioning of apostle Barnabas and apostle Paul as missionaries, and the setting apart of apostle Timothy. The ritual was accompanied by prayer.

When Jesus was speaking to them, up came one of the officials who bowed low in front of him and said, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.' Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. - Matt. 9:19-19 -

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, 'Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.' Then Jesus laid his hands on them and went on his way. - Matt. 19:13-15 - Mark 5:21-24 - Mark 1:31 -

One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, 'Woman, you are rid of your infirmity' and Jesus laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God. - Luke 13:10-13 -

The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Phillip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles who prayed and laid their hands on them. - Acts. 6:5-6 -

The Lord replied, 'You must go all the same because this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show how much he himself must suffer for my name. Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul's eyes and he could see again. So he was baptized there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength. - Acts 9:15-19 - Acts 19:6 -

Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. - 1 Tim. 4:13-14 -

That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. - 2 Tim. 1:6-7 -

Let us leave behind us then all the elementary teaching about Christ and concentrate on its completion, without going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions and towards faith in God; the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; the teaching about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. This, God willing, is what we propose to do. - Heb. 6:1-3 -

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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

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Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -