Laying on Hands by Derek Prince

Author:Derek Prince
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Bible, Christ, ministry, Bible study, Jesus, Laying on of Hands, Christianity
ISBN: 9780934920049
Publisher: n/a
Published: 1966-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

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In our next study we shall go on to consider two

more purposes of the ordinance of laying on of hands.

36

Ill

To Commis ion Ministers

III

Missionaries Sent Out From a Local Church—Example

of Paul and Barnabas Deacons Appointed Within a

Local Church

Welcome to the Study Hour.

Our textbook—the Bible.

The study which we shall now bring you is No. 39 in

our present series, entitled "Foundations.”

In our last two studies we have been considering the

doctrine which is called in Hebrews chapter 6, verse 2,

"laying on of hands.”

Hitherto we have examined three main purposes for

which this ordinance of laying on of hands may be used,

according to the teaching and the examples of the New

Testament. These three purposes are as follows: first, to

minister healing to the sick, through faith in the name

of Jesus; second, to help believers seeking the baptism

in the Holy Spirit; third, to impart spiritual gifts.

We saw that the exercise of this ordinance of laying

on hands is not restricted to any special class of people,

such as apostles, or bishops, but is open to all true

believers who possess the necessary spiritual

qualifications. In all cases, however, the ordinance of

laying on of hands should always be exercised in a

humble and prayerful spirit, subject to the leading of

the Holy Spirit and to the spiritual safeguards indicated

in the Word of God.

37

Laying on of Hands

In our present study we shall now go on to consider

two further important purposes for which the laying on

of hands may be used.

The first purpose of the laying on of hands which we

shall now consider is connected with the sending out of

Christian workers from a local church. The church

which is set forth in the New Testament as an example

of this is the church at Antioch, in Syria; and the

passage in which this use of laying on of hands is

described is found in Acts chapter 13, verses 1 through

4:

Now there were in the church that was at

Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as

Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger,

and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had

been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and

Saul.

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.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,

departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they

sailed to Cyprus.

This passage gives us a great deal of extremely

interesting information about the way in which,

according to the New Testament, a local church

conducted its affairs.

First of all, we notice that in this church at Antioch

two definite spiritual ministries were present, and were

recognised by the church. These two ministries were

those of the prophet and the teacher. Within the

congregation five men were recognised and mentioned

38

To Commission Ministers

by name as exercising these particular ministries.

Secondly, we notice that these leaders in this

congregation not merely prayed, they also fasted.

Furthermore, they did not merely fast privately as

individuals, but they fasted together in a group.

This in line with the prophetic exhortation for the

last days, given to us through the prophet Joel, in Joel

chapter

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