What's in the hand?

A friend asked me today about the ministry of laying on of hands for healing.

This goes into the deeper subject of healing and the question (does God still heal today and does he want you well).  By the way, the answer to those two questions are both YES.  But specifically, I want to spend a little time talking about what I know about laying on of hands for healing.

There are quite a few New Testament examples of healing with the laying on of hands:

• Jesus did it quite a bit.
• Paul did it.
• Hebrews calls the laying on of hands as an elementary teaching and that we are supposed to go on to the more mature things of God.

I don’t know what happens with the laying on of hands, as we can’t see the workings; it takes place in the spiritual and not physical.  The bible teaches that the Holy Spirit can be received by the laying on of hands, and it also talks about how an anointing can be passed by the laying on of hands, and it talks about healing through the laying on of hands. So we know something special can happen with the laying on of hands.

Jesus told us that we are to heal the sick.  He did this by many ways; laying on of hands being one of them, but in all the ways, they all exhibited faith.  We are supposed to emulate Christ and carry on his ministry.  We are His hands and feet.

Jesus was a man (flesh) with the spirit of God living inside him.  He was then, in ways, very similar to us today as Christians.  We are men with the spirit of God living inside us.  The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us.

I believe that when we lay hands on someone and pray for healing that we are extending our faith.  We are stepping out of our comfort zone (our flesh).  We are like Elijah in front of the prophets of Baal; we are publicly calling for the supernatural manifestation of God’s power and believing that God will not let us down.  We are coming into one accord with the person believing for healing and agreeing and believing for God’s promises. 

One of the very last instructions Jesus gave to us is in Mark 16.  He says “These signs shall follow them that believe … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. So after the Lord spoke these things, he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God.

We don’t know how it all works, but Jesus grew his church (followers) by teaching and healing, with supernatural manifestations of God’s power (signs) following.  These signs and wonders grew people’s faith.  Jesus told us to do the same things he was doing and that we would even do greater things. 

Isaiah 53:2 says that there was nothing beautiful or majestic with Jesus to attract us to him.  He was just a Plain Joe with a ho-hum personality.  When the people saw and heard of the signs and wonders He demonstrated, they watched in awe and thought ‘how could this be’.  “And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came to him.”  It was the signs and wonders He used to draw people near.  And when he spoke the Word, people felt their spirit stirring and believed.

I believe it was Jesus’ intention for us to take the Gospel to the world manifesting similar signs as HHhim and even beyond.  He wanted us to walk the streets and have our shadow heal the sick.  He wanted us to raise the dead.  He wanted us to cast out demons.  He wanted us to be supernatural exhibiting beings, magnifying God’s glory everywhere we went.  But somewhere along the line, we became a weak church that doesn’t believe anymore as intended.

Thousands of years now separate us from the teachings of Christ and his direct ministry.  We don’t know anymore exactly how things were done in the first church.  All we can do is submit to God and ask God to use us for His Glory.  The cornerstone or basis for being used is faith. 

It is rejecting the world when it says it is delusional and believing to receive salvation.

It is rejecting the world when it says it is a stupid finance decision, and giving tithes and offerings. 

It is rejecting the world when it says it is a scientific fallacy, and worshiping the Creator of the universe. 

It is rejecting the world when it says we are deceitful, and speaking in gibberish to allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you with unknown tongues. 

It is rejecting the world when it says it must be a scam, and laying hands on the sick and believing they will recover.

It is rejecting the world about anything that seems natural, and believing that nothing is impossible to those who believe and that He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Romans 10:17 - Jeff's Version:

Out of the depths of discernment (spiritually hearing) of a 'rema' revelation from Christ, 'pistis' faith is birthed.

KJV: So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
First 'by' (Greek:ex) out of the depths of the source, extending impact to the object.
Second 'by' (Greek:dia) completely and thoroughly.
(Greek:rematos Christou)revelation from Christ.

How Do You See You

People have the ability to sense how we feel about ourselves.
They can sense....
A lack of confidence.
A lack of self esteem.
Self loathing.
A lack of direction.
A lack of self worth.
Insecurity.
A lack of self control.

Any and all of these play a significant role in first impressions.
They can trigger emotional responses from us which can give people a sense of
trust or haste, interest or not, a deep look or passing glance.

If you are drop dead gorgeous, and you know it, people tend to take the time to get to know you.
But what happens if in your appearance you are just average, one of the crowd, how do you get someone to look past your average-ness and see what a great person you are?

We need to build ourselves up on what the Word of God says about us.
Jude 1:20 says we need to build ourselves up on our most holy faith.
The word faith here is 'pistis' and means a conviction of the truth.  This is faith where there is no uncertainty. 
For example, you can believe that if I tell you that I will call you tomorrow that I will.  However, in your mind you know that there are things which might come up which might prevent me from calling, so your belief is intermingled with a certain amount of doubt.  'Pistis' faith means that you have 100% confidence that what is said is true.  For example, if I tell you the sun will break the horizon tomorrow morning, you can believe without any uncertainty that what was said is true.  This is what we need to build ourselves up in.

We need to believe that
God cannot lie - Tts 1:2
The Word is God - Jhn 1:1
All scripture is inspired by God and teaches us what is true - 2 Ti 3:16
God does not discriminate with his children - Act 10:34
When Jesus laid His blood down as a sacrifice and sat down at the Fathers right hand, He had perfected, for all time, the people who seek God. - Hbr 10:14

We need to read the Word and get a personal revelation of what it says about us:
If you lack confidence ...
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Read it, research it's meaning, meditate on it, envision it, pray for wisdom and a personal revelation.  Once you get the revelation, speak it, own it, praise God for it, and share it, continuously until you believe it with 'Pistis' faith; even as the sun will rise tomorrow.  So that when adversity comes your way and something tells you that you can't do it, you say, yes I can; I can do ALL things through God who strengthens me.

This is the process of renewing your mind.
Ro 12:2 Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The word 'be' in this context is the Greek word 'syschematizo' which means to conform one's self.
The phrase renewing of your mind is 'anakainosis hymon nous' which means the complete change for the better your perception, understanding, feelings, judging, and reasoning.

We have the ability, responsibility, and (this is hard to say) the obligation to transform ourselves into the image that God sees us as spiritually.  We have the responsibility to be a magnet to the world; that our light would shine so bright that the world would take notice and wander out from the darkness. (Mat 5:16)  The word 'Be' in this verse means that you have to do something yourself.  It means, it isn't automatically going to happen, it means that you have a job to do.  It also means that this is your obligation as a child of God.  It doesn't say, if you feel like it ..., it says 'BE not conformed to this world; but BE transformed'.  It is God's expectation that will will actively receive what he has given you.

When Jesus sat down with the Father, everything that we need for life, life more abundantly, and godliness has been already established and handed over to us.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us 'all things' that pertain unto (zoe) the absolute fullness of life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that has called you by name to a position of splendor and virtue.  

It is your job to change the things in you that will make you stand out in a crowd.  Jesus has already provided all you need to draw people to you.  Exalt Jesus, then love yourself, that which is virtuous.  Despise what you see in yourself that is contrary to the word of God.  Cast off that old trait and see it nailed to the cross with Jesus (Ro 6:6)  If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, the old has passed away and you are now a new creation all together. (2 Cr 5:17)  The only reason we have character traits that are contrary to the Word of God is because we are either ignorant to the truth, or that we, deep down, don't want to invest the time to get rid of them.

This is not an easy process.
Phi 3:12 talks about that challenge of casting away the old man and taking on the new man.  Paul says, Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
He is acknowledging that he has come a long way in his walk with God, but he presses on to receive what Jesus has already given him.

Whoa ... I hate it when I am writing with the expectation of helping someone out, and the Holy Spirit says ... Sorry buddy, this one's for you. ...  I may finish this one later, I need to receive this.

Word study Psalm 68:19

Abundantly blessed is our Lord who continually blesses us and carries our burdens.  He is the source of our deliverance, help, prosperity, salvation, security, and victory.

Our Provision

What have we been provided for by grace in Jesus' life, torture, death, triumph over satan, and resurrection, blood offering, placement with God?

We have healing 1 Peter 2:24
We have prosperity 2 Corinthians 8:9
We have deliverance and dominion over Satan. Colossians 1:13, Romans 6:14
We have favor Acts 2:46-47
We have forgiveness and redemption Ephesians 1:7
We have righteousness of God Philippians 3:9
We have an advocate and intercessor 1 John 2:1
We have a helper John 14:16
We have a mediator and a better covenant Hebrews 8:6
We have a new spirit Ezekiel 36:25-27
We are a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17
We are grafted into Abraham Galatians 3:6-7


We could go to church every day, pray endlessly, read continuously, labor to the breaking point, and give all of our possessions to the poor and we will never earn nor deserve a single one of these provisions.

They are a free gift, purchased and facilitated by the blood of Jesus.  When Jesus sat down at the Favor of God, the acquisition was complete for all time.  It's a done deal.

If we can believe for any of these provisions 'whatsoever', then we can receive it by grace. 

It has already been done in the spiritual, we just need to believe to see it manifested in our lives. 

Trust that God is always good, His Word is always true, the provision has been already been purchased, the plan is already in place, and that we, His beloved, are the objects of His desire.

Trust that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us; To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Joy In Giving

God does not want you to give tithes and offerings if you do it out of obligation in a debt mentality. He wants you to give compelled by love and in a belief that everything that you need in this world has been already provided by grace with the finished works of Jesus Christ.

If the motivation for your giving is to get God to bless you, you are trying to gain favor by your works and have stepped outside of faith; This will plug up the works of God in your life.

However, if you are giving in a joyful heart, as an expression of love for the Kingdom of God, knowing that God's promises are true, the windows of heaven will be opening.

If you don't give, God is not going to squash you like a bug; we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. You just won't participate in the blessings he has planned for you.

But if you do give, compelled by love for God, God will bless every aspect of your life, for more than your works could ever aspire.

Be sensitive to God's inspiration to give.  Start small when your heart stirs, give a bottle of water to thirsty, read to a child, pay for someones groceries, sponsor a child for camp, etc.

Do so in a way that does not draw attention to yourself and God will start to give you a joy for giving. He will also give seed to the sower, so that you have more resources to give with.

If you aren't a giver, give it a try.

If you are a giver and have been given begrudgingly, but you haven't been able to get out of your rut, evaluate your heart; are you in works or faith in grace.

If you are a giver and God is pouring out blessings so that you cannot contain them, share your testimony.

Why did Jesus die?

Did you know Jesus was not sent and died on the cross so that your sins would be forgiven?

Jesus died on the cross so that you might gain fellowship with God and Himself. An ancillary benefit is that our sins were forgiven. Jesus said that he came to give eternal life, and defined eternal life as "... that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent". John 17:2-3 If you were only saved to miss hell, you are missing the big picture, God wants to have a relationship with you now.

Sometimes I get so busy with work and church that I neglect intimacy with God. That hit me hard last night as I was thinking about my recent level of intimacy with my son. He has his own life now and doesn't desire to share much of it with me. It occurred to me that I have the same relationship with God. I have been going to God in prayer with the same things, almost mechanically, time and time again and realized, he wants to share my heart, bounce ideas off him, talk about what's been on my mind.

I have had shameful intimacy with God lately. If my son treated me the same, it would break my heart. Spend some time today with the Father and just talk to him, don't intercede for anyone, ask for blessings on your endeavors, just talk to him, like a friend, about the weather or brainstorm a decision you are trying to make with him. He will be blessed by your friendship.