Church 3/2/2025
Offertory scripture:
God is here among us.
Matthew 18:20
Offertory scripture:
God is here among us.
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
We are in a spiritual battle. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord.
Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
God will equip you for what He has called you to do.
Communion message:
Today is communion Sunday. Remember what communion is and its significance. Remember what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross. By His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Jesus paid the price with His blood. He gave us a new covenant in doing so. Because of this, death and sin cannot defeat the blood of Jesus Christ. Satan cannot defeat Him or His blood. Believe God as you receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ for your victory and healing in all areas of your life.
Sermon message:
Sermon message: Is laying on of hands Biblical?
Let’s look in the Bible.
Point #1: Hands were laid on in the Old Testament.
They were laid on for blessing and for anointing / gifting / equipping for ministry.
Let’s talk about Jacob, and one of his sons who was named Joseph, who was sent to Egypt. Joseph had a couple sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.
Genesis 48:8-9
Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”
Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”
And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”
Genesis 48:11-14
11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”
12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Jacob crossed his hands when blessing his grandchildren. Jacob knew that the second born would be more blessed. Jacob knew that blessings were important. And Jacob also blessed Joseph.
Genesis 48:15-16
And he blessed Joseph, and said:
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
Ephraim means faithfulness.
Let’s look ahead to God blessing those who are called into ministry and need to be equipped. In this case, the Levites.
Numbers 8:9-11
And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel. So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites; and Aaron shall [a]offer the Levites before the Lord like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the Lord.
Hands were laid on these people as well.
Let’s move ahead to commissioning Joshua the successor of Moses.
Numbers 27:16
“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Numbers 27:22-23
So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
Deuteronomy 34:9
Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Question is, were hands laid on in the New Testament?
Point #2: Hands were laid on in the New Testament.
They were laid on for blessing and for equipping for ministry.
Acts 9:11
So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
God knew that Paul was praying to Him right then.
Acts 9:12
And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
Hands were laid on in the New Testament.
Acts 9:15-18
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
God commissioned Ananias to lay hands on Paul for restoration of sight and for blessing and for equipping for ministry.
Acts 13:2-3
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 6:6
whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
Consider when Paul was writing to Timothy and giving him instructions.
1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
The Bible instructs leaders to lay hands on people. But it doesn’t mean that anyone should lay hands on just anyone especially for leadership.
1 Timothy 5:22 NKJV
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.
1 Timothy 5:22 AMP
Do not hurry to lay hands on anyone [ordaining and approving someone for ministry or an office in the church, or in reinstating expelled offenders], and thereby share in the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
Point #3: Jesus laid hands on people.
Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ.
Consider the case of Jairus and his daughter. He asked Jesus to lay His hands on his daughter.
Matthew 9:18
While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
Matthew 9:25
But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
Consider the case of Peter and his mother in law.
Matthew 8:14-15
Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
Consider Jesus healing a leper. Touching people to bless them.
Mark 1:40-41
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Jesus laid hands on children as well.
Matthew 19:13-14
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Other examples:
Luke 13:13
And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Mark 7:32
Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.
Mark 7:35
Immediately his ears were opened, and the [a]impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
Mark 8:22-25
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So 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 on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Point #4: Hands were laid on for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:14-15,17
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17 again
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
That Paul might be healed and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-6
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
John’s baptism was one of repentance, and not new life. The baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ is the baptism of new life.
Point #5: question: Does God still want leaders anointed and people blessed?
Yes and yes. This is still for today.
We were never supposed to stop the laying of hands.
John 14:12 NKJV
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
John 14:12 AMP
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.
Mark 16:15-18
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”