Impartation

This is a very important aspect of the laying on of hands. God has chosen to work through human hands in touching and blessing people in a real way. When we lay hands on somebody in the name of Jesus Christ we are actually able to impart something from God to them. Let us look at some examples from the Bible.

Imparting healing

Throughout his life we find that Jesus imparted healing to people by laying hands on them (Matthew 8:3,15; 9:18; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 5:23; 6:5; 7:32; 8:23,24; Luke 22:51)

As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. (Luke 4:40)

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God! (Luke 13:11-13)

Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus. He knelt before him, worshiping. “Lord,” the man said, “if you want to, you can make me well again.” Jesus touched him. “I want to,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (Mt 8:2-3)

Jesus taught his disciples to do what he did. He sent them out to heal people (Luke 10:9). In fact he told them that all his followers were to continue his practice of laying hands on sick people and healing them. He said: “They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” (Mark 16:18). The early disciples went everywhere practising what Jesus had taught them through his example and his instructions. Now it is your turn to do what Jesus said you could do. Just lay hands on people and pray a simple prayer for them and you will see how God is able to touch people and bring healing to them through your hands, like he did through Paul and the apostles (Acts 5:12; 14:3; 19:11):

As it happened, Publius’ father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were cured. (Acts 28:8-9)

Imparting the Holy Spirit

In the New Testament we find that the Holy Spirit is imparted to believers in many different ways, and the laying on of hands is one way the Holy Spirit is imparted. In Samaria, Simon the sorcerer saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people’s heads, and he offered money to buy this power. But it could not be bought with money! However we find that this power was given to an ordinary believer, Ananias, who laid hands on Paul and imparted the Holy Spirit to him at the command of the Lord (Acts 9:17). Later we discover that Paul himself had taken up the same practice of laying hands on people in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit:

Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:6-7)

Imparting spiritual gifts

In his first letter to his disciple, Timothy, Paul reminds him of what happened to him when the leaders of the church laid hands on him and prophesied to him: “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you” (1 Tim 4:14). The meaning is that the laying on of hands and prophesying combined together were the dual means by which this spiritual gift was imparted to Timothy.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul seems to be aware of neglect on Timothy’s part to develop the spiritual gift he was given when Paul laid his hands on him:

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. (2 Tim 1:5-6)

The laying on of hands was the direct channel through which this spiritual gift was imparted to him. It also interesting to note that even if the gift had been neglected, that is it had not been in use or it had not been developed, it was still there. Paul is actually saying: “When I laid my hands on you, God gave you a spiritual gift. This spiritual gift is still in you, because of my laying on my hands on you, even if it is not presently operating in your life. A real impartation is takes place through the laying on of hands and it is not easily annulled. Therefore you have to fan into flames that which was imparted to you when I laid my hands on you.”

When Paul wrote to the believers in Rome to prepare them for his visit he said: “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established” (Rom 1:11). Obviously he would have accomplished/planned to accomplish this through the laying on of hands combined with prayer and prophetic words.

We find the same thing in the Old Testament, i.e. that an impartation takes place through the laying on of hands for equipping the people of God to serve his purpose. In the story of Moses handing the leadership responsibility over to Joshua we are told that he was a man “who has the Spirit in him” (Num.27:18). Nevertheless we discover that when Moses laid his hands on him, this imparted a spiritual gift to him, enabling him to function in his new role. The laying of on hands equipped him by imparting wisdom and insight into his heart:

Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. (Deut 34:9)

Exercise:

”The touch of his hand healed every one” – have you ever had a healing touch of his hands?

Do you need any impartation from God? Ask your teacher or Christian friends to lay hand on you!

Have you touched people to impart something from God to them?

Which of your friends need a touch from God? Prepare to be used by God to impart to them whatever they need through you laying hands on them in prayer! Write down their names here and ask God for guidance:

Continue to memorise the previous Bible verses and add this one to your list:

These signs will accompany those who believe: They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them. (Mark 16:18)