Commissioning

Joshua needed more than spiritual gifts and maturity to be able to lead the people of God. Wisdom, insight, understanding and spiritual gifts are not sufficient in order for one to be a leader of the people of God. To be able to function properly or fully in a leadership capacity, one needs to be ordained or commissioned to this responsibility through the laying on of hands. Therefore we find that God told Moses to take Joshua and lay his hands on him: “Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him with the responsibility of leading the people. Transfer your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him” (Num 27:18-20). Moses did as the Lord commanded and laid his hands of him in front of all the people commissioning him to his new leadership responsibility. This public commissioning was done to ensure that he had a loyal response and obedience from the entire community.

In the New Testament we find examples of three kind of commissioning through the laying on of hands: a) commissioning to a ministry or function, b) ordaining of elders, c) releasing of apostles.

Commissioning to a ministry or function

In Acts 6 we are told of a conflict in the church in Jerusalem due to poor administration. The solution to the problem was to choose seven Spirit filled men/people and commission them to this task of ministering to the people of God. The apostles prayed for them and laid hands on them putting them in charge of this ministry to the people of God. They were given authority and responsibility to minister and function within this given area through the laying of on hands. Likewise people today may be commissioned through the laying on of hands into any ministry or function in the community of God.

Ordaining of elders

The elders were the leaders of the local churches and their main tasks were to shepherd the flock, to rule the house of God, to preach the gospel and teach the people how to live a godly life (see Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 5:17). The apostles Paul and Barnabas used to appoint elders in every church, praying for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had come to trust (Acts 14:21-23). Paul commanded his co-workers Timothy and Titus to do the same to complete the apostolic work in each city. This command was followed by a warning not to be in a hurry to appoint elders by laying hands on them and ordaining them (see Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Tim.3,1-7; 5:17-25).

The appointment of elders was clearly the responsibility of the apostles, as representatives of God’s authority, thus the elders represented the authority of the apostles. In appointing elders the apostles did not rely on their own judgment but were instruments of the Holy Spirit in making them elders by laying hands on them and prophesying over them. By ordaining elders in this way they imparted to them the wisdom and the authority they needed for their task.

Releasing of apostles

In Acts 13:1-4 we have the first record of new apostles being released from their responsibility in the local church and being sent forth on a mission in another capacity (teachers and prophets). The leaders of the local church in Antioch consisted of many prophets and teachers. They used to spend time in prayer and fasting together, seeking the mind of God to find the direction for themselves and the church they were leading.

One day, when they were together to seek God and minister to him, the Holy Spirit spoke to them about Paul and Barnabas who were recognised as prophets and teachers. They were told to dedicate Paul and Barnabas to the special work God had called them to be part of. The leaders who were gathered together in worship, responded immediately by continuing prayer and fasting, laying hands on them and releasing them into the work of God.

Through the laying of on hands they were released to function in a wider sphere than before. They were given a new recognition and enlargement of their ministry. They were released from their day to day involvement and leadership responsibility in the local church and sent forth to serve the purpose of God in a greater capacity by the Holy Spirit.

After they had accomplished their first commission they returned to Antioch and reported back to the church, telling of the great things the Lord had done through them (Acts 14:26-28). When they were in Antioch they had their natural place among many other brothers in the leadership group of the church and were able to serve the community of God locally in their home church before they went on a new mission (Acts 15:35-41) in accordance with their initial commissioning and release through the laying on of hands and prophetic words spoken.

The apostles were preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and forming kingdom communities, called churches, wherever they went. Sometimes they stayed in a certain location for a longer period of time in the foundational phase of forming/planting/setting up the churches. Sometimes they covered a wide area in a short span of time, sowing the seed of the kingdom and seeing it start to grow. However they maintained a close relationship with all the churches, encouraging and strengthening the believers through letters, visits or by sending some of their co-workers to visit them. They always wanted to bring out the best in people and help the churches to mature and be full grown in Christ that they might be further released to go and preach the Good News in other places that were far beyond where they had been, where no one else was working to establish covenant communities of the kingdom (see 2 Cor.10.15-16).

Exercise:

Have you seen any commissioning in your church through the laying on of hands? What happened? Was it a good experience?

Do you have a need to be commissioned to any ministry or function? Ask your leaders to lay hands on you!

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)