The Use Of Hands

The Use of Hands

Acts 3:1-10

3:1Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

NKJV

1.It is amazing what we can do for someone, in the Name of Jesus, if we are willing to just offer a hand.

2.Lets take a journey through the Old and New Testaments and develop a deeper

appreciation of how God uses our hands.

The Obligation of our hands

Heb 6:1-2

6:1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

NKJV

This passage mentions “laying on of hands” as one of the elementary principles of Christ. In other words we should no only understand this principle but practice it often.

The laying on of hands was used for:

1. Consecration

Gen 48:12-16

12So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13And 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. 14Then 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. 15And 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,

16The 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."

NKJV

The idea is clear, laying hands on someone in the Name of the Lord to bless them

can bring much needed spiritual and physical support. What if we, as a congregation, were to take the time to lay hands on the:

1. Staff Pastors

2. Sunday School Teachers

3. Worship Team

4. Nursery workers

5. Maintenance Staff

6. One another

…with the single purpose of praying a blessing on them? I believe it would it would draw us together like never before!

2. In Ordination

Num 8:9-11

10So you shall bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites; 11and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD, like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the LORD.

NKJV

Note:

While you should never lay hands on anyone suddenly (1 Timothy 5:22)

Do not quickly appoint any person to the ministry; let the person be well proved before he receives the laying on of hands. Some understand this of laying hands on the sick.

…and never place a novice in leadership positions (1 Timothy 3:6)

While we clearly understand this, It remains extremely important that ministry be recognized by the laying on of hands.

3. Joshua

Num 27:18-23

18And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim; at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him--all the congregation." 22So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.