In closing this week, let me enumerate the five main purposes indicated in the New Testament for the laying on of hands:
- To minister healing to the sick,
- To help those seeking the baptism in the Holy Spirit,
- To impart spiritual gifts,
- To send out apostles, and,
- To ordain deacons and elders in a local church.
In order to understand these five uses of laying on of hands, we have examined the pattern of daily life and administration of a local church, as revealed in the New Testament.
If we now sum up the lessons learned in the last three weeks that have been devoted to the laying on of hands, we see that this ordinance has a close and vital connection with many important aspects of the Christian life and ministry.
It is directly connected with the ministry of healing; with the equipping of believers for active witness through the baptism in the Holy Spirit; and with the commissioning of specially called Christian workers. It is often associated with the gift of prophecy. It also strengthens the life of the local church in two ways: spiritually, through the impartation of spiritual gifts; and practically, through the appointment of deacons and elders.
For all these reasons, the ordinance of laying on of hands logically takes its place in Hebrews 6:2 among the great foundation doctrines of the Christian faith.
Thank You Father for the special awareness that the Church as we know it today is not a human-driven institution, but a work initiated and directed by You, in which You use people as living stones to build Your Church. Amen.
