John Eckhardt - Releasing Gods power through laying on of hands

Contents

Introduction

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the FOUNDATION of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of LAYING ON OF HANDS, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:1-2

I have emphasized the word "foundation" and the phrase " laying on of hands" in these two verses to show that the doctrine of laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine of the Church. In any building, the foundation is very important if you are to have a good superstructure. Likewise, in building up the Body of Christ, laying on of hands is foundational and necessary if we are to have a strong Church (superstructure).

It is amazing how many believers try to build their lives and ministries without a foundation. You cannot build without a foundation. When the winds blow and the floods come, without a strong foundation, your house will collapse. This is the reason so many individual believers and corporate ministries fall. They lack a strong foundation.

Laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine. As a believer, you need to understand and operate in this doctrine. You must build your life upon this spiritual truth if you expect to stand in this day.

This book is written on the premise that when the Lord wants to release His power in the earth, He often does it through the laying on of hands. The word power in the Bible is the Greek word dunamis , from which we derive our word dynamite. When we speak of " dunamis ", we are referring to power for prosperity, promotion, exaltation, healing, deliverance and overall ministry.

Within these pages you will find God's purpose for the laying on of hands divided into four parts:

(1) For promotion and exaltation;

(2) For gifting and equipping the saints;

(3) For separating and releasing ministries;

(4) For healing and deliverance.

To many, the laying on of hands may be an insignificant doctrine that does not need much attention. To some, it may seem the laying on of hands is foolish and over emphasized. But God chooses the foolish things of the world to accomplish His purposes in the earth.

The laying on of hands is not a doctrine that can be overlooked. If we overlook it, we will not receive all God has for us. If we teach this doctrine and practice it, we will see tremendous results in our lives and churches.

Chapter 1

Promotion and Exaltation

And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient

Numbers 27:18-20

T he first purpose we will discuss for the laying on of hands is promotion and exaltation. When the Lord desires to promote and exalt a person in the Kingdom, He will often do it through the laying on of hands. We see this in the life of Joshua. Moses was commanded by the Lord to lay his hands upon Joshua for the purpose of establishing him as the leader for the next generation of Israel.

Every new generation needs new leadership, and the Lord promotes and exalts those with the right spirit. Joshua is described as "a man in whom is the spirit". In other words, he was the one with the right spirit to be the next leader.

Joshua did not promote himself. He waited for promotion from the Lord. There are too many ministers who try to promote themselves and their ministries. They are like Adonijah , the son of David, who prepared chariots and horsemen and declared himself to be the next king (1 Kings, ch . 1). Joshua, on the other hand, was referred to as Moses' minister (Joshua 1:1).

He was a faithful servant unto Moses. Because he was faithful to Moses, the Lord promoted him to be the next leader of Israel. In doing so, Moses was commanded by the Lord to lay his hands upon Joshua and transfer to him the mantle for leadership.

Moses was commanded to do this openly in front of the congregation. Everyone needed to see the person whom Moses laid his hands upon. This exemplifies the reason public ordination is so important. The people would be able to identify the next leader. There would be no doubt in their minds as to who was replacing Moses.

Many local assemblies end up in confusion after a strong leader dies, because the people don't know who is ordained by the Lord to take the reins of leadership. The church usually ends up searching for a new pastor, and often vote someone into that office who is not anointed for the position. The leader did not transfer authority through laying on of hands, and the people suffer as a result.

Moses was also commanded to give Joshua a "charge". According to the Webster definition, a charge means "to impose a task or responsibility on" the person who, as the recipient of laying on of hands, has a responsibility to fulfill. There was a charge given by Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-2). It is a solemn responsibility given by the leader to the recipient.

Finally, Moses was told to put some of his "honor" upon Joshua. The word honor is the Hebrew word hewd meaning grandeur, beauty, comeliness, excellency and majesty. Honor is a part of exaltation. When Moses laid his hands upon Joshua in the presence of the assembly, he was transferring honor to him for leadership.

Leaders need honor from the Lord (and the people) in order to be effective. When you receive honor, you will be promoted and exalted into a position of leadership.

Oftentimes people fail as leaders because they have not received honor. Honor can be transferred through the laying on of hands. Thus, the laying on of hands is a key to promotion and exaltation.

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

Deuteronomy 34:9

There was also an impartation of wisdom given to Joshua through the laying on of hands. To impart means to give or convey. Wisdom is also a key to promotion and exaltation. The word wisdom here is from the Hebrew root chakam meaning to be wise in mind, word, or act. It means to think wisely, speak wisely, and act wisely. It also means to be able to teach wisely and deal wisely. Every leader needs this chakam wisdom. Without it, you will not be capable of leading God's people.

Joshua received the honor and wisdom he needed to become the next leader of Israel, from Moses, through laying on of hands. When promotion and exaltation come from the Lord, grace will also be imparted unto you to walk in a higher calling. You cannot walk in a higher calling without the ability that comes from grace. Grace was released unto Joshua through laying on of hands.

The hands of a spiritual leader are channels through which the power of God for promotion and exaltation flow. The honor and wisdom they walk in can be transferred to you. When you are faithful to a spiritual leader as Joshua was to Moses, you can expect to be rewarded by the Lord with promotion. The Lord promotes those who promote His leaders.

Spiritual leaders also need to have a revelation of the tremendous power they can release through laying on of hands. God will promote and bless those whom the leader lays hands upon. Leaders need to discern the Joshuas the Lord places under their authority. The true spiritual Joshuas are those with the right spirit.

I have often been checked by the Holy Ghost not to lay my hands upon some ministry gifts because I discerned they did not have the right spirit. We have an unction from the Holy One and know all things (1 John 2:20). Leaders need to follow their spirits with the help of the Holy Spirit in promoting others.