Laying on Hands: Leadership Service

Laying on Hands: Used to Call Believers into Leadership Service

The principle doctrine of “Laying on Hands” is also the method of calling believers into leadership service of Christ. This is demonstrated time and again in the holy scriptures. This call to leadership service is demonstrated by the apostles.

• Acts 6:3-6, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid hands on the seven men.”

It is also important to note that the apostles fully expected other men besides themselves to full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.

The scriptures again show the call to leadership by laying on hands.

• Acts 13:1-3, “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”

Laying on Hands: Fasting and Praying

Here it is demonstrated that fasting and prayer was accomplished before the laying on of hands.

The call to service by laying on hands is not a light work, but carries the import of the authority and power of God. God calls only those men to leadership service who have demonstrated the ability to rule their own houses well; and God also makes his intention very clear that new Christians are not to be given leadership authority lest they be lifted up with pride.

• I Timothy 3:4-6, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity: (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

It is necessary to use sincere prayer and fasting before commissioning any person into the leadership of the Lord’s church by the laying on hands. This insures that God’s will is being done and not man’s.

Jesus, himself, gives an example for his servants to follow.

• Luke 6:12-13, “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him disciples: and of them he chose twelve, who also he named apostles;”

Laying on Hands: What is the leadership order according to God’s Word?

• I Corinthians 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly, teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Who are:

Apostles – Those chosen by Jesus Christ including Paul. (Luke 6:12-13 and II Corinthians 1:1)

Prophets – Those who labor in the testimony of Jesus Christ including preachers and evangelists, and all Christians. (Revelation 19:10, “…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”)

Teachers – Those who teach God’s Word, including the first principles of the oracles of God. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Miracle Workers – Confirmation of God’s Word. (Acts 4:29-30)

Gifts of Healing – Confiramtion of God’s Word. (Acts 4:29-30)

Helps – Those who do good works and alms deeds. (Acts 9:36)

Governments – Those given administration over the physical needs of the body of Christ. (Acts 6:1-6)

Diversities of Tongues – Gift for self edification in the faith. (Jude :20)

Laying on Hands for leadership service is a great responsibility and must be accompanied with prayer and fasting.

In Christ
J-me
copyright 2009 J-me

Other posts in this series are:

Laying on Hands: Call to Service
Laying on Hands: Gifts of the Spirit