Lifting Holy Hands, II

Laying on of Hands
6 Foundational Principles
Heb 6:1-3 Therefore, 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 (dead works; life as a non-believer, walking in the kingdom of death/sin).
faith toward God, 2 of the (“For without faith, it is impossible to please God”), repentance and faith in God 1st
doctrine of baptisms, of (“baptisms” is plural, indicating water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism), the doctrine of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit sprinkling the blood of Christ upon the soul, for justification, and the graces of the Spirit for sanctification, (from Matthew Henry's Commentary).
laying on of hands, of (understanding the flow of power from the Holy Spirit through our hands).
resurrection of the dead, and of (we have eternal life and will be given glorified bodies).
eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. (Judgement for eternity is final; no do-overs).

REVIEW: Thanksgiving is Essential in the Flow of Power
Hand: Strong’s #3027, Hebrew, yad (yahd), Means by which a work is accomplished; strength, power. One interesting derivative of yad is the verb yada which is generally translated “thank” or “praise”; its original meaning was probably “to praise by lifting up the hand.” Word Wealth, The Spirit Filled Life Bible. Laying on of hands- an action symbolizing God’s anointing or power, (Bible Reference Companion, TNP, Nashville).
Thank: Strong’s #3034, Hebrew, yadah, (yah-dah); to revere or worship with extended hands; to praise, give thanks, acknowledge, declare the merits of someone. Yadah is an important word for “praise” or “thanks” and occurs over 100 times in the OT, with over half being in the Book of Psalms (Word Wealth, The Spirit Filled Life Bible).

Flow of Power: First in our words (mostly of praise), then through our hands.

HEALING
Matt 9:18-19 “While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live."
Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Acts 28:8-9 “Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.”
Mark 8:22-26 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Luke 13:10-13 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. We loose people and bind demons (Matt 16:19).
BLESSING
Matt 19:13-15 “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”
Luke 24:50-51 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 8:17-19 “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’” We cannot buy or earn the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17 “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
SENDING OUT MISSIONARIES
Acts 13:3 “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
RECEIVING TONGUES AND PROPHECY
Acts 19:6-7 “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
1 Tim 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”
CAUTION WITH RESPONSIBILITIES
1 Tim 5-22 “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.”
IMPARTING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
2 Tim 1:6-7 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
ORDAINING MINISTERS
Acts 6:6 “…whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
PUTTING DEMONS TO FLIGHT
Luke 4:40-41 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
Acts 5:12-16 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 19:11-12 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
The #1 thing that will block the flow of Kingdom power is unforgiveness (Matt 18:21-35). Unforgiveness will not only hinder the flow, it will also put the person in bondage and ill health through bitterness (Acts 8:23, Eph 4:31, Heb 12:15).