Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)
When Paul refers to "laying hands on" he is talking about blessing, anointing, “speaking into the life of…”, “ prophesying over...” and whatever else we call it today.
Paul did not prohibit the practice or tell Timothy, young pastor born four or more generations after Jesus’ Earthly ministry, that “We don’t lay hands on people anymore.” Paul did warn Pastor Timothy not to just run around declaring and decreeing over people randomly or upon request.
The act of laying on hands and blessing someone imparts a connection that flows in both directions: from God through the blessor to the blessee and his/her life; and from the blessee’s life to the blessor and before the eyes of God.
When a preacher lays hands on people to ordain them or to bless them into a particular season of life, the preacher is vouching for that person before God.
That’s not a light thing to be doing.
Yes, each of us is judged for our individual actions. No, you can’t control what someone does when they’re not under your direct supervision.
But.
We are each also responsible to God for the quality of what we set before Him, and that includes the quality of WHO we set before Him.
When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse to be the next king, Samuel saw the eldest son and immediately started to lay hands on him.
Samuel looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 6-7)
You can’t possibly know what’s in someone’s heart except when you know what’s in someone’s heart because you know what in that person’s life.
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily.
Lay hands, bless, anoint, prophesy where the Lord tells you. But are you sure that the Lord told you to speak that over EVERY body who came down to the altar?
Or were you looking on the physical appearance of people who LOOKED like they wanted a Word from the Lord?
And by the way, when did what individuals want from the Lord start deciding what preachers do more than what the Lord wants for those individuals?
When they come to you to be blessed and exalted, and God wants them to be convicted and humble because of their sin, but you bless and exalt them anyway----- you connect yourself to their sin. You walk them into God’s presence and say, “I’m good with what’s going on with them.”
Are you sure about that?
In Acts 8: 9-24, Simon ,an ex-sorcerer and new Christian, asked Peter to ordain him as a bringer of the Holy Spirit. He even offered to “sow a financial seed to the man of God” for his time.
But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. (Acts 8: 20-21)
It’s not your job to anoint people. It’s your job to obey God. And from time to time, if you are following God, not just fulfilling human expectations, you will have to say “No” to somebody who expects you to speak great things over their life.
No, it’s not for you to judge the quality of another’s soul. No, it’s not for you to judge what God can or can’t do in someone’s life. No, it’s not for you to say who’s worthy of a calling that only God can give.
That’s not your job.
It is your job to obey God rather than men or women or yourself.
There’s more at stake than your popularity.
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5: 22)
---Anderson T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama, executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO) and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme.blogspot.com .
You can read more on Pastor Graves's personal blog at www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .
If this message helps or touches you, please help support this ministry. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
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