LAYING ON OF HANDS

The laying on of hands has great significance as a
religious rite or ceremony in the Bible. This rite
is associated with the bestowal of divine blessings
upon a person, and it also is used as a special form
of recognition for persons set apart for God's service.

On the day of Atonement, the high priest placed his
hands on the head of a goat before releasing it into
the wilderness. Through this rite, he symbolically
transferred the sins of the people to the scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:21 KJV 21.And Aaron shall lay both his
hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over
him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and
all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them
upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the
hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Abraham and the other patriarchs placed hands on their
decendants to confirm a birthright or to convey a special
blessing, as when Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph in
Genesis 48:14-19 KJV 14.And Israel stretched out his right
hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger,
and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands
wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15.And he blessed
Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac
did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
16.The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads;
and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth. 17.And when Joseph saw that his father
laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him:
and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's
head unto Manasseh's head. 18.And Joseph said unto his father,
Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand
upon his head. 19.And his father refused, and said, I know it,
my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also
shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater
than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
The ceremony sometimes implied the transfer of authority.
Numbers 27:18-20 KJV 18.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; 19.And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before
all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the
congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
Joshua was said to be "full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had
laid his hands upon him" (Deuteronomy 34:9).
Deuteronomy 34:9 KJV 9.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.

The laying of of hands apparently served as a formal declaration of
identification by the church of Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, whom
they were sending out as missionaries.
Acts 13:2,3 KJV 2.And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3.And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them.
This same sense of identification with sacrifical animals as a substitute
for the people may be implied in the burnt offerings presented by the priest
in Old Testament times.
Leviticus 1:4 KJV 4.And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt
offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Placing hands on persons in need of healing has a strong biblical precedent.
The practice was use by Jesus during His ministry.
Matthew 9:18-26 KJV 18.While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came
a certain ruler, and worshipped Him, saying, My daughter is even now dead:
but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19.And Jesus arose, and
followed him, and so did his disciples. 20.And, behold, a woman, which was
diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the
hem of his garment: 21.For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment,
I shall be whole. 22.But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said,
Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was
made whole from that hour. 23.And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw
the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24.He said unto them, Give place:
for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25.But when
the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26.And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
The Apostles laid their hands on the sick.
Acts 14:3 KJV 3.Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which
gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done
by their hands.
They also laid hands on newly baptized persons.
Acts 8:16,17 KJV 16.(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17.Then laid they their hands on them,
and they received the Holy Ghost.

The Levites were consecrated to service by the laying on of hands.
Numbers 8:10,11 KJV 10.And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the
children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
11.And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children
of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
In the New Testament, the practice is associated with the ordination of deacons.
Act 6:6 KJv 6.Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them.
They also lay hands on ministers.
1 Timothy 4:14 KJV 14.Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1 Timothy 5:22 KJV 22.Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's
sins: keep thyself pure.
Also laying on of hands for missionaries of divine service.
Acts 13:2,3 KJV 2.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.
3.And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

THIS CAME FROM MY BIBLE ABOUT LAYING ON OF THE HANDS. THE LORD HAS USED ME ON A FEW
OCCASIONS TO LAY HANDS OF EITHER LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS. IN THREE CASES IT WAS THE WASHING
OF THE FEET. THE LORD KNEW THAT WAS A TRUE HUMBLING AND OBEDIENT EXPERIENCE. I HAVE BEEN
A BEAUTICIAN IN MY LIFE AND THE FIRST TIME FOR SCHOOL THERE HAD TO BE A PEDICURE TO BE
DONE FOR A GRADE. I MADE THE GRADE AND GOT SICK AFTERWARDS. NO, I DID NOT LIKE FEET. ONE
OF MY BEST FRIENDS NEEDED PRAYER FOR HER FEET AND CANCER. I WENT AND DID AS THE LORD ASK
AND WASHED HER FEET. THEN I PRAYED OVER HER FOR A HEALING AND MORE TIME WITH HER. THE LORD
HEALS IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT HAS HAPPENED. SHE HAD TROUBLE WALKING DUE
THE CANCER HAD MADE HER LEGS LIKE WOODEN LEGS THAT MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO
GET AROUND. TWO WEEKS LATER AT A SINGING AT THE CHURCH, I ASK HER HOW HER LEGS WERE. I HAD
WATCHED TO SEE HER WALKING ALL OVER THE SOCIAL HALL WITH NO PROBLEMS. I ASK HER ABOUT HER
LEGS AND SHE SAID THAT THEY WERE STILL LIKE WOOD AND MAYBE A LITTLE CIRCULATION BACK. THEN
I LOOKED AT HER AND SAID THAT YOU ARE WALKING WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE LORD HAS HEALED YOU.
THE PROOF IS IN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE WALKING. I PRAISED THE LORD FOR WHAT HE DID AND NOT
ME. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE CALLED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE LORD THEN GO AND DO IT. I TRY
AND NOT TELL ANYONE THAT I AM GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE LORD IN THIS WAY BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT THE devil will try and stop it. DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME TO KEEP THINGS TO YOURSELF AS MUCH
AS YOU CAN THAT THE LORD LEADS YOU TO DO. DO NOT GIVE THE devil an open door to come in and
try to destroy.
I HOPE THIS GIVES YOU THE STRENGTH TO MOVE OUT TO THE LORD IN THIS WAY IF YOU FEEL HIM
LEADING YOU TOO.