Pentecostal and Evangelical Deception on Healing.
This is not to say that God can’t heal nor am I saying we should not pray for the sick as God tells us to pray generally, but this is to refute anyone who has faith in healing, people need to realise that God does not always heal, the lesson is regardless of sickness, in life or death we need we need to stop focusing on this area, putting an end to our faith and trust in the outcome of miracles and start trusting in him to move according to his will and purposes, I was reminded of something I read in a Book called Mind Games written by an illusionist Andre Cole page 236: “How do we evaluate what is of God and what is of man? We are convinced that much of the confusion about healing stems from a misunderstanding of faith healing. Remember faith healing means that a person is relieved of symptoms or healed because of his faith.
The object of a person faith maybe God, a doctor, a faith healer, a psychic surgeon, or even a witch doctor. Claims of miraculous courses certainly are not confined to Christianity they occur in various cultural and religious settings throughout the world. Putting faith in someone and believing in your healing can have positive effects on certain diseases because that is how God created us. The bodies and minds God has given us have tremendous receptive abilities. But even the most charismatic healers can never cure some injuries and diseases.
Dr. William Nolen explains:
Patients that go to a…. service, paralyzed from the waist down as the result of damage to the spinal cord, never have been and never will be cured through the ministrations of the faith healer/evangelist, The patient who suddenly discovers that he can now move an arm or leg that was previously paralyzed had that paralysis as a result of an emotional, not a physical disturbance. Neurotics and hysterics will frequently be relieved of their symptoms by the suggestions and ministrations of charismatic healers. It is in treating patients of this sort of healers claim their most dramatic triumphs.
There is nothing miraculous about these cures. Psychiatric, internists, G.P.s, any M.D., who does psychiatric therapy, release thousands of such patients of their symptoms every year…..
A doctor sometimes uses the principles of faith to his advantage. He prescribes sugar pills to help a patient believes he is getting helpful medicine. He may use the suggestion “you should start feeling better in two days” sometimes this may help a person recover.
The point of that quotation is that healings do not always happen, this is not always down to a person’s lack of faith but the ones who emphases on healing are the ones who often lack faith in God themselves nor do they fully believe in the Bible, the scriptures themselves show us that Jesus did not heal everybody, consider the scriptures in John 5 we read that by the pool Bethesda Jesus found “a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered” (verse 3). After selecting only one man Jesus “slipped away while there was a crowd in that place” (verse 13). He could have healed everyone, but as in John 9 He chose to heal only one and for the glory of God, we do not see everyone
For example faith healer John Miller does misrepresent scripture, he puts it down to when a person does not get healed we then show a lack of faith in not trusting Jesus enough for healing, scriptural shows us this is not the case, healing does not always require faith, Jesus performed miracles even with disbelief among the disciples. The disciples could heal a boy of epilepsy and yet were unable to cast the demon out of a boy (Mt.17:14-21) he proceeds to do this and rebukes them for their unbelief, saying they need to pray and fast to see God move. In other words, you can’t just depend on the authority given to you; we need to rely on God.
In the Bible we read people were healed in spite of our lack of faith In Mt.13:58 we are told “he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. However, he did lay hands on a few sick people and healed them Mk.6:5.
We need to question John Miller and people like him who teaching is that faith is necessary for healing, faith healers like John Miller will always say “As an act of faith, put your hand on your area of need and believe Jesus for your healing” (Source YouTube) to show a transfer of Gods anointing.
If an act of faith is necessary for healing if this is the case then God is rather a limited, did God require the faith of job in the bible for him to be healed of leprosy that was inflicted by Satan to put Job to the test God allowed suffering to come upon Job. Does God need man’s faith to move upon someone to heal them? It is my belief that even God has even healed wicked men who had no faith in him, God does not require our faith in him for God to act according to his will, God does heal of his accord, but not always.
Is it always necessary to approach the faith healer for healing, the Bible shows the opposite consider the centurion in the Bible who sent his servant to ask Jesus to heal his son, Jesus was not present for that healing, this shows that faith healers are not necessary when you can go to Jesus we do not need the intervention of people to act as a go-between that is with man and God.
We need to read and consider the following:
True supernatural healings do not always require faith they are bestowed in mercy by the providence of God, neither do they require a laying on of hands to transfer the anointing from one person to another for it to occur. The healings that are from God are always 100% successful, without any relapses, and are almost always immediate. False and psychological healings require physical contact, they can have relapses, and do not heal organic disorders and are not usually immediate. Benny Hinn claims you must keep your faith for your healing, or the devil will come and steal it. Nowhere are God’s healings spoken of this way? Real miracles are under God’s control without the use of man, false miracles always come by man’s hands, and are done by their dictates.
2 Kings 13:14-20 Elisha died from a sickness even though he had a double portion. 1 Tim.5:23 Paul had Timothy to take wine for medicinal purposes. He didn’t tell him just to believe and have more faith. There is no teaching like this found in the Scripture.
2 Tim.4:20 ‘Trophimus I left in Miletus sick”. Trophemus was a companion of Paul and Paul left him as he went on. He did not lay hands on him, for whatever reason he was left behind to recuperate, nor did he encourage him to have faith to be healed. Neither did he send an anointed handkerchief.
Phil.2:26,30 Epaphroditus was a devoted servant of the Lord, yet he became sick. He got sick in Rome and stayed that way for some time and almost died. We see that prayers were not answered immediately until it was Gods will in his timing, it was not Gods will to heal him at first. No one came to lay hands on him or send him an anointed handkerchief nor was he rebuked for any lack of faith. God had mercy on him. We are no different in needing that mercy.
Acts 5:15 “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 (overshadow them) on some of them.” But he never made it a ministry nor do we hear of this becoming a practice by the Apostles. And he did not charge a fee for this either. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see this being revived and promoted today. Once again this involves an apostle, and he’s there present with them. It has to do with his presence as an apostle. What causes a shadow to come over another person? The shadow was cast by Peter leaning over them. It does not say they were healed by his shadow; they wanted him to come near.Rom.8:15 We live in a fallen world until the time of restoration, so for one to say all must be healed now they are ignoring the context of the greater portion of Scripture. What the faith teachers are doing is not dividing the word correctly. They are applying millennial blessings to us now; they think by faith we can obtain everything scripture says. That all the promises of God are yea and amen. This is true but they are not always for every believer, and there is Gods timing in it as well. Why claim only a physical healing with your faith? There is the scriptural promise of a new body so that we will never die. They should go all the way with their faith and claim this as well. But this is not rational to do. Because as we can see, there is timing, it is dependent on God to make this happen.
No amount of faith will bring the desired result of our escaping death.
Don’t think you are being neglected by the Holy Spirit if you believed and didn’t get healed. Don’t become guilt ridden thinking that the Lord is against you. Don’t conclude that because you have not been healed that you have an absence of faith or some secret sin that prevents your healing. You just might have God’s glory resting on you for a special purpose.
Take a good look at 1 Peter 2:21: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Here we are told that Jesus suffered, and He is an example for us all. We are to follow in His steps not by wanting to suffer, but when it comes be able to bear under it.
What can be the meaning of Philippians 3:10, which refers to “the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings?” Suffering is an integral part of the fact of life for both the unbeliever and the believer. For the believer, it is often used by God in the development and maturing of our faith. In the first few centuries many were tortured and killed for their faith, even today almost 160,000 Christians (that we know of, probably more like 250,000) throughout the world are killed for not renouncing their faith. To the faith movement, this would be considered not walking in Gods fullness since no one should be sick or die without living out a full life in years. Let’s do not forget the apostles all died prematurely, except one. Heb.11 proves that those who God uses to change history are almost always killed or suffer.
Mike Oppenheimer
When analytically looking at John Miller’s healing videos it is very common of what I have seen in other ministries that plenty of people make claims that the faith healing meetings they go to result often in people who are led to believe that they are healed, many have claimed that people like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Peter Popoff and others are the real deal and genuinely heal people without the reasonable amount of medical evidence including copies of doctor’s reports, etc. resulting in many believing in revivals, I genuinely think we should have learned since the Todd Bentley days.
It is always the case that the weak and vulnerable often fall into the hands of men like John Miller, I hope this explanation has helped.
What about impartation of gifts and healing?
Anything that is associated with importation is rooted in occultism; please consider the following scripture ”
1 Tim. 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,”
this theology is something that came out of the latter rain movement, my friend Mike Oppenheimer wrote on this subject confirms my belief on the matter that we cannot impart gifts on anyone it is unscriptural and promoted amongst many charismatic leaders.
Today the anointing has become a buzz word equal to power and authority. There is no such thing as buying an anointed audio tape or prayer cloth. That by listening or using it, one will inherit its power or gain revelation. This is classic occultism, to present the Holy Spirit functioning in this manner is to misrepresent not only his activities but his personhood as God.Nowhere do we find Paul saying to bring handkerchiefs to him and he will place his hands on it (Acts 19:12). How to perform miracles or obtain stronger anointing’s are not taught in Scripture, nor throughout Church history. This is being taught only recently by those who promote power crusades of miracles and healing.
Those who claim giftings like the apostles are far removed from what the scriptures teach. When apostles laid hands on people, the Holy Spirit was not coming from them. Acts 19 tells us that when Paul laid hands on some believers from Ephesus the Spirit came epi, upon them, not dia, through him. The Spirit did not come through Paul’s hands but it came upon, from above. In every New Testament example the gift of the Spirit was given from Christ above, and through the APOSTLES MINISTRY, not by any other person (Acts 2,8,10,19). It is clear these manifestations of miracles were not available to all Christians. We do not read anywhere of Paul transmitting his anointing to others by the laying on of hands, as some think Elisha received from Elijah.
Those who claim apostolic offices today are mostly biblically and historically illiterate. Apostolic succession comes from Roman Catholicism and Mormonism, not from historic Christianity, nor Protestantism. We do not see the anointing portrayed as a supernatural power given to the disciples so they can go city to city to do the miraculous, or give others an experience.
The great Miracles done in the early Church were clearly apostolic. These were signs to prove their ministry to the unbelievers. Today these are supposed signs to the believer. Paul in 2 Cor. 12:12 appealed to the signs he worked as one of his proofs of his apostleship, (but not as THE sign). So it is clear the same manifestations of miracles was not available to all Christians. We do not read anywhere of Paul transmitting his anointing to others by the laying on of hands? Neither does Jesus teach on how to obtain or release the anointing, yet we do find him teaching on prayer and following after him.
Acts 19:11-12: “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 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.” Theses were extraordinary not common miracles and they were by his hands as an apostle these signs would follow them. This is not a normal practice for a regular Christian nor was it one for the apostles. Paul did not put his hands on other peoples prayer clothes for them to get it, there was no transference involved. It could mean he used these to wipe the sick and they got healed, but it wasn’t the handkerchief ministry, anymore than Jesus taught to practice here’s mud or spit in your eye ministry. Paul did not distribute clothes for people to release their faith they were healed by the clothes by their being laid on the sick persons body.
(Strong’s Concordance #4612 simikinthion– a narrow apron, or a linen covering, which workmen and servants were accustomed to wear. This was something that Paul wore himself, his own clothing that was used, and I hope I’m not giving anyone any new Ideas.)
There is no such thing as “point-of-contact” as what the new Charismatics teach by a prayer cloth or through physical objects like the TV. The Holy Spirit does not come by men’s hands through images on TV or pictures or inanimate objects. This is a subtle form of Idolatry. You can’t transfer the anointing (Holy Spirit) by your own commands, but they can transfer someone’s money from their account into their own. That’s the extent of our current modern day miracles from the new anointed leaders!
The Montanist movement in the early church would be a similar model that is copied today, yet the Church condemned them for their heresy. Not just for the excess in their prophesying and tongues. They declared the age of the Holy Spirit had come and the end of the world was soon coming. Their practice was imparting the anointing and spiritual gifts to others.
But didn’t Christ say in John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I am going to the Father.” The word for “greater” is meizon which means in greater degree, not greater in nature but larger in extension. The word for “works” is ergon. It means (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); an activity if Jesus meant miracles he would have used dunamis as with power.
During His ministry time on earth, Jesus had confined in His influence to the Jews in Palestine. After His departure, His apostles and followers were able to go to places he never did having their influence reach much larger numbers all over the world. We also can do greater works, as in more abundance, because the ministry of the Spirit is not limited to one only, but now has many. Greater is in reference to number, not in quality or nature. Our extent will have a greater affect. The apostles never did a greater miracle than the resurrection or make the blind see, nor we can. What is greater is the ability to bring someone in a direct contact with Christ and have the Holy Spirit live in them by their believing the gospel, this was something that was not offered at the time he said this.
Yet read in context he also states afterward, “Whatever you Ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son.” In other words by prayer and following his will this will be accomplished. Notice he will do this, it is not that one goes around using the power at their own volition.
Many describe a change of personality when this power comes on them. Others can see the moment this takes place. When the anointing comes on them they are a different person, they become loud, rude, moved by a power beyond normal. They can become violent and out of control, and may not even remember what they said or did under the influence. If this isn’t their own pumping themselves up then it is of great concern. Then this has to be another spirit, because 1 Jn.2:27 says that he is in us already, and they do not act like this all the time, so something “new” is occurring, something that is certainly not described in the Scripture. Can you picture the Apostle’s Paul or Peter running up to people slapping them on the side of their head, yelling about the power or lining people up to be slain. Today perspiration has been mistaken for inspiration.
There is nothing written in the in the Old Testament or New Testament of any methodology, formulas, or keys, by which individuals can receive the anointing, increase the anointing, have different anointing’s or loose the anointing on others. So where does this teaching come from? They explain it with circular reasoning, it comes from new revelation, which one can only have by receiving the new anointing, but one can only get the new revelation by the anointing.
When the Samaritans in Acts 8 and the Gentiles in Acts 10 received the Holy Spirit it was a shock to the Jewish believers. This was not the normal occurrence to see people receive the Spirit by someone laying hands on them, or falling on them and as a group speaking another language. While the Samaritans had the apostles lay hands on them, this was a one time occurrence. They didn’t have to do this every time someone came into the body of Christ. They were approving of God’s work in and toward them giving them his blessing. It was Paul who said to Timothy (1 Tim.5:22) not to lay hands on people quickly, to avoid partaking in their sins. Essentially the laying on of hands was to approve someone into ministry or speak or approve a blessing.
There is another laying on of hands that we seem to overlook. In Acts 4 Peter and John spoke to the religious leaders boldly of what is right before God, they spoke of his resurrection giving them the Gospel. In vs. 3 it states from their being so disturbed that they rebuked the popular leaders in office, “they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day.” It appears this kind of laying on of hands is spiritually applied to those who speak out against false representations of the Holy Spirit.
When the apostles laid hands on people it wasn’t to give there anointing. In Ex.30:32 Israel was told not to mix the oil to another. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, God’s anointing. Incense has to do with worship and prayer. Vs.34 no oil and no incense is to be mixed either. Do these people who are promoting this anointing have a crucified life or are they living lavishly. Jesus was anointed for burial in the house of Mary and Martha before he was exalted before his brethren. Which tells us that we need to die to our self first before we can exhibit the true power of God. It always the flesh being aroused and exhibited instead in the background and Jesus in the forefront. God wants the church to be honest of our need. To really say we are broken and in need not saying we have it and are going to give it out. You can make a corpse look alive with a lot of perfume and activity but underneath it still stinks of death. What did Paul say the proof of his anointing was? His miracles? No! Signs and wonders or his wealth? No! It was I bear the marks of Christ on my body, fulfilling the suffering. He died to his old life, he first was anointed for his burial, so God anointed him with his power to new life.
Today the anointing has become a buzz word equal to power and authority. There is no such thing as buying an anointed audio tape or prayer cloth. That by listening or using it, one will inherit its power or gain revelation. This is classic occultism, to present the Holy Spirit functioning in this manner is to misrepresent not only his activities but his personhood as God.Nowhere do we find Paul saying to bring handkerchiefs to him and he will place his hands on it (Acts 19:12). How to perform miracles or obtain stronger anointing’s are not taught in Scripture, nor throughout Church history. This is being taught only recently by those who promote power crusades of miracles and healing.
Those who claim giftings like the apostles are far removed from what the scriptures teach. When apostles laid hands on people, the Holy Spirit was not coming from them. Acts 19 tells us that when Paul laid hands on some believers from Ephesus the Spirit came epi, upon them, not dia, through him. The Spirit did not come through Paul’s hands but it came upon, from above. In every New Testament example the gift of the Spirit was given from Christ above, and through the APOSTLES MINISTRY, not by any other person (Acts 2,8,10,19). It is clear these manifestations of miracles were not available to all Christians. We do not read anywhere of Paul transmitting his anointing to others by the laying on of hands, as some think Elisha received from Elijah.
Those who claim apostolic offices today are mostly biblically and historically illiterate. Apostolic succession comes from Roman Catholicism and Mormonism, not from historic Christianity, nor Protestantism. We do not see the anointing portrayed as a supernatural power given to the disciples so they can go city to city to do the miraculous, or give others an experience.
The great Miracles done in the early Church were clearly apostolic. These were signs to prove their ministry to the unbelievers. Today these are supposed signs to the believer. Paul in 2 Cor. 12:12 appealed to the signs he worked as one of his proofs of his apostleship, (but not as THE sign). So it is clear the same manifestations of miracles was not available to all Christians. We do not read anywhere of Paul transmitting his anointing to others by the laying on of hands? Neither does Jesus teach on how to obtain or release the anointing, yet we do find him teaching on prayer and following after him.
Acts 19:11-12: “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 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.” Theses were extraordinary not common miracles and they were by his hands as an apostle these signs would follow them. This is not a normal practice for a regular Christian nor was it one for the apostles. Paul did not put his hands on other peoples prayer clothes for them to get it, there was no transference involved. It could mean he used these to wipe the sick and they got healed, but it wasn’t the handkerchief ministry, anymore than Jesus taught to practice here’s mud or spit in your eye ministry. Paul did not distribute clothes for people to release their faith they were healed by the clothes by their being laid on the sick persons body.
(Strong’s Concordance #4612 simikinthion– a narrow apron, or a linen covering, which workmen and servants were accustomed to wear. This was something that Paul wore himself, his own clothing that was used, and I hope I’m not giving anyone any new Ideas.)
There is no such thing as “point-of-contact” as what the new Charismatics teach by a prayer cloth or through physical objects like the TV. The Holy Spirit does not come by men’s hands through images on TV or pictures or inanimate objects. This is a subtle form of Idolatry. You can’t transfer the anointing (Holy Spirit) by your own commands, but they can transfer someone’s money from their account into their own. That’s the extent of our current modern day miracles from the new anointed leaders!
The Montanist movement in the early church would be a similar model that is copied today, yet the Church condemned them for their heresy. Not just for the excess in their prophesying and tongues. They declared the age of the Holy Spirit had come and the end of the world was soon coming. Their practice was imparting the anointing and spiritual gifts to others.
But didn’t Christ say in John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I am going to the Father.” The word for “greater” is meizon which means in greater degree, not greater in nature but larger in extension. The word for “works” is ergon. It means (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); an activity if Jesus meant miracles he would have used dunamis as with power.
During His ministry time on earth, Jesus had confined in His influence to the Jews in Palestine. After His departure, His apostles and followers were able to go to places he never did having their influence reach much larger numbers all over the world. We also can do greater works, as in more abundance, because the ministry of the Spirit is not limited to one only, but now has many. Greater is in reference to number, not in quality or nature. Our extent will have a greater affect. The apostles never did a greater miracle than the resurrection or make the blind see, nor we can. What is greater is the ability to bring someone in a direct contact with Christ and have the Holy Spirit live in them by their believing the gospel, this was something that was not offered at the time he said this.
Yet read in context he also states afterward, “Whatever you Ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son.” In other words by prayer and following his will this will be accomplished. Notice he will do this, it is not that one goes around using the power at their own volition.
Many describe a change of personality when this power comes on them. Others can see the moment this takes place. When the anointing comes on them they are a different person, they become loud, rude, moved by a power beyond normal. They can become violent and out of control, and may not even remember what they said or did under the influence. If this isn’t their own pumping themselves up then it is of great concern. Then this has to be another spirit, because 1 Jn.2:27 says that he is in us already, and they do not act like this all the time, so something “new” is occurring, something that is certainly not described in the Scripture. Can you picture the Apostle’s Paul or Peter running up to people slapping them on the side of their head, yelling about the power or lining people up to be slain. Today perspiration has been mistaken for inspiration.
There is nothing written in the in the Old Testament or New Testament of any methodology, formulas, or keys, by which individuals can receive the anointing, increase the anointing, have different anointing’s or loose the anointing on others. So where does this teaching come from? They explain it with circular reasoning, it comes from new revelation, which one can only have by receiving the new anointing, but one can only get the new revelation by the anointing.
When the Samaritans in Acts 8 and the Gentiles in Acts 10 received the Holy Spirit it was a shock to the Jewish believers. This was not the normal occurrence to see people receive the Spirit by someone laying hands on them, or falling on them and as a group speaking another language. While the Samaritans had the apostles lay hands on them, this was a one time occurrence. They didn’t have to do this every time someone came into the body of Christ. They were approving of God’s work in and toward them giving them his blessing. It was Paul who said to Timothy (1 Tim.5:22) not to lay hands on people quickly, to avoid partaking in their sins. Essentially the laying on of hands was to approve someone into ministry or speak or approve a blessing.
There is another laying on of hands that we seem to overlook. In Acts 4 Peter and John spoke to the religious leaders boldly of what is right before God, they spoke of his resurrection giving them the Gospel. In vs. 3 it states from their being so disturbed that they rebuked the popular leaders in office, “they laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day.” It appears this kind of laying on of hands is spiritually applied to those who speak out against false representations of the Holy Spirit.
When the apostles laid hands on people it wasn’t to give there anointing. In Ex.30:32 Israel was told not to mix the oil to another. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, God’s anointing. Incense has to do with worship and prayer. Vs.34 no oil and no incense is to be mixed either. Do these people who are promoting this anointing have a crucified life or are they living lavishly. Jesus was anointed for burial in the house of Mary and Martha before he was exalted before his brethren. Which tells us that we need to die to our self first before we can exhibit the true power of God. It always the flesh being aroused and exhibited instead in the background and Jesus in the forefront. God wants the church to be honest of our need. To really say we are broken and in need not saying we have it and are going to give it out. You can make a corpse look alive with a lot of perfume and activity but underneath it still stinks of death. What did Paul say the proof of his anointing was? His miracles? No! Signs and wonders or his wealth? No! It was I bear the marks of Christ on my body, fulfilling the suffering. He died to his old life, he first was anointed for his burial, so God anointed him with his power to new life.
Is the anointing tangible and transferable; can we impart it?
– Mike Oppenheimer
Hebrews 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 faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
The laying on of hands has become an enlarged subject because of its use in the church today. The Bible considers it part of the ABC’s of doctrine along with repentance and baptism.
In the Old Testament It was a symbolic act accompanying a prayer for a blessing, at other times it was accompanied the word of prophecy being spoken or to affirm one into ministry. There is no Biblical basis for associating laying on of hands with a transmission of a mantle or transferring the anointing from one person to another.
It is found in the book of Acts as the practice to commission someone into ministry. The laying on of hands has become a Pentecostal tradition that is removed from its original meaning in Scripture. Touching people on the forehead or chest, so they fall is considered a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit. But none of this is found in the Acts of the Apostles or taught in the Epistles that instructed the church.
Paul writes — 1 Timothy 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.” In other words, God spoke what he was doing in Timothy, and they approved of him into ministry even though he was young. What was this gift? The previous verse tells us V.13-Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
Paul laying hands on Timothy was not with the intention to pass on a gift or power or result in the abnormal behavior as we see today ‘It affirmed the gift they saw working in him which resulted in his appointment to be a pastor. Timothy came under attack as a young pastor and Paul had to reaffirm to him in 2 Timothy 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. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” In other words, he should not cave under pressure from others because of his youth, he was approved by God and through the apostles.
What does this have to do with what we see today? Next to nothing. What we see are people lined up as the anointer comes to lay hands on people in line or sporadically wanders through the audience touching them to pass on what he has.
Paul counseled Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:21-22:“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.” Timothy was to lay hands on people as approval for their call into ministry, but he must make sure.
Power called the “anointing” is being transferred by the touch of one person to another. However, the message of the Christian faith was to be spread by teaching from one to another. One is subjective, and the other is objective.
Paul instructs Timothy ‘And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.’ (2 Timothy 2.2) True spiritual growth comes through the testing of our faith, by our consistent reading, understanding and applying the Word in our lives. NOT by an impartation or an experience at a special meeting. Those who promise a quick transformation from a touch or impartation, are not delivering the truth that is taught in the Bible.
Many today are taught to get an impartation from the anointed preacher. There is no need when Scripture states we all have the same standing before God; all believers have the same Holy Spirit and Christ as our mediator. We can all receive from Jesus, who is the one we should all be seeking. Going to a certain person or meeting to seek an anointing by impartation is unbiblical. No other person is to be our mediator to receive the Holy Spirit. Whenever men become mediators, Christ’s teachings diminish and men’s teachings increase. We are then giving them, not the Lord control over our lives.
Laying hands on the sick to pray is not the same as imparting the spirit and watching them buckle.
A ‘transferable anointing’ is not seen nor practiced anywhere in Scripture. We also find that the Apostles did not rush around laying hands on people to impart an experience of ‘fire’ or power. They did not chant words over and over and expect an immediate response. The impartations done today that come through certain men are not the true anointing, who is the Spirit of God. Only God can give the Spirit; Jesus is the baptizer of the Holy Spirit, not man. Man cannot control God there is no teaching on how to obtain or release the anointing to another.
Acts 8 is an interesting passage in which Philip preaches in Samaria, and many people are saved, but Peter has to come from Jerusalem to lay hands on the people so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When Simon the Sorcerer sees something spiritual happened, and he offered to pay for the ability to pass on the Spirit to others. Acts 8:19-20 “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
One wonders what would be the difference of today’s signs and wonders preachers that claim this ability. Peter said ‘Your money perish with you because you thought the gift of God could be purchased with money. … Repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned with bitterness and bound by iniquity.’ (Acts 8.22-23).
Corinthians read ‘Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.’ We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit living inside us. 1 John 2.27: ‘These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true and is not a lie and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.’ The anointing which is the Holy Spirit is in us; it is He who guides us into the truth so we can glorify the Lord Jesus (John 1613-15). We certainly are not glorifying the Lord when we go to men to get the Holy Spirit; it is a lack of understanding and a lack of faith.
http://www.letusreason.org/Biblexp99.htm
Miguel Hayworth – 2016
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