Scripture reading: Matthew 8:5-10
Let us look at the principle of “laying on of hands” today. For context, we are going to read Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
“Laying on of hands.” What is that? I didn’t know that the laying on of hands was a foundation doctrine. You know, some people love to touch everybody. “Laying on of hands” is a basic foundation doctrine. WHY? Because that which is in me can be imparted to you by my laying hands on you, and contacting heaven OR hell.
I remember one day a man was preaching. He got so excited that he started shouting. Then he ran down and slapped his hand on my head. I didn’t get rid of the headache all day. It was difficult for me to shake that headache. I am not a person to have a headache but as the guy put his hand on my head, my head began to split; I had a headache all day. We had to go home and pray and fight to get away from the thing that that man put on me, because it was something on him. Believe me, brethren, you can be wide open. Amen.
I have seen a homosexual teacher teach children, and several of them grow up and become homosexuals. He never told them to; he just imparted it to them. You can lay hands physically; you can lay hands spiritually. I can lay hands on you without touching you. The Lord God Almighty is saying that the church must be aware of the power of imparting the things of God from one to another. God wants that same mind that is in Christ Jesus to be in you also (Philippians 2:5).
The centurion came to Jesus and said, “My servant is sick and is dying at home.” Jesus said, “I will come with you.” But he corrected Jesus. Did you hear me? He corrected Jesus. He said, “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:9). He understood Jesus more than the disciples. He said, “You don’t have to come to my house, just speak the word. Just speak the word and it is done.”
We speak carelessly sometimes. Lord, forgive us, have mercy upon us, as a church, as a body, as a people. We speak careless things at times. Is it the same mouth that you used to speak a careless joke, or a careless thought, that you expect to use to speak righteousness and power? When you are ready to speak, nothing but noise will come out of your mouth.
God is saying that there is a position; now, we are still in the Outer Court. We haven’t gone into the real deep things of God yet. The laying on of hands is a basic Outer Court doctrine that every son of God must learn and know. Lay your hands on your children and bless them. Oh, yes. If you curse them, they are cursed. If you bless them, they are blessed. If you put a curse upon one, the child will have to fight a long time to get rid of that which has been put upon him, maybe by his parents, maybe his friends or sometimes it could be by an acquaintance.
For instance, a curse can be put upon a child by calling him a certain name. I will give you a name, for instance, Damon. Do you know someone called Damon? It is another way of saying that you are a demon [Strong’s Concordance #G1142 – a dæmon or supernatural spirit (of a bad nature):—devil.] If you call a person Damon, you are calling him a demon. He has to fight hard to get away.
What I am saying is that the mouth that speaketh righteousness cannot just get up and speak sin. And there are mouths that speak sin that cannot just get up and speak righteousness. The reason it works is because we are working with a body of spirits, both good spirits and evil spirits. Anything you say, they hold you to it. Did you know that? Anything you say, they hold you to it. You just keep on repeating God, the words of God and good and wonderful things, and evil ones will keep away from you. God bless you.
(Excerpt from Keeping in Touch, December 2007, pg. 7-8)
Thought for today: The mouth that speaks righteousness cannot just get up and speak sin. And mouths that speak sin cannot just get up and speak righteousness.
Sonlight Devotional 