Laying On Of
Hands – Why Does it Not Work Like It Should? Tony Sanchez
5-24-19
Is the lack of healing a God thing? Not according to Scripture. Mark 16:18 says “…… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Again, in James 5:14 it says, “Is
anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. We all want the blessings which happened at
the cross. We have been born again
because of the death of Jesus Christ.
God want us to be healed spiritually rather than having to go to healing
and deliverance ministries. He wants to heal all of us so we can practice
righteousness and have peace. So, why
does the laying on of hands and prayer not working like it should? Why are only five percent being healed?
So, what is keeping us from receiving healing? Did the persecution and death of Jesus Christ
tell us we are healed by His strips? But He was wounded for our transgressions (continued
sin even though we know it is wrong), He
was bruised for our iniquities (wickedness from the generations and us that
is at work within us); The chastisement
for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed Isaiah 53:5. Jesus died on the cross for our sins so
that we receive healing. Perhaps we have
to look at ourselves to determine why we are not being healed. Not getting healed is certainly not a God
thing.
What are the things hindering our healing and the ability of
those laying of hands on you so that you may be healed? It goes without saying, 1.) Sin and 2.) Not trusting
in what God says in His Word (Jesus). What sin is hindering your healing?
Hinderances
– Dead Works
Dead works leads to death. Anger, back biting, bitterness,
blaming, clamor - loud shouting, covertness, criticizing, envy, lack of faith, no
repentance, murmuring/complaining, fear (anxiety, worry, stress, gossiping,
hatred, hatred of self, hopelessness, , idolatry, jealousy, rage, rejection,
rejection of self, self-pity, shame, slander, un-forgiveness, un-forgiveness of
self, unloving, unloving of self, and wrath to name a few. All of these sins have a profound effect on
our health and hinders our ability to be healed. When you take ownership of this sin, you disown God.
What does the bible say about sin that hinders us and will
keep from the kingdom of God?
1 Cor 6:9-10 Do you
not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,
nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But
you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of
the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which
are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;
of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph 5:5 For this you
know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Colossians 3:5-6
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of
disobedience.
Colossians 3:8 But
now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy language out of your mouth.
Revelation 22:15 But
outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and
idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Laying on of
Hands
Ultimately, who is responsible for you to receive
healing? Is it the person that is laying
hands on you and praying? Or is it the
responsibility of the person receiving prayer?
Answer: It is the person
receiving prayer. Although, it is the
responsibility of the person laying on of hands to show those being prayed for
how to be healed successfully according to God’s word. Certainly, more than
five percent should be getting healed.
The Six
Basic Doctrines
Many Christians don’t know this, but the Bible details six
doctrines that will ensure a sound spiritual foundation:
Hebrews 6:1-2 (KJV)
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.
The writer of Hebrews was lamenting that the believers he
was addressing needed to be taught these basic doctrines all over again when
they should’ve been teachers by this point in Hebrews 5:11-12 (of whom we
have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach
you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need
milk and not solid food). Notice that knowing these six elementary
doctrines is spoken of in terms of “laying” a “foundation.” In other words,
these teachings are the elementary
understructure for every Christian. They are as follows:
- Repentance
from dead works that lead to death
- Faith
in God.
- Instructions
about baptisms.
- The
laying on of hands.
- The resurrection of the dead.
- Eternal judgment.
When you fully understand these basic doctrines, no one will
be able to lead you astray with false doctrine. For instance, some Christians
falsely teach that it’s not necessary for believers to keep in continuous
repentance, but the very first elementary doctrine contradicts this. Some say
that spiritual rebirth isn’t biblical, but the third doctrine disproves this.
Some say that everyone will ultimately be saved regardless of the evil they
chose to practice without repentance, but the sixth doctrine refutes this.
Simply put, the six basic doctrines will protect you from doctrinal error.
I’ve never heard a message on the six doctrines of Jesus
Christ until recently. The more I
studied these doctrines, the more it made me understand how important these
doctrines are for our healing. There is
a progression to reaching the end result of complete healing. Note: These are
not doctrines of God, but cannot be done apart from the dependence on the help
of God. They are doctrines of Jesus
Christ.
1.) Repentance – Repentance in the dictionary is
turning from sin and taking responsibility for wrongdoing. The Bible says Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19. This
is the first step. Interesting that
faith is second. For repentance to be
effective it must be combined with
faith, which is the second basic doctrine, otherwise repentance
is just a dead exercise. It is of the utmost importance to your
spiritual health to grasp this. How can one have faith if sin is dominating
one’s life? Revelation 3:19 As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten (correct by punishment or suffering). Therefore, be
zealous and repent. Unfortunately,
the repentance is message is absent in the church and Body of Jesus Christ.
2.) Faith – Faith can only come from a new heart,
regenerated by God and is a gift from God. It is the unique way that God uses
to bring salvation to his people. We strengthen our faith by reading the Bible
and hearing the gospel. The more we immerse ourselves in truth, the more our
confidence grows. Everyone who is saved has been gifted faith. It is the
ability to believe God is who He says He is, trusting Him in all things for all
things. Faith also helps to combat unbelief and motivates us to do what God
desires us to do. Not only do we grow our faith by reading Scripture and praying
in our own time, but also by hearing the message in church with other
believers. And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he
exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Hebrews 11:6. The Bible says that faith is confidence in
what we hope for and the assurance that the Lord is working, even though we
cannot see it. Faith knows that no matter what the situation, in our lives or
someone else’s, that the Lord is working in it.
It’s interesting that repentance and faith are the first two
basic doctrines of Christianity because these are the conditions to receiving
God’s gift of eternal salvation, testifying
to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21. As Believers, our faith in God and His Word
(Jesus) should be uncompromised.
3.) Baptisms – The Greek word for ‘baptize’ is
baptizó (bap-TID-zoh), which means “overwhelmed, covered or submerged.” The
noun form is in the plural in Hebrews 6:2 because there is more than one baptism
in Christianity. Every believer should experience all baptisms. We are going to study four baptisms in this
lesson.
a.) Water Baptism – Baptism in
water is simply a public proclamation
of the believer’s baptism into God the Father. Acts 10:47-48 is a good example.
Four things about water baptism you should know: 1. It is an outward expression
of a personal decision already made. 2. It
doesn’t symbolize washing, but rather death, death to the sin nature. 3. Being
lifted out of the water symbolizes resurrection to a new life. 4. Believers are
to be baptized “in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19.
b.) Holy Spirit Baptism – As
like Jesus. When you’re born of the
Spirit, the Spirit is in you
(Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the
Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he is not His & 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are
not your own?), whereas when you’re baptized in the Spirit, the Spirit is all
over you because you’re covered or overwhelmed by the Spirit. Note: Just because a Christian is baptized in
the Spirit and can speak in tongues it does not mean that he or she is walking
in the spirit.
c.) Baptism by Fire – Matthew 3:11-12 I indeed baptize you with
water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose
sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His
threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.” This is purging of dishonor, un-righteous,
the sin of iniquities, and trespasses. It is the full immersion of the Father,
the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.
d). Baptism into One Body – First Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “For as
the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have
all been made to drink into one Spirit.” The Body today is just the church.
This is an interchangeable term for the church. The church is the Body, and the
Body is the church. The Body is something altogether in the Spirit. We all have
been baptized in the Spirit, into one Body. In one Spirit. We all have been baptized in the same way.
The Body is one together. We cannot
separate from one another or we will be defeated. We must all realize that the
Body of Christ is the church. By baptism, the Body is produced and brought
forth in this universe in the sight of God.
The Body has been granted great authority and power in the name of Jesus
and by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need a relationship with the Body to
overcome the evil one.
4.) Laying on of Hands – Why
Does it Not Work Like It Should? What should we do if it is not working? Pray more?
Laying on of hands is not the first doctrine (teaching) of Jesus
Christ. It is repentance, faith, and
baptisms. The six doctrines are progressive. One has to learn one before the other to be
effective. If we are in sin and have no
faith, we can’t expect those who are laying hands on you and praying to be
effective in your healing. Sin will keep
you in a spirit of stupor, Romans 11:8
Just as it is written: “God has given
them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they
should not hear, To this very day.” Again,
the person praying for you is not responsible for your sin. It is you!
Although, it is the responsibility of the person laying on of hands to
teach you the steps (doctrines of Jesus Christ) as we are commanded in the Great
Commission, And He said to them, “Go
into all the world and preach (teach) the gospel to every creature Mark 16:15. Perhaps God is not answering our prayers
because we are not following what He tells us to do?
The first four doctrines prepare
us for eternity as it applies to the last two doctrines.
5.) The Resurrection of the Dead
– The resurrection of Jesus by God who raised Jesus from the dead after his
crucifixion. The Apostle Paul explained the theological significance of the
resurrection as God's revelation of His purpose, which is the redemption of the
world. It is best to let Scripture teach
us about the resurrection of the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:12-32 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised
from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the
dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is
also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have
testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact
the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If
in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of
those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came
the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all
shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He
delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all
authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His
feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all
things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is
evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all
things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to
Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 29 Otherwise,
what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at
all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in
jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ
Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with
beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us
eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
6.) Eternal judgment – For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body,
according to what he has done, whether good or bad, 2 Corinthians 5:10. The
judgment seat is more than a place where people are known for what they have
done. There is a purpose involved; they will be there in order that judgment be
passed on them for what they have done or failed to do. "Each" (the
word is important as showing the universality of the judgment) "will
receive what is due, " which makes it clear that justice will be done. That "each" will receive what is
due makes it clear that Christ's judgment is to be an individual matter.
Eighty percent of the sickness
issues in Believers is servanthood to sin, (And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin Romans 8:10). Sin has trained us and we are dead as a
result. Only five percent of the sick
are being healed because we are not following instructions by God. He gives us the keys to healing in His Word.
God gave us power and authority
to lay hands on the sick and he promised they would recover, (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” Mark
16:18
He has given us the six
doctrines of Jesus Christ for those who need to be healed. Are we going to teach them so the sick may be
healed? So, the question must be asked again: Why is the laying on of hands not
working as it should?
In conclusion: I want to share a
short story of a pastor who was laying on of hands and they were not being
healed. He could not understand why. So,
he asked the Lord and God gave the pastor a very clear answer. God said “My people are not being healed
because I am not their Lord.” If I
regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear Psalm 66:18.
