January 16, 2015

 

 

 

Let me share a "funny" with you as we get underway today. I've mentioned our six-year-old granddaughter, Jasmine, a couple of times over the past months. One night not too long ago, I was praying with Jasmine as she was going to bed. Because she'd had something of a rough day, I decided to pray with her in the Spirit. We started off praying together (she was following me) in English. When we reached a certain point, I switched and began praying in tongues.

 

When I finished praying, she looked at me and said, "Grandpa, what language was that?" I answered her that I didn't have any idea. That made no sense to her so she dug a little bit further. "How can you pray in a language you don't know?" "I yield to the Holy Spirit and He prays through me. When that happens He prays through me with exactly the right words that need to be said."

 

Jasmine smiled, looked a bit quizzically at me, and then said, "Grandpa, I like it when you do that! It feels really good!" Ever since that, whenever I've prayed with her, she often specifically asks that I "use that Angel language!" Kids!! They sure get it -- and often way ahead of adults!

 

It was back in 1949 in Rockford, Illinois, at an Oral Roberts tent crusade that I first heard the phrase, “Point of Contact.” In the years that followed, this phrase would become a central theme of Oral Roberts’ ministry. It was not until the 1970’s, however, that the impact of what he was teaching really struck home for me. We’ve all become familiar with the statement in the general epistle of James in which he writes:

 

James 5:14-15, KJV: "Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

 

What is missing in the KJV translation is a direct statement that the “praying over” someone incorporates the laying on of hands. The more accurate way to read this statement from the Greek is like this:

 

“Are there any sick or infirm among you? let them pray, laying hands upon him, anointing him with oil (and rubbing the oil into him) in the onoma (the character, the makeup, the very essence and nature) of the Lord: And the covenant command (in prayer) of faith shall save, heal, deliver and make whole the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be totally eradicated from him.” (RAC Translation and Amplification)

 

What James is getting at is that there is “a point of contact” between the Lord (through those praying and laying on hands) and the individual who is sick or suffering. That point of contact becomes the nexus where the power of God moves directly into the individual, eradicating and eliminating both the disease or sickness — AND the sin which brought about that sickness in the first place.

 

Oral Roberts’ revelation of “the point of contact” revolutionized his ministry, and acting in faith, he literally laid hands on tens of thousands of individuals. In every service of his that I ever attended, every single individual was healed. Blind eyes were opened, deaf ears were unstopped, people who had never been able to speak suddenly had their voices and could talk, cancers fell off, large growths (goiters) vanished in an instant, and in some cases, people suddenly lost 50—100 pounds of excess weight. (That was a bit humorous because you saw men and women suddenly grabbing at now grossly-oversize clothing that was falling off.)

 

[This environment of faith, incidentally, is the environment in which Kenneth Copeland developed his ministry.]

 

The actual contact between those praying in faith, and those receiving their healing, deliverance, and wholeness can be described as “the nexus of faith.” It is the point at which the physical power and the authority of God are released into the receiving individual.

 

In previous studies, we have talked about faith as being the actual “transporter mechanism” which carries and moves God’s power from the heavenlies into this time-space          realm, making that realm manifest for all who witness it.

 

But there’s more to it than that!

 

Most of us have watched Paul Keith Davis, or Chuck Pierce, or one of the other prophetic teachers at the end of their time of teaching when they begin to lay hands on the people as Holy Spirit directs them. Paul Keith frequently will say to the people, “I’m being directed to impart this anointing (for whatever area of impartation Holy Spirit happens to be emphasizing at that moment) to you, and I’d like for you to form a line in front.” He subsequently has other brethren join him as he either walks across the front laying hands on one person after another, or has people simply pass in front of him as he lays hands on them.

 

Sharing on a recent Sunday in Fort Worth was my first experience in doing that, and in fact, the first time I’ve ever been directed by Holy Spirit to impart specific revelation into folks by the laying on of hands. There is a transference by Holy Spirit which defies natural explanation. Sometimes we see specific gifts of the Spirit imparted as a point of contact occurs between the one directed by Holy Spirit and the recipient. Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy on two separate occasions:

 

I Timothy 1:18, NASB: “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience…”

 

II Timothy 1:5-7, KJV: “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

 

In the first instance, Paul notes that Timothy has been commissioned as a warrior after the Spirit. We don’t have a specific indication that this prophecy came with the laying on of hands, but in the second letter to Timothy Paul makes clear the fact that the gift of faith “that is in thee” … “is in thee by the laying on of my hands.”

 

Since faith, and the warring by faith noted in the first letter, is the same gift Paul refers to in his second letter, it takes no great stretch of imagination to realize that Timothy received an impartation of the gift of faith when Paul laid his hands on him and prophesied over him.

Consider what Paul writes to the Corinthians in his first epistle to them:

 

I Corinthians 12:1, 4-11, RAC Translation & Amplification: “Now with respect to spiritual impartations and manifestations (pneumatikos: literally, spirituals), my brethren, I don’t want you to lack understanding…

 

“Now there are divisions — distinct differences — of spiritual faculties, endowments, qualifications and gifts, but the same breath of Holy Spirit [breathing them]. And there are varieties of modes of service and means of administration, but it is the same Lord [in control]. And there are the same distinct [displays and manifestations] of supernatural energy, and it is still the same God effecting the workings of it all. The exhibition and bestowed expression of Holy Spirit is delivered and made available to each man or woman for the collective advancement and betterment of all [the members of the body].

 

“For to one is bestowed (with the striking of the hand [and in some instances], the palm of the hand) the divine expression of wisdom; to another, the divine release of knowledge and [even] scientific understanding by the same Holy Spirit; To another individual, faith, conviction and constancy to persuade (and extend the Kingdom) by the same Holy Spirit; and to another the miraculous faculty and endowment of healing by the same Holy Spirit;

 

“To yet another is given the divine energy to put on display force, miraculous power and strength; to another the ability to see [things to come, events, people] and prophetically decree; to another the capacity to detect, discern, and distinguish spirit beings [operating within individuals]; To yet another the ability to speak in a variety of languages previously not learned or acquired; and to another the miraculous ability to interpret and translate to the hearers [those same languages]: But all these gifts that same Holy Spirit energizes and activates, distributing to everyone (often in multiples) as He purposes and is so minded.”

 

Whewww!!! That’s a mouthful, I know, but there’s a fistful of revelation encompassed in this teaching by Paul.

 

You’ll notice the rather unusual statement that occurs when he begins with the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge. Here, the Greek text uses an application of the word, didomi, which means in this instance: to impart, to deliver, to bestow with the striking of the hand, or (in some cases) the palm of the hand.

 

This certainly is not the traditional idea of “the laying on of hands” as we would apply it. Let me give you some — shall we refer to them as “bizarre” — cases in which Holy Spirit has directed this kind of extraordinary action on the part of the individual imparting a gift from the Lord.

 

Those of you who remember the Lakeland Revival back in 2009 and 2010 will remember Todd Bentley striking someone in the stomach with his hand and seeing the individual healed of stomach cancer instantly. There were several instances in which Todd struck people in different places as healing, deliverance and revelation were imparted to them.

 

It sounds radical, and it almost seems cruel and abusive — and it would be if the individual who was being struck experienced hurt or pain — but in each case no pain was felt and each person received their complete and instant healing.

 

I think of the instance in Lethbridge, Alberta a few years ago when Della and I participated in a Seder Dinner for Passover. There was a gentleman there who had been dumb all of his life, and unable to speak clearly. The Lord sent a man into Lethbridge to seek out this man for his healing, his deliverance from this affliction, and his ability to speak the Word of the Lord clearly to all who would hear him.

 

When the two met, the prophet asked the dumb man to stick out his tongue. The prophet then coughed up some massive phlegm, took the spit, put it on the man’s tongue and told him to swallow it. Sounds insane, doesn’t it? Definitely “out of the box!” The man obeyed without hesitation and was instantly healed. He became an outstanding preacher and teacher of the Word as Holy Spirit not only set him free from his affliction, but imparted to him revelation and understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

On at least two occasions I have seen healing imparted to the deaf as the one ministering boxed the ears of the deaf man with his fists. On numerous other occasions I have seen the deaf healed and/or the blind eyes opened when the one ministering poked his fingers into the ears or the eyes.

 

We all tend to have mental blocks over the instruction of Holy Spirit. We analyze, we reason, we calculate, we justify our lack of responsiveness to Him because what He commands either doesn’t fit our traditional understanding, or it may cause us to look like weirdoes to onlookers, or because it makes us feel self-conscious, or because it just isn’t logical! More often than not, we have religious doctrines or traditions that interfere with our responses.

 

Holy Spirit is not weird! Holy Spirit is not trying to embarrass or make us look stupid. What He IS LOOKING FOR is unabashed and instantaneous obedience to His promptings. The results of obedience always manifest in the supernatural.

 

Many of you have heard me use this expression, and I’ve said this time and time again throughout the years: God’s objective is to make us become naturally supernatural, and supernaturally natural!

I don’t mean it as a cliché, but if we are to become the living Word in flesh, we have to be ready to do whatever Holy Spirit directs — no matter how silly or how strange it may seem!

 

One last item that I need to cover before we wrap up this portion of our study. Consider again something that Paul writes to Timothy:

 

I Peter 5:22, NASB: “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.”

 

The impartation that takes place by laying hands on someone can be bi-directional, as Paul makes clear in his letter to Timothy. What he is describing is reverse impartation.

 

Because we ONLY lay hands on people at the specific direction of Holy Spirit for the purpose of impartation, and that direction comes as we function and operate IN CHRIST, with He IN US, laying hands on someone just because we’ve gotten used to doing it can be dangerous — both to us and to the one we lay hands on. Take a look at another verse we can apply within the same context.

 

I Thessalonians 5:12, KJV: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you.”

 

I realize that I’m applying this verse somewhat out of its context in Paul’s message to the Thessalonians, but this Word strikes to the heart of the necessity of having revelation by the Spirit of those who minister among you and with you.

 

In 1973, Derek Prince was ministering at a conference at Carleton College in Santa Ana, California. He made the statement that he did not allow anyone to lay hands upon him whom he did not know by the Spirit, and whose ministry or doctrinal beliefs flowed counter to that which Holy Spirit was giving him.

 

It is a position Della and I have taken for many years. We do not allow folks to lay hands on us for the sake of impartation of healing or ministry of any kind who we do not know by the Spirit of God, lest we become a partaker of some area of unbelief or doubt in them, or if they hold strong doctrinal positions contrary to everything the Lord has built within us.

 

Wrapping up this area of study, this may seem like a strange application, but take a look at a couple things that David writes in the Psalms:

 

Psalm 8:4-6, KJV: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:"

 

What gets revealed here is the fact that the Lord has entrusted us with the “work of His hands:” hence, when we lay hands on people, we do so acting on His behalf, and in Him!

 

Psalm 144:1-2, KJV: "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me."

 

I frequently quote this verse in conjunction with the prophetic use of my hands and fingers in playing on the guitar and other instruments. My hands become His hands in conducting warfare and bringing down enemy strongholds.

We’ve run long and we're out of time. I could take this a lot farther, but this is as good a place as any to wrap up. This is foundational to us. We must know and use our hands with wisdom and revelation!

We have resumed our normal Healing Prayer Call schedule for Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 PM Eastern. Once again, the number to call for healing is (805) 399-1000. Then enter the access code: 124763#. To get into the queue for prayer, when Randy opens the call up for everyone, hit *6-1 on your keypad. Let us minister to your need for healing!

Blessings on you!