Is the anointing tangible and transferable;
can we impart it?
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--1Timothy 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 behaviour 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 of love and of 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.
Yet 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.
A 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 a 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 a
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 reads ‘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 who 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.