Recently, I received a teaching tape in the mail of a pastor who does
not believe in the laying on of hands for impartation of spiritual
gifts. He taught that when the Bible refers to Paul imparting some
spiritual gift, that it was a mistranslation and that the word
impartation, according to the Greek, should be replaced with the word
share. To me it makes no difference when differentiations of a single
Greek word vary in meaning as long the context of what is being said
remains the same. When translating a single Greek word, the translation
must remain consistent with other biblical truths.
In
the case of impartation of spiritual gifts or the sharing of spiritual
gifts, what difference does it make if the results are the same? When we
share, we impart. Something of God is transferred.
The
Bible is full of stories that involve impartation. Sometimes it is
through the laying on of hands. It could be anointing with oil, Peters
shadow, Paul’s blessed handkerchiefs, Elijah lying on a dead boy or the
hem of Jesus’ garment.
The Bible calls us the light of
the world and the salt of the earth. Everywhere you go you impart light,
and as salt you impart a preserving influence on the earth. Jesus said,
"Freely you have received so freely give." Peter had something to give
when he said to the lame man "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I
have give I thee." He had something to impart: the healing virtue of
Jesus Christ.
Paul admonished Timothy to stir up the
gift that was in him by the putting on of Paul’s hands. A spiritual gift
was imparted from Paul to Timothy by the Holy Ghost.
God
does not need man in order to work a miracle of healing or to impart
some spiritual gift but he does choose to use men and women to
administer those gifts and callings.
David did not become the king of Israel until Samuel anointed him to be the king.
In
Numbers 11, God took of the Spirit that was upon Moses and put it upon
the seventy. It was God who initiated it. Every good and perfect gift
comes from him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
When
we preach the gospel, God gives the increase. Only God can heal, and
save, and anoint. When we preach truth, we impart truth. When we lay
hands on the sick, we impart the healing virtue that only God can give
but he uses ordinary people to do it.
God could speak
with or without prophets but he has chosen to speak through his prophets
that have been (as the scripture says) "since the world began." God has
always used people to minister to people, apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers. Teachers teach the word of God but
only God can give the increase.
I have heard people
say, "If God wants to save me, he’ll save me." No, you must respond to
his invitation. Others say. "If God wants me to speak in tongues I’ll
speak in tongue." Or, "If God has something to say to me he’s got my
number, I don’t need some prophet."
If you become so
religious that you cannot receive anyone who has a word from the Lord
for you, you will most likely develop a deaf ear and all you will hear
is yourself. You will begin to follow your own preconceived notions that
stem from nothing more that your own opinions. You might even begin to
doubt the scriptures, because after all, they were written by man.
Always
keep in mind that God uses people to reach people. The scripture says,
"How will they hear without a preacher?" The devil says, why go to
church, you don’t need a preacher; you can stay home and hear God for
yourself, or just watch it on TV. Speaking in tongues is weird and not
for someone as sophisticated as you; anyway you have seen too many
counterfeits to seek that gift; plus it’s to one - someone else, not
you. Why even be a Christian, look at all those hypocrites out there.
You don’t need to call the elders of the church to anoint you with oil
and pray over you for healing, after all, they can’t impart anything.
Satan
is a liar and the father of lies. He will always question the miracle
of divine providence and will use any excuse he can to get you to stop
seeking after the supernatural things of God. He attacks the
supernatural move of God’s Spirit and attempts to take the miracle out
of the miraculous.
If you are a born again, Spirit
filled Christian, you cannot help but to impart what you have. A city
set on a hill cannot be hid. Rivers of living water will flow out of you
to others. Jesus taught us that when we enter a house, we should let
our peace rest upon it (impartation) but if they reject you, let your
peace return to you and shake the dust off your feet.
Simon
the sorcerer offered Peter money when he saw how Peter was used by God
to impart the gift of the Holy Ghost. He said give me this power so that
I too can lay hands on people to receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:18,
"And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the
Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money."
When
Paul came to Ephesus, he found certain disciples that he laid hands on
to impart spiritual gifts. First and foremost, the gift of the Holy
Ghost and then (as the Spirit divides severally as he wills) tongues and
prophecy. Read it for yourself. Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid hands
upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues, and
prophesied." IMPARTATION Paul had the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift
of tongues, and the gift of prophecy. What he had he was also able to
give, share, or impart. Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely
give."
The Lord said to Ananias in a vision that Saul
had seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his
hands on him that he might be receive his sight. Ananias then went to
Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto
thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive
thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:17).
.
Paul’s
healing, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost were given as a direct result
of impartation through the laying on of hands, then Paul went out, in
his ministry, and did the same. Could God have healed Saul and given him
the gift of the Holy Ghost (gifts of the Spirit) without Ananias? Of
course he could have, but the scripture clearly shows us that God chose
to share / impart both healing and this gift of his Spirit through the
laying on of mans hands. Saul, became Paul the apostle who later wrote
two thirds of the New Testament. God gave the increase.
We
cannot go around by our own will and expect to impart anything from
God. We preach salvation, but we are powerless to save anyone. It’s the
same way with any of the gifts that comes from God, weather it be the
gift of salvation, the filling of God’s Spirit, or any other good and
perfect gift. It must come from God according to his divine providence.
Jesus
said, "No man can come to me except the Father draws him." God is
willing that none should perish, and that all would come to the
knowledge of the truth, but unfortunately many will still go to hell. It
is also true with impartation. God is willing to give gifts to man, but
in our religious endeavor to reach him, many times, we completely miss
him.
Pastor, Tilson
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