Transmitting God’s Power – Laying on of Hands: Derek Prince (Transcript)

Full text of renowned Bible teacher Derek Prince’s Laying The Foundation Series (Part 7) titled “Transmitting God’s Power – Laying on of Hands” which was recorded in New Zealand, December 1994.

Listen to the MP3 Audio here:

TRANSCRIPT:

Derek Prince – Bible teacher

Our proclamation this morning is taken from 1 Chronicles 28:20. Now these are the instructions that David gave to Solomon for completing the temple. They’re in the second person singular, but we have applied them to ourselves, so we say them in the first person plural. Do you understand? That’s one of the functions of proclamation is to make the Word of God personal.

1 Chronicles 28:20: “We will be strong and of good courage and do. We will not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God — our God — will be with us. He will not leave us nor forsake us, until we have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” Amen.

Now we are continuing with the study of the six foundation doctrines listed in Hebrews 6:1-2. We have dealt with the first three: repentance from dead works, faith toward God and the doctrine of baptisms.

In connection with the doctrine of baptisms I pointed out that the New Testament tells us of three distinct baptisms: The baptism of John the Baptist, Christian baptism, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Now in this session we’re going on to the fourth of these foundation doctrines which is laying on of hands. For a title for this message I have rendered it: ‘TRANSMITTING GOD’S POWER.’

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LAYING HANDS ON PEOPLE?

Many of us would probably be a little surprised to find that laying on of hands is amongst the foundation doctrines, because very little is said about it currently in most congregations. But if you pause and consider, it’s extremely logical… it has to be there, because laying on of hands or transmitting God’s power and authority is the thing that brings continuity to the body of Christ. It brings continuity between a senior minister and a junior minister, and it brings continuity between one generation and the next.

So the essential function of this ministry of laying on of hands is to provide continuity in the body of Christ. And in some traditions this continuity they claim to have preserved from the days of the apostle Peter until now. I’m not considering that claim, but I’m just pointing out that the reasoning behind it, is logical.

We need a way to continue from generation to generation, from ministry to ministry, and this way has been provided in the Scripture by this ordinance I would call it, of laying on of hands. And it’s interesting, we find it in the first book of the Bible, and really it extends from then on through the whole history of God’s people. It is an essential element in the history of God’s people.

I would say there are certain spiritual purposes which it embraces. First of all, let’s notice the fact that, to put your hand on somebody is a natural, human reaction. A mother has a sick baby, who has a fever, almost without reasoning, she’ll put her hand on the forehead of the child.

Or, two men meet who haven’t seen one another for a long time, and in one way or another they’ll lay their hands on their shoulders or they’ll shake hands but they’ll make contact with their hands. The hand is one of the main ways that human beings make contact with one another.