KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 5:22 KJV” Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.”

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Apostle Paul continues with his instructions to Pastor Timothy. This time, he tells him not to lay his hands suddenly on anyone.What do we make of the statement  the Lord Jesus made in Mark 16? That says believers shall lay hands on the sick ,and they shall recover. In Paul’s instruction, he tells him not to suddenly lay hands on any  man. Is there any contradiction here? No, there is no contradiction. In the first laying on of hands instructed by the Lord Jesus, it is to bring healing to the sick. In Paul’s advice to Timothy, he is talking about laying hands to commit to ministry or laying on of hands to bless in marriage. How do we come by these interpretations? The subsequent statement shows us. It says neither be partaker of other men’s sin.

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Laying on of hands is a doctrine according to Heb 6:2. To lay your hand on an individual, you fully identify yourself with the one. When the Lord laid his hands on the leper, he identified himself with him. But because of the higher grace on him, the   leprosy in the man was destroyed by the life in Jesus. When people are ordained into ministry, hands are laid on them, making the minister identify himself with the person he is laying hands on. If the man is mischievous and you lay hands on him, committing him to the ministry, you have fully identified with his nature and life( in a sense, you have approved of his lifestyle)

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Paul’s advice is that you do not lay hands SUDDENLY, implying you make a little enquiry about the person before laying your hands to commit him into the ministry, so that if he is a pretender, you do not become one with his sins.

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The same goes for married couples. It must be done by making enquiries about who these people are  through premarital counselling. By this, you become certain of the people you are dealing with, and if they have been living in fornication, you do not become part of their sin. During counselling, all these would come up, and you would lead them through confessing their sins and denouncing that lifestyle before they are formally blessed by the laying on of hands.

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THOUGHT: KNOW VERY WELL THE PEOPLE YOU COMMIT TO MINISTRY OR MARRIAGE

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FURTHER STUDIES

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Phi 2:19 KJV” But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state.”

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Heb 6:2 KJV Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

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