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Extension of… GOD?!
In the Bible the apostles teach us to lay on hands in order to receive the Spiritual Gifts. Only when you have received these Gifts you can be in service of God in a way that honours God.

Still: many 'church-christians' reject the teachings of the apostles and they also refuse to read beyond Acts 9. They refuse to read beyond 'the outpoaring of the Spirit' and do not want to hear of 'the laying on of hands' which is tought and exercised by the apostles in the chapters after Acts 9 and of course in the Books after Acts...

But what is it exactly what they are actually rejecting?!

Formal Priesthood (OT)
In the Old Testament GOD anointed/appointed His Priest himself. According to the Laws these Priests lead the people of Israel as GOD desired on a road that would finally lead to Jesus.

Jesus -the Son of GOD ánd our High Priest before GOD- died for our transgressions that started with Adam and Eve; they ate from the forbidden fruit and placed their own wil between them and GOD. In this way the Spiritual relation they had with their GOD was cut off. Through Jesus and His Sacrifice at the cross we can receive forgiveness and grow into a worthy temple to receive Gods Spirit again; a renewed Spiritual relation with GOD. And in that way: Jesus is the door to GOD for us!

Personal Priesthood (NT)

1 Peter 2:5 - Christians: a holy order of priests for GOD through Christ
 'You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.'

1 Petrus 2:9 - Christians are an elect race of royal priests
'But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light'.


In accepting Jesus as a personal Saviour by baptism we can receive 'eternal life' the Bible tells us. And this is the happy news to a world that had to live in a spiritual seperation from GOD with the 10-Commandments as a 'ruthless Master'...

Still: Jesus warns us in Matthew 25, that more is required to obtain 'eternal life' than simply accepting him in our lives...

From the story of the 10 virgins we know, that there are wise and foolish virgins. They are all waiting for Jesus to return to us, but some of them forgot to bring 'spare-oil' for their lamps... But the other virgins did bring spare-oil and they saw Jesus coming and could follow him to Heaven...

  • The virgins are: all that believe in Jesus and His return to us
  • The oil is: the Spiritual Gifts
  • The return of the Bridesgroom: Jesus coming back to us to take us to Heaven
  • Spare-oil: Spiritual Gifts applied growing into the Fruit of the Spirit
  • Talents: Spiritual Gifts we receive from GOD
  • Applying the talents using the Spiritual Gifts in His Honour to serve others

    From the two stories Jesus tells us, we learn that many have taken Jesus as their Saviour and many are waiting for His return. And they also received the Gifts (by laying on of hands). Still: a number of them refuses to apply the 'talents' in His Service for the people around them, which leads to eternal death!

    Doing nothing with the Spiritual Gifts will result in eternal death.

    Personal priesthood with the Spiritual Gifts
    From Matthew 25 we now know that personal priesthood starts with accepting Jesus ('waiting for the Bridesgroom') by baptism. And only by being an active servant of GOD we can grow in the Fruit of the Spirit ('receiving spare-oil'). Still: we have to receive the Spiritual Gifts first ('oil in the lamp'). We know from Acts that áfter the poaring out of the Spirit the apostles teach and practice 'the laying on of hands' ... Please, read with me:

    Acts 8:18
    'And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given...'.

    Acts 8:19
    'Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.'

    Acts 19:6
    'And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.'.

    1 Timothy 4:14
    'Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the presbytery'.

    2 Timothy 1:6
    'Therefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee through the putting on of my hands'.

    The apostles teach and exercise 'the laying on of hands'
    In Hebrews 6:1-2 we can read, that the apostles teach the laying on of hands as a biblical foundation for all; just as baptism! We also know from the above stated Bible-verses, that the apostles did lay on hands and that as a result the Spiritual Gifts were given... But: what does 'receiving the Gifts' actually mean?!

    Hebrews 6:1-2
         'Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment.'

    Hebrews 6:4-6
     'For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come...'.

    From Hebrews 6:4-6 we learn, that receiving the Spiritual Gifts actually means 'being made partaker of the Holy Spirit of GOD'. And with that renewed spiritual relation with GOD also in Jesus by baptism we can be truly in service of GOD for others... What GOD wants us to do?

    Of us personally: God wants us to grow in the Spirit to a Fruit of the Spirit and this can only happen when we go out in Jesus and Spirit in aid and service for others.

    Matthew 28:19
     'Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen'.

    Matthew 25:40
     'And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me'.

    Being a priest: by Gods standards!
    You may think: 'well, God gave me all I need, so things cannot go wrong!'. This is not so; it lays a bit more complicated then that...

    Romans 8:4 - The Law of GOD has to be fulfilled
    'that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit'.

    Gods asks us to put His Spirit in us to good service for others in accordance with his standards. These standards are also known as 'The Law' or 'The 10-Commandments of GOD'. You have to keep the Commandments in your service for others and -of course- in your own life. If you wouldnot do that: you would grow in sin and that is not the goal of a Christian at all!

    1 John 3:4 - Committing sin means going against Gods Law
    'Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law'.

    Jakobus 2:10 - The Law of GOD: the 10 Commandments
    'For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all'.

    Even in Jesus and Spirit we can still transgress and sin against Gods Law; even if our hearts intent is not to commit sin. And that is why we need to be baptized in Christ; so we can ask forgiveness of sin in order to maintain the renewed Spiritual relationship with GOD.

    After the poaring out of the Spirit: personal priesthood!
    We know, that the Spirit of GOD was poared out by GOD and that after this event the apostles preach, teach and exercise 'the laying on of hands' as a biblical foundation for everyone; just as baptism.

    We also know that this 'laying on of hands' normally takes place after baptism in a special and seperate service with prayer and laying on hands. We also know why this usually is done in this sequence...

    The Bible tells us in Hebrews 6:4, that refusing the Gifts after having received the Gifts means that you have committed a sin that is so terrible, that you cannot be forgiven. GOD cannot let someone crucify His Son twice; GOD himself willnot forgive this. And that is why there is supposed to be 'time' between the baptism and the laying on of hands.

    In some cases the Spiritual Gifts were given by GOD first; afterwards these 'receivers' were also baptized; for instance: with Saul and Cornelius.


    1 Peter 2:5 - Christians: a holy order of priests for GOD through Christ
     'You, as living stones, are being made into a house of the spirit, a holy order of priests, making those offerings of the spirit which are pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.'

    1 Petrus 2:9 - Christians are an elect race of royal priests
    'But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light'.

    Being a Spiritual Extension of GOD...
    In your renewed spiritual relation with GOD we become personal priests in His Service for people around us. We are partakers in His Wil and Power. And in that way we are extensions of GOD. When personal priests of GOD are laying hands on you it has to be your hearts desire to be active for GOD and all people around you.

    Also: do not have put hands on you by just anyone. Be sure that the priest that put his hands on you lives according to the standards of GOD; formally and as a human being: growing into the Fruit of the Spirit. Also look in his or her eyes or listen to Gods Voice; in case of doubt or negative signals: no laying on of hands on you!

    Laying on hands can result in taking part in the spirit that connects with that person; if this is the spirit of the devil you become connected to the devil....

    Do not connect or go with 'healers'. The Spirit of GOD is not for 'healing purposes only'. You now know: the laying on of hands is primarily meant for re-connecting with GOD spiritually. Of course: this can or may result in being cured from illness for you have to be able to go in His Service!

  • More about 'baptism'? Click here!
  • More about 'laying on of hands'? Click here!

    Written by: Hein Kuipers-Van der Marel dd. October 31, 2004
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