God’s call to us for perfection based on maturity and baptism predicated on repentance and forgiveness of sins qualifies us to engage in other activities for Christ Jesus. The blueprints of perfection in Hebrews 6: 1-20 further discusses these works for Christ Jesus without exhausting it.
Laying on of hands
Laying on of hands by the righteous will separate us unto Christ for perfection. When we are spiritually weak, in bondage or afflicted, we must call for the laying on of hands. God allows the laying on of hands as a channel and sign of approval to impart his Holy Spirit or power to perfect His work. We rekindle God’s Spirit in us through laying on of hands because any contact with God’s Spirit revives our spirit.
2 Timothy 1: 6 says rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands to achieve power, love and self-control and for the common good of God’s people. However, not the laying on of every hand comes with God’s impartation. Laying on of hands is a gift of the Holy Spirit so the hands must be anointed by God otherwise it will rather impart evil and unfamiliar spirits. The gift of laying on of hands cannot be replicated by any man by his will or wisdom.
A request to lay one’s hands must be acceded to only by approval of the Holy Spirit. Paul says in 1 Timothy 5: 22 do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. Laying on of hands is by grace and not for a show of personal righteousness as some of us portray. We must submit to the laying on of hands in humility and obedience to God.
Conditions for laying on of hands
We must first repent and believe in Christ Jesus prior to laying on of hands so we may be perfected in Christ. We must also have a righteous desire for it and not for any contrary purpose including money, unholy favours or immorality. In Acts 8: 18-24, Peter laid on his hands on people and they received the Holy Spirit. However, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered money for it but Peter rebuked him. Simon had been baptized as a believer, Acts 8: 13.
God’s gifts are perfect and we must handle the same in the perfection of His call so we shall be perfect in Christ Jesus. The habit of using God’s gift for money is an abuse, immoral or unworthy before God though it is the order of today allegedly in the name of Christ Jesus. We must repent and come back to Christ to perfect our ways through his blood.
Repentance from dead works
Paul says we must attain perfection through repentance from dead works. Dead works do not guarantee the future nor do they perfect us in Christ Jesus. Dead works include dead conscience, Hebrews 9: 14; faith without works, James 2: 17, 26 and any manner of sin and evil. Repentance from dead works separates us from what does not enhance our spirituality to what pleases God and in that we are made perfect in Christ. Luke 13: 13 says unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Repentance from dead works produces perfection; and perfection produces joy to heaven, Luke 15: 10. Repentance from dead works is a commandment from God. Revelation 2: 16 says repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. Revelation 3: 19 also says those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Dead works do not please God because they have been overcome by the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 7: 27 says he has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Hebrews 8: 7 further says for if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for the second. We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will make us perfect in him from dead works by his blood.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, as you work on our hands, release your afflicted ones from bondage and make us perfect in you. Anoint our hands that whatever and whosoever we touch may be made perfect to your glory and honour. Release us to righteousness from dead works which you conquered on the cross. In your blessed holy name we pray, Amen!!
