HANDS – INSTRUMENTS OF POWER TRANSFER

“…They will LAY HANDS on the sick, and they will recover” – Mark 16:18b

GOD designed HANDS as INTSRUMENTS of POWER TRANSFER: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will LAY HANDS on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk.16: 17-18). Hands are Vehicles of Power Transfer; hence, the Mystery of Hands Laying. The hand has long been considered to be a conduit of power – transforming unseen energy into the material world. Interestingly, the Latin manifestus (clear or plain) encompasses the word manus or hand.  

Deuteronomy 34:9 records how the Spirit of Wisdom was transferred from Moses to Joshua, through the laying on of hands: “Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had LAID HIS HANDS on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.” What God did for Joshua, he’ll do for whoever believes! On his sick-bed, Elisha put his HANDS on king Jehoash’s hands to signify transference of God’s power through the prophet to enable the king perform the great feat of defeating the Syrian armies (2Kgs.13:18). He then instructed the king to use the same hands to shoot an arrow out the window in the direction of Syrian-captured territories, and later, strike the ground with arrows to represent Israel’s Victory over Syria. Hands are vehicles of Power Transfer and Victory!

Hands are more than tools for performing personal and domestic chores such as cleaning, washing, touching, holding, covering the mouth when yawning, combing the hair, lifting loads, playing, writing, or working. God’s divine pattern is to endow hands with unlimited potential for manifesting power, blessings, provisions, prosperity, and miracles. John 3:35 says, “The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into HIS HAND.” God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, confirms this truth: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt.28:18b-19a). Our Lord has in turn, transferred His Power into our hands to do wonders (vv.17-18).

Various Bible scenario illustrate how the Hands of Jesus transferred. Jesus’ hands made clay with saliva to anoint the eyes of a blind man, who upon washing in the pool of Siloam, came back seeing (Jh.9: 6-7). His hands took five loaves of bread and two fishes from a young man and fed thousands of people, with abundant left-overs (Jh.6: 9-13). His hands lovingly welcomed, cuddled, embraced, and blessed the little children (Mt.19: 15; Mk.10:16). His hands were laid upon a great host of people to experience His healing touch that brought instant relief to their sick and suffering bodies (Lk.13:13). His hands stopped a funeral procession as he touched the coffin bearing the corpse of a young man, restored him to life, and his mother to great joy (Lk.7: 11-15). All of these and more are examples for Believers to follow.

God’s Word encourages us to use our HANDS to rescue the lost, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, and give for the end-time harvest. All of these begin with each of us realizing the power that God has placed in our hands. Our Lord Jesus says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jh.14:12). Paul admonished Timothy, his mentee: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership” (1Tim.4:14). God’s gifts and endowments are transferable by the laying on of hands through divine direction.

God’s gifts are irrevocably given (Rom.11:29). However, they must be constantly stirred up: “stir up the gift of God which is in you through the LAYING on of my HANDS” (2Tim.1:6). Our hands are carriers of honour and can transfer blessings to anything or anyone we touch.