The laying on of hands is a great subject and it’s biblical. This ministry is a Bible ministry, and I go according to the Word of God. Jesus is the example, my example and yours. In the Great Commission Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:15-18). Who would lay hands on the sick?—The believers, Jesus’ believers. Because the Bible tells us to lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover, I lay hands on the sick. Jesus said a believer would lay hands on the sick, and He would get them well.

The Word of God Teaches Laying on of Hands

Laying hands on the sick is according to the Word of God; it’s the doctrine of the Word, the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:2). This verse is speaking of the doctrine of laying on of hands, a doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word doctrine means teaching. A doctrine is a teaching of the Word of God, instruction, something taught as a principle or creed of a religion.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (I Timothy 2:8). The Lord puts great value on our hands. The heavenly Father used Jesus’ hands in mighty ways through the power of the Holy Ghost when Jesus was here.

Jesus Healed a Leper

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:2,3). In that day people didn’t touch lepers, but Jesus gave this leper a healing touch. The lepers were required to identify themselves so others wouldn’t come close. “Leper! Leper!” they had to cry, and they had to wear a bell to make noise as they moved about. People were afraid of them—but not Jesus. Jesus immediately made the leper whole; He put forth His hand. Jesus is no longer walking the earth today; but we are His people, and He uses our hands.

The Fever Left Her

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them (Matthew 8:14,15). Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a raging fever; but, when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. He laid a hand on her hand, and she rose and ministered to the people there. Instantly, she was healed by the power of God. Divine healing works.

Jesus Touched Blinded Eyes

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you (Matthew 9:28,29). Jesus touched blinded eyes; that’s the reason I touch blinded eyes.

In a recent miracle service in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a sixteen-year-old girl born blind was brought to me. She had never seen one thing in her life. I touched her eyes according to the Word of God. She didn’t have a smile to give me before she received her sight; she had been going through a lot. Then suddenly, as I took my fingers from her eyes and stood there waiting, the most beautiful smile came over her face. She was looking all around, seeing for the first time.

I put up my hand and asked, “Do you see my hand?”

“Yes, five fingers,” she said.

She was seeing; it was a gorgeous scene. I’ve lived and relived it. The Lord used me as a human instrument to touch her eyes in faith. God has gifted me with His power; He directs me to touch those who are afflicted, those who are sick. His great miracles that are taking place by the hand of God are simply marvelous as He moves on me to touch people.

We are to do the Jesus work. The Early Church did the same work. Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12). We will do greater works, greater in number. In overseas crusades untold thousands are healed in moments of time. We march some of the people across the platform, and the Lord heals and delivers.

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid (Matthew 17:7). Jesus had taken Peter, James and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration where they had seen Moses and Elijah in a vision, and it had frightened them almost to death. Now the vision was over, and Jesus came and laid a hand on them. Yes, Jesus used His hands daily to help people; His hands were helping hands, and our hands are to be like the Jesus hands.

Immediately They Received Sight

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him (Matthew 20:32-34). More blind people were healed when Jesus touched their eyes. He had compassion on them, and He has given me that compassion of Calvary. He gives that compassion to His devout children, those who are ready to walk in His steps, to be like Him, to talk like Him, to work like Him, to live holy like Him and to do His wonderful works.

The Deaf and Dumb Are Healed

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue (Mark 7:32,33). Jesus touched the man’s ears, and he could hear. The Lord touches my fingers, my hands. I put my fingers in the ears of the deaf and dumb and hundreds of thousands have received hearing. As I touch the lips of those who cannot speak and command the dumb spirits to go, the dumb spirits come out; and the people speak. We show this again and again on television for the world to see.

When the Lord told me to go on television well over thirty years ago, He said I was to show His miracles and healings. He wanted people to see Him in action. It’s God in action on my programs; the Lord is the healer. I am only the instrument of clay that He has chosen to pour His power through to show His great love for people and His will to heal people of their sicknesses and diseases. It’s real! The laying on of believers’ hands brings miracles.

A Touch of the Lord Raised a Dead Man

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother (Luke 7:12-15). Jesus touched the litter used to transport the body, and the young man was given life. It only took a touch, a touch of the Lord. That’s what I give people, a touch of the Lord—not a touch of Ernest Angley, God forbid. And he [Jesus] said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). God is so good!

The Virtue Flowed from Jesus

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him [Jesus], and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me (Luke 8:43-46). Jesus knew that healing virtue had gone out of Him; someone had touched Him, and power flowed. Hands were used again, this time by the woman who had suffered with an issue of blood for twelve years. If I can just touch His clothes, she thought. Her hands were used as she touched and was made whole. God has His way of doing things. He lets us know that He is not a man; He is divine. He is God, and He doesn’t work like man works.

Unbelief Blocked Their Healing

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching (Mark 6:4-6). In Nazareth, Jesus laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. But the unbelieving Nazarenes blocked their own healing. God can’t work with doubt and unbelief; He works with faith.

God Gives Faith

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7). You couldn’t find Calvary if you had no faith; it is impossible to become saved without faith. Paul made it a little plainer: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). God gives a measure of faith to everyone who wants it. As you use that measure, the Lord adds to it. As you use that new measure, He adds more. As you continue to use faith, the Lord continues to add to it; and you keep going deeper into the great faith of God.

Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them (Luke 4:40). Notice, the Bible says Jesus laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. Jesus is our example. The Early Church went forth just like Jesus, laying hands on the sick; and the sick were healed.

God’s Power Heals the Crippled

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God (Luke 13:11-13). For eighteen years this woman had been crippled with arthritis. She couldn’t even raise herself up; but, when Jesus laid His hands on her, she immediately was made straight.

I lay hands on people and they come out of wheelchairs; it’s amazing to behold! Just recently in an Atlanta crusade, a woman with a broken hip told me, “I cannot walk a step.” I told the ushers to get the steps of her wheelchair out of the way and lift her up. They helped her stand and held her there. As she stood before me, I laid hands on her; and the Lord not only re-created her broken hip, but He re-created other afflicted parts of her body as well. “Come on, let’s walk,” I said. Then I turned her loose, and she began to jump up and down. She walked and she ran. The power of God healed her, and many witnessed that miracle. Our God is more than able!

Baptized in the Holy Ghost

Paul asked a group of people, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:2-6). When Paul laid his hands on them, they were baptized in the Holy Ghost. Paul called down the Holy Ghost, and God has gifted me with calling down the Holy Ghost as well. I lay hands on people, and they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then I lift my hands in the great overseas crusades, call down the power of the Holy Ghost and thousands are baptized in a few minutes with the real Holy Ghost; they all speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance. They receive the real Holy Ghost like those in the Upper Room did on the Day of Pentecost; they do not speak in tongues at will, but as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance. The disciples believed in the laying on of hands for healing, casting out devils and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Paul Used God’s Power

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him (Acts 28:8). Paul was acting in the place of Jesus, for Jesus had ascended back to Heaven some time earlier.

Paul confessed, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (I Timothy 1:15). Paul was not referring to his life after his conversion but his life before he was saved. God raised Paul up from the depths of sin, saved his soul and gave him His power. Paul used that power with every bit of strength he had. The Lord wants to use our hands as His very own to help others.

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:13-14). I touch little children again and again who receive wonderful miracles from the Lord.

In a recent overseas crusade I prayed for a little boy who could not walk. For each service his father carried him into the invalid section and held him. I got to him on the third night, and he was ready to receive. His eyes were shining, fixed on me. I let him know that the Lord would heal him. In the name of Jesus I laid hands on him. He leaped, he jumped, he ran, he shouted. His father appeared to be shocked beyond words; he was used to taking care of his little son with his arms folded around him. It’s wonderful what the laying on of hands in obedience to God will do! Obedience brings the blessings of God. Through obedience I lay hands on people, and they are delivered by the hand of God.

Signs and Wonders Came through the Apostles’ Hands

Long time therefore abode they [Paul and Barnabas] speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands (Acts 14:3). Signs and wonders were to be done by the laying on of hands.

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch (Acts 5:12). These miracles were wrought by the laying on of hands. The apostles were just men endowed with the power of God. The Lord has endowed me with His gifts for the deliverance of people. The Lord is the reason they are delivered, and I’m careful to give Him all the glory. I stress over and over in a miracle service that I’m not the healer; Jesus is the healer. I’m just an instrument of clay that He uses. By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were given among the people.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17). Peter and John laid their hands on the people, and they received the Holy Ghost.

A Sorcerer Wanted the Apostles’ Power

Simon the Sorcerer was in the habit of putting devilish spells on people, and when he saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money (Acts 8:18-20). Simon the Sorcerer witnessed what happened when the apostles laid hands on people, that the Holy Ghost was given, and he wanted that power. The Holy Ghost cannot be bought with money; He is freely given to honest-hearted believers. I would never charge a person for laying hands on them, never. I don’t even take any offerings in the healing lines. I’ve had people stuff money in my pocket, but I return it to them. I don’t want to hurt their feelings, neither do I want a watching skeptic to think I charge anyone for prayer. I have never taken money in the healing line, and I never will. I value the love of God and His favor, power, and grace more than all the money in the world.

I preach because I’m called of God. Through prayer and fasting the miracles take place; many fasts have gone forty days at a time. I’ve given my life for this ministry, given my life to help people. My hands are helping hands, sanctified for the Master’s work, used by God to deliver the people.

The Apostles Anointed Men to Serve

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away (Acts 13:3). After the Apostles had fasted and prayed, they anointed men to serve, using the method of laying on of hands. In the true Church of Jesus Christ when a minister is ordained to preach the Gospel, it’s through the laying on of hands. Philip and Stephen were used in unbelievable ways with signs, wonders, miracles and healings as they laid hands on people. Hands are to be used; Jesus taught that. Jesus became very man to show us how to serve the Lord. Although He had divine blood in His veins, divine blood in His soul, He took on flesh like we have and a human mind. We can have the same ingredients that made up His mind.

God Works through Holy Hands

Paul writing to Timothy tells him to neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (I Timothy 4:14). The laying on of hands brought the power and the greatness of God to Timothy. God works through holy hands. Hands have to be connected with a holy mind, a holy soul, a holy heart in order for the power of God to flow, deliver and set the captives free. God is all grace.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands (II Timothy 1:6). Paul told Timothy that he laid hands on him, and God moved.

Jesus Anointed the Eyes of a Blind Man

In John chapter nine is a remarkable story of the hands of Jesus. A man was born blind. Jesus met him, spit on the ground and mixed the spit with clay to make mud. Using His hands, He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the mud and told him to go wash. It was an act of obedience on the part of the blind man. He went and did as Jesus said and came back from the pool seeing.

The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight (John 9:8-11).

I bring to you the hands that the Lord uses, the hands of believers. In Jesus’ name, remember, believers will do these things. They will lay hands on the sick, and they shall get well. That’s Bible; that’s thus saith the Lord. Jesus Himself said this.

In this hour, people throughout the earth are being saved, healed and delivered. In the miracle services you see people being delivered before your very eyes. It’s through the laying on of hands.

Different Methods of Healing

The Lord has more than one method of healing. He uses the blest cloth: And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11,12).

God uses the spoken Word: He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Psalm 107:20).

God heals through commands: (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) (Luke:8:29). Jesus commanded the thousands of devils to come out of Legion, and they came out. Of course there is the great method of laying on of hands that I have been talking about, a method that has healed multitudes of people. You will see it in the healing lines.

A Form of Laying on of Hands

Over a quarter of a century ago I was before the TV cameras; and the Lord told me to lift up my hand, tell the people to put their hand against mine on the screen, and He would heal them. I do that on my TV programs in obedience to the Lord. I agree with people to be healed, and the power of God flows through them. The Lord is the healer.

Thousands of miles away from me, people are healed through television. God ordained it to be, not I; He told me it is a form of laying on of hands, and He honors that form. It’s hard to tell how many millions of people have been healed through our television outreach by putting their hand against mine on the screen. I take no honor for it; I do it in obedience to the Word of God. This ministry is a Jesus ministry all the way.

You who are ready to be healed, I will agree with you that the power of God will flow as I pray; do not doubt.

Prayer for Healing and Salvation

Lord, I bring the sick and afflicted to you. Lay a healing hand on them. Heal the people of cancer, TB, blindness, deafness. Lord, that one who is crippled, paralyzed, those with AIDS, leprosy, the AIDS virus: Heal! Heal! in the blood name of Jesus, in the all-powerful blood name.

Feel His holy presence moving through your body now, and decide you’re going to get well because healing is a promise of God. He heals, but you must serve God. He heals for His glory. If you want to keep your miracle, you must serve Him.

You who are unsaved: Pray, Oh, God, I’m a sinner. I’m so sorry that I sinned against you! But I’ve come home and I’m going to serve you, Lord, the rest of my life. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in!

If you meant that prayer, He has come; He is yours. Start reading your Bible. Prayer, fasting and living in the Word of God will keep you on your journey, on the straight and narrow road; and one day Heaven will be yours. The God of miracles lives; and, because He has taught His followers the laying on of hands, I lay hands on the sick and they get well. It’s according to the Word of God. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:18). Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). We must believe with divine faith that the Lord gives us.