1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
I did not quite understand this scripture until I had a bizarre experience as a young Christian. I was suddenly beset with a wrong urge of attraction for my female friends , and was not sure where this was coming from and why I was having these feelings. My thoughts towards my own Christian female friends were terribly sinful, and being a born -again Christian, I knew this was wrong. I fought these thoughts for about a week, then in my weakness I confided in my closest Christian female friend. She did not condemn me for having such thoughts and feelings, but simply supported me in praying for deliverance from these.
Not long after this, another female friend of mine visited me. She had previously visited me, and had even prayed with me on that previous visit. Actually, she had laid her hands on me and had prayed for me. I remember vividly that on that day, I had a strong impression not to allow her to lay her hands on me. However, I refrained from telling her, as I thought it would sound rude. Out of politeness, I had allowed her to lay her hand on my head and prayed .
Well, this time around, her visit was to tell me about something troubling her. I listened carefully as she narrated how she was involved in a lesbian relationship, and was sinking deep into it. As a Christian, she knew it was against the Word of God, and had no peace about it. At that particular moment, a flood of understanding enveloped me! My friend had previously laid her hands on me and prayed. She was a practicising lesbian when she prayed on me. I had started to have feelings for females after that incident. I thought to myself - "Something must have been transferred to me through the laying on of her hands on me." I happened to share in her sins and became impure through that.
Let us revisit the above scripture - 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
From the above scripture, we can deduce what exactly occurred in my experience. I partook or shared in the sin of my friend. This happened because I did not take seriously the first part of this verse of scripture. Paul warned - DO NOT BE HASTY IN THE LAYING ON OF HANDS.
The above scripture was actually referring to us not laying hands on others and ushering them into places of leadership and authority. However , this scripture reveals that there is an amount of spiritual exchange and sharing done, through the laying on off hands. Let us look at some other scriptures where Holy Gifts were exchanged through the act of laying of hands.
In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul reminds Timothy - For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
In other words, the laying on of hands may seem like just an act in the physical, but in the spiritual realm, it brings about exchanges and impartations, either of good gifts or evil gifts; of Godly abilities or devilish abilities. We must therefore be careful whom we allow to lay hands on us, or whom we choose to lay hands on. Either way, you can share in the sins of others and become impure as a result. In my case, thanks to God that I decided to confide in a Christian friend who stood with me in prayer until I was delivered.
We must be wise as serpents...
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
WHAT IS NEXT?
