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What a Christian Believes

There is an example of this at the Church in Antioch. Acts
13 v1-3 'In the church at Antioch there were prophets
and teachers.............and while they were worshipping the
Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said "set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul (Paul)......So after they had fasted and
prayed they laid their hands on them and sent them
away.'

In the early church in Jerusalem there were seven men
chosen to serve in the office of deacon, to relieve the
apostles of 'serving at tables'. Acts 6 v6 'They presented
these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their
hands on them.'

So the New Testament shows that those who have authority
in the church are to pray and lay hands on those who are to
receive authority to be ministers and missionaries in the
Church, of whom Jesus Christ is the head.

 To impart Healing

Christians and healing are spoken about in Mark 16 v18
'They will lay their hands on sick people, and they will
get well.' And in 1Corinthians 12 v9 '...to another gifts of
healing,.'

In neither case does it specify who will be healed, whether
believers or unbelievers, nor does it mention that it is only
leaders who will do this. In fact it is part of a christian's
witness to be able to pray for those who are sick. The
sickness may be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

A christian who prays for the sick must remember the four
spiritual safeguards, mentioned before:

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