Why do we see few people today laying hands upon the sick to minister divine healing? There may be many reasons, but to me, one stands out: fear. I know because I’ve been there. At one time, the “what ifs” constantly bombarded my mind. What if no one will respond to my appeal for the laying on of hands? What if someone challenges me, saying the ministry of laying on of hands is a thing of the past? What if I lay hands on someone and nothing changes immediately? Doesn’t this ministry put an enormous pressure upon me to produce results?
Thankfully, those days of wrestling with these tormenting questions are long gone for me. Let me briefly address each concern.
Concern #1 — What if no one will respond to my appeal for the laying on of hands? If you could be with me at our Jesus the Healer Rallies, without exception, you’d see the altar filled from side to side, often two layers deep, with people wanting to experience God’s healing power. John Osteen said it best – “We live in a sighing, crying, dying world”. Preach/teach Jesus as the Healer and people WILL respond.
Concern #2 — What if someone challenges me, saying the ministry of laying on of hands is a thing of the past? No scripture, or portion of scripture, comes close to saying that this expression of God’s love and power has been withdrawn from the Church. On the contrary, we read that Jesus, “who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38), is the “same yesterday and today and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Concern #3 — What if I lay hands on someone and nothing changes immediately? Does what you see right now determine whether healing has taken place? I have written testimonies (notice the word “testimonies” is plural) in my Billy Burns Ministries files from people who didn’t see immediate results but, after our service that evening or the next day, saw the healing they desired.
Concern #4 — Doesn’t this ministry put an enormous pressure upon me to produce results? Years ago, I heard Oral Roberts respond to this question. Or, more accurately, the question he was asked was even more dramatic. “What would happen if you laid hands upon someone and they immediately dropped dead?” I love his answer. He said, “Immediately, I would say ‘next'”. To me, the answer is so simple, and so, so, so true. Ready? Jesus is the Healer; Billy Burns is just the obeyer. As I lay hands upon the sick, I feel no pressure to bring about a healing. My only responsibility is to obey. Mark 16 promises that the believer shall lay hands upon the sick (that’s my part) and the sick shall recover (that’s God’s part).
Go preach/teach/demonstrate God’s healing power!
