Make Sure the Messenger

# 35 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience,” (1 Tim 1:18) Last time we started talking about the prophecies previously made concerning Timothy and the laying on of hands that was done by Paul, (2 Tim 1:6,) and the elders mentioned in 1 Ti 4:14. This laying on of hands and prophesying over Timothy likely took place before Paul took him on his missionary journey from Lystra. (Acts 16:1-4) Laying on of hands and blessing with prophecy is a practice as old as Isaac laying his hands on the deceitful Jacob and blessing him with words of prophecy. Note the prophetic tone of Isaac's words in Ge 27:28 Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!" We can be sure that similar words with prophetic tones were spoken over Timothy at his ordination. I think we should note that even though Jacob had deceived his father, the blessing was irrevocable. Perhaps this serves as a warning to the church today to not lay hands on people hastily! Paul warned Timothy of this in 1Ti 5:22, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily,” by that he meant don't lay hands on others to ordain them as pastors before their time. This is good advice even today as pastors participate in ordination ceremonies. Timothy had not been to seminary, but he had proven himself to the brethren at Lystra. In Acts 16 we read, “And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, an increased in number daily.” So one of the New Testament purposes of laying on hands was to commission proven workers like Timothy. Workers who were to deliver the decrees to keep that had been determined by the Apostles and elders at Jerusalem, who had received them first hand from Jesus. In so doing, churches, (believers) were strengthened in the faith and the church grew. Laying on of hands is not to be taken lightly and it's a way that God has provided to keep His message the same yesterday, today and forever.