“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” (2 Tim 1:6).
Whereas Elisha’s impartation depended on seeing Elijah’s ascension (2 Kin 2:10), thank God that our spiritual gifts can be simply and faithfully activated through the ministry of the laying on of hands. This ministry is one of the six keystones of the Christian Faith, outlined in Heb. 6:1. Our text makes it clear that the gift comes from God, although the laying on of human hands provides the faith point of contact.
Another biblical witness says, “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Ac 19:6). In this case, corrective teaching preceded the laying on of hands.
A third Scriptural witness goes like this, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established” (Rom 1:11). Praise the Lord that a key role of His ministers is to establish the saints through spiritual gift impartation! Let every saint everywhere today be thus established and empowered! See also 1 Tim 4:14; 5:12.
Pastor Josh