PRESBYTERY

INTRODUCTION

The first question we need to address is what is Presbytery?

Presbyter

The word originates from New Testament Greek from the word “presbuteros” meaning
“elder”.

It has its roots in the Old Testament where the word is “Zagen”. Numbers 11:16.

Both these words refer to men of age, experience and authority. The context of Elders is
always in regard to leadership and in the New Testament refers to those having official
oversight over the Church.

Acts 14:23
When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and
fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.

1 Peter 5:1
So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the
glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:

Acts 20:17, 1 Tim 5:17, James 5:14

There were two offices in the New Testament Church. Elders and Deacons. Elders
pertained to ruling, deacons to serving. All New Testament Elders were ordained in the
Church though not all ordained persons would serve as elders. Ordination implies an
official recognition of position. Most elders would be regarded as an “Ascension Gift of
Ephesians 4:11”

Presbytery

A Presbytery is a group of two or more Presbyter’s who are anointed of God and
experienced particularly in the ability of the prophetic power to confirm and impart
God’s mind to the Body of Christ through the laying on of hands.

Acts 13:1,2
Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon
called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from
childhood) and Saul. 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

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1 Timothy 4:14
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic
words when the elders laid hands on you.

Presbytery Meeting

A Presbytery Meeting is an appointed time, when Presbyter’s are summoned by the local
Eldership of a Church, to impart and confirm through the prophetic word and the laying
on of hands, God’s divine purposes, to those who the Eldership believe are ready to
receive such ministry.

Candidates

a. Called by the Holy Spirit for a particular work.

b. Confirmed in the call through witness and prophecy.
c. After fasting and prayer hands laid upon them and sent out.

PURPOSE

1. To establish the local church.

2. To confirm God’s will to people. (warfare)
3. To impart spiritual empowerments needed to minister in the Body of Christ.

Acts 16:5
So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number
every day.

1 Timothy 1:18
I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once
spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight.

2 Timothy 1:6
Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on
of my hands
.
PREPARATION

Acts13:2

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

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Romans 10:17
Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the
preached word of Christ.

Three areas of preparation:

1. Prayer
2. Fasting
3. Faith

PRACTISE

Hebrews 6:1-3
Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move
on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in
God, teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment. And this is what we intend to do, if God permits
.
The laying on of hands is one of the most basic and fundamental doctrines of the
Christian faith.

Laying on of Hands

Typically speaking, hands speak of ministry. The hand is considered the extension of the
person, his power to labor, his power to give, his power to fight. The HAND of the church is
the 5-fold ministry given by Jesus at His Ascension.

Acts 13:3
"And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them
away."

REFERENCES ON "HANDS"

1. II Kings 3:11 Elisha which poured water on the HANDS of Elijah (action of service)
2. Matt. 27:24 Washed hands to prove innocence (open declaration of innocence).
3. Gen. 14:22 Abram said, "I have LIFTED UP MINE HAND UNTO THE
LORD". This was a declaration of oath (consider our judicial courts today).
4. II Kings 10:15 The grasping of hands was an indication of friendship.
5. Lev. 9:22 "...Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed
them".
6. II Sam. 20:21 "...Sheba hath lifted up his hand against the King...". Conversely,
lifting up the hand against authority (ministry) will bring
division and trouble among God's people. Necessity of unity today.

SEVEN MAJOR WAYS IN WHICH HANDS ARE LAID

It is a method of conferring Divine blessings. Identification with the original by contact.

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The anointed hands become the method - the channel, the vehicle, the bridge - by which
something Divine is transferred or transmitted from one person to another. In its most
simple form, it is a BLESSING, but it is also implies, in its deeper meaning and
IMPARTATION.

I. UNDER THE LEVITICAL SYSTEM:

Leviticus 8:14
Then he brought near the sin offering bull and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the
head of the sin offering bull

II. FOR HEALING THE SICK

Matthew 8:3
He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” Immediately
his leprosy was cleansed.

III. CONFERRING THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 8:17
Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy
Spirit.

IV. IN BLESSING CHILDREN

Mark 10:16
After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.

V. IN BLESSING PEOPLE (CONGREGATION)

Luke 24:50
Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.

Genesis 48:14
Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, although he was the
younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, for Manasseh was
the firstborn.

VI. ORDINATION

Acts 6:6
They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.
Ordination is a confirming of one’s call, a transfer of authority and impartation of gifts.

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VII. PROPHETIC IMPARTATION

1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words
when the elders laid hands on you.

Two levels of impartation

a. The local Church

b. Presbytery

The result of Presbytery

• A definite impartation.

• A distinct transformation.

•A visible manifestation of power.

There is, however, great need for wisdom to be exercised in ministering through the laying on of hands.

A. Hands should be laid upon those persons "in whom is the Spirit."

Numbers 27:18
And the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit,
and lay your hand on him;

B. Paul exhorted us to "lay hands suddenly on no man."

1 Timothy 5:22
Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself
pure.

Prophecy