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New Testament Impartation: Some Serious Questions

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **3/7/16 11:49 pm**

Recent questions posed by Eddie on the subject of impartation have produced some questions of my own regarding the subject. The word impart means simply "to give." Since we live under the New Covenant, my questions are specifically related to a New Covenant/New Testament paradigm--not an Old Testament understanding. For example:

1. Is there a biblical mandate, right, privilege or freedom to impart anything to anyone? If so, can an impartation be conducted at the discretion of the preacher, or only when prompted by the HS? As an example, some teach that one may speak in tongues at will, while others believe there must be a prompting of the HS.

2. If so, is the impartation (the word "impart" in its most basic form means "to give") limited to giving something of one's own (e.g., giving to someone in a service or one on one some spiritual truth, principle or word of wisdom), or, may a person impart something that is not one's own, i.e., something that belongs to someone else? Someone else's anointing? Someone else's ability to, for example, play piano or sing?

3. When a preacher preaches a sermon, he/she is "imparting" to the hearer the truth of God's Word. This is certainly a biblical view/approach to impartation. Taking it further, does a preacher have the biblical right, privilege, benefit or freedom to impart to the hearer(s) specifics? For example, does a minister have the biblical right and subsequent authority to impart to a fellow believer: (1) the baptism of the HS; (2) a gift such as healing or working of miracles; etc.

4. If a preacher could impart a things such as described in #'s 2 and 3 above, could the preacher also revoke the impartation?

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **3/8/16 8:55 am**

For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; Rom. 1:11

Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 1 Thess, 2:8

Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 1 Tim. 4:14

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Tim. 1:6

Question 1 - Is impartation Biblical new covenant ministry? The scriptures above make it clear that impartation is part of our new covenant ministry of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives gifts as He wills.

1 Cor. 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

Once He imparts a gift, we have it to use, or not use...to "speak" or "keep silent".

1 Cor. 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

1 Cor. 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Question 2 - Can we impart what we want to impart? Yes. We cannot give what we do not have.

Acts 3:6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Give - didomi - the same Greek word translated bestowed in 1 Tim. 4:14 and 1 Cor. 12:7,8

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

Question 3 - Is speaking impartation? Yes. Speakers impart a message, they sow seed. If that message is Truth or Good News, it has power to save, fill, heal, deliver or set free.

Gal. 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

We receive whatever we receive from God by "hearing with faith". That's how impartation occurs.

Question 4 - Can a speaker revoke an impartation? No. You can't "unsay" something. Speakers only have the ability to undermine the faith of hearers by saying something else - giving listeners another seed to believe.

1 Tim. 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

2 Tim. 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
_________________
I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!

My website: www.bradfreeman.com
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Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **3/8/16 1:33 pm**

Thank you brad for takin time to share ya thoughts.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **3/8/16 2:34 pm**

Maybe a place to start would be defining what is meant by anointing and mantle. And whether there can be degrees of anointing.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **3/8/16 2:39 pm**

Oh, and if there are degrees or levels (i.e. "ten-fold") of anointing, are the higher levels available to the female sex?

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **3/8/16 2:43 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **3/8/16 3:42 pm**

How does a minister choose who to impart the anointing to someone? If it is possible, why wouldn't he/she impart it into everyone?

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **3/8/16 5:36 pm**

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **3/8/16 5:41 pm**

Link, does that carry over to the New Covenant or not?

My thoughts on impartation

Acts-celerater Posts: 935 **3/9/16 9:41 am**

For years I have argued with my more Charismatic friends about "impartation". Their basic tenet being taken from the example of Paul desiring to impart a gift to the Romans in Rom.1:11 and noticing that Timothy received a gift when Paul laid his hands upon him in 1 Tim. 4:14.

It has been my contention that I cannot give you what is not mine to give. In 1 Cor.12:7 & 11 the word declares that it is the Holy Spirit who gives out (the gifts) "severally as HE wills". While I do believe that I can lay hands on an individual for healing and I can lay hands on someone to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit or for a "fresh anointing" it is not me who heals or imparts. It IS the Holy Spirit of God. I cannot give you a gift, only God can. However, all of that said, there are times when the Spirit of God is moving so strongly that as I have ministered and been in services of other men/women who were strongly being used of by the Spirit, that people have been powerfully impacted as we laid hands on the. In 1 Cor. 12:31 for example it tells us to covet or earnestly desire spiritual gifts. If we desire them and God is using an individual minister powerfully in the Spirit, cannot these two things come together and the person receives what they have been seeking for as the minister prays for them? I certainly believe so.

May I say one other thing. While it is my general belief that only the Spirit gives out Gifts/anointing/etc, I am NOT dogmatic about it. What if I am wrong? Therefore, I accept the prayers of others offered in faith. I have been prayed for individually by some very well-known men and women of God, been prophesied over by some as well. I receive it all in the Spirit in which it was given and I say AMEN, so be it Lord. Be it unto your servant as you have said. Just my thoughts.

As an aside, while I was in Ecuador for two weeks, we had a few unusual services. In one, I preached to a very receptive church and to mostly spirit-filled people. I felt impressed to pray for the people for a fresh touch from God (call it what you will, fresh anointing, re-baptism see Acts 4, impartation, whatever). As I began to move thru the congregation laying hands on them with my students, it was like a bomb went off. Suddenly, nearly all the congregation began to weep and cry out and then as we touched them. Most hit the floor and stayed there for some time, two men began to manifest demons which we cast out while several strong men had to restrain them as they were manifesting nearly superhuman strength but eventually they were at peace after prayer. For nearly an hour, the place was pandemonium of a good sort as many were healed, some baptized in the Spirit others refreshed and prophesy was given over many who received the words of the Lord. Was that impartation or just the move of the Spirit? Who cares? It was surely God at work. PTL.