Can Man “Impart” the Holy Spirit?

By Bill Wilson 

Daily Jot News Service

WASH–Mar 23–DJNS–Last week a friend told me about an experience he had at his church. He said that the leaders asked if anyone wanted to have “The Holy Spirit.” If so, he said, they needed to come up front where the leader was going to “impart” the Holy Spirit into those wanting the Holy Spirit. He said that the pastor asked everyone to point their hands toward the group and join with him in imparting the Holy Spirit into them. He said that he could feel “sort of a balloon extending out where he could actually rest his hand on it” while the impartation was taking place. At risk of offending someone, this is an example of bad doctrine and the deception that is going on in many churches. It is non-biblical and nothing short of heresy.

I have been studying the doctrine and theology of many so-called “Christian” ministries that teach that men can lay hands on a person and “impart” and/or “activate” certain gifts such as the gift of prophecy, of being a prophet or apostle, gift of tongues, gift of whatever. There is a certain moral dualism at play here. People believe that there is good and evil. That God is good and that satan is evil. They believe that God limits himself by only working through man. Therefore, it is man, not God, who has control over whether evil is victorious or defeated. Man, therefore, has the same attributes as God and can impart them and activate them at will in other men. This is not scriptural.

Those supporting this concept use Acts 8 as their justification. It is the story of Peter and John going to Samaria to pray for those who received the word of YHVH. Verse 15 says, “Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” If one quit reading Acts at that point, it could be argued that the Holy Spirit was given by these men. But the story does not begin nor end there, and well it doesn’t because if it did, many would believe that it is man, not YHVH that can impart the Holy Ghost.

In context of the totality of Acts 8, there was a certain sorcerer named Simon who was known for having “the great power of God.” Simon heard Philip preach the word, believed and was baptized. Acts 8:13 says Simon “continued with Phillip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.” Verses 18-19 say, “When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” Peter strongly rebuked Simon, saying his heart was not right with YHVH; that the gift of YHVH cannot be purchased with money; and called him to repent.

Act 8 in its entirety addresses that man can neither impart nor activate the gifts of YHVH apart from YHVH. Man is not the equal of YHVH, just in obedience a willing vessel. As is written in Daniel 4:17 describing the authority of YHVH over men, “to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men…”  Man is not the keeper of YHVH’s will. Be aware that those calling themselves Christians who are practicing impartations and activations are dealing with spirits, as once did Simon the sorcerer, but they may well not be the Holy Spirit.

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