DIVINE IMPARTATION
Study Text: Acts 19: 11 - 12
Introduction:
- We are going to be looking at a very important subject for those wanting to be used effectively by God in public ministry.
- That is "Divine Impartation." This is the ability to give unto others that which God has given to us either sovereignly, or through other anointed vessels of God.
- A divine impartation may come upon us directly from God to enable us to do what we've not been able to do before.
- For instance, when the burden of Leadership was becoming too heavy on Moses' life, he cried out to God about this, God's response was to get Moses to gather together 70 men of the Elders of Israel: Numbers 11:16 - 17
- God divinely imparted of the spirit from Moses to the 70 Elders. When that happened they began to prophesy - something they had never done before.
- That impartation enabled them to take on greater responsibility to support Moses, to minister to the people and to release the Holy Spirit out of their lives to bless others in a more powerful way.
- There was a transferring from one to another, so the one receiving could function much more like the one doing the imparting or transferring.
- It can also come to us when God uses His anointed servant to transfer either by laying on of hands or by speaking the prophetic words. Romans 1: 11 - 12
- Impartation has to do with the giving and receiving of spiritual gifts, blessings, healing, baptism in the Holy Spirit, etc., for the work of the ministry.
- It is the transference of these "gifts" from one man or woman of God to another, especially through the laying on of hands. There is an invisible flowing of spiritual ability from one to the other.
- Every great destiny is a product of an encounter with the impartation of grace. No great destiny can be in isolation; it is access to diverse grace that makes a great destiny.
- We shall discuss the topic under three sub headings:
1. Impartation: What it means
2. Impartation: How it comes
3. Impartation: What it does
1. Impartation: What it means
i. It is essentially a spiritual platform for the duplication and multiplication of grace:
- This presupposes that grace is transferred from a source to a receiver. So, impartation is a spiritual platform for attracting a desired grace from a carrier to one’s life.
- It was not a miracle that Elisha encountered; it was a double portion of the grace on Elijah’s life. Miracles will provide answers for the now, but grace will give you command both for the now and for the future.
ii. It is the tangible transference of the power of God through an anointed vessel:
- By the transference of the power of God in Paul – an anointed vessel, diseases were healed and evil spirits were cast out.
iii. It is the transference of spiritual endowment from anointed vessels to others:
- You cannot give what you do not have (Acts 3:6).
- The making of every great destiny lies in the giftings of the Spirit. Romans 1:11.
- So, the virtues in an anointed vessel can be transferred to those who desire, crave, and are desperate for it.
iv. It is the transmission of the power of God into the situations of men (Luke 7:13-16):
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them (Luke 5:17).
2. Impartation: How it comes
i. The Prophetic Word:
- God’s word is the carrier of God’s power. He confirms whatever word He gives to His prophets.
- While Jesus was teaching, people received their healings through the prophetic word (Luke 5:17), (Romans 1:16). God’s word releases His power that changes people’s situations.
ii. Through Laying - on of Hands (Acts 19:1-6):
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses (Deuteronomy 34: 9).
Joshua stepped into Moses’ shoes supernaturally, via the laying – on of hands. Why?
iii. The Prophetic Mantle:
- In Acts 19: 11-12, God wrought special miracles through the handkerchiefs and aprons taken from Apostle Paul.
- The prophetic mantle connects you to the virtue of the prophet, such that wherever that virtue takes him, it takes you.
- The mystery of the mantle is not a doctrine, it is a biblical truth. When you catch a revelation of this truth, you will become a beneficiary of its manifestations.
And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over (2 Kings 2:14).
3. Impartation: What it does
i. Impartation brings blessings
- Gen. 28: 1 - 4 Here we see Isaac imparting the Abrahamic blessing to Jacob, on the condition that he marry the right girl!
- Gen. 48: 14 – 20 Here we see Jacob passing on through impartation the Abrahamic covenant of blessing. His prophetic insight also enabled him to know that the younger son of Joseph would be greater than the firstborn.
ii. Impartation releases the Baptism of the Spirit
- Acts: 19: 1 – 6. The disciples were baptised in the Holy Spirit when Paul laid hands on them.
- Through impartation by the laying on of hands those believers were released into a dynamic new dimension of the Holy Spirit, including the gift of prophecy.
iii. Impartation gives grace for the work of God.
- As a result of Ananias' obedience to God and laying his hands on Saul, there was an impartation of the Holy Spirit from him to Saul.
- Saul was strengthened to proclaim Christ in a way that amazed all who heard him. True impartation strengthens us for God's work. Acts 9: 17 – 20
iv. Impartation releases the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Spiritual gifts are released through the laying on of hands of God’s anointed servants. 2tim 1: 6
Conclusion:
- God, in His desire to have us equipped to bless, impact, touch and heal our generation for His glory, has given to us the Ministry of Impartation; that "extra" dimension that enables us to function in a much greater way in the supernatural.
- We can prepare ourselves naturally, but He has provided a means whereby we are empowered spiritually by impartation from those who carry a recognized ministry and anointing in the Holy Spirit.
- God's heart is that each of us receive an impartation in the areas mentioned, so we in turn can not only function in them, but learn to know how to impart them to others.
