To understand impartation, you have to understand anointing, which in the Bible means "a smearing." In Scripture, oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. When a prophet or priest poured, rubbed, or smeared oil over the head of someone, it was referred to as anointing that person. This actually gave the anointed person a measure of the oil that belonged to the prophet or priest. This is commonly referred to as transferring the anointing.
In the Old Testament, the oil was used to signify the passing ofthe anointing. In the New Testament we find that the anointing of the Holy Spirit can now be passed through the laying on of hands because the anointing abides within us: "But the anointing which you have receivedfrom Him abides in you... (1 John 2:27).
IMPARTATION Is FOUNDATIONAL
The apostle Paul named the laying on of hands as one of the six basic fundamental doctrines a Christian should understand. This places it in the very foundation of our Christian beliefs. In many circles of the modern Church, impartation is ignored, if not denied all together; in the first century, it was considered a foundational truth:
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrines about Christ andgo on to maturity, not laying again thefoundation of...the laying on ofhands... (Hebrews 6:1-2).
Paul also thought of impartation as part of the process of becoming established. He imparted spiritual gifts to the Roman believers to give them better foundation: "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established..." (Rom. 1:11 NKJV).
IMPARTATION Is INTENTIONAL
In the Old Testament, the anointing was a very purposeful, pronounced event. Impartation occurs not just because oftouch, but because a person places his or hq hands on you by the direction of the Holy Spirit with a goal in mind. Intentionally the impartation occurs.
To say that impartation occurs every time touch occurs would be similar to saying that if an Old Testament prophet had a leaky oil flask, then everything he dripped oil on was anointed to be king. Ifit were just touch, then every time you shook someone's hand, you would have some of him or her rub off on you. This is not biblical, and we are not promoting such superstition. We intentionally give that which we have, by the direction of the Holy Spirit: "what I have IgiveY0L„• (Acts 3:6).
IMPARTATION Is BIBLICAL
There are many other examples throughout the Bible of individuals or groups of people receiving an impartation from the Lord through another person. Let's look at a few of these.
Joshua and Moses: NowJoshua the son ofNun wasfull ofthe spirit ofwisdon for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children oflsrael heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses (Deut. 34:9 NKJV).
Moses and the Elders: So Moses went outand told thepeople the words ofthe Lord, and hegathered the seventy men ofthe elders ofthepeople andplaced them around the tabernacle. Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took ofthe Spirit that was upon him, andplaced the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied... (Num. 11:24-25a NKJV).
Elijah and Elisha: And so it was, when they had crossed o over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before lam taken away from m you?"Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9 NKJV)
Peter: Then Petersaid, "Silverandgoldldo not have, but what Ido havelgive you: In the name ofJesus Christ ofNazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6 NKJV)•
Paul and Timothy: Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given toyou byprophecy with the laying on ofthe hands ofthe eldership (1 Tim. 4