What is the ministry of "the presbytry"?

Can anyone help me know Biblical or have any experience with the minsitry of "the presbytry"? a prophetic meeting where people lay hands on people to hear from God for the direction of their lives? Is this Biblical, or am I too careful? This ministry is happening in our church where a man is coming to pray for people to hear from God about the direction of their lives in leadership of the church.Grace,Doug

Wow, yeah, I'd be extremely careful there. There are no examples of a person getting direction or having anything imparted through the laying on of hands. There are, however, several examples of people being given words of knowledge that CONFIRMED events that had already been told to them by the Lord. Also the laying on of hands is more of a recognition from the Church that there is already a call from the Holy Spirit on a person's life (i.e. Paul and Barnabas being commissioned by the Church at Antioch for Missions).

Husley writes: Wow, yeah, I'd be extremely careful there. There are no examples of a person getting direction or having anything imparted through the laying on of hands.I share Hulsey's caution here; directive prophecy is a very dangerous tool. But on the broader front and in the cause of open-ness...(1Ti 4:14 KJV) [i]Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. is very likely the verse they have in mind. 'presbuterion' simply means the body of elders; it is also used in Luke 22:16 & Acts 22:5) According to the Timothy verse it means 'through' prophecy 'together with' the laying on of hands by the eldership. This is a very interesting combination of an apostle working in conjunction with the local church, but that is not our point!Later Paul says (2Ti 1:6 KJV) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. which sounds like the same incident but does not refer to the eldership at this time.

Yikes, so now what? yes, these verses are the ones being used as a directive from God to have prayer over certain leaders in the church. They have prayed and have selected only certain people to get pray this weekend and not everyone.They are having a man ( a recognized presbyter/prophetic prayer man ) come this weekend for 3 separate services to pray for married couples and then the elders of our church will follow up with them on what God spoke through the man coming to lay hands and pray for them.I guess I am not settled with the purpose and how we are to hear the Lord and know His will for our lives in this process. What should I look out for? Be weary of? Is this boardering in unbiblical practices? I need help with this. Thanks!Grace,Doug

Doug writes:They are having a man ( a recognized presbyter/prophetic prayer man ) come this weekend for 3 separate services to pray for married couples and then the elders of our church will follow up with them on what God spoke through the man coming to lay hands and pray for them.I guess I am not settled with the purpose and how we are to hear the Lord and know His will for our lives in this process. I think there is a strong tendency for some societies to read the New Testament looking for prescriptions. I worked on an international bank project some years ago where I was personally responding to enquiries to over 60 financial regulators; The Federal Reserve Bank being among them. This was Y2K time and each country regulator had its own style. The Federal Reserve Bank was the most prescriptive of all. Most other regulators said 'tell us what you are doing, in full'. The Federal Reserve folks said 'this is what you will do and this is when you will do it'. This is an observation not a criticism.The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles contain many spontaneous acts of the Spirit. They are recorded as a record of the way in which the early Christians allowed God to do His work. The danger is that we then look at those events and wieve them into a prescriptive pattern. Did you ever notice this injuction; (Heb 13:7 NASB) Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. I am using the NASB because I think it makes the point neatly. Notice we are to imitate their faith, not their conduct. We are not to try to replicate the actions of Peter or Paul or any of these men. We may see principles in their conduct and we must give careful attention to their conduct, but this book is not a blueprint.The danger is that people think that to replicate a New Testament action automatically authenticates it; it does not. So we have prayer cloths, and prebyterial prophetic programmes. Real life never imitates life it just gets on with living.To gather the saints together with the expectation that they will receive directional guidance from a visiting prophet is extremely unwise. It is as unwise as those who go trawling through the New Testament looking for a verse. If you remember Christ's temptation you will remember that Satan knows how to stick a Bible verse under your nose when it suits his purpose.We are not to seek guidance, nor is it our responsibility to 'get' it. It is God's responsibility to 'give' it; I just have to be guidable. Here is a great verse on guidance; Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Pro 3:5-6 KJV)The first half is my responsibility; the last part is God's responsibility.1.Trust in the LORD with all thine heart2.Lean not unto thine own understanding3.In all thy ways acknowledge Him..Great, you can relax now. Your part is over. You don't need to visit directional prophets, or to go seeking Bible verses. Your part is over. The rest of this couplet is God's job and He quards this responsibility very jealously. Distrust anyone who tries to muscle in on it. They will only cause you to be more dependent upon men rather than God.