Life Ministries

“The Power of Touch”

(C.) It transforms the blind. Matthew 9:27-30 “As Jesus went out from there, two blind men followed him calling out; “Have mercy on us Son of David”…When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them; “Do you believe I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord” they replied. Then he ‘touched’ their eyes and said; “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored”. There is another instance when Jesus put mud on a mans eyes and with that touch, he was able to see.

(D.) It transforms the doomed. In Matthew 8:1-3 it says; “When he came down from the mountain side, a large crowd followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said; “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”. Jesus reached out his hand and ‘touched’ the man. “I am willing” he said, “Be clean” and immediately he was cured of his leprosy. This man was doomed to live out his life alone, with painful skin lesions, and with no one able to ‘touch’ him. Doomed to never again feel the touch of a loved one. Yet, he was ‘touched’ by Jesus, and his life was transformed.
(C.) It transforms the dead. Luke 8:49-55 - “While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jarius; ”Your daughter is dead” he said, “Don’t bother the master any more”. Jesus said to Jarius; “Don’t  be afraid, just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jarius, … the people were weeping and wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep”… They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But Jesus ‘touched’ her, took her by the hand and said; “My child, get up”…(Now, I want you to carefully notice what it says next…) “Her spirit returned,.. and at once she stood up.” I don’t have time to go into that, but just chew on it a little! “Her spirit returned”… Hmmm.
(E.) It transforms the dismayed and fearful. Matthew 17:1-7 … “After 6 days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, his clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up 3 shelters…one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”… While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said; “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”… When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified! But Jesus came and “touched” them saying “Don’t be afraid”. Let me just encourage you this morning, that if you are dismayed or fearful…look up all the “fear not’s” in the Bible and take to heart the promises given for each one.
(F.) Finally, there are times when we may need to be “touched” twice. In Mark 8:22-25 we have another story of a blind man. It says; “They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. (Here is another thing to pay attention to; Do you know how many times it says that someone brought a person in need to Jesus?…) That ought to speak to us about our friends and family and neighbors. “When he had spit on the man’s eyes and touched him, Jesus asked; “Do you see any-thing?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around” (In other words, his vision was blurred) “Once more Jesus touched the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly”.
    Now, here’s what you can take from all of this; There are those on our prayer lists who are not only physically sick, but spiritually sick. They have sin-fever and a spiritual temperature of 110* They need the touch of God in their life. There are those who are deaf to God’s Word. Their hearts are so hardened they cannot hear the truth…and they need the touch of God. There are those who are spiritually blind. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “the god of this age has blinded their minds” not their eyes, but their minds, “so they cannot see the light of the gospel” and they live in darkness! They need the touch of God on their lives. There are those who are doomed. Doomed to an eternal life in the “lake of fire” of hell, eternally separated from God…unless someone brings them to Jesus! They need Him to touch their lives and bring the assurance of eternal life that salvation brings. And, a transformation in their lives. Ephesians 2:1 tells us that before coming to Christ, we were “dead in our transgressions and sins.” This is the situation of everyone who is lost and without God… spiritually dead, and facing what the Bible calls “the second death.” We need to pray for God to touch them with his life-giving Spirit! The touch of God is a powerful touch, it is a transforming touch, it is an intimate touch, it is a healing touch, it is a saving touch…. For whom will you pray for God to “touch” today?