A Second Touch

Dr. Wayne A. Lawson

Preached at Antioch Institutional Baptist Church

Oklahoma City, OK

Sunday, April 25, 2010

RevWLawson@aol.com

(I make no claim for the originality of this message. I first preached it about 22 years ago and could not locate the references. It was revised for this particular delivery)

TITLE: A SECOND TOUCH

SCRIPTURE: ST. MARK 8:22-26

As I prayed this past week and being lead of the Holy Spirit to this passage of scripture, I could not help but to think how many people in our church who might say, "I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE, BUT I REALLY HAVEN’T HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH GOD." Or someone might say, "I ONCE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH GOD, BUT I DON’T FEEL GOD ANYMORE. I COME TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY, SERVE ON COMMITTEES, AND EVEN TEACH IN SUNDAY SCHOOL, BUT I DON’T SEE, THAT IS TO SAY FEEL GOD VERY OFTEN. "

In our text this morning we find some help for those who have lost their focus. Can’t seem to feel God or see God in our spirit realm. We can get to the point in our spiritual walk where we begin to lose focus as Paul alluded to in I CORINTHIANS 13:12 “FOR NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY; BUT THEN FACE TO FACE: NOW I KNOW IN PART; BUT THEN SHALL I KNOW EVEN AS ALSO I AM KNOWN.”

Mark alone records this miracle of blind man from Bethsaida. Bethsaida not a far distant scene of miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This miracle directly relates to Deaf Stammeror of Decapolis -- it was friends who brought both men to Jesus.

• Best thing we can do for our friends is to introduce them to Jesus

• That’s what Evangelism is all about

• Sometimes we simply need to bring our friends into relationship with Jesus

We are not told that this blind man believed anything or expected anything from the Lord at all. He seems to have come to the place where the Master was simply because his friends persuaded him to do so.

• What a blessed man he was to have such friends

• He did not know Christ - but his friends did

• He did not believe Christ - but his friends did

• He would never have come to Christ - but his friends brought him

After impartially touching this man Jesus was required to touch him again. I believe the Church today is like this blind man. We stand desperately in need of A Second Touch. Until we receive this second touch we will be OUT OF TOUCH - OUT OF FOCUS - CONFUSED. Second Touch able to move from SYMBOL TO SUBSTANCE - PRIDE TO POWER - INDEPENDENCE TO COOPERATION. This is the only Miracle recorded in New Testament where Jesus was required to touch his subject more than once to bring about a sufficient change.

In many instances no touch was needed at all. DAUGHTER OF CANNANITE WOMAN -- SERVANT OF ROMAN SOLDIER -- MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND - 10 LEPERS - NOBLEMAN FROM CAPERNAUM WHSE SON WAS SICK. Other miracles required but one touch – other times Jesus was able to HEAL BY THE REMOTE CONTROL OF HIS DIVINE POWER. Jesus did not remake the 5 Barley Loaves or Recreate the Two Tiny Fish. Simply took them up in his Holy Hands held to Father’s face and that was enough to change a little boys lunch for one into a banquet feast for 5,000. No second touch necessary.

• He did not Wrestle with the Wind or Fight the Sea to make it calm

• Stood still in midst of storm – PEACE BE STILL

• Woman with the Issue of Blood – Fountain Sealed at its Source

• Funeral at town of Nain - Blessed Assurance

Statistics prove no matter the size of the Church, only 7% of the body actually do the work. I am sure that you would agree with me that Jesus was a worker, not satisfied sitting back and allowing people to do for Him. Two types of people in this world, those that work/wait. Jesus did hard work for advancement of God’s kingdom. In this case a touch was not enough – Prayer was not enough – Word was not enough.

• Jesus does not try to get by on who He is

• He does not Pull any Strings

• He does not Pull Rank

• He does not Drop Names

• Does not call down 12-Legion of Angels

• Does not Rely on His Divine Connection with God

• Jesus rolled up his sleeves and went to Work

Blind Man – Stubbornness – Total Unending Eclipse – Trips - Stumbles – Feels – Fumbles his way through Life.