You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 15:16 (NIV)
The Game of Tag
Is one of the oldest of games… Thrill of pursuit, of being pursued… There were times I wanted to be tagged. I would run in circles, staying fairly close to the person that was “it”.
A few weeks ago I preached a message called “Come Out With Your Hands Up” – a message about God’s pursuit of us. I read a portion of the poem, “The Hound of Heaven”.
It’s as if we’re in an eternal game of tag. To hear some of us Christians talk, you would think that we, in our wisdom, chose God. But as our text says, He chose us. We were running…
But Jesus came – touching… And it was the touch of God.
The Lord has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God. Isaiah 52:10 (NKJV)
SOMEBODY TOUCHED ME
The late Nathaniel and Jean Urshan used to sing “Oh-oh-oh, somebody touched me…” I’m so glad He touched me.
I don’t really remember the first touch of God on my life – but I’m sure it was a human hand...
- Godly father and mother, who held me and prayed
- A youth pastor that put his arm around me when I should have been in trouble
I don’t remember the first time He spoke to me, but I’m sure it was a human voice...
THE POWER OF THE NEW COVENANT
The power of the New Covenant is God in a man – touching and speaking. In the Old Covenant, few felt – few heard. But it is different in the New Covenant. It is a human hand, a human voice that made the difference.
Jesus is a man that I can understand, introducing me to a God that I cannot. It is a man speaking to me for a God that I cannot hear. The New Covenant is about a man appearing before me to reveal to me a God that I cannot see.
That is why the New Covenant is so effective. It is effective because in Jesus, God touched us. You might say, “Jesus died 2000 years before I was born. How does he touch someone today?”
ABOUT THE TOUCH OF JESUS
It is an incredible touch.
- His is a touch of PASSION – It wasn’t just a casual brush, or a clumsy bump. It had emotion behind it. I can sense the passion behind the voice.
- His is a touch of POWER – Lame men walk, dumb men talk, deaf hear, blind see, devils flee
- His is a touch of PRIVILEGE – We did nothing to deserve it. But this the touch of a king.
- His is a touch of PERMANENCE – Something about his touch, about his voice. It lives on. It forever changes us.
- His is a touch of PURPOSE – Here is what I came to talk to you about. His touch was a touch of purpose.
o It was ON purpose. (Never a chance meeting)
o It was FOR a purpose. (Always had a reason )
Ultimately - it was a touch to be PASSED
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 (NKJV)
Jesus wasn’t just touching people… He was playing tag! He was touching them on purpose, and when he touched them, THEY WERE "IT"!
- He said “Peter, you’re it.” God was in that touch
- Peter said, “Matthew, you’re it” – and God was in that touch.
- For 2000 years the game has continued… And the hand of Jesus Christ has touched from generation to generation, from country to country. The voice of Jesus has spanned the globe.
FINALLY, HE TOUCHED ME.
That’s why I say that when I first heard the voice of God – it was the voice of a man. When I first felt the touch of God – it was a human touch.
It was still a touch of passion, power, privilege, permanence, purpose… God was in that touch.
But I also realize that it is a touch to be passed! You see – I am it!
And you are here for a reason… This isn’t just a casual brush, a mistaken bump. Tag, you’re it!
TAG, YOU’RE IT!
Please realize what is happening here. This is not a social gathering. This is not an educational seminar. The Spirit is speaking. Jesus is touching. There is a transfer of power taking place… and you’re it!
Right now – heaven is at attention. All eyes are on you. You are the most important thing in the Kingdom at this moment. The world is waiting – for you.
- Quit waiting for someone else to make a difference in your situation… You’re it!
- Quit waiting for others to do the right thing… You’re it!
- Quit waiting for someone else to speak a word of faith – to extend a hand of friendship. You’re it!
Remember that you may be the only Jesus that someone ever sees. You are his hands and feet. You are his voice in the world. I encourage you to pass along that touch – on purpose!
You might say, I don’t know how to preach. I don’t think I can teach a Bible study. Jesus didn’t start his earthly ministry by preaching…
His first official act of ministry was to turn water into wine.
You just go out there today, and touch someone – on purpose. I often see a bumper sticker that says “Practice random acts of kindness”. But that’s not the reason that Jesus touched you. There was nothing random about His touch. And what you do when you leave here will be more than a random act of kindness.
You’re going to do it with intent.
- It will be an act of passion.
- Because you realize that there is power in what you do.
- People are going to feel privileged – because they realize they are important to you.
- And you will make a difference
- And they will have purpose… You see, when you touch people in the name of Jesus – they are it!
Understand the Power of Your Touch on Purpose
We’ve been saying that when you touch someone – it is the touch of God.
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ’Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ’Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matt 25:37-40 (NKJV)
I’m saying that when you touch someone – on purpose – YOU ARE ALSO TOUCHING GOD! That means - the moment you speak into their lives, they are "it". And God is "it" – again. And isn’t that what you want? It’s all about God, and them.
You want to discover life and purpose - to discover Jesus again? Go touch someone in His name!
