Back in the seventies there was a movie that maybe you remember. It was a big hit because at the time there were reports from all around the world concerning UFO sightings. It was a phenomenon that continues today though we don’t hear as much about it. The movie was “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. In the movie it spoke of the different kinds of encounters one can have with UFO’s. A close encounter of the first kind is coming within close proximity to a UFO, within 500 feet. The second kind is when a UFO leaves markings on the ground, causes burns to humans, scares animals, interferes with car engines or TV/radio waves. The third kind is sighting of occupants in a UFO. Hence the title of the movie. But it goes beyond that. Encounters of the forth kind are those in which people are abducted. And the fifth kind is personal communication with an alien. For people who believe in these things the best encounter is a personal experience with an alien.
As Christians we too have levels of encounter with God that range from casual to intense personal worship and communication with the maker of the universe. But unlike the encounters with aliens, which apparently are at their discretion, your encounter is yours to be had any time you want.
One of the ways that we as believers can encounter God is through worship. Our worship of God literally “ascribes worth” to the only one who is worthy of our praise and worship. Let’s look today at a story of one who had a close encounter of the best kind.
I. FOCUSSED ON YOUR PROBLEM.
Verse 26, “she had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” She had suffered a great deal. Year after year - from bad to worse. For twelve years. Don’t know if she suffered because of the condition or because of the doctors. Spent all her time and money relying on self. Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Amplified Bible, Proverbs 3:5, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight your paths.” She had been attacking the problem from a human perspective. Now it looks as though she will just have to live with it. When she had used up all her resources she wasn’t better but worse. There are some similarities between the woman’s problem and some Christians who find it difficult to really enter into God’s presence. People struggle to feel God’s presence in a church service. They do everything in their power to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples to go and wait and the promise of the Father will be given to you. And He has been given. It is ours to receive. Many people will jump from church to church to find that exhilarating emotional experience. They spend all their time and effort just wanting to feel good. And when their time is spent, they walk away no better than they were before, and even worse. Matt 13:18-23 Jesus’ parable of the sower explained mentions people who do not have a complete experience with God. One hears the message and doesn’t understand it and the evil one comes and snatches it away. Tries to experience God with just his mind. One receives it with joy, (emotional response) but it has no root. He lasts for only a short time and when trouble comes he bails out. One receives and doubts and lets the worries of life and the lies about wealth choke it out. He remains unfruitful. When they have done everything they know how to do they are responding from a human perspective. Look what happens when one receives with his whole being and not just part. “But the one who receives the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”
II. FOCUSSED ON THE SOLUTION.
Verse 27, "When she heard about Jesus… Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Never thought about it until it was her last hope. When she heard about Jesus nothing could keep her from touching Him. Luke says that as Jesus was on His way the crowds almost crushed Him. Once this woman heard about Jesus she was determined to get to Him. What ever it took, there was no stopping her. Why? Because she began to see things from a different perspective! I Samuel 17:1-50. The story of David and Goliath. David’s perspective was not what man saw but what man saw through God. David’s own brother chastised him because he questioned why no one was standing up to the enemy. Others in the army did the same. Saul didn’t think David had a chance. But David saw something different. Psalm 16:8, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
The woman knew if she could just get to Jesus things would change. She fought her way through the crowd. (Push, push, squeeze, “excuse me”, push, duck crawl – Touch!!!!)Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Getting close to Jesus increases your faith. When you get close to Jesus you begin to understand how Paul could write, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Look at how worship can bring you to that point. Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is working within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
III. FOCUSSED ON THE RELATIONSHIP
Changed perspective. Increased faith. Confession. Verse 30, “Who touched my clothes?” Jesus knew power had left Him. He wasn’t looking to rebuke but to make personal contact with her. When we come to touch Jesus He wants to be a real part of the contact. Don’t just come to church and worship and get blessed. Walk away changed forever. Verse 33, “Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.” When we come into the presence of Almighty God we recognize our sinfulness, our weaknesses, our imperfections. But in doing so our perspectives change and so do we. Verse 34, “daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” When you come into the presence of the Lord you can be set free. John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” It’s that simple! Just come to the Lord. No questions asked! He meets you exactly where you are.
Charlotte and I like to travel. I like to drive. She likes to fly. But we both love to go to places we have never been and see things we have never seen. I have even gone so far as to email state tourism departments for brochures and then fantasize about exotic destinations or places of natural beauty that I would consider going to. We had seen photos and read articles about the Rocky Mountains. We had heard of their majesty and rugged beauty. We had often seen the nature shows on TV about wildlife in those same mountains. And for the most part I was satisfied with just a second hand experience. But hearing about them and looking at pictures and reading stories doesn’t really tell you everything about the Rockies. It isn’t until you go there that you are able to experience the thin air, the fall chill, and the crystal clear night skies. Only when you are there can you see why they call them “quaking aspens”. Not until you’ve reached the high altitudes do you realize that it really does snow in June.
Many people in churches today come looking for something. They’ve heard about the wonderful manifestations of the Holy Spirit of the early Pentecostal revivals. They have heard the generations before them speak of God’s wonderful healing power. Many people have heard, but not many are experiencing God’s awesome power in their lives. Many are happy to know about those things, but knowing about them and experiencing them are not the same. Christians today must come to the point where they are not satisfied until they can find themselves touching God. It is in the touching where true Christian experience takes place.
The woman in our passage today had every reason she could ever need to want to touch Jesus. But she had every hindrance placed before her as well. The massive crowds of people pressing in to Jesus. It looked as though she could never get to him. She was ceremonially unclean. She was an outcast. But she would not be denied the opportunity to go and touch Him and be changed forever. She pressed in. She would not be satisfied with just hearing the stories about Him.
What is stopping you? Maybe the crowds? You are afraid of what someone might say or think. There is only one thing that can really stop you from coming. You! God will meet you where you are and then you can take care of business. But you have to come. You have to reach out. You have to break through to touch Him. It may take some time. But he wants to get personal with you. Worship is a great way to do that. Get it in your heart and mind that you are going to touch God with your worship when you come back tonight. And it doesn’t even have to be in church. You can touch ham anytime, anywhere. But our music and worship time provides a wonderful opportunity for you to get lost in Him and just be in His presence.
You can look at pictures of vacations spots and say, “Oh that’s nice…” or you can go and experience the real thing.
Come and receive something from the lord today. Press in – receive prayer – receive healing – receive blessing – receive power.
