WHO TOUCHED ME? (Part one)
This is part one of a two part lesson.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. DEFINE TOUCH:
To come into contact with ...
To handle gently with love and appreciation ...
To lay hands upon ...
To leave a mark or impression ...
Mental or moral sensitiveness or responsiveness ...
To stay in communication with ...
B. Once when I was a child we lived in Indiana, a big storm had killed a lady in Kocomo and was headed our way.
I was so afraid, I prayed for Dad to get home soon.
The bushes were bending in the wind, but I saw Dad’s 1961 red Ford pull in the drive way. I was so glad.
I was waiting at the door when Dad came running in, I felt so safe when Dad put his arms around me and held me near.
Now, I understand Dad could not have stopped the storm, but as a little boy, I felt safe settled in my Dad’s arms.
I would like to have his arms around me today and make me feel the same way?
TEXT:
Mark 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it
were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
C. WE HAVE ALLOWED THE WORLD AND PEOPLE DOING WRONG TO DICTATE TO THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY ABOUT TOUCH.
Yes, we have to guard and set safe guards but we can not allow fear to stop us from touching those that have needs.
There are appropriate, good healthy ways to touch for the cross of Jesus.
D. YES, TOUCH CAN BE A DANGEROUS TRAP --- BEWARE, BE WISE. BUT DO NOT ALLOW THE CHURCH TO BECOME A TOUCH-ME-NOT PLACE.
There are critical needs, Jesus touched people, Jesus taught his disciples to touch people.
II. THE SEVEN TOUCH RULE!
Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
Mark 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
A. I read once that there was a Seven Touch Rule to do with church growth. If a church has a visitor to come join in the service, if that person returns to
church there is a seven touch rule.
That visitor needs to be touched seven times, one time by seven different people. If the visitor is touched seven times they are much more likely to
return to that church.
This touch must be more than mechanical and ritual, it must be personal and inclusive.
B. A BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM CHANGES WITH SOME SPECIAL ATTENTION AND EFFORT.
I taught school 6 years.
I would see my next year students in the class load beneath our grade. I had this one boy I had watched come often to the office.
I watched him grow for several years, and now he was my student.
To be honest I probably dreaded this young boy coming to my classroom.
I was familiar with his family. There was alcohol abuse in the parents and there were many kids in the family.
When the boy first walked into my classroom I grew a determination that some way I was going to TOUCH him in a positive way.
He was smart but behind in his class skills.
I would have him come in the room early and clean the chalk board.
While the others were in PE he would volunteer to help me. I would spend some individual time with him in the class room. I would have some of the other students work with him. He needed to be assimilated and have a feeling he belonged WITH US.
After a few weeks the boy and I made a connection, and he saw me as more than a teacher, he saw me as a friend. His behavior patterns slowly started changing and he started applying himself more.
All he needed was a touch from the heart.
C. I really believe that many behavioral problems could be solved with a touch of kindness and attention.
Parents are so busy! Teachers have such a heavy load!
Other children can be cruel and mean. We need a special touch from God’s hearts to our hands! And our hands to others’ hearts.
D. THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY:
PAY ATTENTION --- GIVE MORE EARNEST HEED!
III. IT TAKES GREAT DETERMINATION AND EFFORT TO CLAIM YOUR TOUCH! I TOUCHED HIM, BUT I NEVER TOUCHED HIM?
Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
A. This woman had been sick for 12 years.
Each payment to the doctor busted her budget, and she never got any better. As a matter of fact she grew worse.
B. This woman was also not allowed into worship services because she was considered ceremonially unclean.
C. This lady had to find out where Jesus was.
She had to make a trip, Jesus never came to her, she had to go to Him.
D. Before the lady topped over the hill, she could hear the crowd.
The crowd was curious, maybe even desperate.
Many in the crowd touched Jesus --- but few touched him.
E. They had accepted a familiar spirit and they took the SON OF GOD AS COMMON, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TOUCHING JESUS BECAUSE ONE IS CURIOUS --- A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE --- VERSES A GROWING --- FERVENT FAITH TOUCH.
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
F. EVEN THE RELIGIOUS CROWD WITH JESUS NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOUCHING JESUS AND TOUCHING JESUS.
G. It is not easily communicated why some people touch Jesus, and they are not touched?
IV. A GODLY TOUCH CAN BE SOOTHING AND HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON A HEART IN TURMOIL.
A. THE DISCIPLES FELL DOWN ON THEIR FACE IN FEAR,
AND JESUS COMFORTED THEM ... DON’T BE AFRAID.
There was comfort in the touch of a hand reaching in love.
Matthew 17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
B. Daniel was a man of God, he had been used of God in mighty ways, but this vision had something that brought fear, and the angel touched
Daniel and reassured him of a BLESSED ASSURANCE!
Daniel 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.
18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.
V. THE TOUCH OF GIVING ... BEYOND OUR ABILITIES AND UNDERSTANDING. THERE IS A TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD’S TOUCH OF REASSURANCE!
Daniel 9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
VI. A DIVINE TOUCH CAN COME WHILE IN PRAYER!
WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN THE TOUCH OF MAN’S HANDS.
MAN’S HANDS MUST KNOW THE DIVINE TOUCH.
A. God had a plan and purpose for Daniel.
Daniel had to learn to completely trust in the Unseen Hands.
Daniel 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
B. THE TOUCH TO DANIEL’S HANDS SUGGEST THAT DANIEL STILL HAD WORK TO DO?
C. The work before us is more than a civic club doing good works.
The difference between the Lion’s Club, Masons, Boy Scouts, is that we must have the Divine Touch to make the church effective.
VII. HEED ONE WARNING ABOUT TOUCHING ---
A. Too often in the church we see the man of God as the man --- We can loose our respect for the holy and the profane.
Psalm 105:15 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
1 Tim. 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
B. God has men and women, and they should be respected with double honor.
VIII. ARE WE GOING HOME WITH TOUCHED HEARTS?
ARE WE TOUCHING OTHER’S HEARTS?
A. Will we allow God’s touch to reach to those around us?
1 Samuel 10:26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
B. The anointing came upon Saul.
The question was asked: Is Saul among the prophets?
C. Some despised Saul, but God’s touch made the difference.
D. CONCLUSION:
How long has it been since the TOUCH OF THE LORD convicted us of heart problems and attitude problems?
Will we be satisfied to brush elbows with God’s Son and not TOUCH HIM?
DO YOU RECOGNIZE GOD’S TOUCH CAN OVERCOME YOUR LIMITATIONS, WEAKNESSES AND FAILURES?
Nothing can substitute for God’s touch.
Will we put others IN TOUCH WITH GOD’S TOUCH?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Please? Pass this on to another?
This is part one of a two part series.
