WHO TOUCHED ME? Part #2
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE LORD.
WE SERVE A GOD THAT CAN BE TOUCHED AND HE LOVES TO TOUCH HIS PEOPLE.
A. Jesus met many curious people. Some followed Jesus for the free fish and loaves. Others followed to see miracles.
The crowds would at times be smothering, but often the crowds were near the Son of God, but they did not touch Him.
B. Just because the crowd was there, did not mean much. Many were happy to be observers and not reach out to touch.
C. Others will be happy to discuss God and religion they just don’t want to make an effort to reach beyond here.
D. WE TEND TO GROW SO FAMILIAR WITH FREQUENT SITUATIONS THAT WE MISS THE HOLINESS OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD?
E. We can walk in dangerous areas when we accept the everyday occurrence of the Holy Spirit as routine and we accept the Divine presence with superficial
attitudes.
F. We can see God as the big brother in the sky, and miss how precious His Holy Presence is to the church.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
G. We serve a God that can be touched.
God loves to walk and talk with His people.
H. God walked and talked with Adam and Eve, and they just took His presence common and unappreciated.
I.God walked with Enoch.
J. Abraham was counted a friend of God.
II. ONE OF YOU? DO YOU KNOW? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
A. I am told and preacher was dying.
He had pastored the church for over 40 years.
He was well respected and loved in the community as a man of God.
As the old preacher was dying, someone leaned over his frail body and heard him say:
THE MESSIAH IS ONE OF YOU!
B. This puzzled every one in the room, and the news traveled among the people, THE MESSIAH IS AMONG US? HE IS ONE OF US?
C. At the Preacher’s funeral there were many whispered messages among the people, who could the Messiah be?
We never recognized he is here, could He be brother so- in- so?
Someone seemed to think it was Old Sister Jones?
D. The people started treating each other with greater and greater respect and love, who knows they might be the Master in disguised?
E. Revival came into the camp because the people were touching each other with great love, hope returned in the church, the Messiah is with us.
F. Do we recognize: THE MESSIAH IS ONE OF YOU?
Do we treat each other like one might be an angel?
There are angels among us!
III. WHEN GOD TOUCHES A PERSON, ONE DIVINE TOUCH CAN CHANGE THE THE PERSON, AND OUR FUTURES CAN BE REWRITTEN.
A. JACOB MEANS SUBPLANTER --- CHEATER, DECEIVER, to undermine authority, a lack of proper respect.
Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
B. ISRAEL:
Chosen by God --- TO BE WITH GOD ON THE SAME PAGE ---
Prince with God, --- A person chosen by God to have Divine favor, --- One that is allotted wisdom and power by the hand of God.
C. What if Jacob had not been touched by God’s plan?
D. Israel, prince with God, will walk different the rest of his days.
E. THE TOUCH COST A NIGHT’S SLEEP, A WRESTLING MATCH,
A LAYING HOLD ON A DIVINE TOUCH.
IV. IT DOES NOT GET ANY EASIER!
A. I am told a long distance runner had entered into one of the hardest races of their area. The runner was in agony and pain as his muscles screamed for
rest.
B. The runner rounded a corner, and there was a sign that said: IT DOES NOT GET ANY EASIER.
The runner was pondering the cost of the race, no easier?
C. The runner rounded another corner to read another sign: YOU JUST GET STRONGER.
D. My friend, the race does not get any easier, but you are climbing, and you are getting stronger.
E. Don’t quit! It is always too soon to quit!
V. DO WE LOOK AT PEOPLE AS GOD DOES?
DOES WHAT BREAKS GOD’S HEART BREAK OUR HEARTS?
A. God never puts the tape measure around a man’s billfold, nor around his head, the Lord is measuring your heart.
How much do you love hard to love people?
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not
as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
B. WE MUST TOUCH GOD AND THEN TOUCH OTHERS WITH HIS TOUCH.
WE CAN NOT ALLOW OUR EYES TO DICTATE WHO WE WILL TOUCH.
VI. TO BUILD GOOD PEOPLE WE NEED MORE THAN STRONG WISH BONES, WE NEED STRONG BACK BONES.
A. HINDERANCES AND OBSTACLES ARE BUT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LIGHT OF THE CROSS.
Are we excited about church and the cross?
B. TOUCH:
The results of two surfaces coming together.
To handle or feel gently with the INTENT TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE.
To lay hands upon with the intent to bring healing or restoration.
To give or lend.
To leave an impression.
Mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness.
C. THE TOUCH OF JESUS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE TOUCH OF THE FLESH AND OF THE WORLD. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
VII. JESUS SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF TOUCH IN THE CHURCH AND PRAYER.
A. There was a lesson that prayer is good, but Jesus wanted the church to reach out and touch other people.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
B. THERE ARE NO MAGIC POWERS IN THE ANOINTING OIL,
THE TOUCH OF GOD COMES WHEN WE BELIEVE AND THEN OBEY.
C. GOD NEEDS YOUR HANDS TO TOUCH THROUGH YOU!
VIII. WHAT ABOUT A DIVIDED HOUSE?
Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
A. We have people that are cold and bitter, they have been hurt and offended.
They want no one to touch them or to touch any other.
B. I have pastored 25 years and I have seen some unusual things.
Once there was a lady that came to the altar for prayer. She needed a miracle.
As people gathered around her, she whispered in my ear, she did not want Sister So-- in -- So to touch her.
If she touches me I am leaving, she told me.
I had enough warning that with great tact I had time to surround that lady
with other people.
I thought, what if that lady that she did not want to touch her had the faith key to unlock this miracle and this lady’s emotions hindered the healing?
No one, no one knew about this but me.
C. 3 or 4 years later the other woman came to the altar with a need.
She never knew anything about the previous prayer and the rejection. Nothing!
The lady stood at the altar and whispered in my ear, I need prayer, but I don’t want Sister Blank to touch me. Don’t let her touch me! she demanded.
I was so amazed, I recalled the reversed situation several years before.
We prayed, I stationed people around her, and hid the fact from the people, BUT I COULD NOT HIDE THE FACTS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
DON’T TOUCH ME?
D. Many years have passed, the people have moved away, but I will never forget the demand that they required --- DON’T LET THEM TOUCH ME!
E. I WILL ALWAYS PONDER IF THE PRAYERS WERE HINDERED BOTH OF THOSE DAYS --- BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON UNKNOWN TO ME THE LADIES DID NOT WANT TO BE TOUCHED BY CERTAIN PEOPLE?
F. Was there anger there? Was there unforgiveness? Maybe bitterness?
There was some reason that the individuals did not want to be touched?
G. I want the touch of any believer when prayer is offered for me!
Maybe a child’s little hand in a child like prayer can be the touch.
IX. SOUL TIES ARE VERY REAL. ARE WE TOUCHING OTHERS FOR GOD?
A. A MAN’S HAND CAN TOUCH AND BE --- A TUG AT THE HEARTSTRINGS, IF WE HAVE FIRST TOUCHED THE MASTER.
1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan
loved him as his own soul.
B. SOME PEOPLE CAN NOT SEE THE BEAUTY OF HEARTS CONNECTED AT THE CROSS.
C. Another person may touch a person you can not touch?
X. A CHRISTIAN WORKER WAS TIRED AND DISCOURAGED.
IN THE MOMENT OF DISCOURAGEMENT THE PREACHER HAD WHAT WE CALL A JUNIPER TREE EXPERIENCE, HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THE SHADE OF THE JUNIPER TREE?
1 Kings 19:4 But ELIJAH himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he
might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
A. Elijah was tired. He was exhausted. His journey was taxing. Elijah obeyed the Lord, and his message was rejected and he was rejected.
B. GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIS MAN.
God’s plan was for more than just sleep and a good diet.
God wanted to touch His little man.
1 Kings 19:5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
C. GOD IS SO GOOD, GOD HAD A SECOND TOUCH FOR HIS MAN.
1 Kings 19:7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
D. YOU WHO ARE TIRED AND HEAVY LADEN, COME!
Arise, eat, rest, but after you have God’s touch, don’t stay there.
1 Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
E. GOD’S TOUCH CALLS FOR US TO GET UP AND APPLY HIS LOVE TO TOUCH OTHERS.
XI. IF YOU TOUCH GOD, GOD CAN USE YOU FROM THE OTHER SIDE TO STILL TOUCH OTHERS.
A. DON’T BE A WEAKLING, TOUCH GOD AND SEE HOW FAR HIS TOUCH CAN REACH.
2 Kings 13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched
the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
B. HOW FAR WILL WE REACH TO TOUCH GOD?
CAN WE SEE OTHERS WILL DEPEND ON OUR TOUCH?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me ? Pass this on?
This is part two of a two part series.
