Sermon Central
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O For The Touch
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Jun 11, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Would you hesitate in coming to Christ if you knew that just one touch from Him would heal your situation? Well, what are you waiting on?
O FOR THE TOUCH
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matt 11:28-30 (The Message)
28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly."
Too many times we come close enough to hear Him speak, and we want to hear Him, but we don’t allow Him to touch us.
We see it almost every week where people come to experience the worship and hear the preaching and then leave never bowing a knee. They come close but not close enough for Him to touch them.
Now, if what I read is right, everyone who was ever touched by Him was changed and blessed. So, if that’s true, Lord please touch me.
To allow Him to touch us requires humility and surrender, and therein is where the problem lies for many people.
Humility-the state or quality of being humble; absence of pride or self-assertion
Surrender - To relinquish possession or control.
We must give Him everything?
We say that we want to serve Him with all of our hearts, and that there is something down inside that really wants to, but when it comes time to surrender completely, we draw back and don’t go all the way.
How can your life change with just a touch from Him?
1. Are you stressed, at your wits end?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have
brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Look what a touch did!
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Look what a touch can do!
Some of these Scriptures refer to the healing of the physical man but God’s touch is well able to heal the spiritual needs of man as well.
2.Are you fearful.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
3. Do you need a cleansing to night? Habits, sin.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.
4. Are you sick and hurting tonight? Are you hurting emotionally?
35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
