The Power of God's Touch - part 2

Mothers of Nations, last week we started a discussion on the power of God’s TOUCH. If you did not read last week’s entry, please do that now before continuing with today’s conclusion of the topic. Not only is God’s TOUCH intimate, personal, and powerful, but it is also transforming.

The definition of the word transform is this: to alter the form or appearance of, to change the nature of, to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of.

Transform means to be changed completely. When Jesus TOUCHES or CONNECTS with people, how are they transformed? What are some of the ways that they are changed completely?

1. Jesus transforms the sick and the diseased.

Let’s look at Matthew 8: 1-4, 14-15 (NLT)  Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. ² Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” ³ Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

We also see the example in the book of Matthew where the touch of Jesus immediately transformed Peter’s mother-in-law from a state of sickness to actions of servanthood. Her situation was dire until Jesus touched her.

Matthew 8: 14-15 (NLT) -- ¹⁴ When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. ¹⁵ But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

2. Jesus transforms the deaf.

We find a marvelous example of another transformation that occurs at the TOUCH of Jesus in Mark 7: 31-37 (NLT). ³¹ Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. ³² A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. ³³ Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!"   ³⁵ Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly! ³⁶ Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news.  ³⁷ They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

Here was a man who could not speak nor hear. Yet just one TOUCH, one connection, with Jesus transformed his hearing and his speech. Gloriously communication was restored to this man through the TOUCH of the Master.

3. Jesus transforms the darkness, both physically and spiritually.

In examining another example of complete transformation, why don’t we read through a passage in the book of Matthew. Matthew 9: 27-31 (NLT) -- ²⁷ After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” ²⁸ They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” ³⁰ Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” ³¹ But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.

Here we see that Jesus converted the darkness of being blind into light and full vision for these two men who previously were blind. Truly the TOUCH of Jesus transformed the physical darkness these men had experienced into full sight.

But Jesus also transforms spiritual darkness into light as well when He opens our spiritual eyes. At the TOUCH of our Savior, we are able to see things spiritually that were not perceived before. Isaiah 42: 5-7 (NLT) -- God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, ⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. ⁷ You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

4.  Jesus transforms the deceived.

Our example of this transformation comes from Luke 22: 47-51 (NLT). ⁴⁷ But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. ⁴⁸ But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” ⁴⁹ When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” ⁵⁰ And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Here we see that the servant of the high priest was running with the wrong crowd. He was deceived by all the “bad press” surrounding Jesus and certainly by the stories that were being told by Judas. Due to his deception he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and his ear was lobbed off. Yet Jesus immediately TOUCHED the man and a physical transformation took place. His ear was healed!

5.  Jesus transforms the dismayed.

A final wonderful example of the transforming power of the TOUCH of Jesus is seen on the Mountain of Transfiguration. In Matthew 17: 1-8 (NLT) we read this.

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. ² As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. ⁴ Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials - one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” ⁶ The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. ⁷ Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

So as we conclude our discussion today, do you have an area of your life where you need to experience His TOUCH? Physically or spiritually are you diseased or deaf? Do you feel you are overcome with darkness or deception? Do you feel dismayed? All of these are tactics of the enemy to hinder and destroy your destiny.

But Jesus is here to TOUCH and transform your life. Extend your faith right now and receive the TOUCH of Jesus!

Dr. Sharon Predovich