The message was brought by Rev. Mark Osborne.
There is no better feeling than to be touched by the Lord. I’m standing here today because the Lord touched me. I see lots of people elsewhere on Sunday and yet they say they’ve been touched. I deserved punishment but the Lord took my place. He deserves better of us.
Matthew 14: 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 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.
We see here there was a burden in these verses. We see the burden of sin through our day. Verse 35 shows us the concern for others. When they heard of Jesus they sent out word throughout the land about him. How often have you shared Jesus with others? As many as were touched by Jesus they were made not just whole but perfectly whole. You may be saved but carry a burden. Go to Jesus. There is none other like him.
John 19:17 tells us Jesus bore the burdens of this world. He bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. That was my cross he carried up the hill. That was a burden. Why did I feel like I was on Cloud 9 after I got saved? The burden of sin was gone! I feel today like I’ve been beaten because of what I did yesterday but that is nothing compared to what Jesu endured.
Exodus 31 tells us wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. A perpetual covenant means it is never ending; it will never be broken. They were to keep the Sabbath to glorify God. God is greater than all of us. We need to give him the respect he deserves. In Acts 11 we see where the Gentiles were given the opportunity. In his vision Peter was told not to call anything unclean that God had cleaned. The unclean was us—the Gentiles. I’m clean because the Lord saved me. I can enjoy life. I struggle but I can still smile because the Lord is there. Let the Lord touch you. When we’re in the dumps the Lord shows up and asks what we’re worried about. He’s near. Trials prove to us that God is there.
Our kids know that keeping their room clean is required. They let it go all week and then fuss when it’s so hard to clean up on the weekend. If we let our life get into a big mess, if we try to carry our own burdens, if we continue down a road to destructions, it will be harder for us to clean up. The Lord is here and he can clean it, but we have to ask for his help. Never think you are nothing. What God has cleaned up is not common. So if you haven’t figured it out yet, salvation is the first thing that happens when God touches a life.
The next thing we see is separation. Isaiah 52:10-12 tells us the Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward. You see people who were touched. You could see they were touched. They threw it all away. The devil is out to steal our joy. He wants us to fall on our face. We must depart from our old life. We can’t live as we want. We cannot live a worldly life. Sin will eat you up. The devil is out to get us. Those who have no desire to be in the house of God have something missing. If you’re going to share your testimony realize someone is watching you. You can’t share it if there is sin in your life. It divides you. We are to put sin behind us and not put the old life back on. Don’t go back.
In the book of Romans Paul said he knew what he was supposed to do but found himself doing the opposite. None of us is exempt. Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to sift him as wheat. I need to keep myself faithful to God’s Word. We get busy and lose focus of why we’re here. There is a reason. Remember the scripture is personal and it has to be in order for it to have an impact on our life. It’s not just up to the preacher; it’s up to you to do what the Word says. We can’t handle the burdens but God can. Is sin creeping at your door? Push it away.
After salvation and separation comes service. In Matthew 9 Jesus healed blind men. They were told not to tell anyone about it. They were so excited they couldn’t keep it quiet. Don’t be ashamed of what Jesus has done. Share it. Don’t let things that happen make you lose your testimony. Have a desire for service. Is someone on your mind now who needs your help? That’s the very person you need to go to.
There is no excuse not to do what God asks. Judges 6:14-16 says and the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. This was just an excuse. The Lord has asked us to get on board. We say we’re afraid. We way we’ll mess up. The Lord can use us if we’ll step out in service.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 