A TOUCH FROM THE MASTER MATTHEW 8:1-3

INTRODUCTION

THERE IS SOMETHING SO SIGNIFICANT ABOUT A TOUCH FROM SOMEONE

THE TOUCH FROM A MOTHER CAN COMFORT A CRYING CHILD

THE TOUCH FROM A FATHER CAN BRING SECURITY TO A FRIGHTENED CHILD

A TOUCH FROM A FRIEND CAN ENCOURAGE SOMEONE LONELY

A TOUCH FROM A CHILD CAN BRING JOY TO A PARENT’S DAY

EVERYONE OF US NEEDS A TOUCH TO HELP IN TIMES OF SORROW, PAIN, INSECURITY, LONLINESS, LOST, AND TO PICK US UP WHEN WE ARE DOWN

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO REACH OUT TO US WHEN WE NEED HELP

BUT, MANY TIMES YOU WILL FIND THAT THEIR HELP IS LIMITED

IT IS NOT A LONG LASTING HELP

BUT, I HAVE A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER WHO CAN SATISFY YOU THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH JUST ONE TOUCH

HIS TOUCH IS GREATER THAN A GRANDPARENT

MORE FAITHFUL THAN A FATHER

MORE MERCIFUL THAN A MOTHER

MORE COMPASSIONATE THAN A CHILD

MORE INTIMATE THAN A LOVER

HE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL AND HIS NAME IS JESUS

HE IS WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR, PRINCE OF PEACE, EVERLASTING FATHER, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, THE GREAT I AM, THE WAY MAKER, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY FAITH

WE ALL NEED A TOUCH FROM THE MASTER

IN THE TEXT MATTHEW PROCLAIMS THE TROUBLE OF THE MAN, THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER, AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE MIRACLE

THOSE WHO GENUINELY SEEK THE LORD WILL BE REWARDED BY THE LORD

Hebrews 11:3 KJV 1900

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I WANT TO CHALLENGE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TODAY TO RECOGNIZE YOUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND COME TO CHRIST

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH SIN AND REBELLION, DO YOU NEED TO BE CLEANSED, OR BE MADE WHOLE?

DO YOU NEED A BREAK FROM THE DEPRESSION OR FRUSTRATION

DO YOU NEED REFRESHING OR A REVIVAL IN YOUR LIFE, THEN TODAY IS YOUR DAY

I’LL GIVE YOU THREE POINTS ABOUT THE TEXT, THEN I’LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY

I. THE SCENE OF THE MIRACLE

Matthew 8:1 KJV 1900

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

JESUS HAD JUST FINISHED PREACHING THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND IS COMING DOWN JUST LIKE MOSES WHEN HE RECEIVED THE COMMANDMENTS AND CAME BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

HE WAS PREACHING WITH AN AUTHORITY THAT PEOPLE HADN’T EXPERIENCED BEFORE

THE BIBLE SAYS, “WHEN”

IT DOESN’T SAY BEFORE OR AFTER, IT SAYS WHEN

JESUS BROUGHT THE KINGDOM WITH HIM WHAN HE CAME THE FIRST TIME BUT THE FULNESS AND THE FINISHING OF IT WILL BE WHEN HE COMES A SECOND TIME

IT IS NOW BUT NOT YET

TIMING IS THE KEY IN LIFE

THE COMING OF GOD’S KINGDOM MEANS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS, THE FORMATION OF A REDEEMED SOCIETY WITHOUT ANY EVIL, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AT THE MESSIANIC FEAST

TOO MANY PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO WAIT AND THEY MOVE AHEAD OF GOD

PEOPLE NEED THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THEIR LIVES

WE LIVE IN A GENERATION WHERE WE WANT IT NOW

PEOPLE ARE BOUND TO A PERSONAL POWER THAT IS STRONGER THAN THEMSELVES

WE DON’T WANT TO WAIT FOR ANYTHING OR ANYBODY

AND AT THE VERY HEART OF CHRIST’S MESSAGE IS THE NEED OF RESCUING PEOPLE FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE DEVIL’S KINGDOM AND BRINGING THEM INTO THE DOMINION OF GOD

AND THIS IMPATIENT ATTITUDE WILL BRING TROUBLE WITH IT

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ALWAYS INVOLVES AN IN BREAKING OF GOD INTO HISTORY WHEN GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PURPOSE IS FULLY REALIZED

WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE IN THE WILDERNESS, THERE CAME A TIME WHEN THEY WERE MUCH DISCOURAGED BY THE WAY

CHRIST BROKE INTO HISTORY THROUGH A VIRGIN WOMB CALLED MARY AND WHEN HE HIT 30 YRS, HE STARTED HIS MESSAGE AND MISSION ANBOUT THE KINGDOM

THE WORD DISCOURAGE MEANS IMPATIENT

THERE WERE MULTITUDES THAT WERE GATHERED AND LISTENING TO HIS MESSAGE

THEY DID NOT LIKE THE WAY THAT GOD WAS GUIDING THEM

AND OUT OF THEIR IMPATIENCE, THEY STARTED SPEAKING AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST MOSES-THEY BEGAN MURMURING AND COMPLAINING

THE BIBLE SAYS, “WHEN”

EVERYTIME THAT SOME CHALLENGE WAS THERE, THEY WOULD COMPLAIN AND MURMUR

IF YOU KNOW A PERSON THAT COMPLAINS A LOT, THEY WILL NOT BE HAPPY UNTIL THEY ARE COMPLAINING AGAIN

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY ARE DOING

YOU CAN PUT THEM IN THE TAJ MAHAL AND THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN

YOU CAN GIVE THEM YOUR BEST AND THEY WILL STILL FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT

GOD WAS FEEDING THEM BREAD FROM HEAVEN AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT IS WORTHLESS FOOD

AND GOD RESPONDED BY SENDING FIREY SERPENTS AMONG THEM

SEE WHAT IMPATIENCE CAN DO TO YOUR LIFE, IT CAN KILL YOUR DESTINY

Hebrews 10:26 KJV 1900

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:36 KJV 1900

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

DON’T GET IN A HURRY AND GO BEFORE GOD

WHEN JESUS WENT THEY FOLLOWED-AKALOUTHEO-MEANS FOLLOWED IN THE GREEK

THE WORD CARRIES WITH IT THE MEANING OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLES MUST GO WHERE JESUS GOES

MANY SO CALLED CHRISTIANS NEVER COME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND THEY ARE DOING THEIR OWN THINGS AND CLAIM TO BE HIS CHILDREN

THESE PEOPLE:

DON’T ATTEND PRAYER SERVICES

DON’T COME DURING THE WORSHIP

ABSENT FROM FELLOWSHIP

AND THEY ARE ABSENT FROM THE POWER OF GOD

THE MASTER WILL NOT TOUCH US WHEN WE REFUSE TO COME TO HIM AND HE WILL NOT MAKE US COME TO HIM

THIS IS A CONDITION THAT WE HAVE TO FULFILL

WE WILL NEVER BE TOUCHED, CHANGED, CLEANSED, SAVED, COMFORTED, OR HEALED BY THE MASTER WHEN WE ARE RUNNING FROM HIM

CHRIST KNOWS OUR HEARTS

HE KNOWS WHY WE STAY AWAY AND WHY WE COME NEAR

MULTITUDES CAME DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH JESUS

THEY HEARD ABOUT THE KINGDOM AND NOW THEY ARE GOING TO SEE THE KINGDOM

which brings me to point NUMER 2

II. THE SEEKER OF THE MIRACLE (V. 2)

Matthew 8:2 KJV 1900

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

THE SEEKER IN THE TEXT REVEALS THAT THIS MAN NEEDED A MIRACLE

YOU MAY NOT BE A LEPER, BUT DOES ANYONE NEED A MIRACLE IN HERE TODAY?

THE MAN IN THE TEXT IS A LEPER

AND LEPROSY WAS INCURABLE BY MEDICINE AND UNTREATABLE BY MAN

DO YOU REMEMBER HOW LEPROSY BEGAN, IT BEGAN AS A CURSE--->MIRIAM

ALL THE MEDICAL FACILITIES AND DOCTORS COULD NOT HELP THIS MAN

HE NEEDED HELP DESPERATELY

I KNOW A MAN FROM GALILEE WHO WILL HEAL YOUR SOUL AND SET YOU FREE

IS THERE ANYONE IN HERE AND YOU ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE MAN CANNOT HELP YOU

AND THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN CHANGE THE SITUATION IS GOD ALMIGHTY

IF YOUR IN HERE, I WOULD JUST START PRAISING GOD FOR HIS MERCY

MERCY WILL CHANGE YOUR FAMILY, MERCY WILL OPEN UP DOORS, MERCY WILL HEAL YOUR BODY, MERCY WILL HEAL YOUR SOUL, MERCY WILL CLEAR YOUR DEBT, MERCY WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER CHANCE, MERCY WILL FORGIVE YOUR SIN, MERCY WILL WORK YOUR MIRACLE-OH, CAN WE GET SOME PRAISE IN HERE FOR THE MERCY OF GOD

Lamentations 3:22–23 KJV 1900

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

2:23

MERCY GAVE THIS MAN THE STRENGTH TO MAKE IT TO JESUS

BY LAW, HE HAD TO STAY 6 FEET AWAY FROM PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES AND 100 FEET AWAY WHEN THE WIND WAS BLOWING

AND THEY HAD TO ANNOUNCE TO EVERYONE, “UNCLEAN”

THIS LEPER HAD BECOME DESPERATE

HE HAD FOUND THE ONE THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS LIFE

SO, HE STEPPED OVER RULES AND REGULATIONS, BOUNDARIES AND LIMITATIONS

ARE YOU DESPERATE ENOUGH FOR A TOUCH FROM CHRIST THAT YOU WILL STEP OVER YOUR IMAGE, REPUTATION, HOBBIES, ENTERTAINMENT, SOME RELATIONSHIPS SOME PEOPLE TO GET TO THE MASTER

AFTER STEPPING OVER RULES AND REGULATIONS, HE APPROACHED JESUS THE RIGHT WAY

HE CAME TO JESUS, KNELT DOWN ON HIS KNEES BEFORE JESUS, FELL ON HIS FACE AND WORSHIPED HIM

Psalm 95:6 KJV 1900

O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

HE WASN’T AFRAID OR INTIMIDATED TO BOW, FALL ON HIS FACE, WORSHIP WITH ALL OF HIS HEART

WORSHIP IS THE WORD PROSKUNEO MEANING TO KISS, LIKE A DOG LICKING HIS MASTER’S HAND

HE WAS SINCERELY SEEKING JESUS

HE WAS SERIOUSLY SEEKING CHRIST

WHEN PEOPLE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING TO CHRIST THEY WILL NOT ALLOW PEOPLE OR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, OR DISTRACTIONS HINDER THEM FROM COMING TO CHRIST

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

HE SUBMITTED TO THE WILL OF THE LORD

HE WAS AWARE OF HIS ATTITUDE BEFORE THE LORD

THIS LEPER WANTED TO BE CLEAN BEFORE THE LORD

I HEARD A STORY ABOUT A 4 YEAR OLD BOY WHO DIDN’T LIKE SOAP OR WATER.

ONE DAY HIS MOTHER WAS TALKING TO HIM IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET HIM TO TAKE A BATH

SHE TOLD HIM, BUT SURELY YOU WANT TO BE CLEAN, DON’T YOU

THE BOY REPLIED THROUGH TEARS, YES, BUT CAN’T YOU JUST DUST ME OFF

THAT LITTLE BOY REALLY DIDN’T WANT TO BE CLEAN

IT WASN’T THAT WAY WITH THE LEPER

HE CAME WITH A HUMBLE REQUEST, AND A SUBMISSIVE HEART

HE WAS A HUMBLE SEEKER

WE’VE SEEN THE SCENE OF THE MIRACLE, THE SEEKER OF THE MIRACLE AND NOW WE WILL SEE THE SOURCE OF THE MIRACLE

III. THE SOURCE OF THE MIRACLE (VS. 3-4)

Matthew 8:3 KJV 1900

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

THE MIRACLE DID NOT COME FROM THE BANK, YOUR BOSS, THE DOCTOR, OR YOUR FAMILY

THE SOURCE OF OUR MIRACLES IS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

James 1:17 KJV 1900

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

JESUS BROKE THE RULES TO TOUCH SOMEONE FOR ETERNITY

HE WAS A RABBI AND RABBI’S WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO TOUCH LEPERS

BUT HE KNEW THAT HIS HOLINESS WOULD TRANSFORM THE LEPER’S UNCLEANLINESS

SO, JESUS REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED THE MAN

THE MAN DID NOT HAVE TO REACH OUT TO JESUS

HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN TOO DIFFICULT OF SITUATION

I WONDER IF WE ARE REACHING OUT AND TOUCHING THOSE IN NEED

JESUS REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED ME WHEN I WAS IN NEED

NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE IF CHRIST WOULD HAVE NEVER REACHED OUT FOR US

WHEN I COULDN’T MAKE IT TO HIM, HE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED ME

HE HAS THE POWER TO HEAL ANY SICKNESS, TO REMOVE ANY DISEASE, TO DELIVER ANYONE THAT IS BOUND, HE HAS THE POWER TO SET YOU FREE

ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTO HIM

CALL TO HIM AND HE WILL ANSWER YOU AND SHOW YOU.........

EYE HAS NOT SEEN, EAR HAS NOT HEARD.........

JESUS COMMANDED A FISH IN THE SEA, HE COMMANDED THE DEMONS IN A MAN, HE COMMANDED THE DISEASE IN A MAN, HE COMMANDED A PARALYTIC

WHATEVER HE COMMANDED OBEYED HIM

JESUS COMMANDED THE LEPROSY AND THE LEPROSY HAD TO OBEY HIM

BECAUSE AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE CONFESS, THAT HE IS LORD....

HE IS LORD OVER................

HE SENT HIS WORD AND HEALED THE MAN’S DISEASE AND IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY

THE LEPER DIDN’T NEED TREATMENTS, NO DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS, NO SURGERIES, NO INJECTIONS

HE WAS IMMEDIATELY HEALED

FROM THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER:

HEALTH OVERCAME SICKNESS

PURITY OVERCAME POLLUTION

LIFE OVERCAME DEATH

RESTORATION OVERCAME REJECTION

SOUNDNESS OVERCAME SORENESS

DEDICATION OVERCAME DESPERATION

WORSHIP OVERCAME WORRY

CHRIST IS ENOUGH FOR ME

CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF OUR MIRACLES

HE IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED

THE LORD’S POWER MADE THE LEPER WHOLE, HE CAN MAKE US WHOLE TODAY

IF YOU ARE SAVED TODAY, YOU HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE MASTER. YOU HAVE BEEN CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. FORGIVEN OF ALL OF YOUR SINS, AND GIVEN ETERNAL LIFE

BUT IF YOU NEED ANOTHER TOUCH TODAY......