Touched by the Hand of God

Touched by the Hand of God

Text:

Mark 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. Introduction:

Preface to the event: The Disciples were dull of seeing and of hearing.

Mark 8:15–21 (KJV 1900)

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

* Just as this blind man needed the touch of God to see, even so we who are blind spiritually need Jesus to open up our spiritual eyes and ears.

* I would like to share three observations that the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention this morning concerning our text:

I. The difference that the touch of God can make!

Examples of the touch of Jesus:

Mark 7:32–35 (KJV 1900)

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Mark 3:9–12 (KJV 1900)

9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. 11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

Matthew 20:31–34 (KJV 1900)

31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Luke 13:10–17 (KJV 1900)

10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 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.

Mark 8:22–26 (KJV 1900)

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Matthew 8:1–4 (KJV 1900)

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:14–16 (KJV 1900)

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matthew 9:18–26 (KJV 1900)

18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Matthew 9:27–31 (KJV 1900)

27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened;

Mark 6:56 (KJV 1900)

56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

Luke 6:17–19 (KJV 1900)

17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Mark 10:13 (KJV 1900)

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

* I think this morning of the evangelist Mel Trotter and how the touch of Jesus forever changed the life of an old drunkard on the streets of Chicago. Mel Trotter was the son of a barkeeper who became a hopeless alcoholic at a very young age.

* One day found Mel Trotter, an old drunk, in Chicago living in a rat infested cellar apartment in the worst part of the city. When Mel related this story, he said he had caused his wife and little child so much pain and suffering he didn’t understand why they stayed with him.

* One day their little girl had become seriously ill. Even though he knew he wouldn’t get paid for the house call, a kind doctor was called to the rat-hole of an apartment where the family lived.

* After diagnosing the case, the doctor reached into his own pocket, took out some money and thrust it into Mel Trotter’s hands, and he shouted to Mel, "Mel, run, don't walk, to the drug store which is two blocks from here - here's the prescription. Come right back. It might even now be too late - so hurry!"

* Mel climbed the stairs and was out on to the pavement. He looked to my left and sure enough he saw a drug store about two blocks away, but then he looked to his right and saw that the saloon was only one half block away. A sudden desire came over Mel - one that drove all thought of my sick child out of his head. Even the fact that the money in his hand did not belong to Mel was erased as he blindly rushed to the bar and shouted, "Let's all drink - it's on me!"

* Soon the doctor's money was gone and then some other fool threw his money on the bar and they continued on and on through the day and into the night. When it was time to close I was so far gone that the saloon keeper just threw Mel into the back room to "sleep it off." When he came back the next day, Mel was still there and it wasn't until the night began to approach that Mel came enough to his senses to decide to go home. * When Mel arrived back at his apartment, he slowly descended the rickety stairs. He saw that someone was talking very quietly to his wife and they were crying. Mel still did not know why and was still too far gone to have understood. There had been no furniture before, but now there was a little box on a stand. Mel wondered what it could be. As he went over and looked into the box I saw that it was the body of his little child, but looking very different. Someone had put on her clean clothes, new clothes and somehow there was even a pair of brand new little shoes. Still Mel didn't get the message. As he stood there that urge came over him again. He craved another drink. What he wouldn't do for another drink!

* As the urge overwhelmed him, he hurriedly slipped the new sloes from the cold feet of his precious child, rammed them into his pocket - as yet he had not attracted the attention of his wife and the woman with her - Mel slipped out of the apartment and he sold those little shoes for a few pennies and bought another drink. Mel often said later that he had gone down so low that he had to reach up to touch bottom.

* With all of this, Mel was not awakened to reality, until one day, after some debauchery, Mel decided to end it all. With me gone, he reasoned that the world would be a lot better off, especially for his wife. With this in mind, Mel headed for Lake Michigan to drown himself. It had gotten dark and cold and, as he wove down a street that would take him to the lake, he was suddenly given a push by someone who said: "Why don't you go in there Bud? It's nice and warm."

* As he went through the open door, someone set him in a chair. It all happened so quickly that it took his muddled brain a little while to realise that he was in a room filled with men and a man was speaking. The man speaking was talking as if he knew all about Mel and he said: "Perhaps you have come in here tonight and you haven't even planned it - in fact you had decided that you're going to end it all - for you feel that no one understands you, no one cares, and there is no hope. My friend, I'm here to tell you there is someone who understands you, there is someone who cares for you, and I can tell you that there is hope for you. You will find all of your answers when you come to Jesus Christ and receive Him as your personal Saviour. He not only wants to save you from your mess, but wants to go with you the rest of your life, to keep you from getting into any more trouble. " * The speaker was Harry Monroe and the place was the Pacific Garden Mission. Mel became a different person that night. God saved on old drunk named Mel Trotter. God made me Mel a new man. His wife got a new husband – Mel’s old heart, with its sin and stain, was washed white as snow, and Mel Trotter found a brand new life!

* My friend, what a difference the touch of the hand of God can make in the life of man this morning!

* If you are here and you feel like Mel Trotter, that your life is a total mess, I what you to know that the touch of God can make a difference in your life as well this morning!

II. We also need our spiritual eyes opened.

* My friend the unsaved man needs the touch of God on his heart this morning!

* But oh how we need the touch of God in our hearts this morning as saved people as well this morning!

* Even though we have believed on Jesus, like this poor blind man in our text, we still do not see clearly!

* When we come to Jesus our spiritual senses are opened.

* The story of this miracle that Jesus performed is presented to us in our text this morning as an object lesson.

* There is another similar miracle that Jesus did recorded in Mark 7.

* In Mark 7:32 we read:

Mark 7:32–35 (KJV 1900)

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

* In both of these miracles we are given a physical example of what takes place spiritually when a man or woman is touched by the Spirit of God.

* When we come to the Savior he opens the eyes of the spiritually blind and causes us to have “ears” to hear.

* All of a sudden our spiritual eyes are opened!

* All of a sudden we can now hear the truth of God!

* All of a sudden we now have “ears to hear!” After Jesus would teach using a parable, an earthly story that illustrated a spiritual truth, he would then say “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

* What did Jesus mean by this strange statement? He meant that spiritual truth can only be understood by those who’s spiritual eyes and ears had been opened by the Spirit of God- Those who had believed on Him and had been spiritually quickened, or made alive.

* Those who have not placed their faith in Jesus are not able to understand the meaning of the parables taught by Jesus.

* When we come to Jesus, the Holy Spirit opens up our spiritual senses that were once dead. That is the wonderful work of the quickening of the Holy Spirit.

III. After having his eyes opened, this poor blind man still could not see clearly.

* Now I want you to notice something. This man’s eyes were opened, but he needed another touch from Jesus.

* After that the Holy Spirit quickens the lost soul that is spiritually dead, his job is not yet finished.

* Just as this poor blind man needed a second touch by the Savior, in order to see clearly we need to be touched again and again by the work of the Holy Spirit.

* Not only does the Holy Spirit open our spiritual eyes and ears for the first time, but He is continuously opening our eyes to the truths of this great and wonderful salvation that we now posses.

* The Bible calls this experience “being filled with the Holy Spirit.”

* Speaking of this continuous filling of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says in Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 18:

Ephesians 5:18–19 (KJV 1900)

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

* Again, Speaking of the continuous work of the Holy Spirit of one who has believed on Jesus, Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 16 says:

Ephesians 3:16–19 (KJV 1900)

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

* Now there is only one Baptism of the Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is when we are resurrected from being dead in trespasses and sins and are born again, being made spiritually alive by believing on the Savior.

* This is the picture that is illustrated when Jesus made the clay and put it upon the blind man’s eyes. * This is a picture of our salvation, when the Holy Spirit takes a person who has been rendered spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, and puts inside of him the very life of God.

* This is what happens the first time the hand of God touches the heart of a man when he believes on Jesus!

* Jesus said He would give to everyone who believes on Him eternal life. That same eternal life, Jesus told the woman at the well, springs up like a well from inside us.

* When Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well in John chapter 4 he said these words:

John 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

* This receiving of eternal life causes a spiritual awakening, and is referred to in the Bible as the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

* By this great Baptism of the Holy Ghost we are baptized into the family of God’s children.

* By this great act of God we are born again into the family of God.

* What was it that opened this poor blind man’s eyes? It was the Power of the Quickening Holy Spirit of God! * What was it that made this poor man see more clearly the second time Jesus touched him? It was a second touch of the Spirit of God!

* After that we come to Christ we will inevitably realize that we are spiritually weak and anemic and need strength to go on! * After the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes we are new babes in Christ! Newly born again!

* We are in need of another touch by the hand of God! We are in need of many new and wonderful fillings of the Holy Spirit!

* We will need to be filled again and again, until we come into the full stature of the measure of Christ!

* This is the ultimate goal of the Holy Spirit as He fills our hearts over and over. Listen to the words of Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 13: Ephesians 4:13–14 (KJV 1900)

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

* Like with the poor blind man in our text, we are all in need of a second touch, from God this morning!

* Many have believed on Jesus, but like this poor blind man in our text, they still don’t see the savoir clearly.

* These believers cannot see clearly are evident by the symptoms they present. Some of these symptoms would include:

1.) Those who are saved, but cannot overcome some great sin from their past and as a result they can never go forward in their Christian life.

2). Those who seem to never be able to come to an assurance of their salvation and because of this they never have the peace salvation is supposed to bring.

3). Those who are filled with vain regrets and waist the time they do have pining over lost time.

4). Those who live in the fear of the future.

5). Those who can’t get past their feelings about themselves.

6). Those who only see the waves, but can’t see the Savior.

7). Those who live in bondage to legalism.

8). Those who like Peter when he began to walk on water, but began to sink because they don’t understand how to leverage their faith against the stormy seas of the Christian life.

9). Those Christians who have any peace or joy as a result of their salvation.

* These are just a few examples of Christians who, like the poor blind man in our text, cannot see the savior and our salvation clearly.

* In our text in Mark chapter 8: in verses 22–26 we see how that Jesus’ healed the blind man in stages. * This record of Jesus healing this poor blind man, comes right after Mark relates to us how even Jesus’ disciples did not have a clear understanding of Jesus and salvation. Even the disciples of Jesus had an imperfect perception of Jesus.

* When we read our text earlier, we stopped reading in Mark 8:26. Now I want you to Look at the very next verses, verses 27-verse 30:

Mark 8:27–30 (KJV 1900)

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

* Like the poor blind man in our text, the disciples of Jesus were no longer blind, their spiritual eyes and ears had been opened, but they could not see Jesus clearly either. They did not fully understand who Jesus was.

* Only the Holy Spirit could clear their vision of the true nature of Jesus and the salvation He had given them.

* In the same way, when we are first saved, being babes in Christ, we don’t clearly understand our own salvation in Christ.

* Because we don’t fully understand our salvation, we must be taught by the Holy Spirit and our understanding must be strengthened.

1 Peter 2:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

* Jesus, after He had appeared in his resurrected body to his disciples, still had to open up their understanding that they might be able to understand the Scriptures!

* Listen to the account of Jesus opening their eyes in Luke chapter 24 and verse 45:

Luke 24:45–46 (KJV 1900)

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written…

* Many believers are like the poor blind man in our text this morning.

* Their eyes have been opened; they have been given “ears to hear,” but they are, quite literally, baby Christians. *They have been born again alright, but they are weak, they have no understanding, they must be spoon fed.

* If a baby does not grow properly, it will suffer great physical problems. The baby that cannot grow becomes an abnormality. It becomes in a sense, a monstrosity.

* The Believer that refuses to grow becomes a spiritual monstrosity. Something that God never intended to happen.

* Christians who refuse to grow and choose to remain babies would look no more monstrous than a grown man would, with the tiny head of a two year old on his shoulders!

* You might say preacher, that’s brings up a disturbing image! I would say to you, that I agree with you perfectly, but a Christian who has failed to grow in Christ is no less disturbing to those outside the church! * These abnormal, underdeveloped, Christians are offensive to God and offensive to those outside the church as well! * Those outside the church look upon these abnormalities and judge every Christian to be what they see in them- a distorted image of what a mature Christian is supposed to be. *- A distorted image of Jesus and the Gospel.

* Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul as he speaks to Christians in the church at Corinth who had refused to grow:

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 (KJV 1900)

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

* These Christian had refused to grow, and because of this, the church at Corinth was full of problems.

* Just as the poor blind man in our text could not see clearly, so our churches are full of baby Christians that cannot see clearly spiritually.

* The result of this is arguing and fighting among themselves, church splits, churches full of people who claim to be believers, but they look no different than the Devils’ crowd.

* They go to the same shady places; they curse and swear just like the unbelievers, they expose their bodies and live immoral lives, just like the Devil’s crowd. Those outside the church can see no difference.

* Those outside the church reason; if the folks that go to church are no different than I am, then why do I need to go to church?

* Many Christians, who have not grown in their relationship with the savior, have lost or forgotten the joy of their salvation.

* Some folks have such a distorted view of their own salvation that they feel in order to be spiritual, they have to look like an old mule eating saw briars! They look like they were born on the dark side of the moon and were weaned on a dill pickle!

* Those outside the church look at the depressed, sullen, sour, faces of those who call themselves Christians and reason within themselves “Why would I want to be like that?”

* The Christian who does not grow is a monstrosity- an abnormality. * The reason Christians lives are so weak, and depressed, and confused, and discouraged, and despondent, is because they need a renewed the touch of the hand of God this morning!

Conclusion:

* So this is our problem. This is the state of affairs in the church today. What shall we do about it? How will the church be strengthened this morning? What is the solution?

* The reason Christians lives are falling apart, churches are dying, and the lost are not getting saved in the church, is because we have neglected to teach and preach the great doctrines of Salvation!

* Yes, you heard me right; the solution to a weak and anemic church this morning is to teach doctrine.

* It we knew and understood the great doctrines of our salvation concerning Justification, Grace, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Faith, Adoption, Predestination, Sanctification, Eternal Security, Redemption, and the Sovereignty of God; we would be able to withstand all the fire darts that the Devil could throw at us!

* It is our lack of understand of the great truths of our salvation that cause us to be like the poor blind man of our text. We have believed on Jesus, but we cannot see clearly!

* In the day in which we live, when the preacher uses the word doctrine in the pulpit, spiritually he can see people reaching for the door handle to get out of there! He can see people mentally reaching for the volume switch to turn the preacher off.

* What babes in Christ fail to understand that it is doctrine that will give you the strength to stand and not fall apart when the troubles of life come!

* These Great teachings, or doctrines, of the Bible are the anchors that hold our souls steadfast to Christ.

* These great Bible doctrines are the compass that will be your guidance when great doubt fills your mind and heart!

* The Lord willing it will be my purpose to for the next few Sunday Evenings to preach on the Great Bible Doctrines concerning salvation in order to empower and strengthen our church.

Touched by the Hand of God

Text: Mark 8:22–26 22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

* I would like to share three observations that the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention this morning concerning our text:

I. The difference that the touch of God can make!

Examples of the touch of Jesus:

II. We also need our spiritual eyes opened.

* My friend the unsaved man needs the touch of God on his heart this morning!

* But oh how we need the touch of God in our hearts this morning as saved people as well this morning!

III. After having his eyes opened, this poor blind man still could not see clearly.

* Now I want you to notice something. This man’s eyes were opened, but he needed another touch from Jesus.

* After that the Holy Spirit quickens the lost soul that is spiritually dead, his job is not yet finished.