PASTOR'S REFLECTION

WHO TOUCHED ME? (Part 1)
LK 8:43-46.”And a woman had an issue of blood for twelve years, which had spent all her living on physicians neither should be healed of any. 44. Came behind him and touched the border of his garments and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45. And Jesus said who touched me? When all denied peter and they that were with him said, Master the multitude throng thee and pass thee, and sayest thou who touched me?  46. And Jesus said somebody hath touched me. For I perceive that virtue is gone out of me”
In such a time as this, when it is fashionable or a practice of religion to go to church. It is important that we consider an issue like this. As you walk through the streets on Sunday morning as you move form church to church, you discover that the churches are becoming fuller. It's a style for you to come to church on Sunday. During conventional programmes and anniversaries, there is always heavy traffic on the road, all way leads to the camp.
As a Christian, shouldn't this be my happiness? Yes, and that is why I am bringing this message to you. It's good that churches are filled up, at least salvation has to start from somewhere but much more than this what does God expects from the church? God is not tripped by numbers, he doesn't get excited because church statistics have improved, He only gets excited because the souls of men are being saved.
Sometime ago, I was studying my bible just like every Christian should and God opened my eyes to this message. Jesus was on his way to the house of Jarius where his daughter was laying dead. But as he went, multitude of people followed him, pressed upon him. Probably, they want to behold the face of Jesus, to some they want to even see this carpenters son that works miracles all around, to some they want to see this self acclaimed messiah or the king of the Jew. The multitude that thronged on Jesus had different purposes and intentions of living their homes to see Jesus but in the midst of the multitude, a woman was singled out who had an issue of blood for twelve years, spent all her living upon physicians but could not be healed of any of them.
This woman was singled out not because she was the only one who had an issue, I refuse to believe that amidst the multitude the woman was the only one who had an issue that no man had solution to. I could accept or believe that she was the only one with the issue of blood but not the only one with an issue.
In chapter 6:31 of the same book of Luke: 'Jesus said they that are whole need not a physician but them that are sick”.32. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.' If the multitudes never had issues in their life, Jesus will not even have gone through that route. Everyone who came out to see Jesus had one issue or the other.  The same way many people come to church to sing and rejoice during sessions of praise and worship, some even put more life by shouting, ride on pastor in the course of the message but at the end of the service majority of the people who came will go back the same way while some few will receive the touch of God just like the multitude and the woman with the issue of blood. Could this be what God wanted? Sometimes yes but most times No, God is not a wicked father who will not give himself to his children. So, why are some people touched and others are not in the same church service.
Vs 45, Jesus said “who touched me” When all denied peter and they that were with him said, Master the multitude throng thee and pass thee, and sayest thou who touched me?  46. And Jesus said somebody hath touched me. For I perceive that virtue is gone out of me”

The response of Jesus did not only amaze the disciples it amazes me as well, how can you say who touched me when there were over 5,000 people pressing on you and touching you. But it also opens my heart to another understanding: Jesus at this point open the eyes of the disciples to a very bitter truth that you can be present in the church and even very busy but not present before God. We can't touch God by our physical activities, we only touch God by the cause in our heart. your religious gymnastics don't move God. Before we get carried away by the multitude we really need to know the reason why most people come to church.


Bro Adika Sunday King