Sermon – Love Language For The Church – Physical Touch

Over the past three weeks, we have talked about (1) acts of service, (2) words of affirmation, and (3) gift giving. Today, is out next to last look at love languages and we will discuss (4) physical touch; and next week, we will look at (5) quality time. After that, we will turn our hearts and attention to preparing for Easter.
What do we do with each other when we arrive at church and/or before we leave?
- We greet each other or say good-bye.
- We shake hands
- We give hugs
Does anyone kiss when they greet another? … A holy or sacred kiss existed in the early church:
- Romans 16:16
- 1^st Corinthians 16:20
- 2^nd Corinthians 13:12
- 1^st Thessalonians 5:26
- 1^st Peter 5:14
What do we do when we get home from work or our spouse gets home; or the kids get home; or you go visit someone; or you have company; or the first/last thing you do with someone?
Why do we touch each other?
- Closeness … Emotion … Trust … Comfort
Genesis 2:7 (NLT) … Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (or being or soul).
God and man’s first interaction involved physical touch. God crafted man, which would have required Him to use His hands … but more than that, He would have had to place His lips on the man’s to breathe life into him. That is intimate – that is close contact.
Genesis 2:18, 21-22 (NLT) … (18) Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (21) So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. (22) Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
Just like in the creation of man – God physically made the woman. And not only that – God physically created the first married couple – He instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden (and Jesus reaffirmed that in Matthew 19).

One more important note about creation – maybe something you know – maybe something you have forgot – or maybe something you just haven’t thought of before. When God was creating, He simply said “Let there be” (whatever it was He wanted to make) through the first 6 and a half days.

I say half a day because during the first part of the 6^th day, God created the animals; but the second half takes a different turn.
Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT) … Then God said, “Let us MAKE human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
After Adam and Eve sinned; God did not remove His touch. Genesis 3:21 tells us that God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and Eve. We don’t know who killed the animals, but God used His touch to make the clothing; and perhaps even handed them to the first couple.
Throughout Scripture – God has touched many individuals and nations – be it with an actual touch or a spiritual one.
During the days of Noah, the world was extremely wicked – sounds like today – but Noah and his family was spared, and they started over. After Noah built the ark and the animals were gathered and everyone was safely onboard – the LORD Himself closed the door (Genesis 7:16).
In the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), the LORD physically went down to look at the city; then He saw the wickedness there; then He confused their languages.
In Genesis 18, the LORD appeared as one of three strangers or visitors. During this time, He told Abraham that he would have a child one year from that day – and Sarah laughed. The other two went off to Sodom to rescue Lot … and they literally drug him and his family away.
In Genesis 22, the Angel of the Lord – which I believe was Jesus – stayed Abraham’s hand from sacrificing his son, Isaac.
In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with God.
In Exodus 7-11, God “touched” Egypt with plagues.
Isaiah was touched (by an angel – seraphim) with a burning coal, which removed his guilt/sin.
Through God’s divine touch, God turns people to him (1^st Samuel 10:26); purifies from sin (Jeremiah 1:9); and imparts divine truth (Daniel 10:16, 18). Israel is also urged to lay hold of God by learning His ways (Proverbs 4:4; Isaiah 64:7).
God also limits the devils touch – see Job; and had the people of Israel refrain from touching anything unclean – to not only protect from diseases; but distinguish Israel from the other nations.
When we get to the NT, God’s touch is shown through Jesus, the Apostles, other believers, and the Church as a whole.
All four Gospels present Jesus’ touch as all-powerful over nature, sickness, demons, and even death.
Jesus walked on water (Mark 6:45-56) and twice multiplied enough food with his hands from meager rations to feed thousands of people (Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-3).
Jesus’ touch cured people of various illnesses and restored life to the dead. Three Greek expressions are used … haptesthai (to touch) … kratein tes cheiros (to take by the hand) … epitithenai ten cheira (to lay the hand upon) …
Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Mark 1:41) … Simon’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:15) … many sick people (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40) … two dead children (Mark 5:41; Luke 7:14) … blind men (Matthew 9:29; Mark 9:22-25; John 9:6) … a deaf / mute man (Mark 7:33) … a boy with an evil spirt (Mark 9:27) … a crippled woman (Luke 13:13) … a servant with a severed ear (Luke 22:51).
There were some who were healed by touching Jesus or just his clothes (Mark 3:10; Mark 5:25-34; Mark 6:56). Through Jesus’ name the early church perfumed similar healings over sickness and death through touch (Acts 2:43; 3:1-16; 9:17; 19:12).
The doubt of the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and his subsequent appearances to them gave rise to early Christian apology concerning the historicity of Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Crucial to this apology was the physical contact the disciples had with the resurrected Jesus: “They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him” ( Matt 28:9 ); “Touch me and see” ( Luke 24:39 ); “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” ( John 20:27 ). It is this Jesus whom “our hands have touched” ( 1 John 1:1 ).
Physical contact with the resurrected Jesus no doubt formed some of the “many convincing proofs” he had given them before ascending to heaven ( Acts 1:3 ).
In redeeming humanity from sin and spiritual death, Jesus bore in his body our sin, thus bringing its deadly consequences upon himself: “he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” ( Isaiah 53:4-5 Isaiah 53:11 ; cf. 2 Cor 5:21 ; 1 Peter 2:24 ; 1 John 3:5 ).

If you look at all the stories of Jesus touching people (or people touching Him) in the Bible, you will recognize that just his touch is enough to transform the physical or mental situation of the person he touched.
Jesus knew the importance of touching the people he ministered to and how touch can bring about a feeling of renewal, safety, and comfort. His touch has the effect of more than just his fingers on our shoulders, but more like a big warm hug.
His touch is reassuring and comforting, it reminds us of his presence, and even though he is not physically here to touch us today, he can give us the same results as if he were to embrace us in his bosom.
Jesus heals broken hearts, mends marriages, soothes troubled brows, provides peace, security, assurance, and contentment to those who know Him (2^nd Corinthians 1:3-4). All the comforts that are given to us in times of trials, troubles, pain and suffering, and in times of joy, peace, and celebration, are His divine hugs.
He is the shepherd and overseer of our souls (1^st Peter 2:25).
He cares for us, takes our burdens upon Himself, and gives us rest (1^st Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:29).
Jesus expressed his sentiment of wanting to hug his people in Matthew 23:37 (NLT) … O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.
How can we love God, through others, with physical touch?
1^st John 4:20 (NLT) … If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believers, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?
Romans 12:9-13 (NLT) … (9) Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. (10) Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (11) Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. (12) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. (13) When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
James 2:15-17 (NLT) … (15) Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, (16) and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? (17) So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
James 5:13-15 (NLT) … Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Matthew 25:44-46 (NLT) … “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
We must reach out to people – serve them – love them – use our hands – do whatever it takes to fulfill their physical needs; which can lead us to meet spiritual needs, so we can all spend eternity in Heaven. And those already heading toward Heaven, need loved and touched to – for strength, comfort, and support … reach out to everyone with true love and shine so they see God in you.