Do You Hear What I Hear? Knowing God’s Voice and Making it Paramount in Your Life

Touch

The word “TOUCH” was inspired, on Sunday, August 17, 2003, through the Holy Spirit during my quiet prayer time. I had worked with teachers and other instructional personnel since 1982. Often times many of my co-workers, would share with me their deepest concerns, and then they would request prayer. These concerns were generally regarding their students. The question that “touched” me the most was when they would ask, “Are we really making a difference in the lives of our students?” Very often, these teachers would state that they felt frustrated and “burnt-out” with the demands that they faced on any given day. Truly, they were presented with the awesome responsibility of “forming” the impressionable minds of their students. A quote by Henry Brooks Adams states that, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

The Holy Spirit, that “still small voice,” revealed to me that, “It is not without a purpose that He has His people strategically placed . . . “for such a time as this”, and that we are truly being used of Him in a mighty and powerful way.” The Holy Spirit stressed to me, “that as teachers, we do “touch” our student’s lives, but also “not to grow weary, because we are making a difference.” The acronym, for the word “Touch,” which was revealed through the Holy Spirit is: “Teach Others Until Change Happens.”

In further examination, touch was also referenced in Chapter Five, as a sense that helps us “make sense ” of our “image in God.” The letter “T” in the acronym for “Touch” is the word “Teach.” Throughout the Bible, we see the significance of “teaching.” In fact, many times Jesus Christ is referred to as “Teacher.”

In the Bible, we see Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, professing that Jesus of Nazareth is “a teacher from God.”

“He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with Him.”

John 3:2 (NIV)

In another passage of scripture, we see a “rich young ruler” approach Jesus also addressing Him as “Teacher.”

“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Matthew 19:16 (NIV)

Even the Pharisees, and others that opposed Jesus, addressed Him as “Teacher.”

“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Him in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.”

Matthew 22: 15-16 (NIV)

In fact, the Lord is addressed as “Teacher” twenty-nine times in the Gospels. Jesus also used both the noun (teacher) and verb (teach) combined for approximately a total of ninety times.

The letter “O” in the acronym for “Touch” is the word “others.” This relates to the responsibility of reaching out to others and sharing or “teaching” them. And, the letter “U” in the acronym for “Touch” is the word “until.” Even though, we may grow weary in our “witness” and don’t always immediately see the “fruits” of our labor, we must remain confident and steadfast in sharing the “Good News.”

Many times in scripture we see the importance of ministering to others. Paul addressed the Jews regarding the Law. He referenced the importance of teaching others as it applies to the Law and to them personally.

“You then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?”

Romans 2:21 (NIV)

Paul also writes to Timothy regarding the importance of teaching others.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

James, the brother of Jesus, also writes to Christians giving them practical advice. This is in regard to guidance and teaching that often leads to a change in character.

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

James 5:19-20 (NIV)

The letter “C” in the acronym for “Touch,” as it was inspired and revealed to me, is the word “change.” We often see lives “changed” when a person receives the Holy Spirit through their salvation experience. Reference is also often made, that a “life is transformed or changed.”

Several scripture references describe this “change” revealed as,

“The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them and you will be changed into a different person.”

1 Samuel 10:6 (NIV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, in our daily lives, we often times “Touch” others’ lives by; “Teaching Others Until Change Happens.” This can be achieved through “teaching and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and then by witnessing “the Holy Spirit’s power to transform lives.” Finally, this change “happens,” when actions are put into practice, as it refers to the letter “H” in the acronym for “the word “Touch.”