Touch of God

An extract from a remarkable sermon given by Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, Primate of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) at the 1999 Tabieorar festival in Nigeria:

Some of you may be asking the following questions: What can the touch of God do in your lives? How can you be touched by the Almighty Father? What will be the results of God’s touch in your lives?

Let us take the questions one by one:

The touch of God is what you need today, just as Daniel and Jeremiah were touched by God. There are various effects the touch of God can have in your life, namely:

The touch of God can heal and strengthen you – In Daniel 10:18, we are informed that when Daniel’s strength was gone and he could hardly breathe, he was touched by God and he immediately received strength.

The touch of God can conquer for you and cause your enemies to flee far away from you – In Daniel 10:7, we read that while Daniel was gazing at the vision, the men with him were overwhelmed with such terror that they fled and hid themselves. Therefore, brethren, submit to God completely and receive the power to resist the devil and the devil will flee away from you (James 4:7). The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face. They will come from one direction but flee in seven directions in Jesus Name. Amen. (Deuteronomy 28:7).

The touch of God can put an end to all your worries and sorrows – Isaiah 60:20 says, Your Sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your Moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end in Jesus Name. Amen.

The touch of God can give you great success in all your undertakings, just like Hezekiah – the king of Judah, as it is written in 2 Kings 18:7 which read thus, “And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.”, or like David as stated in 1 Samuel 18:14 which read thus, “In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him” (NIV).

The touch of God can make you to see vision – according to Daniel 8:18-19, we are told that while Daniel was asleep, with his face to the ground God touched him and gave him a vision concerning the appointed time of the end.

The touch of God can give you great ability and skills which you never had – in Daniel 9:21-22 we understand that while Daniel was praying, angel Gabriel appeared to him, instructed and told him that he, Gabriel, has come to give Daniel insight and understanding.

The touch of God can make you fearlessly stand for God – 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” When Daniel was trembling, the messenger of God told him not to be afraid (Daniel 10:10-12).

The touch of God can make you to prophesy and fearlessly reveal the message of the Lord – Daniel 10:16 tell us that, when Daniel’s lips were touched, he began to prophesy. Jeremiah’s mouth was touched by God and he began to reveal the message of the Lord fearlessly.

The touch of God can give you victory over your enemies, Satan and his agents – If you submit to God and put your trust in Him, God can perform the same miracle in your lives as He did for Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel 6:22-23 read thus, “No injury was found on Daniel because he believed in God Almighty.” 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith in Jesus Christ” . . . .

The touch of God can give joy, happiness and strength – As Nehemiah said to the children of God in his days so also do I say to you this day, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). When God touches you, your grieve will turn to joy in Jesus name. Amen.

Finally, the touch of God can renew your life entirely – The word of God makes us understand that ”if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The word of God according to 1 Samuel 10:26 tells us that, when Samuel proclaimed Saul king over Israel, only those whose hearts God had touched followed him. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14).