A Mighty Touch That Transforms
Fifth Sunday After Epiphany February 9, 2025
Sermon: "A Mighty Touch That Transforms"
Carren Ouma
Good morning, beloved! Today, we explore the transformative power of God’s touch and calling through Isaiah 6:1-8 and Luke 5:1-11. These scriptures reveal that a single encounter with God can result in repentance, a mission, and an all-round permanent change.
1. The Call to Repentance: The Beginning of Change
In Isaiah 6, we witness the prophet Isaiah's vision of God’s glory. He sees the Lord seated on His throne, high and exalted, and cries out, “Woe is me! For I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:5). This is repentance—a recognition of sin and an acknowledgment of God’s holiness.
Repentance is the beginning of transformation. Recognizing that we are sinners and fall short of the glory of God is a huge milestone in our Christian walk.
2. The Mighty Touch: Cleansing and Calling
At the center of every transformation is God’s agape touch—His unconditional love. This love was demonstrated on the cross, as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day.”
God’s love is the source of our transformation. His touch is not just mighty; it is personal, healing, and life-changing.
Isaiah’s repentance was followed by a mighty touch- a powerful act of cleansing. A seraph flew to him with a coal from the altar, touching his lips and declaring his sins forgiven (Isaiah 6:6-7). This touch cleansed Isaiah and prepared him for his mission.
Isaiah’s encounter reminds us of the woman with the issue of blood flow (Mark 5:25-34). After 12 years of suffering, she reached out to Jesus with faith, and His mighty touch healed her completely. She experienced the Agape love when Jesus called her “Daughter.” Her healing wasn’t just physical; it brought about a spiritual and emotional transformation. She moved from isolation to belonging, from despair to hope.
In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul writes, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Paul, once a persecutor of the church, experienced an agape touch on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). His encounter with Jesus turned his hatred into love, his blindness into vision, and his rebellion into obedience.
Even in the darkest moments, God's touch brings light. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they sang praises, and God sent an earthquake to free them (Acts 16:25-26). Their transformation was so evident that even the jailer believed and was saved.
Just as Isaiah was called to proclaim God’s word, Paul was commissioned to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. A mighty touch from God turns ordinary lives into extraordinary missions. A mighty touch brings restoration, joy, and a testimony that glorifies God!
Whether it’s Isaiah in the temple, the woman in the crowd or Paul on the road, a touch from God leads to confession and change.
A song: (When He calls me, I will answer *3 I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord. Oooohhhh {I’ll be somewhere (working working somewhere)*2 working for my Lord my God}*2 reminds me of the call and mission of God.
3. The Mission: A Call to Deeper Waters
When Isaiah hears the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send?” he responds, “Here I am. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). His repentance and cleansing led to a heart ready for God’s mission.
Similarly, in Luke 5, we see Jesus calling His first disciples. After teaching the crowds, Jesus instructs Simon Peter to "put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4). Although Peter hesitates, he obeys, resulting in a miraculous catch of fish.
Overwhelmed by this divine display, Peter falls at Jesus’ feet, saying, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8). Like Isaiah, Peter recognizes his unworthiness in the presence of the divine. But Jesus reassures him: "Don’t be afraid; from now on, you will fish for people" (Luke 5:10).
This encounter illustrates that God’s call often comes when we least expect it, inviting us to leave our comfort zones and follow Him into deeper waters.
Today every encounter with God births a mission. Whether we are called to teach, serve, or simply share His love, His touch equips and empowers us to fulfill it.
4. The All-Round Permanent Change
When God touches a life, the change is permanent. Isaiah was never the same after his vision. Paul was forever transformed after meeting Jesus. And in Mark 10:46-52, Blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus for mercy. When Jesus healed him, Bartimaeus followed Him, a living testimony of transformation.
Across these passages, we see recurring themes:
Repentance: Isaiah, Paul, and Peter all confess their sinfulness when faced with God’s holiness.
God’s Mighty Touch: Isaiah’s lips are touched with a coal; Paul is struck by the light of Christ; Peter experiences a miraculous catch. These encounters reveal God’s power to cleanse, restore, and commission.
Mission: Each of these individuals is called to serve—Isaiah as a prophet, Paul as an apostle, and Peter as a fisher of people.
5. Application: Answering God’s Call
God’s call is not limited to prophets or apostles—it extends to each of us. He meets us in our brokenness, cleanses us with His grace, and sends us out for His mission.
Are we, like Isaiah, willing to say, "Here I am. Send me"?
Are we, like Paul, ready to acknowledge God’s grace and share the gospel?
Are we, like Peter, prepared to leave everything behind and follow Christ into deeper waters?
Conclusion: A Life Transformed for His Glory
Beloved, the call of God is both a privilege and a responsibility. It begins with repentance, is sustained by His grace, and results in a mission that glorifies Him. Like Isaiah, Paul, and Peter, we are called to experience God’s presence, be transformed, and proclaim His glory to the world. John Newton, the Anglican singer, in 1773 wrote the now known lyrics, “Amazing Grace” as a compliment to his New Year Day’s sermon, a song that resonates to most Christians to date.
1st Stanza: Amazing grace how sweet that sounds,
That saved a wretch like me,
I once was lost but now I am found,
I was blind but now I see
Let us pray:
Lord, thank You for Your transformative call on our lives. Cleanse us, equip us, and send us out to fulfill Your mission. Help us to trust You as we step into deeper waters, knowing that Your grace is sufficient. May our lives reflect Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Go forth, beloved, and live out the mission God has placed on your life! Go forth and be a testimony of His mighty touch!