Years ago, I remember attending a Christian conference in New Orleans, LA. My sister had invited me to join her and the Christian campus ministry she was a leader in at the time and of course I gladly joined. The main theme of the conference was primarily focused on the truth that Jesus is the remedy for everything. After a week of hearing amazing minsters speak throughout the entire conference, there was one word that stood out to me more than anything…Ephphatha.
“It sounds kind of funny honestly! What does it mean?” These are a few thoughts I had after hearing this word. In Mark 7:31-35, we find “Ephphatha” tucked away within the passage of scripture:
Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region to Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” this is, “Be opened.” Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
I had previously read the scripture where “Ephphatha” is found, but I did not remember the words that followed…”Be opened!”
Within the scripture, we see a man that was deaf with a speech impediment being brought to Jesus. I absolutely love that people were brought to Jesus all throughout the gospels. They must have believed that He was able do something about their situation 🙂 Afterwards, we see that Jesus takes the man aside from the multitude and heals him. The man was formerly deaf with a speech impediment but is now able to hear and speak! Oh what an encounter with God can do!
“Ephphatha”…”Be opened!” Simple yet powerful! I believe God’s desire for the body of Christ is to be hearing and speaking, not deaf and mute. May we do what God has said to do in His Word and proclaim the Good News! May we be about our Father’s business! “Ephphatha”…”Be opened!” As we go throughout life, let us “be opened” to being used by God! As you study the Bible, see yourself doing the works that Jesus did in the Bible. See yourself laying your hands on the sick and them recovering! See yourself opening the eyes of the blind! See yourself raising the dead to life (because hello…God has not changed)! See yourself winning souls for the Kingdom of God! I encourage you to step out on the promises of God and do the Word! Be blessed!!
Heavenly Father, I pray that our eyes are opened even further to the truth of Your Word! I pray that we have greater revelation of who we are in Christ and the plan and purpose You have for our life! I pray that we be opened to being used by You God! In Jesus Name, Amen!
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