^“After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.” (Mark 7:33-35, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what Jesus does for the deaf and mute man whom some people brought to Him.

Jesus took him aside away from the crowd.
Jesus put His fingers into the man’s ears.
Jesus spit and touched the man’s tongue.
Jesus looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”)

Interpretation:

I asked myself what is the significance of taking him aside away from the crowd.

When some people brought him over to Jesus, I believe Jesus wanted to work in His life privately away from everyone. Jesus wanted to deal with him individually and address the man’s problems directly and specifically. This is evident by Jesus’ next two actions.

I asked myself what is the significance of those two actions.

Jesus could have just said to the man, ‘be healed’ and whatever infirmity he had would have been healed but Jesus decided to address the problem directly and specifically by putting His fingers into the man’s ears to specifically address his deafness. Putting His fingers in the man’s ears shows Jesus working in the man’s life to address his deafness. Later, Jesus spit and touched the man’s tongue to specifically address his muteness. Jesus does not stop there which is evident by the last action here.

I asked myself what is the significance of the last action.

Jesus looked to heaven to let the man know that His healing is coming from above and that Jesus has the power to work in His life and heal Him. Finally, Jesus says, “Be opened”. Jesus could have said that right away but I believe it is to show us that there are areas in our lives that the Lord does heal but through time. He works in us and through us to give us the healing so we can be whole. It is not always instantaneous.

Observations:

I asked myself what happens when Jesus gave the command.

At this, the man’s ears were opened.
At this, the man’s tongue was loosened.
At this, the man began to speak clearly.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life. I learned that Jesus could have healed the man right away by just saying the words to him but He directly intervened to bring healing as a process and specifically. There have been areas in my life too that Jesus has worked in that way. I wished healing would have been immediate but it came through a process but it has been a wonderful process as I look back in retrospect. More than anything, I was able to spend time in prayer and reading of His Word completely from Genesis – Revelation in 33 days of the 40 day time out I took to seek the Lord in prayer and His Word from my normal evening routine. The pain slowly subsided but it was a process of Jesus working in me and through me. The situation also helped me grow in my faith and made me see how I should approach things in the future. I thank the Lord for His wonderful healing.

No matter what others said to me, the pain was still there but until Jesus personally reached out to me taking me aside in this situation, did the pain slowly subside and disappear eventually. Through this the Lord opened new doors for me and made me evaluate a lot of other things. That is exciting to know for me and He will do the same things for you as you seek Him whatever you are going through.

I ask you now dear friend, where do you want the Lord to work in your life?

Dear friend, whatever area you need the Lord’s healing and work in your life, share it with the Lord. Jesus wants to work in your life and bring healing to you. Yes, He does! Many times people love sharing and sharing what they are going through but never take it to the Lord in prayer individually. Corporate prayer for a situation is important because that is intercession but it should not end with intercession. When some people brought the man over to Jesus, they interceded on behalf of the man but when he was with Jesus, what did Jesus do? Jesus took Him away from the crowd to deal with him individually. Jesus wants you to deal with your situation one-one too but do not forsake intercession. Take whatever you are facing to the Lord in prayer and do what He tells you to do. Some situations may require extensive counseling, inner healing, etc and the Lord will make it clear to you. Yes, He will friend! He can heal you for He has the power but it is also important to remember that healing can be a process and you should not give up.

May you let the Lord work in your life knowing wonderfully our Redeemer’s kind! Amen!

“Wonderfully Our Redeemer’s Kind!” (W.O.R.K)/"Where do you want the Lord to work in your life?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for healing the man with deafness and muteness. You dealt with the man specifically in his area of needs. We thank you that you can do the same for us. You Oh Lord know what each of us face and how we need your healing in our lives. So, we come to you now and receive the healing you have for us. Please tell us what to do and help us to be obedient. Thank you so much Jesus for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save us. We are so sorry for our sins and accept your cleansing blood to wash us whiter than snow. Thank you because of what you have done for us, we can turn to you in prayer for the answers. I pray right now for the one who is in need of healing, for you Oh Lord know where they are hurting whether it is emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc. Please come Lord and heal them with your power and love for all things are possible with you. Thank you so much Jesus. Help us to wait on you Lord and not give up! Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us. You are our Lord and Personal Savior whom we accept into our hearts and ask you to reign. Thank you in your timing we can feel the healing for you are the Answer. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

SEPTEMBER 2005

MARK: CHAPTER 1

How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy? (Sept 01, 05)

Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept 02, 05)

"Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03, 05)

How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept 06, 05)

"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 07, 05)

"Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)

"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09, 05)

"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12, 05)