Ephphatha - Be Opened!!!

Mark 7:34 “He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!").”

We can read the entire portion in order to understand the concept. Let’s read from Verses 31 – 35

“31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[a] 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

33 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. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.”

We see the context in the above verses. Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through a town called Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of Decapolis. We also read in other gospels that Jesus went to the region of Decapolis once before in his life time. This is the second time he is going to that town.

We further read that a few people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. They also begged Jesus to place his hand on the man and heal him. We see that the people had faith on Jesus and wanted Jesus to do good to that man who was deaf and dumb. One point that we observe here is that Jesus took him aside, away from the crowd and he put his fingers into the man’s ears. Till then it is ok, but he further spit and touched the man’s tongue. How could he do that… there are no reasons. If we trust the ‘who’ we would not ask the question ‘why’? So, here we find Jesus looking up to heaven and with a deep sign saying to him ‘Ephphatha’. This word means ‘be opened’. Immediately, the next verse says that the man’s ears were opened, and his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

What a wonderful thing Jesus did in that man’s life that day. He spoke a word and it happened. It is so true, right from the beginning of creation, that whenever he spoke a word, it came to pass. He ordered things to happen and they were formed. What a mighty God we have. Many a times, we take him for granted and we neglect him, but we need to understand that God loves us and he speaks to us.

Let us now explore into this topic a bit further and understand more in detail.

In 2 Corinthians 4: 4, it says “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” We see from the scripture that the god of this age, that is Satan, has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ. We need to understand that there is something which hinders people to see the light. It is not that the light is not shining, the light is always there, but the people of the world are unable to see it. For example, the stars are always there in the sky, but we see them only at night. We cannot say that the stars vanished, no, it is just that something else has taken prominence and the stars are not to be seen by us. There is a problem with our vision and not with the stars. In the same way, there is problem with the vision of the people of this world. We need to pray that the Lord should open their eyes and show them the true nature of God.

1 John 2:11 says “But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.” People are walking in darkness and they do not know where they are going, because darkness has blinded them.

We also see in John 12: 35 where Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. This is the same essence of the earlier verse that we saw. Also in other parts of the Bible we see that Jesus is telling the Pharisees as blind guides. Matt 15:14 “Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” And similarly, in Luke 6:39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?. From this we understand that Jesus is very serious when it comes to sight. He does not want all of us to be in darkness. He can give light, but it is we that are blinded and would like to continue in the darkness.

Let us move further into the topic and see in what areas Jesus is willing to help us.

1.       From God’s judgment – Ephphatha. We can read Numbers 22:31 and Numbers 24:2,3,4, to understand this further.

2.       From our needs – Ephphatha. We can read Genesis 21:19 how God did a miracle in the wilderness

3.       From our fights/battles – Ephphatha. We read in II Kings 6:17 how God opened the servant Gehazi’s sight and see victory.

4.       From our fears and discouragement – Ephphatha. We read in Luke 24:31 and in 1 Cor 13:12

5.       From the future bad days – Ephphatha. We read in Luke 19:41, 42 and in II Kings 8:11, 12 about this.

From all this we understand that Jesus wants us to be liberated and free. He doesn’t want us to be under the yoke of Satan and he wants us to be delivered from sin and bondage.

He is ready to say ‘Ephphatha’, but are we willing to take that from Jesus?

My experience with 1 Chronicles in the Bible

First Chronicles - Chapter 20

I never knew that Chronicles was so interesting until in our church we started meditating on these chapters every day. We belong to a church which follows Lenten season and we gather every day in the evening for an hour or two to sing and read the word of God. It all started on one Wednesday, also called Ash Wednesday. We gathered and we were told that we would be concentrating on reading from 1 and 2 Chronicles. We thought it would not be interesting at all, yes, reading stories in the Bible is good and reading other books such as Proverbs or New Testament writings is good, but what would Chronicles offer us.

We were all a little apprehensive in the initial stages, but as we went on reading, we found that the Lord God has a special plan for us and he wants us to read and understand his word, whether it be from Chronicles or any other book.

We took this seriously and started meditating chapter by chapter every day.

Surprisingly, every person in the congregation is very interested and they are reading in advance and coming prepared to the services. It is not that you can say something and everyone listens, they are all reading in advance and are coming prepared for a new revelation from the word. This is a bigger responsibility, now that you have to share from the Word of God, a dry subject and make it interesting and learn some practical applications.

I thank God for the church we attend, each and every person is doing the same. They are reading and when their time approaches to share the word, they are getting prepared thoroughly.

After saying all this, I would like to share some points from chapter 20. I was asked to share some points about this chapter and I did not have a clue as to what I should share from just 8 verses.

But as I read more from the word of God, I started realizing that there are many more hidden truths in the verses and I need to study more. I went to different commentaries, of which Henry’s commentary was very helpful to me. I quickly took to the text as a fish takes to water and started getting myself involved in the verses… very soon I found out that there is more under the hood than that which is stated in just the above 8 verses. Not to be heretical or skeptical, but I was cautious and asking the Lord to reveal the inner truths … I was reminded of the verse in the book of John that the Truth will set you free and that Jesus is the truth… how comforting this thought was… so in pursuit of truth I set out reading the 20^th chapter.

Let me now lay down my understanding of the concept in the given 8 verses.

1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

In the first verse, it says ‘and it came to pass’… I stopped immediately at the very phrase. In the Bible I find in many places this phrase which says ‘and it came to pass’. Yes, how true it is. Everything will come to pass one day. Nothing is permanent and nothing is forever, we need to keep this in mind when we look at everything that belongs to this world. We need to be cautious as to how we approach the worldly things. We might get too attached to them and might forget the eternal truths… let us always remember that everything will come to pass and it is the word of God that stands forever. In spite of knowing such eternal truths, somehow, we do not want to acknowledge it and we do not want to accept it.

In the same verse, I read that it said, ‘…at the time that kings go to battle, but David tarried at Jerusalem.’ This is a really intriguing and interesting verse. At the time when kings go for battle, King David also should have been in the battle field. He should have led the army and have brought victory to Israel. He should have been a leader by showing through his example. Here, sadly, we find that he is at home and he is taking rest. It is not mentioned in this chapter, but we can find the sad story of David in II Samuel 11^th and 12^th chapters. Oh, how I wish that David is in the battle field. Oh, how I wish that we all like David be in the battle field and not on the terrace watching something that we should not watch.

There is a wide gap between the first verse and the second verse. The story, though not mentioned here, for other purposes, is still a warning to us that Idle mind is a devil’s workshop. In the Book of Matthew, 12^th chapter, it is mentioned that when a demon is gone out of a person/house, it goes out and finds no place to rest. It roams in all places and then comes to see the same place where it left. When it finds to be empty and unoccupied, it goes out and calls 7 more demons that are more dangerous than him and they enter into the person/house. The Bible says that the latter part will be worse than the beginning of that person. Oh, how true it is. We need to be careful as to how we keep our minds. If we keep it idle, definitely, we can be assured that demons will come and rule you.

That is the main reason, why we need to keep ourselves occupied with the word of God and prayer and fellowship. In fact, it is for our own good that the Lord has given us fellowship.

Let us know recapitulate what David did when he tarried at Jerusalem. He could have worshipped the Lord, he could have played and enjoyed with his family. He could have done so many things, but when he went on the terrace one day, he found a woman bathing. He could not turn away his eyes and the Bible says that he lusted after her. In his lust, he does all bad things. How strange it is that when is overcome by something, he/she forgets reasoning and logic. Here, we find David doing all the things are against the heart of the Lord. The person who was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’ was doing things that are against God’s heart. How pathetic the condition of man when he falls in sin and tries to cover it up.

David tried every way to cover his sin, in fact he goes to such an extent that he gets Uriah drunk and tries sending him to his house, but even in the drunken state, Uriah was making sense, and David, though not drunk physically, was in the wrong. Sin skews our perception. It makes us see gray areas and loopholes and then tries to blame others and do all the bad things.

David now things of murdering Uriah, so his mind starts scheming things which are not right for a person of such stature.

Lesson learnt:

1.       Do not be idle. Idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Inundate yourself with the word of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit, then you will not entertain evil thoughts.

My views on 2 Timothy 2nd chapter

2 Timothy 2nd chapter - few points... 1st point: Verse 1 "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." In the 2nd chapter, Paul instructs young Timothy to be strong in the grace of the Lord. He tells Timothy to be 'thick skinned', in the sense that every believer should not be bothered too much about what others will think when it comes to the Word of God. Every believer should be firm in his stand for the Lord and should never compromise on Godly standards. In this sense, Paul is telling Timothy to be strong. When young people take a stand for something, they are willing to do anything for that stand. For example, all the terrorists are young, the activists of any party are young people .. if we need to stand for the Lord, we need to take a firm stand and be strong. 2nd point: Verse 3 - 7: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." Paul is asking to reflect on what all he is saying because the Lord will give insight into all this. He asks Timothy to be strong in the first verse, and the moment you take a stand, you will immediately face suffering and persecution. So, he tells Timothy to endure suffering like a soldier. What wonderful examples he gives - soldier, athlete and farmer. All three categories are hard working people - people who have a purpose - people who are never ashamed of what they are doing - people who never compromise on standards. We need to think more about these three categories of people and mediate why Paul compared with these three... 3rd point: Verse 9 "...God’s word is not chained..." What a beautiful verse 'God's word is not chained' - though the messenger is chained, the message is never chained. Paul is imprisoned and writing this letter from the dungeon. He knows for sure that this time he will not come out and he is about to die... but still he is encouraging Timothy and telling him about the importance of the Word of God. We need to be encouraged that God's word is established in Heavens and not a word of it will fail. This verse encourages us to read the Word more and more... 4th point - v13 "if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." Here we see the character of God... though we are faithless, he remains faithful and he cannot disown himself. There is a tremendous truth in the statement. Once, Israelites murmured against the Lord and they worshiped the Golden Calf and they proclaimed it as their deliverer... the Lord became angry on the children of Israel... but he again controlled himself and brought them to the promised land... though they were unfaithful and murmuring all the time, God never forgot his promise to his children. How comforting this word is... 5th point - v 15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.' I like the words ' do your best to present yourself to God as one approved'. If we have an interview or any important meeting, how much time we spend to present ourselves in our best possible way. We tend to do all that we can do to be approved. How much more we need to prepare so that we can get approval from God. We also need to strive to be our best before the Lord - in secret and in public. 6th point: v 19 “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” This is also a good foundational verse for young people... it tells us that if we confess the name of the Lord, we need to turn away from wickedness... in Prov 8:13 it says that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil... if we want to be His children, we need to hate wickedness like anything.. not just dislike, but hate wickedness. 7th point: v 20 - 21 - various vessels Here Paul explains about different vessels in a house and how they are being used - some for glory and some for mundane activities... if we are clean and holy, God will use us for nice purposes, if we are unholy and unclean, we will be used for some normal purpose. Imagine, do we use the 'chetta dabba' where we normally throw all the dust to serve anything good? Do we keep unclean plates to guests? Do we ourselves take any unclean vessel to cook? The answer is no. Then how do we think that God can use unclean vessels for His glory... he who sees the heart of every man, knows whether we are clean or unclean.... so let us cleanse ourselves everyday... and be useful for him. 8th point: v 22" Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." This is a very clear and straight forward verse in the Bible. It says 'flee the evil desires of youth'. In another instance, it says 'resist the devil and he will flee from you' but here he is asking us to flee... point to be noted here is that no one can escape the youthful desires...it is a snare...we need to be on guard and run if we face any such temptation... I read in a book sometime ago, that we need to be prepared with the answers for every kind of temptation and we need to practice telling no... because in that moment, we cannot say no because our flesh and our carnal desires will pull towards the sin... better to be careful in this area. In the same verse he says that there are some with a pure heart... we need to join with them and be careful. The company we keep also determines how we react to things.... if we are in the company of people who sin a lot, sin then does not look big, it looks like fun and joy, but if we are in the company of holy people, even a small sin looks very dangerous... so we need to be careful here. 9th point: v 24 - And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Very good verses are found in this chapter of how every believer should be. We need to be kind to everyone and not at all quarrelsome. How nice the world would be if all the christians follow this verse. 10th point: v 16 "Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly" Very profound statement, those who indulge in godless chatter will become more and more ungodly. How true it is, everything starts with a few words... I think I have written a lot, but 2nd chapter contains many more wonderful and profound truths ...

TRUE PROMOTION

TRUE PROMOTION

Bible says in Psalm 75:4-7

4 To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,'
and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns.
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.' "
6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.
7 But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

Our Lord is a promoter. He wants promote us in our spiritual life and even in this world. Before he promotes us he will see certain traits in our life.
Bible says Psalm 75:7 “God who judges”. He will judge three things in our life.

a) Our words
b) Our motives
c) Our Actions

After he done it he will exalt us based on these traits. The same God he is promoting, he is demoting also. There is no junction in between, either we will be promoted by God everyday in our life or else we will be demoted by God every day in our life based on these traits.

1) Covenant Relationship with God:-

Covenant  Prayer  God’s Blessing.
You should have covenant relationship with him for True promotion. If you are not making covenant with God and praying to God you are wasting lot of time. First make a covenant relationship with Jesus then pray to God then heaven will respond.

How to make a covenant relationship with God?

a) Continuous Prayer through Fasting (Pray in the Spirit)
b) Read/Meditate God's Word
c) Obey God’s word according to His time (not our time)

2) Spirit of Humility:-

Bible says in Proverbs 29:20 “A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor”.
Bible says in Proverbs 3:34 “gives grace to the humble”
Bible says in 1 Peter 5:5, 6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time”.



How to develop the spirit of humility?

a) To accept God's estimation

b) To think always others and you special before God. When you don’t have the spirit of humility there are two wicked spirits (Spirit of Pride and Spirit of Devaluation) will work in our life and that bring our life down. In between there is a spirit (Spirit of Humility) that only God is looking in our life. It doesn’t have pride (over estimation about yourself above God’s word) and devaluation (under estimation about yourself what God is estimated)

• Positive Proud: Boast only Jesus Christ. It is good to have positive proud, that is glorifying
Only Jesus Christ in your conversation or in your testimony.

• Negative Proud: It manifest in 2 ways.

1) Over estimation about yourself what God estimated (Negative Pride)
2) Under estimation about yourself (that is insecure) what God estimated (Spirit of
devaluation)

c) To live a selfless life (Christ centered life) - Don't keep it anything for yourself. Don’t live for yourself and not think about others.

3) Clean Heart/Sincere Heart:-

How to get the clean Heart?

Good Motives (Reason behind what you are doing) --> Good Conscious --> Clean Heart

When you have good motives you will have good conscious, when you have a good conscious you will have clean heart.

Always act and react based on your conscious in each task that is given by God. Even though if you don’t hear the voice of Holy Spirit at least acts and react based on your conscious so that you can see God’s direction in your life. Many of them they act properly initially once you entered the particular task if they don’t like it they will react wrongly end up with problem.
So always act and react based on your conscious or guidance of the Holy Spirit in each given task or opportunity in your life.

Bible says in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”.
When you have clean heart you will see God. Amen! You will really see God in your family, in your job and everywhere.

4) Clean Hands:-

Bible says in Job 17:9 “those with clean hands will grow stronger”



Why many Christians are so weak?

Because their hands are not clean. That’s why during prayer intercession when they life up their hands towards God, Father God turned back because their hands are full of blood, not clean. Even sometimes our mouths are full of blood because we destroyed some man of God or woman of God talked wrongly through our tongue that’s why some time God doesn’t want to listen our prayer. So always make sure that our hands are clean before God that leads to true promotion.

5) Faithfulness:-

The one who manages the property of another person is called Steward. Similarly, we all are Stewards in the kingdom of God.

There are 7 important things God have given to us (Steward) to manage:

1) Life --> Our Life belongs to God; he has given to us to manage properly for his glory.
2) Body --> Our body has been given by God to us to manage properly for his glory. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)
3) Children -->They are not ours. They are the gift from God. So we have to train them properly for his glory. Bible says “Train the Children in the way”. Jesus is the way, truth and life. There is only one way to train up our child that is Godly way.
4) Time --> we don't own time. Time has been given to us to manage properly for his glory
5) Gifts and Talents --> It is Gods property, it has been given to us to manage properly for his purpose.
6) Ministry  GOD has given each one us ministry to manage properly for his glory. Do it faithfully and diligently.
7) Environment --> They are not ours. We have to take care of the environment and manage it properly for his glory. If we are stewards, we should be faithful.

These are the three characteristics of faithful steward:

1) Faithful steward must be true to his words, promise and vows
2) Faithful steward must do his work according to God’s requirement or his standards.
(1 Corinthians 4:1, 2) He must do his work accurately and excellently.
3) He must be loyal (A reason for a person exist that is called Loyalty), constant and reliable.

The difference between Faithful steward and unfaithful steward is both of them accepts the responsibility from God through man of God and understand the responsibility but faithful steward does his work according to HIS (God) time (refer Matthew 24:45-51 --> "Feed the household at the proper time") but unfaithful steward does not do HIS work according to HIS (God's) timing, but somehow he is finishing his work, but he is always doing the work according to his time (not God’s time).






Our Lord Jesus Christ will check faithfulness in the following three areas.

Bible says in (Luke 16:10-13)

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:10-13)

1) Faithfulness for little things

2) Faithfulness for temporary (money) things

- Many Christian they are not receiving true riches from God because they are not faithful to temporary things (money).

3) Faithfulness for other goods.

6) Merciful Heart

Bible says in Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”.

- Do something to others which they do not deserve. God is expecting such kind of heart in our life,
Such people are always promoted.

7) Spirit of Excellence

Whatever task God has given to your hand, always finishes it excellently.

8) Teachable spirit

Whatever you received from one source pass it to others.Amen.Never keep it for yourself.
Bible says “Freely you received and freely give”.
9) Generous soul / Giver:

Bible says in Proverbs 11:25
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed”.
10) Attitude of Gratitude/Thankful/Grateful towards God and Man/Woman

Bible says in Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose”.
Appreciate whatever Lord has done in your life. God will never promote person who is always complaining, grumbling, murmuring, envy, pride and jealousy (In ward appearance) all the time, that is ingratitude. Always be thankful and grateful to God and his creation. Many times we are thankful and grateful to God but not his creation (Man/Woman).The way we treat any man or woman that will reflect the creator (God).That’s why we should love everbody.Never reject them because they are God’s creation.
11) Faith

Hope always expects, so that Faith works. That’s why faith without work is dead.
12) Hope (Positive Expectation for better tomorrow)

Today many Christians are living in sin and doing anything they want because they don’t have hope. They forgot the coming of the Lord. They don’t have a positive expectation, always have negative picture about their life and future. You will not have faith without hope.

13) Don't give up Spirit (Endurance/Perseverance)

Suffering  Perseverance Character  Hope

Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, character produces hope but
that hope (in Lord) doesn’t disappoint you. (Romans 5:5)

14) Wisdom / Spirit of understanding

Bible says in Colossians 2:3 “In whom all the hidden treasure of wisdom and knowledge”
Bible says in Isaiah 11:2 “the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding”
You will not get wisdom without knowledge. Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (sound mind).”.
You will not get wisdom of GOD or good sound mind unless you walk in Love. If you walk in Love you walk with GOD, because God is Love (1 John 4:8).But we will not get God’s love until we filled by God’s power or anointing.
First God’s Power  God’s love  Good sound mind (wisdom) (Refer 2 Timothy 1:7)
But world says you will get power when you have knowledge. That’s the way today the devil is deceiving the churches. When you have Knowledge you will have power, then you will have everything.
First Knowledge  finally end up with Power (World says)
No!!Knowledge should not be in the first scale. According to word of God, first God’s power, then God’s love and finally end up with sound mind.
Until we receive God’s anointing we can’t receive God’s love (Romans 5:5), once you receive God’s anointing through the Holy Spirit and then you can walk in Love. Once you walk in Love, then wisdom will flow in your life.
So people who walk in Love (Love of God) they will never lack in wisdom.
15) Knowledge / Fear of God.

Bible says in Isaiah 11:2 “the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD”

16) Sacrifice

Bible says (Psalm 50:4) “Gather to me my consecrated ones (Selected one, chosen one), who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
Our Lord Jesus Christ has done a great sacrifice for us (He died on the Cross for us), but to the fulfill his plan (our relatives, friends, colleagues to be saved) on this earth we have to do little sacrifice. We have to spend so many hours in his presence to know his perfect plan and to do accordingly.
From our side we need to put little sacrifice (Prayer with fasting, spending time with God) and to fulfill his plan in our life.