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July 7, 2004
Ephphatha! Be opened!
Mark 7:34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!")
If someone were to ask you to sum up the message of Jesus life, death and resurrection in two words, what words would you use?
Love God? Love others? Be saved? Turn around? Accept God? Be healed? Be whole? Youre forgiven? Forgive others? Have faith? Fear not? Do likewise? Rise up? Take, eat? Take, drink? Remember me? Show mercy? Offer grace? Be childlike? Pursue wisdom? Pray often? Help strangers? Live again?
All of these are good candidates, but what about Be Opened? The word is Ephphatha. He used it when He commanded that a deaf & dumb man be able hear & speak again. It literally means Be Opened! It may have been the very word spoken by God that morning that He called for the tomb of his son to be opened!
Jesus was trying to help folks be opened to the Spirit of God he felt and knew intimately within himself. The Spirit in which he lived and moved and had his being. The Spirit that flowed into and through him. The Spirit that radiated from him as light. The Spirit people felt loved by through his unconditional love. The Spirit that drew people to God through his acceptance of them. The Spirit that reconciled people to God and their neighbors through his friendship. The Spirit that forgave people through his assurance of forgiveness. The Spirit that enlightened peoples minds with his wisdom. The Spirit that healed people through his physical presence. The Spirit that animates the new risen Body of Christ.
The Word of Life
1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.
Lord, touch each of our hearts that we may be willing to 'be opened' by Jesus. Help each of us remain open to Your leading. Thank You that as we do this we will be fully alive. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 10:10 ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Scripture reference: Mark 7:34; John 5:24-26; John 14:19; 2 Cor 2:14-15; 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 34:8
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July 7, 2004
Ephphatha! Be opened!
Mark 7:34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!")
If someone were to ask you to sum up the message of Jesus life, death and resurrection in two words, what words would you use?
Love God? Love others? Be saved? Turn around? Accept God? Be healed? Be whole? Youre forgiven? Forgive others? Have faith? Fear not? Do likewise? Rise up? Take, eat? Take, drink? Remember me? Show mercy? Offer grace? Be childlike? Pursue wisdom? Pray often? Help strangers? Live again?
All of these are good candidates, but what about Be Opened? The word is Ephphatha. He used it when He commanded that a deaf & dumb man be able hear & speak again. It literally means Be Opened! It may have been the very word spoken by God that morning that He called for the tomb of his son to be opened!
Jesus was trying to help folks be opened to the Spirit of God he felt and knew intimately within himself. The Spirit in which he lived and moved and had his being. The Spirit that flowed into and through him. The Spirit that radiated from him as light. The Spirit people felt loved by through his unconditional love. The Spirit that drew people to God through his acceptance of them. The Spirit that reconciled people to God and their neighbors through his friendship. The Spirit that forgave people through his assurance of forgiveness. The Spirit that enlightened peoples minds with his wisdom. The Spirit that healed people through his physical presence. The Spirit that animates the new risen Body of Christ.
"Ephphatha! Be opened!"
by Karen Holland
How can we hear Your voice?
Be opened!
How can we see Your face?
Be opened!
How can we detect Your sweet fragrance?
Be opened!
How can we feel Your touch?
Be opened!
How can we taste Your goodness?
Be opened!
Ephphatha! Be opened and live.
The Word of Life
1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.
Lord, touch each of our hearts that we may be willing to 'be opened' by Jesus. Help each of us remain open to Your leading. Thank You that as we do this we will be fully alive. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 10:10 ... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Scripture reference: Mark 7:34; John 5:24-26; John 14:19; 2 Cor 2:14-15; 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 34:8
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