Ephphatha – Be Opened!

“After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat 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 loosed and he began to speak plainly.”
(Mark 7:33–35, NIVUK)

There is something deeply revealing about this moment in Jesus’ ministry. If Jesus truly ministered by “only doing what He saw His Father doing” (John 5:19), then this story is worth slowing down for.

A deaf and mute man is brought to Jesus. But before anything miraculous happens, Jesus does something tender and intentional—He takes the man away from the crowd. Healing often flows most powerfully in intimacy, not spectacle. Then come the actions: fingers in ears… and then, remarkably, spit. It’s earthy. It’s personal. And “at this”, the man is healed.

Simple Obedience, Powerful Results

Often, God’s instructions for releasing breakthrough are wonderfully simple. Lay hands on that person. Write that note. Make that call. Send that text. Give that hug. Pray. Heaven’s power is frequently released through quiet obedience.

But then there are other moments—moments that stretch us. Moses is told to lift his staff (Exodus 14:16). Naaman is told to dip seven times in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:10–14). And Jesus is prompted to spit.

We must be careful here. We are not called to be exhibitionists, nor to pull strange levers in an attempt to force God’s hand. Silly or amateurish attempts to imitate prophetic actions can damage trust and distort the supernatural witness of the Church. And yet—God still speaks. Sensitivity to His voice can unlock extraordinary miracles.

When God Speaks… Listen Carefully

I’ve written before about a leader who felt prompted to rub lemon juice into arthritic joints—and was healed. I’ve known people instructed to run around a sanctuary and experience healing. I know someone who lifted her walking stick like Moses, and her arthritis vanished. I’ve personally followed a specific instruction with a dozen people in a healing line—and many encountered life-transforming visions of Jesus and healing from incurable conditions.

Then there was the time I taught on this very passage. Afterwards, a little elderly lady came up to me and said, “I did what you said. I spat on someone.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Er… no… you weren’t meant to copy it,” I replied nervously.
“It’s alright,” she said calmly. “It worked.”

She explained that while sitting in church, the Lord said to her, “The woman next to you is deaf. Spit in her ear and I’ll heal her.” I don’t know about you, but I would have resisted that instruction! Yet she gently spoke with the woman, gained her permission—and the woman was healed.

Ephphatha for Your Life

Thankfully, most of the time God’s instructions are simple. But obedience always matters. Occasionally—usually against my preference—God asks for something unusual. I have no desire to be weird or to be seen. Yet sometimes heaven whispers, “Shout, and I’ll give you the city” (Joshua 6:16).

Spend time listening today. Is there an instruction God is giving you? A prayer to pray. Something to declare. Someone to forgive. A letter to write. A situation to confront. A verse to proclaim.

Do what you see the Father doing—and His authority will flow through your life.

Believe & Confess Meditation & Declaration

I declare that as I listen to the Father, His voice becomes clearer to me (John 10:27). I believe that obedience releases heaven’s power through my life (James 1:22). I confess that what is closed in my life is opening at the word of Jesus—Ephphatha! (Mark 7:34). I believe that God orders my steps and directs my actions (Proverbs 3:5–6). I confess that signs and wonders follow as I walk in faith-filled obedience (Mark 16:20). I believe that intimacy with God positions me for breakthrough (Psalm 25:14).

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Believe & Confess

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