And looking up to heaven, he sighed and commanded, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly and speak plainly!
Devotional Text
Jesus sighed. This word is used to describe a groan drawn from deep within. Before a miracle occurs, the Holy Spirit must groan, or pray from within us. Romans 8:26 tells us that we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. That groaning, or inner compassion of the Spirit, always comes right before the works of God are revealed. Jesus said, “Ephphatha!” (Mark 7:34 KJV), which is an Aramaic word describing the loosing of an entire person, not just a part. Satan had kept this man in bondage, and Christ was commanding him to “be loosed!” The string (or in the Greek, “bondage”) of his tongue was immediately loosed. The process included groaning, commanding, and then loosing! This is the work of the Church. We are to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we feel the needs of the poor (Psalm 41:1) and command them to “be loosed!” Ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you for the needs of those in bondage. Satan must loose them because we are of the company of “Ephphatha!”