Is Jesus In Your Personal Space?

Mark 7:31-37

Scripture Reference

“And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseeched him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mark 7:31-37)

Introduction

Title: “Is Jesus In Your Personal Space?” Bro. Randy Dignan brings us into Mark chapter 7 and shows how the Lord delights to enter the personal space of people to heal, restore, and transform. Using the remarkable account of the deaf man whom Christ touched, Bro. Randy challenges every believer to consider whether they truly allow Jesus intimate access to their life. The passage demonstrates Jesus’ hands-on ministry—He takes the man aside, touches his ears and tongue, and commands him to be opened. For Independent Fundamental Baptists committed to the King James Bible, this passage is not merely historical color; it is a model for personal revival, faithful testimony, and daily holiness.

“The year twenty twenty five was a very unique. Y’ all go be seated first. We’ll stand up in a second for scriptures. I do want to introduce myself to some that may not know who I am. The good news is I do not preach long.” – Bro. Randy Dignan

Quote from Preacher

This introductory quote (corrected for punctuation and capitalization) captures Bro. Randy’s warm, personal style. He speaks as a pastor who knows his congregation, values time, and wants his message felt personally. From the start he sets a tone: biblical, pastoral, and practical.

Outline

Set Apart: He Takes Us Aside
1. Private, Personal Relationship
  Jesus “took him aside from the multitude.” This shows that God desires one-on-one fellowship with each believer. Revival and spiritual renewal begin at the individual level. Public religion without private devotion is incomplete. A daily, private relationship with Christ is where transformation starts (cf. Matthew 6:6).
2. Application
  Make time for quiet worship, prayer, and Bible reading. Invite Jesus into the quiet rooms of your life—your bedroom, your commute, your breaks—so He can work intimately with you.
Sound Cleared: He Puts His Fingers Into His Ears
1. Remove the Worldly Wax
  Bro. Randy calls our attention to “worldly wax”—the entertainment, news, and sinful chatter that fill modern ears. Jesus putting fingers into ears symbolizes cleansing: we must clear out the noise that drowns the still, small voice of God (1 Kings 19; Psalm 46:10).
2. Practical Steps
  Evaluate what you listen to daily. Reduce or remove media and conversations that dull your spiritual hearing. Replace them with Scripture, hymns, gospel preaching, and edifying fellowship.
Substance Changed: He Spit
1. Receive the Fillings of Christ
  Christ’s spit may sound strange to modern ears, but Bro. Randy points to the symbolism: Christ imparts Himself into the person. The spit represents things of Jesus—holiness, mercy, grace—being put into the needy soul. We are to receive Christ’s character, not merely His help.
2. Heart Examination
  Read Mark 7:18-23 where Jesus teaches that sin proceeds from the heart. The cure is not only forgiveness of sins but the inward filling of Christ’s character. Ask the Lord to replace pride, lust, greed, and deceit with righteousness, mercy, and love.
Speech Restored: He Touched His Tongue
1. Remove the Impediment
  The touch on the tongue removed the man’s speech impediment. Spiritually, many Christians have a “tongue problem”: silence about salvation, shame to testify, or careless speech. Christ wants our tongues healed so we can praise, witness, and preach His gospel boldly (Romans 10:14-15).
2. Recover the Shout
  Bro. Randy laments the lost “shout”—the joy, testimony, and bold praise once common in Independent Baptist churches. We must recover vocal, scripture-saturated testimony that points others to Christ.
Simple Command: Be Open
1. Christ’s Gentle Invitation
  After touching the man, Jesus looks up and says Ephphatha—“Be opened.” He is a gentleman: He invites rather than forces. Revelation 3:20 shows the same posture: He knocks and waits for the heart to open. The power of Christ is ready, but it requires our surrender.
2. Non-Resistance
  The deaf man did not resist. If we push Christ away—through sin, pride, or apathy—He cannot work in the same way. Open hearts lead to open ears and tongues and, ultimately, to revival.
Revival Sequence: Personal to National
1. From Home to Nation
  Bro. Randy outlined a spiritual progression: personal revival produces home revival; home revival produces church revival; church revival produces city, state, and national revival. God works through individuals and families to bless communities and nations (cf. Joshua 24:15; Acts 2).
2. Be the Starting Point
  Don’t wait for someone else. Your personal openness to Christ is the seed that God can use to awaken others. Begin with your life, your home, your testimony, and trust God for the spread.

Summary

Bro. Randy Dignan takes the Mark 7 healing and makes it a blueprint for personal revival: Jesus desires to take us aside, clean our ears, fill our hearts, and restore our tongues. The Lord does not violate our will; He invites us into intimate fellowship. When we let Him into our personal space—surrendering sin, silencing the world, receiving Christ’s character, and testifying openly—miracles happen. Personal revival is the starting place for family, church, and national renewal. The same Jesus who healed the deaf man still says, “Ephphatha”—”Be opened”—and He waits for us to respond.

“If we let him get in our personal space again, we might see revival again in America.” – Bro. Randy Dignan

Quote to Ponder

This second exact quote (with corrected capitalization and punctuation) presses the central conviction of the sermon: revival begins when Jesus is welcomed into our private lives, not only our public worship.

Application for the Week

Practical, measurable steps you can take this week to let Jesus into your personal space and invite revival into your life and family:

Schedule a Daily One-on-One
1. Action: Set aside 15–30 minutes each morning or evening strictly for Bible reading and prayer. Use a KJV reading plan (for example: one chapter of the Gospels each day) and pray about specific needs.
2. Goal: Consistent private devotion every weekday this week.
Clear Your Ears
1. Action: Identify one media habit that distracts you spiritually (news cycle, certain music, social media scrolling) and abstain from it for seven days.
2. Goal: Replace that time with a hymn, a short sermon, or a Scripture memory session (start with Mark 7:34–35 or Psalm 46:10).
Invite Spiritual Filling
1. Action: Confess one specific sin to the Lord and ask Him to replace that attitude or habit with Christ’s character (ask for humility, patience, love, etc.).
2. Goal: Keep a one-page prayer journal entry this week noting any changes you sense from God.
Restore Your Tongue
1. Action: Share your testimony or a gospel truth with at least one person this week (a co-worker, classmate, neighbor, or family member).
2. Goal: Prepare a brief, clear testimony (30–60 seconds) using these points: my life before Christ, how I trusted Christ, the change since then, and an invitation.
Be Open—A Simple Surrender
1. Action: Tonight, spend a moment in prayer: tell Jesus, “Lord, I open my heart to You 24/7. Be in my personal space.”
2. Goal: Repeat that prayer each morning this week; if you miss one day, with humility repeat it again.

Bro. Randy’s charge to believers is simple but demanding: quit keeping Jesus at arm’s length. Allow Him to take you aside, clean your ears, fill your heart, and loosen your tongue. If you do, you will not only experience personal renewal—you will become an instrument God can use for home, church, and national revival.