Gadara Demons Series

GARDARA DEMONS

Matthew 8:28-34

Introduction: This miracle is so important that that three of the four Gospel writers records it. It is the first recorded miracle in which Christ entered the realm of the unseen demon world. Whenever you touch upon this realm, you can expect Satan not to be happy about people knowing the truth. 2 Corinthians tells us that we are not ignorant of his devices. Yet in many ways we are. One of his greatest tools is deception. People keep falling into his trap. It worked in the Garden of Eden and has continued to work for the six thousand years of recorded human history.

Before getting into the message, I want to ask and try to answer to the best of my ability a few questions about demons. Who are they? Let me first say, you will not find the word "demons" in our King James Bibles. You will find the word "devils". You can use the term without violating scriptures. I only say that so that those who try to trip people up will know that we are very familiar with the Bible. Demons are spoken of as spiritual beings. Matthew 8:16

“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick”

They are at enmity with God, and as having a certain power over man. They recognize our Lord as the Son of God. They belong to the number of those angels that "kept not their first estate," "unclean spirits," "fallen angels," the angels of the devil. They are the "principalities and powers" against which we must "wrestle".

We are not able to see a demon with our natural eyes. I have talked to folks who have said they have seen demons but many of those folks were high on drugs or drink when they said they saw them. Even though we are not able to see them with our natural eye, we can see the effects of their activities. You can not see the wind but you can see the effects of wind.

Demons use human bodies to perform most of their wickedness. When their host dies or is killed, they will travel to find another host in order indwells. They cause their host to have supernatural strength. In Acts 19, we have a demon possessed man that beat up seven men.

We know from Luke and Mark’s account that one of these men was naked. Nakedness is an evidence of the sin that was on the part of our first parents- Adam and Eve. I read this statement: "the less dress, the more sin." As in our previous messages of Bible Miracles A to Z, I will be addressing some important lessons. We live in a time in which near nudity is at an all high. People try to see how much they do not wear. It is almost totally impossible to go even to the store without seeing folks in scant clothing. I am not telling that you are to be dressed in your Sunday best to go to the store but we must teach our children certain clothing is best left in the privacy of our own homes.

It is also noted where these men lived. They lived in the graveyard. They resorted and consorted with the dead. Before judging them too harshly, let us be reminded of another truth. Too many people who are saved feast at the banquet tables of the dead. What I mean is this: everyone is either spiritually made alive by Jesus or they are spiritually dead. James issues this warning. James 4:4

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

It is very important to remember that you cannot expect spiritually dead people to come to the place where they can get life. It is our job to go and get them.

As we go through our message, let us rejoice in our Saviour. He shows that He is Lord over the devil world also.

I. RESISTANCE TO CHRIST’S NATURE

Vs. 29

“What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?”

Why are these devils opposed to Christ? This opposition is ages old. In fact, in the case of man, it is found all the way back to the Garden of Eden. God pronounced His judgment on the devil and his crowd.

Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

It comes down to some simple facts. Christ is light and Satan is darkness. Christ gives life and Satan gives death. Christ brings truth and Satan brings lies and falsehoods. There is no middle ground. This issue has no compromise in it.