Getting Permission!

Matthew 8:28-34-When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way.

And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding.

So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water.

Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.

And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God?

They recognized Jesus and who He was!!

Just think about that? They knew who He was and the power He possessed!

This teaches us that…Knowing a lot of facts about Jesus is not enough to make you right with God.

Wow, think about that for a moment, what if someone knew your secrets and was going to blab them everywhere!

To expose them to the world to hear!!

To expose the reality of who you are and the falsehood of what people thing you are!!

Satan use this as threat, a ploy to scare us!!

But God uses this knowledge as gift of grace!!! He knows us and still loves us!!!

He doesn’t use our failures to shame us, but to teach us, to forgive us, to cleanse us, and hopefully to change us!!

Have You come here to torment us before the time?….Torture, the demons use a military term.

Legion-In the other gospels the demons give this description, which of course is also a military term.

Which makes sense, because we are in a war, there has been casualties, there are prisoners in this war, there will be a victor and loser in this war!

Ephesians 6:12-13-For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2 Peter 2:4-For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

Luke 8:30-Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.

And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

Definition of Abyss-The pit - a very deep gulf or chasm in the lowest parts of the earth used as the common receptacle of the dead and especially as the abode of demons.

You may wonder what happened when the pigs drowned, well since demons are spirits, that would mean they are eternal, so they weren’t killed, even when they are thrown in the lake of fire, it will be a eternal torment for them.

Rev. 20:10-The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Just some random thoughts:

Do not expect everyone to be happy that you follow Christ

Do not expect to be understood

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Do not expect to be appreciated