Jesus Breaks The Chains

Title: Breaking the Chains

Theme: Jesus can break the chains the world tries to place on us.

Text: Mark 4:35 – 41, 5:1 – 20

Note: Quotes are from J. Sidlow Baxter’s Awake My Heart devotional on July 10th

Opening Scripture:

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.

(2) And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, (3) who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, (4) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.

Introduction

Before you get to the story of Mark 5 we look at chapter 4 and find Jesus on the other side of the sea. This was the sea of Galilee. Jesus spent a lot of time around this sea. Crossing it back and forth to travel between cities doing ministry. This time as they were crossing they encountered a storm. Let us read the story:

Mark 4:35-41 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." (36) Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. (37) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. (38) But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (40) But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (41) And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Many believe that this storm was not a natural phenomenon but an attack of the enemy.

Two hints:

1. There were other boats that were with them. So this was a sudden storm. An unexpected storm. They were not prepared for this. Actually, they were going on business as usual.

2. Jesus, when He rebukes the storm, says, “Peace be still.” This is the same words He uses for in Mark 1:25. When casting out the demon Jesus said, “Be silent, come out of Him”.

Whether or not you believe this was an attack of the enemy or just a natural occurrence we can acknowledge that the enemy does attack followers of Christ.

So, no doubt that the enemy will attack and try to stop God’s plans. Why?

1. Create fear among the believers.

Fear:

a. Hinders the body of Christ.

b. Causes lack of faith in God

c. Pauses the work of God, not moving forward.

2. To Thwart the Work of God

The devil would love to stop the work of God. Jesus had told the disciples to get into the boat, they were going to other side. This should have been enough for them. Jesus had a purpose. That was to get to the other side. Jesus told them to get in the boat. Jesus got in the boat with them and was resting.

Let me just stop right here and tell you, if Jesus is in the boat you are going to be ok. If Jesus is in the boat you don’t have to be afraid. As a matter of fact:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

But if Jesus is in the boat you will get through this storm. Jesus didn’t put them in the boat and send them on alone, but he was right there with them.

If Jesus is in the boat, you can say:

- Greater is He that is in me than He than is in the world

- I am more than conquerors

- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

- No weapon formed against me shall prosper

I am not bound I am free

The biggest thing is not to bail out of the boat.

Notice Jesus’ posture. He was sleeping. He was secure in the arms of God. He knew that God had this. There was work to be done and this was not his time. He trusted God. When you trust God you can sleep through the storm.

Notice the second reason the devil was working. Jesus was trying to get to the other side. There was a ministry to be done. A man was in need and Jesus needed to get there.