Jesus’ "Stay At Home” Order

JESUS’ “STAY AT HOME” ORDER

Mark 5:2-20

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Clara Null said it was one of the worst days of her life. Her washing machine line broke and flooded her house, her baby-sitter called in sick so she had to cancel her hair appt, and she got a bill in the mail that she couldn’t possibly pay.

2. Almost at the breaking point, she lifted her one-year old into his highchair, leaned her head against the tray next to him, and began to cry.

3. Without a word, her son took his pacifier out of his mouth and stuck it in her mouth! What a sweet gesture. God has encouragement for you today.

B. A/G MISSIONARY JAMES BRYANT

1. Missionary James Bryant was working in the West African country of Burkina Faso. A Muslim man and his son dragged into his compound a bound woman. Bryant questioned why she was bound and discovered it was because she was demon possessed. That was the only way they could control her.

2. The missionary demanded that they untie her; they reluctantly complied. She was found to have almost supernatural strength; it took four large men to restrain her.

3. The Christians began to pray for her and prayed for days. She finally began to be delivered and to regain her composure. In 30 days she was completely free and got saved. 17 years later she was still a faithful member of that church. The story reminds me of the biblical account found in Mark 5:2-20, (abbreviated).

C. TEXT

2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 15When [the people of that region] came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

D. TITLE The title of this message is “Jesus’ Stay-At-Home Order.” I’m comparing what Jesus asked this man to do with how our officials are telling us to stay at home to avoid the Coronavirus.

I. TERRIBLE RESULTS OF YEILDING TO SIN

A. HIS CONDITION

1. He was given over to an "unclean spirit" (verse two).

a. Had this man always been like this? No! We are looking at the end product of a long history of yielding to sin. SIN IS PROGRESSIVE. At one time he had thought he could handle the sin/immorality he partook of, but it came to control him. That’s the way with all sins; the cords of sin are too light to be felt until they are too strong to break.

b. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, sexual addiction, greed, hate, etc., even some music (which promotes suicides -- "Death Metal"). People think they can indulge at will and those things won't affect them, but they don’t realize that there is a spirit behind them. This man came to be controlled, possessed by demons!

2. HE HAD BECOME IMPRISONED. Instead of making him "cool" and getting him more friends (which is what the devil tells you sin will get you), it actually separated him from those he loved; it ruined his dreams/hopes for life.

3. Does Satan want to make you happy? No! The devil is trying to destroy us (John 10:10; "kill, steal, destroy").

a. He was unhappy -- crying out

b. He was suicidal -- cutting himself

c. He lived in graveyard – creepy! Many in sin end up in bad places – ghettoes, alleys, meth dens and crack houses

B. HIS FAMILY (Mark 5:19, "Go home to your family...")

1. Somebody loved this man! His family did all they could for him (doctors, hospital, bound him).

2. Imagine their heartbreak. What if this were your son?

3. There are some of you who can identify with having a family member this out of control. Don't give up -- hold them up in prayer and contend for their deliverance.