Legion’s Legacy—1

LEGION’S LEGACY—Luke 8:26-39

Jesus encountered a demoniac in the country of the Gerasenes/Gadarenes.

Demons in close association with people leave their mark upon humanity.

What is the legacy of demonic influence?

...of demons in close association with people?

1—Legion’s Legacy is

SQUALOR DRIVEN(:27)

—Explanation:(:27) Dirty/Sordid/Degraded

:26—“And they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.”

:27—“And when He had come out onto the land, He was met by a certain man from the city who was possessed with demons; & who had not put on any clothing for a long time, & was not living in a house, but in the tombs.”

“Had not put on any clothing for a long time”—

Unable & unwilling to provide daily grooming.

“Was not living in a house”—

Unable & unwilling to keep a residence.

“Living... in the tombs”—

Outcast from society.

Unable & unwilling to reside among the un-possessed.

Not a consequence of wrongful persecution...

...but of Chosen condition thru Inappropriate actions/response/reactions.

Neglect of humanity—What else would a demon do?

—Argumentation:

Lk. 2:52—“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom & stature, & in favor with God & men.”

1Sam. 2:26—“Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature & in favor both with the LORD & with men.”

Rom. 14:16-18—“Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating & drinking, but righteousness & peace & joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God & approved by men.”

—Illustration:

Duane Blue’s testimony before salvation/Lived with 2 dobermans in a stripped bus—Drugs—Alcohol—Hated everybody/SQUALOR DRIVEN

Goat Man of Vidalia/Lived in midst of trash in abandoned bus/ SQUALOR DRIVEN

—Application:

?You SQUALOR DRIVEN?—Sin rule your life?

?You living Legion’s Legacy?

2—Legion’s Legacy is

AUTHORITY DRIVEN(Answerable)(:28-29)

—Explanation:(:28-29) Liable/Answerable

:28—“And seeing Jesus, he cried out & fell before Him, & said in a loud voice, “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.””

Liable thru:

RECOGNITION—

“he cried out & fell before Him”—

“Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”—

FEAR—

“I beg You, do not torment me”

“Torment”—basanizw—To torture; To test by the touchstone—Rub metal on black siliceous stone—Color left determines purity of metal.

:29—“For He had been commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man....”

RESISTANCE—

“What do I have to do with You...”

—‘What business do you have with me now?’

—Argumentation:

Heb. 4:13—“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open & laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Eccl. 12:13-14—“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God & keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

Rom. 2:16—“....the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”

Rom. 14:10-12—“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

—Illustration:

Matthew runs over plants with lawnmower: Blackberries— Mayhaw—Daylily/Stepped on hanging basket & broke it/Answerable to one with AUTHORITY over him—Me!/AUTHORITY DRIVEN

—Application:

?You AUTHORITY DRIVEN?—Sin rule your life?

?You living Legion’s Legacy?

3—Legion’s Legacy is

SEIZURE DRIVEN(:29)

—Explanation:(:29)

“... For it had seized him many times; & he was bound with chains & shackles & kept under guard; & yet he would burst his fetters & be driven by the demon into the desert.”

“Seized/Caught”—sunarpazw—Seize by force & carry away.

Unrestrainable—Sin apart from Christ is unrestrained.

Supernatural strength to satisfy sin.

—Argumentation:

God never ‘seizes’ anyone...its our choice to follow Him.—

—Rev. 3:20—“‘Behold, I stand at the door & knock; if anyone hears My voice & opens the door, I will come in to him, & will dine with him, & he with Me.”

Jn. 14:23—“Jesus answered & said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; & My Father will love him, & We will come to him, & make Our abode with him.”

Isa. 64:6—“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”

—Illustration:

Pregnant woman seized by the urge to eat pickles & ice cream/

Seized by urge to use bathroom/Body at its withholding limit/SEIZURE DRIVEN