Life As It Really Is Series

Introduction

A. A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counseling came up. "Oh, we'll never need that. My husband and I have a great relationship," the wife explained. "He was a communications major in college and I majored in theater arts." "He communicates real well and I just act like I'm listening."

B. We have read the passage here in Matthew about two demon possessed men.

1. Jesus had done a great deal yesterday and today, and He seemed to want to get away with His disciples perhaps to do some teaching.

a. They spent some time on a boat in a storm, which we saw last week.

b. The boat arrived at a place called the Gergesenes.

c. When they landed two men came to meet Him.

d. They were possessed by demons.

(1) Turn to Mark 5:13

(2) It was the demons that recognized Jesus and begged Him for mercy

(3) Apparently the demons knew that Jesus would cast them out of the men

Mark 5:13 NKJV

And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

(a) The Mark passage concerning this incident goes from Mark 5:1-20

(b) In Mark only one man is mentioned, is this evidence that the Bible has mistakes?

i) No. In Matthew the two men are mentioned, but in Mark just the one. The difference in number is only important to certain aspect of the lesson to be taught.

ii) Matthew felt that the two made a greater impact for the lesson to be learned concerning Christ

iii) Mark may have felt that reference to one man was sufficient for the lesson to be learned

iv) As you read both accounts you will find that Matthew includes some details that Mark has not included and Mark includes other details not included in Matthew.

a) These differences do not impact the reality of the Biblical accounts

2. There are 8 things I want to bring out illustrated in this story

a. First know that the devil is real Verses 28 - 29

b. Second, demon possession is real Verses 28 - 29

c. Third, Jesus cares for men in the worst circumstances of life Verses 28 - 30

d. Fourth, Jesus has absolute control of the demonic forces Verses 28 - 32

e. Fifth, the demons want to possess a body Verses 31 - 32

f. Sixth, the desire of the devil and his demons is to destroy us Verse 32

g. Seventh, people care more about things than God or men Verse 34

h. And eighth, Jesus cares about us, our earthly friends don’t care anywhere as much Verse 34 and Mark 5:15-17

II. Body

A. First know that the devil is real Verses 28 - 29

Matthew 8:28-29 NKJV

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. {29} 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?"

1. The devil is not a fantasy

a. The Bible tells us about the devil, called Satan, from Genesis to Revelation

(1) There are varying descriptions of the devil in Scripture, but the most telling is the one found in 2 Corinthians 11:14

(2) Here, we are told that the devil transforms himself into an angel of light

2 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

(a) Turn to John 8:44

(b) Notice Satan transforms himself into an angel of light

(c) The devil is a deceiver and so his transformation is to deceive

(3) Jesus calls the devil the father of lies

John 8:44 NKJV

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

(4) Lies and deception are his stock and trade

(5) There is no truth in him

(6) The Devil's most beautiful ruse is to convince us that he does not exist.

(a) We cannot resist something in which we do not believe

(b) There is an ancient parable which says that the dove once made a pitiful complaint to her fellow birds that the hawk was a most cruel tyrant and was thirsting for her blood. One counseled her to fly low--but the hawk can stoop for its prey. Another advised her to soar aloft--but the hawk can mount as high as she. A third instructed her to hide herself in the woods-- but that is the hawk's own territory. A fourth recommended that she stay in town--but there man hunted her, and she feared that her eyes would be put out by the cruel falconer to make sport for the hawk. At last one told her to rest herself in the clefts of the rock, there she would be safe; violence itself could not surprise her there.