Demons in our midst
Mark 5:1-17 (NIV)
Run the story
1. Jesus was on his way across the Sea of Galilee and a storm came
a. Jesus rebukes it and it stops
2. Then he land in the region of Gad-ar-re-nos
a. A man possessed meets him at the shore.
i. We don’t know why mark only record one man when Mathew and Luke record two we can only speculate
ii. Maybe it was this one particular man that struck something special in him
iii. Maybe it was because how the story ended for the one man
1. How he ended up sitting at Jesus feet
2. How he ended up wanting to follow Jesus
3. How he ended up being an witness for Christ as he went and told the world what Christ had done for Him
4. Maybe that made him special in some sort of way
iv. But we know he was in a messed up state
1. Full of many demons
2. It would cause him to run around unclothed
3. Un-bathed
4. To be very violent
5. Someone no one wanted to be around
a. People couldn’t help but tried
b. He would be bound in chains because of his problem
6. He was sitting there cutting himself with rocks
b. Jesus gets out of the boat and commands the demons out of him
1. He falls down writhes on the floor and begs
2. Please don’t send us into the abyss
a. Send us into the pigs
ii. Jesus asks him his name and he says Legion
1. Meaning many demons
2. The man was really bad off
3. Talk about having problems
Point 1: Demon possession and Demon influence are real
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1. I know many after reading this story are amazed at the idea of demon possession.
a. Just thinking about being possessed by demons make people shutter.
b. Many disbelieve it
i. But the bible records demon possession many times and the writers write it in such a way that seems very nonchalant.
ii. Like it was common knowledge of possession.
c. Now I am not saying everything is demon possession.
d. But we need to be careful and watch because demons are real
e. And their influence is strong
i. We wage war not against flesh and blood but and powers and dark forces
D. W. Whittle tells of a man who came to Charles Finney and said: "I don’t believe in the existence of a devil." "Don’t you?" said the old man. "Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it."
2. They come at us in different ways
a. Some time through possession
i. Where they take hold of the person an reside in them
b. Mostly through influence
i. Temptation
ii. Enticement
iii. Lies
iv. deceit
3. We see it in different ways
a. He tries to divide.
b. He tries to get us focused on anything but the truth.
c. A little whisper her and a little whisper there and we fall for It and he has us.
Examples: Anyone ever think about why sometime whenever things are going well for you why things all of a sudden go wrong? Fight with your husband? Loose a job?
He always shows up.
You want to read your bible and the phone rings are you get distracted. You can think. You can’t remember.
Story: I was praying the last two nights and the phone rang both times
Demons today
4. look around us
a. We see people who are bound by
i. Fear
1. To many people live in fear
2. Afraid to go outside
3. Afraid to try something new
4. Afraid of the future
5. Fear is not of God
ii. lack of trust (paranoia)
1. Can’t trust God
2. Always thinking someone is out to get them
iii. Panic (attacks)
1. I understand there are physical sides to this
2. But many live their whole lives in a panic attack
3. They can’t go anywhere
4. Always on pills
iv. Dissensions
1. Always causing trouble
a. You know those people
b. Just always negative
c. Can find the bad in everything
v. Shame, guilt,
vi. doubt
vii. Depression
1. We know this is a big demonic influence on the world
a. So many people committing suicide
b. Self mutilation
c. Always feeling down
i. When God says we should be happy and at peace
Window: Many believe that demonic influence is always the cause of severe depression that leads to suicide and self mutilation. It was causes himself to hate himself, God says we are His beloved children, Demonic influence says we are worthless
Homelessness
Story: Saw a show last night about homeless. Living in terrible conditions. My heart was breaking for them. They had demons…addiction depression
Point: Demons hate God and they hate us
We are created in God’s image and they want to destroy that image and destroy us.
They will put a rift in anything good.
Think of all the
What’s the point of this story?
Point 3: Jesus has authority over them
Mark 5:12 (NIV)
12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs.
Overcome strongholds
3. There is nothing Jesus can’t do
a. Whatever strong holds there are in your life
i. Demon influence
ii. Whatever lies we might have believed
iii. He can cast out all fear, un-sureness, depression
iv. Or just problems
Point 4: Jesus gives us that same authority
Luke 9:1-2 (KJV)
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
Point 5: The Outcome is Complete healing
Mark 5:1-17 (NIV)
15 When they 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.
- He was made well
o He was in his right mind
o No more jealousy
o Rage,
o Anger
o Low self esteem
- He was dressed
o Had himself put back together
o Got his dignity back
- Sitting with Jesus
o Wanting to fellowship with Him
- Wanting to follow Him
- Telling the world his testimony
The reality is God loves His creation. He is not sitting ideally by.
Story: I was watching the homeless story and I was praying for each one of them. God is so good. The story starts getting odd and the Amtrak Company wants them out. So they are going to be homeless with out a home. It turns out the government gives section 8 welfare and they each get an apartment. Jesus showed up on the beach
Application: How do we apply this in our life? We need to rebuke them! In our lives and the loves of others
The power is in him
He gives us power and authority over them
The power is in him
That’s the answer run to Jesus!
