Go Tell Someone
Mark 5:1-20
Jesus had just calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. When the boat reached their destination on the other side, a crazy, demon possessed man met Him. Christ’s response to this man has some good lessons for us today.
I. The Demon Possessed Man
(Mark 5:2-5 KJV) And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
A. He lived among the tombs. v. 2-3
He was a homeless outcast of society
B. He was possessed by an unclean spirit. v. 2
Demon possession is a real danger. I never go see movies like The Exorcist or The Omen because they open your mind up to demonic activity.
Satan and his demons are our enemy. When he possess an individual they are filled with evil.
If someone is filled with the devil, anything can happen!
C. He could not be bound. v. 3-4
No man could bind him. He broke chains with super human strength.
D. He lived a life of destructive behavior v. 5
Satan is the one who wants you to live a life of destructive behavior.
He wants to destroy you... (1 Peter 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
II. The Changed Man
What would you do if a man like this came running up to you?
Jesus cared about him and did something for him no one else could do!
This was just like Jesus. He always reached out to those society gave up on
Lepers
The Blind
The broken - prostitutes, the tax collectors...
He healed them, and Saved them, He changed their lives!
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We should follow Christ’s example and love everyone... We should share the life changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ
A. Jesus knew what this man needed. (Mark 5:8 KJV) For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
He knows what you need as well...
B. He cast the demons out.
C. There was a dramatic change in the man. v. 15
The men who owned the pigs whom the demons possessed, came up to find out what happened.
There they saw this man, clothed and in his right mind.
Notice something here, Jesus saved the man, changed the man, but there were others who helped too. Someone had to help get this poor man with some clothes, give him a shave and a haircut, a place to sit and probably some food to eat.
Jesus saves souls and changes lives, but He wants us to do our part in ministry too!
III. Jesus gave the man a job to do.
A. The man wanted to go with Jesus and follow him around. (Mark 5:18 KJV) And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
Jesus would not allow him to just sit around, or be part of the crowd who followed Jesus around.
He doesn’t want you to just sit in church either! It is good that you come to church, but Jesus has a job for you to do!
B. The command Jesus gave (Mark 5:19 KJV) Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
C. The result - (Mark 5:20 KJV) And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
(Psalms 40:2-3 NLT) He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the LORD.
Conclusion
1. Don’t write anyone off. Even the impossible situation can by changed by Jesus Christ!
2. Bring them to Jesus and let Him meet their need.
3. Tell someone else about what Christ has done in your life!
4. Go to your family and friends and tell them about Jesus!
