Mark 5:1-13ASB Deliverance
They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. 6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; 7 and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. 12 The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” 13 Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.
This area was about 6 miles SE of the Sea of Galilee. In that day and time, those who were demented lived around the tombs.
Mark mentions one man, but Matthew 8, mentions two. Probably, Mark writes about the worse of the two.
This demon possessed man isn’t named; however, the demons named him Legion. (Demons love to boost)
“Isn’t is amazing that before Jesus ever approached this man, Christ was speaking words of deliverance. (Jesus spoke faith!)”
Once, this man had a name, and once he lived in a home with parents maybe good, or maybe bad. Nonetheless he once had a family.
Many people had tried to help him possibly for years, but no man could tame him. The Greek in this text uses multiple negatives emphasizing the man’s tremendous strength. (Demons aim to steal, kill and destroy.)
Fact: What these demons didn’t know was, Jesus had been in a terrible storm getting to the other side. Jesus was exhausted from ministering, so He was asleep in the boat. Suddenly, He’s awakened by His disciples.
Jesus arouse and spoke, “Peace be still!” Upon speaking, complete silence settled upon the sea immediately.
Mark 5:6-8TM When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him—then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!" (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!")
Maybe you would asks, “Is there place for the Enemy in one who has been saved and even baptized in the Holy Spirit?”
Your only safety is to go on with God, and in constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.
* We must not forget Demas. He must had been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, because he appears to be Paul’s right-hand man. (Col. 4:14)
Listen to 2 Timothy 4:10NKJ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica...
The Greek word for ‘forsaken’ means to, “utterly abandon.”
Surely we understand that ‘one’ can walk away from Christ; moreover, fall in love with this present world?
1 John 2:15NKJ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
As this man approached Jesus, Jesus discerned his evil powers right away.
Here’s the good news! “There’s life, and perfect deliverance! This is where God wants you to live.”
“If you find that your peace is disturbed in any way, you can know it’s the Enemy.”
*God has promised you perfect peace. Listen to Isaiah 26:3NKJ You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Excuses: “My will power is weak.” Your listening to the devil! “I can’t help it, my parents do it.” That’s the Devil talking.
Testimony: “On several occasions I’ve seen satan manifest himself through someone. One that stands out to me taught me a great lesson.
This man came into the church building and loudly stated his stance on tithing right in the middle of the offering. I went back to where he was sitting and begin talking to him, I could smell alcohol all over him. He begin to want to fight me, so I proceeded to speak the name of Jesus. (He couldn’t hit me) After a lot of prayer and speaking Jesus’ name, a little lady came up to him and screamed- JESUS- with authority! (This man was completely free.)”
Mark 5:11-13NIV A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure 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.
“Listen, That day Jesus made a lot of deviled ham!”
Romans 12:1NKJ Paul tells us, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
In closing, I want to give you some certainties.
Freedom belongs to every child of God.
Peace is yours.
You have total authority in Jesus’ name.
Right now, you can completely surrender to God’s will
“This morning, I want to challenge every person to change your thinking.”
Philippians 4:8NIV Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Benediction.
