TITLE: A GRAVEYARD REVIVAL
SCRIPTURE: ST. MARK 5:1-8
What an exciting text hidden in the midst of the New Testament. This narrative is shared by three (3) of the synoptic gospels. The writer Mark provides us with the most detail of all the writers.
• Matthew gives the account 7 verses
• Luke 14 verse
• Mark 20 verses
It is fascinating to me to understand that Three worlds meet in this strange narrative: THE UNDERWORLD OF EVIL SPIRITS – THE VISIBLE WORLD OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE – THE UPPER WORLD OF DIVINE CONTROL. Evidently this encounter made quite an impression on the disciples because it is found in three gospels—MATTHEW – MARK - LUKE. The disciples never forgot how Jesus liberated a man infested with demons.
We don’t know how this man got into the condition that he was in. A person that is degraded and weakened by sin will open themselves to the devil. The Bible warns us not to give place to the devil. You remember that simple New Testament text don’t you? EPHESIANS 4:27 “NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL.” We start out playing with the devil, next thing we know he takes charge of our lives.
• We start out innocently with a Ouija board
• We start out have our Palms Read
• We start out with Tarrant Cards
• We start out with a back in the woods Séance
• We gave the devil place and now he has control of our lives
This man living in the tombs in the midst of the local graveyard had been excommunicated from the town of Gadara. They had tried to restrain him with chains and fetters but they could not hold him. The people of Gadara could not rest or be at peace as long as they knew that this man was on the loose. There would be an errie feeling to come over the town as they heard his hellish cries and demonic laugh throughout the night. It all sounds like the page out of a horror story… but it is reality. A man that got so far into sin that demons took possession of his body. Can I tell you that Sin will always, always bring you down!
• Jonah
• He went down to Joppa
• He went down into the ship
• He went down into the sea
• He went down into the belly of the whale
• The Prodigal Son
• He went down into a far country
• He went down into immorality
• He went down into the hog-pens
• This man went down into the tombs!
• He left the land of the living to dwell among the dead
Of all the places in which to live…..Why was this demon possessed man living among the Tombs? I believe the wealthiest spot on this planet is not:
• The oil fields of Kuwait, Nigeria, Iraq or Saudi Arabia
• Neither is it the gold and diamond mines of South Africa
• It is not the uranium mines of the Soviet Union or the silver mines of Africa
Though it may surprise you, the richest deposits on our planet lie just a few blocks from your house. They rest in your local Cemetery or Graveyard. Buried beneath the soil within the walls of those sacred grounds are:
• Dreams that never came to pass
• Songs that were never sung
• Books that were never written
• Paintings that never filled a canvas
• Ideas that were never shared
• Visions that never became reality
• Inventions that were never designed
• Plans that never went beyond the drawing board of the mind
• And purposes that were never fulfilled
Our graveyards are filled with potential that remained potential. This is a tragedy. And this is where our chapter opens in an EXPLOSIVE FASHION. The disciples’ boat beaches near a GRAVEYARD and a herd of pigs. Both are RITUALLY and CULTURALLY UNCLEAN for Jews. As Jesus steps out, a crazy man storms out of a cavern.
• Wild hair
• Bloody wrists
• Scratched skin
• Fury encased in flesh
• Naked bedlam
• Arms flailing
• Voice screaming
The apostles gawk and gulp and put a foot back in the boat. They look at Jesus to take his lead. Jesus does not back away. He does not Retreat to the Boat. As this Wild Man approaches, Jesus walks and approaches this Crazed Man. Jesus recognized that this man had an inner spiritual problem.
• The people tried to help this boy by restraining him physically when his problem was spiritual
• All laws and regulations can do is treat the outer man
• It just affects the behaviors without touching the source
• No laws could change this man
• No code of moral standards could free him
• Most of us know what Christian behavior is and is not
• A list of laws won’t change your heart
• And that’s the part that needs changing
Can we take another look at VS 3? The text says, “NO ONE COULD BIND HIM ANYMORE.” Apparently at one time they could subdue him but all he did was grow worse, so much worse that he was a hopeless situation. Anybody ever feel like they have ever been in a hopeless situation? Anybody ever feel like there was no Hope?
• When it is hopeless – it is just right for God
• When everybody else has given up – Just right for God
• When the Doctor says No – God says Yes
• When it is too hard for Man – Just right for God
I believe that back in Chapter 4 when Jesus said, "LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE" - He knew exactly where He was going and who was there. I believe He heard him CRYING IN THE GRAVEYARD. Can I footnote here?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus knows when we are in Despair?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus knows when we are Hurting?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus knows when we feel Hopeless?
• Aren’t you glad that Jesus knows when we are Shedding Tears?
• Aren’t you glad that Weeping May Endure for a Night, But Joy Cometh in the Morning?
That is the problem with Christianity today. WE DON’T WANT TO GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.
• They don’t smell right, on the other side
• They may have some mental and physical conditions, on the other side
• They don’t dress right, on the other side
• They don’t have the right income, on the other side
• They don’t act right, on the other side
• Church will stay in its own little corner
• That’s why Evangelism ministry is so low as a priority in the local Church
• We don’t spend time Going Over to the Other Side
We see from VS. 8 that Jesus first commanded the demons to COME OUT OF THE MAN. Through this we get a glimpse into the unseen world of the spiritual war going on all around us.
• For just a few minutes, the invisible conflict becomes visible
• And we are offered a position over-looking the battlefield
• Isn’t it interesting we hear nothing from the disciples throughout this whole encounter
• We are like a pitcher standing and watching this whole event with mouths and eyes wide open
But really, the disciples did the best thing they could have done by setting back and LETTING JESUS FIGHT THE BATTLE. Even IMPETUOUS PETER who always has something to say, fell Silent.
• He does not Draw a Sword like he did in the Garden
• He does not vow to Protect Jesus as he did a few nights before Last Super
• He does not jump out first as he did when he briefly Walked on the Water
• He and the other brethren, kept one foot in the boat and Spoke….Not a Word
The worst thing they could have done would have been to grab a hold of the demoniac and try to wrestle him down. If he could brake chains then he probably would have broken some bones. If we ever get to the point in our lives where we can fully trust in the Lord. It is ok to stand still and wait for the LORD TO BID YOU TO COME. Be careful not to jump out and get ahead of God’s timing.
• Disciples had sense enough not to try to Sling Oil on this Demonic
• Disciples had sense enough not to try to lay hands and throw him to ground
• Disciples had sense enough not to try to whisper in his ear how to speak in tongues and be delivered
• Disciples had sense enough to just stop and watch
• Songwriter said – I’ve Been in the Storm too Long
• We stay in the storm because we try to do the fighting
• It is not easy letting Jesus fight our battles
• It is hard getting out of the Way
• But there are Some battles Reserved for the Lord
All of the towns people were fearful and afraid of this troubled man, this – LUNATIC – MANIAC – MADMAN ON THE STREETS --- but Jesus went straight to the point, He said, “COME OUT OF THE MAN, THOU UNCLEAN SPIRIT.”
• Jesus knew that is was a spiritual issue
• He did not talk about the man
• He did not talk about his moma
• He did not address the person
• This is where we make our mistake
• ST. MATTHEW 11:12 “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERETH VIOLENCE, AND THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE”
• The word violence found here is BIOZAMAI meaning forceful and aggressive without indifference and apathy
• Jesus doesn’t act weak with a strong issue
• No Chit Chat
• No Niceties
• No salutations
• Demons deserve no tolerance
The towns people had bound the man – bound him in chains – subdued him on occasion. Note with me that Jesus did not even touch the man. He spoke a Word of Deliverance and that was enough. I feel blessed that we are able to worship at the OCARTA building and all the dynamic program it stands in the gap for.
• Serving those in Recovery
• Be it Mental – Various Addictions
• Helping some with a 12-step Recovery Program
• Counseling in an effort to change lives
• Jesus did not need the 12-step Program
• Jesus did not set up a Counseling Program or Ministry
• He used a 1-step program for deliverance
• Simply spoke a Rhema Word
• A Word from the Lord is always enough to Set the Captives Free
The problem with the church is that we have become too CASUAL and HOSPITABLE with the DEVILISH and DEMONIC.
• So much so to the point that when we speak a word of authority…nothing happens
• We no longer have time for real ministry work
• We no longer have time to help those in need and deal with those that are still bound
• We think that we no longer have anything in common with those that are still lost
But the truth of the matter is, we have a lot more in common with this demon possessed man than we think.
• You see, I was this man
• You were this man
• No, we may not have been living among the tombs
• We may not have been cutting ourselves with rocks
• But we were controlled by the power of Satan
Because of sin you and I were both hopelessly lost unless someone was to come to our rescue. We had no way to help ourselves. There was no way that we were going to be able to pull ourselves up out of the quicksand of sin that we were drowning in. The gulf that was between us and God was one that we had no ability to cross. The chasm that separated us was one that we had no means to bridge. We were hopeless. There was no possibility of us making our way to God.
But the day came when a bridge was built to cross that great divide. The day came when Someone did come to our rescue. Because God knew that we had no possibility of making our way to Him, He chose to make His way to us.
• And 2000 years ago Jesus came to this earth and walked in our shoes and lived in our humanity
• He died on our cross that would bridge that great divide between us and God
• Hallelujah! When I could not come to Him, He came to me!
• He was ok with A Graveyard Revival
--I’m so glad, this morning, that even though Jesus saw my sin He decided to come anyway
--I’m so glad that even though He knew how many times I was going to reject His humble plea He still came to make it possible for me to accept it
--I’m so glad that even though He heard the words of hate that were going to escape my mouth before I spoke them He still came
--I’m so glad that even though He knew how wicked and vile I was going to be He still made that journey to the cross
-- A Graveyard Revival
--I’m so glad that Jesus will meet our needs
--We too were dead to the things of God
--Thanks be to God he sent to us – A Graveyard Revival
--Once this man was delivered, he could no longer live in the graveyard
--Jesus told him to go home
--Leave the unclean thing behind
--Jesus will set you free, but you must leave the graveyard behind
--The challenge is the same for you as it was for the man in this narrative. “GO AND TELL WHAT GREAT THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU.” Yes, it was AGR.
--After the Benediction at that Graveyard Revival:
• Go back to your classroom
• Go back to your factory
• Go back to your office
• Go back to your shop
• Go back to your company
• Go back to your classmates
• Go back to your family
• Go back to your neighborhood
• Go back and tell them what great things the Lord your God has done for you
• Tell them and then tell them again
-- A Graveyard Revival
--God will meet you right where you are at
--God will deliver you right where you are
