LET ME TAKE THE WITNESS STAND!
A compelling testimony about the great compassion of Jesus
Mar 5:18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
Mar 5:19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
Mar 5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
I can imagine a court trial is ongoing on the city of Decapolis. The Association of Swine Raiser together with the Animal Welfare Authority is charging a man from Nazareth of economic sabotage and cruelty to animal - His name is Jesus. After the Pig tenders, the second witness takes the witness stand. The room was filled with unusual silence as they recognize the man walking to take the witness stand. People hold their breath as he began to speak. “People of Decapolis, as you may notice today, I am the former Demon possess man who used to live at the tomb of Gadara…”
People on the courtroom of life hear his compelling testimony:
I – THIS IS MY LIFE BEFORE JESUS FOUND ME!
He used to live and hang out with the dead man
Mar 5:1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.
Mar 5:2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
People without Christ used to hang out with spiritual dead man. Those people drag him to spiritual tomb of darkness and sinful life.
He used to be a violent man that no one was able to tame him
Mar 5:3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.
Mar 5:4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
His life was spent in crying, despair and loneliness
Mar 5:5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
He was a suicidal and keeps abusing himself
Mar 5:5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
Demon possession still exists today. It seems different in forms but they are more deadly and destruct more peoples
• He maybe a son of somebody but he is possessed of drug addiction.
• He may be a daddy of a certain child but he is bound of pornography
• He may be a husband of somebody but he is slave of sexual lust of other women
• He may be a relative or friend of anyone but he suffer inner struggle about his sexual identity
• He may be smiling but deep in his heart are full of anger and agonies of past abuses
• He may look good in the outside but broken and suicidal in the inside.
II – THIS IS HOW I DISCOVER WHO’S THE REAL BOSS!
Mar 5:6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.
Mar 5:7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!"
Mar 5:8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
Mar 5:9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."
Mar 5:10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
Legion is equivalent to 6000 soldiers in Roman Regiment. No matter how big, how many or how great is the problem we have, all of them are small compare to Jesus. Jesus is the real boss!
III – THIS IS HOW JESUS CONVINCE ME OF MY WORTH
Mar 5:11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside.
Mar 5:12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them."
Mar 5:13 He gave them permission, and the evil 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.
I don’t know how much the cost of 2000 pigs. But if you are suffering of insecurity and low self esteem. The message of Jesus is clear. He is willing to save you no matter what the cost.
IV – THIS IS WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE IN MY LIFE
Mar 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.
Mar 5:15 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.
THIS IS MY TESTIMONY
• I was former slave of the devil but I am now free
• I was former violent uncontrollable man but I am now a change man
• I was full of loneliness before but I am now a happy man
• I was a former suicidal but Jesus gave me the life purpose
• I was living in a tomb of sinful life before but now live in a clean house with my family
V – THIS IS THE PEOPLE’S HEARTBREAKING RESPONSE
Mar 5:16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man--and told about the pigs as well.
Mar 5:17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
Instinctively people say, "Don't disturb my comfort”
Instinctively people say, "Don't disturb my possessions”
Instinctively people say, "Don't disturb my religion."
We are followers of one who gave up the glory of heaven for the narrowness of earth, who gave up the joy of God for the pain of the Cross. It is human not to want to have our comfort disturbed; it is divine to be willing to be disturbed that others may have more.
The Gerasenes banished the disturbing Christ--and still men seek to do the same.
People may not be possessed of the demons but sadly they are possessed of their self ambitions and love of money. Their own self prevent them to inviting Jesus in to their own lives.
VI – THIS IS HOW THE LORD CHANGE MY HEART
Mar 5:18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
The greatest miracle does not happen only on his physical healing. It was portraits on his change of heart. The man who used to live alone in the darkness of caves and tomb suddenly change his desire and he want to follow the light of Jesus.
VII – THIS IS HOW I FOUND THE NEW MEANING OF MY LIFE
Mar 5:19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
Mar 5:20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
A genuine faith in God always affect his home life.
Act 16:31 They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household.
THE FORMER DEMON POSSESSED MAN HAD COURAGOUSLY TAKEN THE WITNESS STAND!
1. HOW ABOUT YOU?
2. WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY?
3. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THE WITNESS STAND?
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this author at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
