10 Amazing Miracles from Scripture (2 of 10)
“The man who was demon possessed was made well”
Luke 8.26-37
October 11, 2015 CFBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A Luke 8:26-37 (NASB) 26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.27 And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.
28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me."29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.
30 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. 31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
32 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. 33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. 35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.
37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.
B There was a flock of pelicans that use to feed outside a fishing company that threw their fish scraps back into the ocean (Pelican Buffet), until the company found a market for the scraps.
1 The pelicans started starving to death because they had forgotten how to fish. (Millions of fish just a few inches under the surface.)
a Sadly, there is a spiritual parallel to this, and it’s just as puzzling. It’s when a child of God forgets who they are and how they are to access the profound blessings teeming just below the surface of their everyday life.
b We suffer from spiritual amnesia when we allow our doubts and fears to rob us of the joy and fruitfulness that would naturally be ours.
c Believe what God says about you and you will thrive.
aa You are His beloved child, fully accepted, and profoundly valued.
bb You have been given great and eternal purposes to fulfill.
cc Those who forget who they are in Christ waste away, and many times wind up in bondage like the man in our text this morning.
2 I want to give you three tips that every child of God needs to know in order not only to be made well, but to stay well.
I What You Can’t See Can Cripple You.
A Last week, we learned about Jesus setting His sights from Capernaum to the other side of lake to the country of the Gerasenes. (These were Gentiles, not followers of YHWY, which explains the presence of the swine, unclean animals.)
1 This land had once belonged to the Hebrews but was conquered by the Syrians, later invaded by the Romans.
a The Synagogues had been replaced with pagan temples, Shabot with Swine.
b The reason there were hogs in Gerasene was that the people were pagan, gentile people.
aa To a practicing Jew, a hog is about as kosher as a beer keg at a Baptist picnic.
bb These were people who had been under demonic influence, attack for a very long time.
2 The unseen, supernatural, spiritual world was capable of breaking into the seen, natural physical world: the demon possessed is proof positive that what you can’t see can cripple you.
a He was living w/o dignity (naked), friends (isolation), and homeless (in a cemetery).
aa The towns people had tried chaining him up so as not to let him harm himself/others.
bb No doctor, pagan priest, counselor/therapist had been able to help the man.
b Jesus, the Son of God, who had existed in the unseen, supernatural, spiritual world broke into the seen, natural physical world to bring healing.
aa He knew the spiritual battle this man was fighting, he was the reason Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat to begin with.
bb The “prince of the power of the air” tried to stop Jesus from coming to Gerasene because he knew what Jesus was coming for. . . to set this poor soul free!
c I think as soon as word got that Jesus made it through the devastating storm on Lake Galilee, the demonic forces of hell were dispatched to Gerasene.
aa Reinforcements were sent in to lend a hand to the demons who were already living in the poor soul living in the cemetery.
bb The demons were there to wreak havoc & bad in the physical world . . . Jesus was there to bring deliverance and good in the physical, seen world.
B By the time Jesus had got to the shore, there were thousands of demons on the scene to stop Jesus’ ministry.
1 Not one was seen by the physical eye, visible . . . but their power/grip are obvious.
a Church, I’m not the kind of guy that says there is a demon under rock. I’m the kind of guy that thinks there are 3/4 demons under each rock.
b Their entire goal is to keep us in chains of sin, pride, arrogance, addiction, bondage, religion, hate, loneliness, depression, sexual temptation, defeat.
aa The demons are older than the world but their mission has never been changed: stop humankind from being in right fellowship with God.
bb If one demon isn’t keeping you in bondage then the Devil will spend more to attack you.
2 I am talking to the Church, Blood Bought Christians . . . the devil hates you and you are always on his hit list as a target.
a I’m saved, preacher. The devil can’t get me!
aa He can’t get your soul, but what parts of your life that are not under the Lordship of Jesus are targets.
bb If you don’t believe the devil is the roaring lion seeking to sink his teeth into your marriage, relationships, church, mind, faith . . . you’re fooling yourself.
b What you can’t see can cripple you.
II The forces of hell cannot win against the Kingdom of God.
A When the demon in charge of the hellish horde saw Jesus, he cried out and fell before Jesus (Praying. You may not believe in the power of prayer but demons do).
1 “What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”
a Jesus was steady commanding demons to leave the man, but apparently it was one heck of a battle.
b “For He had been commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard; and yet he would burst his fetters and be driven by the demon into the desert.” (8.29).
2 The demons knew they had to obey the Word of the Lord, not optional to disobey.
a Jesus asked, “What is your name?” The lead demon said, “Legion.” *A Roman Legion could have up to 6,000 standing soldiers, armed to the teeth. One was speaking for thousands.”
b I feel sorry for those who believe that one-time dealing with our demons is enough. (Sometimes there’s more than one demon that needs to be dealt with.)
B The Devil hates you, he’s real, he’s not here to play . . . he’s here to fight.
1 The all the forces of hell, demons in the devil’s army cannot stand against your Savior.
a They know that their fate is sealed, punishment that awaits them in eternity.
b They also know that the Authority given to you by Jesus/ Spirit living in you has power over them.
aa If we truly believed in the power of God to overcome the way that demons do, I guarantee you we’d live in more victory, joy, peace.
bb The demons begged Jesus, “Don’t torment us, Don’t send us away yet.” (Rev. 12.12)
cc They know their time is limited.
2 His Word promises us . . .
a Deuteronomy 28:7 (NASB) 7 "The LORD shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways.
aa James 4:7-8 (NASB) 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
bb 1 John 5:4-5 (NASB) 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
cc 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NASB) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
b The demon’s of hell are powerless against a believer who truly, faithfully trusts in the promises of God, fully committed to the Kingdom of God.
TS: They don’t care if you don’t believe that there are demonic forces out to cripple you . . . just as long as you don’t claim the promises of God that sets them fleeing from your life.
III When Jesus put the demons in their place, the man found his place with Jesus.
A Moses recorded, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen.1.1).
1 Angels preexisted Adam/Eve, and witnessed God speak creation into existence (cf. Job 38.4-7) & they shouted for joy!
a Gen.1.1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
aa “created” (hb. baw-raw’) means it was formed in a perfected condition.
bb In Gen. 1.2, “the earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.”
cc What event/cataclysmic happening went down between v.1 & v.2?
dd Some biblical students propose that this is when (between vs. 1 & vs. 2) Satan and his angels were cast from heaven, causing the pristine, perfect earth to be put in chaos.
b Gen. 1.2, “deep” refers to subterranean chambers under the earth where the waters were stored.
aa The Scriptures tell us that when Satan was expelled from heaven, he struck the planet like lightning (Luke 10.18), and some suggest this is the moment God created hell in the heart of the earth.
bb Hell was originally created for humans, but the devil and his rebellious angels (Matt. 25.41) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
c How we get the creation of Hell/Abyss is a mystery, but let’s ponder a moment.
aa There are scientists who believe the earth was at one time a ball of fire that eventually cooled (with water) and formed the planet we know live on.
bb Some biblical students believe that when Satan hit earth, she caught afire and the water in chamber after chamber in the center of earth was what cooled the earth.
cc Non-believing scientists believe in a “slow-evolving planet theory” that took place over a very long period of time.
2 What if there were millions/billions of years between Genesis 1.1 and 1.2? (Does it change your theology? View of Scripture?)
a The original creation (Gen. 1.1) may have taken place millions/billion of years ago in the past, but from Gen. 3.3 on (God creating the light, plants, and man was slightly more than six thousand years ago according to traditional theology.)
b Science & Scripture agree that there are different levels under the earth, and the center of the earth is fire.
c The Bible uses five different words to identify the area in the underworld: Sheol (OT), Hades, Gehenna, Tartaroo and Abyss: We will focus on only one, ABYSS.
B The Chief evil spirit in charge of the other demons who had possessed this man “. . . were entreating (read begging, pleading) Jesus not to command them to depart into the abyss (Lk. 8.31).
1 Abyss is used 9 times in the NT and is translated in Revelation as “bottomless pit” (cf. Rev. 9.1-2, 11; 11.7; 17.8; 20.1,3).
a The Abyss is a very deep, unfathomable, deep bottomless cavity that cannot be measured, place of confinement under the earth.
aa It is a place that is known by demons do not want to be sent one nanosecond before their destined time for it is a place of imprisonment and punishment.
bb If they are in the abyss they can’t wreak havoc on the earth, humankind, . . . they are ejected from the game.
b Demons tremble in fear at the name of Jesus (James 2:19 (KJV)19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.), when demanded to leave in Jesus’ name they must go . . .I’m not saying they don’t come back.
aa When you send them to the Abyss by the mighty name of Jesus, get ready, they’re gonna come back and bring more.
bb That’s why the “demanding” of demons to flee is only one part of the equation. . . what they occupied before better be spirit-filled when they come back.
cc Marriage, “Lord, fill my marriage with your Spirit.”; Thoughts, “Lord, fill my mind with things of your kingdom.” (Addiction, fear, depression, etc.,)
2 When our demon possessed get’s delivered he’s no longer hanging out in the cemetery, hurting himself/others, lonely.
a v.35, “And the people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.”
aa He’s no longer fighting the demons in his life, he had found victory.
bb In fact, the man wants to be a disciple but Jesus said, “no.” Stay and be my witness here in Gerasene. (V.38-39).
b When you claim your victory by faith . . . don’t go back to cemetery, defeat, fear, worry.
aa Sit at the master’s feet and desire to follow Him, do what He says.
bb People will think your crazy, maybe even be frightened of you . . . you belong to a Kingdom that is not of this world, so by definition your King and His Kingdom will appear scandalous to this world.
cc Let them think, say what they want . . . I’m not going back to the graveyard, putting my chains back on, being isolated, despair . . .I’m His and He is mine!
Conclusion:
A Review
1 What you cannot see can cripple you.
2 The forces of Hell cannot overcome the Kingdom of God.
3 When Jesus put the demons in their place, the man found his place with Jesus.
B Spike's Tactical of Apopka, is marketing an assault rifle it claims was "designed to never be used by Muslim terrorists." Founded in 2001 by Mike and Angela Register, Spike's Tactical is a family-owned business, and with more than 40 employees they manufacture the components for enthusiasts to build about 10,000 custom rifles a year.
1 The company made the news recently when they began to offer their new "never used by Muslim terrorists” assault rifle. That promise is based on what is etched on the sides of the rifle. On the one side is a Knights Templar Cross, a symbol that was used by Christians during the Crusades.
a On the other side, there is the biblical inscription, "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." Dubbed the Crusader's rifle, the safety has three settings: Peace, War and God Wills It.
b Ben Thomas, Spike Tactical’s spokesman and former Navy SEAL, said he believes no devout Muslim would dare touch such a weapon. He added, “I'd like to have a gun that if a Muslim terrorist picked it up a bolt of lightning would hit and knock him dead."
2 God has equipped every believer with a weapon far more effective than any assault weapon—the word of God! Equipped with the Gospel, we need not fear.
a For it has the power to eliminate our enemies, every demonic force that hell unleashes upon us.
b “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
If you're looking for a crusade, that's the one to join!
3 Invitation
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