“The Chain Breaker”
Mark 5:1-20
So as we come into this chapter we follow a powerful miracle that has just taken place. The disciples and Jesus were traveling to the opposite side of the lake when a large storm came up. The waves were so strong that a large amount of water had entered their boat and the disciples were afraid for their lives. And Jesus was sound asleep. Mark tells us he was sleeping on a cushion in the boat. Apparently he was a very sound sleeper. So they wake him up and Jesus stood up and rebuked the when and told the seed to be still. And that is exactly what happened.
The response of the disciples was this: they were terrified and they said who is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? They had witnessed Jesus healing those who were physically sick but now they see that even the wind and the water serve at his pleasure. Again, note their response. They were terrified. So now they have made it to the other side of the lake to an area that is just east of the Sea of Galilee. The very moment that they climb out of the boat they encounter a man with an unclean spirit.
Mark and Matthew help us paint a vivid picture of this individual. They step out of the boat and they are near a place that contains many tombs/burial spots and also has many caves. This man who approaches them has apparently been suffering; he has been in this condition for a long time. And numerous people have tried to help that were not successful. And the only thing they know to do is to restrain him. So they found him with shackles and chains in hopes of keeping people safe when they came through this area. But unfortunately he was so strong that he was able to break the shackles and break the chains apart. So no one was able to subdue him. Day and night people could hear him crying out and cutting himself with stones. And for what are obvious reasons this man was no longer able to live with his family so he had taken up residence in the cemetery. Which would not be the choice most of us would make for housing.
Matthew tells us the man was violent and that no one could pass down this road and remain safe. Yet here is Jesus along with his disciples. Mark also tells us this man would cut himself with stones. Now while that probably sounds strange to many of us, it was a practice among some people and has resurfaced in recent years, mostly among young people. It is simply called cutting. And young people will take a sharp objects such as a razor blade and cut their own skin. Several years ago I was making an attempt to help a teenager who was doing this very thing. She had cuts up and down both arms and also on her legs. Dozens of them. And I thought life is painful enough at times; why would anyone want to inflict even more pain on themselves? So I ask the obvious question. What causes you to do this to yourself? Her answer was simple. The pain I caused myself distracts me from the greater pain I feel inside. That made my heart very heavy for her.
This man approaches Jesus and he likely had scars all over his body from years of cutting and when the man sees Jesus he falls on his knees to worship him. The Bible tells us that at the name of Jesus every need should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord and that is exactly what he was doing. This was an acknowledgment that someone greater than him was in his presence and the demon knew that it must relinquish its hold on the man because now they were in the presence of God himself. And now the real struggle begins. This was nothing new and this is what I mean. If we go back to the beginning of time as we know it, God had created spiritual beings who resided with him in heaven. Just as God gives man free will and the ability to make choices, these angels had that choice as well. They became jealous of God’s power and they chose to fight against him.
The OT teaches us that Lucifer who was one of these, spoke and said “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God and I will sit on the amount of assembly; I will make myself like the most high.” Isaiah 14:13-14. Then in the NT book of Revelation we learn that Satan/Lucifer fell and took one third of the Angels with him. And so these angels, we now refer to as demons continued to serve Lucifer. And their influence is still at work today.
At the beginning of the book, The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis says that we can make serious errors in judgment in two ways when we speak of the devil. (1) We can fail to take account of him. Just believe he doesn’t exist and cannot have any influence on us today. OR (2) we can give him too much attention. In many ways it is the second way of thinking that can create many difficulties for us today. Demonic influences are everywhere and so we are wise to stay away from them. Because they can even be found in places we would not normally consider. Unfortunately many believers are drawn into some of these areas. Before I go over some of the more obvious areas let me mention one that may not be obvious.
While serving a church almost 30 years ago in Kansas as an associate pastor I did a fair amount of counseling in the church-being in a larger church with multiple staff I had more time to do so. And I was meeting with three different people who seemed to be under extreme attack by Satan himself. Without putting any medical labels on what they were going through, since I’m not qualified to do so, one of the things that was occurring is that they were hearing voices speaking to them telling them to do things that were inappropriate. These were not just thoughts they were having-these were voices speaking to them out loud. I listened to these individuals, I prayed with them and all three of them claimed to have a relationship with Christ and I believed them. I have no reason to think otherwise.
But as I listened I learned something all of them shared in common. All of them were spending an inordinate amount of time reading books dealing with the occult. The demonic. Now listen…..these were books written by Christian writers, probably written for the purpose of showing God’s power to overcome these areas. But their interest grew in this area to the point that this was almost all they were reading. And they exposed themselves to these demonic influences talked about in these Christian books. So I caution you if your reading schedule includes books of this nature-I strongly urge you to stay away from this type of material. Satan uses all kinds of lures and designs all kinds of traps to capture the hearts of God’s people. Parents, watch carefully what video games your children are playing. Monitor their TV programs they see, reading material all the way down to the comic books they read. Comic books are not what they were when I was a kid. Spiderman and Superman have been replaced by dragons and witches.
Three questions you should ask concerning any reading material, video game or movie, before you allow your children to engage in this area…..
1. When I look at it does it have an appearance of good or appearance of evil?
2. Does it contain more violence or sexual themes than my child can process at their age?
3. Is it possible this material could open the door to direct demonic influence?
Deuteronomy 18:9-14. Consider these areas and if you are involved, get out... Today. You may or may not be aware that these areas can/will open you to the influence of the demonic.
• Pornography, especially graphic pornography
• Ouija boards
• you pick up the newspaper daily and check your astrological sign
• consulting a medium. A fortuneteller.
• Hey for laughs let’s go see a palm reader. Palm reading.
• Talking or praying to the dead
• let me warn you also that alcohol and drug abuse are avenues that Satan will used to control your life
So this is what you must do if you are involved in these areas. (1) If you’re not a believer then you are not equipped to do spiritual battle. No need to attempt it. You must first receive Jesus Christ. "To as many as received him they will be called sons of God.”
(2) If you are a believer but you are involved in some sinful pattern of behavior, no one would dream that you are; it’s private, then you must confess your sin. “If we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive them and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(3) Refuse to follow/obey the works of Satan.
(4) Destroy any object you may have that belongs to the occult. A book on astrology. A Ouija board. Pornography. Destroy that stuff.
(5) Break-off friendships with anyone involved in the occult. Pray for them. But don’t hang out with them.
If you are going to learn to resist the devil you need ammo. And this is where you will find it. In God’s word.
James 4:7-10. Not going there anymore. Draw near to God. Cleanse your hands. Learn to fill your mind with good things. Fast from media if necessary. Don’t rent a movie. Don’t do any social networking. Block some time in and read God’s Word. Start a memory program. Review. Review. Put Scriptures on 3 x 5 cards and keep them by your bedside. Get connected with a group. You are not called to do this alone. Once you have reached the age of accountability Satan will be fighting for your soul. So will Jesus. This fight continues after you become a believer. You must refuse to allow Satan to win this battle.
