Subject: "Victory Over Demon"
Text: Mark 5:1-20
Introduction: We have talked about Victory Over Danger. We witnessed the power of God calming the raging sea. Today, we will witness God's power calming a raging, demon possessed spirit within a man. Jesus came to bring us victory in every area of life. Luke's gospel reveals the intent of Jesus' earthly ministry.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18, 19
Jesus' ministry came to touch the things that really matter; Inside things, hidden things, tormenting things which disturb our peace and contentment. There is victory for the poor, dealing with the demon of poverty; Victory for the brokenhearted, dealing with the demon of disappointment; Victory for the captives, dealing with the demon of bondage. There is victory for the blind, dealing with the demon of sightlessness. There is victory for the bruised, dealing with the demons of inner hurts and wounds. There is victory over all these demonic forces. Victory begins by believing and receiving the message that this is the acceptable year of the Lord. The whole ministry Jesus dealt with releasing men from satanic bondage, demonic oppression and slavery.
Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy! Satan comes to oppress the mind with defeated thought. Satan goal is to thwart the image of God in man. He realizes that each of us is created in the image and likeness of God and is designed to live lives glorying God. He knows that we have been called to walk worthy of vocation wherewith we are called. So, he will sends satanic attacks to steal your peace, to kill your godly ambitions and finally destroy the unity of the family, the church and the community.
I want you to see 7 signs that Satan is at work in a person’s life, and then I want to show you 3 signs that God is working to free us from that kind of destiny. These 7 signs spell out the word… S.A.T.A.N.I.C. S… SELF-DESTRUCTIVE Actions; A… AUTHORITY Problems; T…Total Hatred of Christ; A… ANGUISH and Restlessness; N…NAKEDNESS and Uncleanness; I… INCLINATION towards death; and C… Cut Off Relationships.
In Gadara, Satan attacked one man in one family in the town and wrecked the whole community. But Satan not only attacked the man, He overcame him and finally possessed him. The family unity was broken, the husband and father was driven into the hill. The community was terrorized, and it looked like the demons had won, but Jesus of Nazareth was to pass that way. The demons of life will not have the last word. Jesus is still in the rescue business. Now the Bible doesn’t tell us how this man became to be demon possessed? I could only find one story in the Bible that dealt with HOW someone came to be demon possessed. He was the first king of Israel. A man named Saul and in his life “Rebellion” opened the door for Saul’s demon possession.
In Mark 5, somewhere in this man’s life, he had made a conscious decision that he wanted to be free. He wanted to be free of God’s influence. He wanted to be free from restrictions and responsibilities of life. He wanted to be free to do what he wanted to do. And now, as a demoniac, he’s become free…No shackle can bind him, no chain can hold him. He’s no longer bound by social standards that tell him how to dress and or how to behave. He has no responsibilities to society - because society no longer wants him. He has become totally free…His total freedom has led to total bondage.
In passing let me say that after you experience a great victory over dangerous storms of life, prepare for another fight. The command is, "having done all to stand, stand therefore." Jesus and the disciples had conquered the storm at sea. Peter had even walked on the water, but as soon as the boat lands at Gadara, they are confronted with a demonized maniac.
Every case will not be easily solved. We must have the guidance of God to help those who are demonized. Without the God guidance, we may do more harm than good. In our lesson, many tried to contain, control or manage him using their own ideas, and strategies. Their efforts left the man in worst condition. They left him physically bound but spiritually tormented. Deep seated problems call for deep solutions. This man is an example of any and every sinner who is hooked up in something and they cannot break themselves free. They really want to be free. This man had neither peace nor contentment. The demoniac is free from restraint… but miserable. Notice he sees Jesus at a distance and he runs to Jesus. I don’t know how he knows that Jesus can heal his life - but he knows. AND HE RUNS TO Jesus. He’s tired of living in bondage so, he runs to Jesus.
He was crying out, always hurting himself trying to deal with the pain and the torture. Demon oppression has many forms, but all forms of oppression have the same purpose that is to mar the image of God and lead men to self destruction. Chemical abuse, sex, body piercing, tattoos and such is an attempt to pervert the image of God. They are signs of men and women crying for help, trying to change who they are. This man seems know that he was created for more than this, He was created to worship God.
This is the plight of every sinner. They can sense that they were created for more. Amid the demonized man reaching out to God, a new level of warfare begins. Many sinners hear the good news and want to believe that Christ is what they need. Their best self reaches for God but their worst self fights to reject him. The demon possession has confused this man about who he really is. Never allow Satan to confuse you about you are and whose you are. Christian cannot be demon possessed but many are demon oppressed. You see, Satan uses oppression to confuse us about who we are and whose we are. If we become confused about our identity, we will be confused about our lifestyles and conduct. Jesus comes on the scene, that “We might have life; Abundant life, and a Full life!” And if you don’t have that kind of life, God wants greater control! He wants to destroy the works of the devil in your life! There are ways to reverse Satan’s curse.” There are ways to gain Victory over Demons…
1. Recognize God’s Power in Jesus Christ - Nobody had to tell these demons who Jesus was. He needed no introduction. They’d met him before and were confidence of His power. The power to deal with Satan isn’t found in a prescription, or from a psychiatrist’s couch… it’s found only in the name of Christ.
Lu 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. You need to recognize the power of God. Next, if you want to break Satan’s grip on your life…
2. Respond to God’s Authority in Jesus Christ - Jesus has authority over Satan and all his demonic forces. To gain victory over demon, you must submit to God’s authority in your life. Listen… before you can HAVE authority, you must be UNDER authority! Let me repeat that… In Luke 7, we read about the Roman Centurion. He sent some messengers to Jesus to ask that a servant he loved be healed. But he didn’t want him to come to his house… He didn’t think he was worthy. Instead he rationalized, “Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed, I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go’ and they go, or ‘Come’, and they come’. Jesus was amazed because he found someone who understood his authority. He knew that the reason Jesus had authority to heal his servant, was because He was under God’s authority. In the same way, you can’t have Christ’s authority in your life over sin, temptation, lust and demons… until you surrender to His authority.
When you make Him the “LORD” of your life, that means that Satan’s not in control anymore… God is! Once you’ve put yourself under God’s authority, Satan HAS to respond to God’s authority in your life! Jesus said “Come Out of the man.” The National Football League is full of huge, powerful player, yet the game is controlled by a referee. The football players have no choice but to recognize and obey that authority, or they’ll be looking for a new job. Jesus has given you and me authority. We have as it were a striped shirt and a whistle! You have His authority over the power of the devil and his demons. And I for one, think it’s high time you used it to blow him off the field! You’re out of the game Satan! Thirdly, if you want victory over demons, RENEW your mind…
3. Renew Your Mind in God’s Word - Mr 5:9 “And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.” When Jesus demanded in vs. 9, what the evil spirit’s name was, He told him… “Legion” because there were so many of them. A legion of soldiers was about 6,000. So, this guy was full of them! The demons begged Jesus to cast them into some nearby pigs. So, Jesus gave them permission, they entered the pigs and the pigs promptly ran off a cliff. By doing that Jesus left no doubt that He was a deliverer and that Satan is a destroyer. And if you surrender your life to Him, He will deliver you too. Renew your mind about who you are and who you belong to, about what Satan is doing and trying to do to you, your family and life and about God’s purpose and what desires for you!
In vs. 15, we get a picture of the kind impact that God has on a person. This man was once a pawn in Satan’s game…now he’s sitting there clothed and in his right mind! Once a wild man, now he’s a model citizen! · Once a naked and without decency… now respectable and honorable. Once crying out in torment, now his thoughts are clear and he’s at peace. Once self-destructive and rebellious… now he’s wanting to know how he can help others.
That’s the amazing transformation that Jesus wants to bring about in your life and my life! He wants us to be in our right mind! He doesn’t want us tormented by our past, tormented by the emotional turmoil, hurting ourselves and others, God wants to bring wholeness into your life. Jesus wants to give you victory over the demons of your life…
He wants your life to be constructive and productive instead of self-destructive.
He wants you to experience the freedom and power of being under His authority and under control.
He wants you to know Jesus, the lover of your soul. The one who loved you so much that He’s already died
for you.
He wants to relieve you of the anguish of sin and shame.
He wants to give you a strong, sound mind and point you in the direction of real, fruitful and productive life.
He wants to restore your broken relationships.
4. Refocus Your Mission and Follow God’s Directions – The liberated man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and share his story with his friends. The demons prayed, “Don’t torment us send us into the swine.” Jesus allowed it. The people said, “Depart from us.” Jesus allowed it. This man said, “Lord, let me go with you.” Jesus said, go home! This man had lived alone, friendless, and isolated! Being really set free, he is clothed, in his right mind and commissioned to his neighborhood. He becomes the Bible's first "sent one." Others were healed and told to keep quiet, but this man is released to go and tell. This man is a living example of the power of God. So, Jesus called him to immediate and effective ministry. If you have experienced the power of God, you too are a living example. Are you like this man, enthusiastic about sharing the good news with those around you? Just as we tell others about a good doctor, or a good car, or a good seamstress, we should tell them about Jesus Christ who still sets free. We can experience victory over demons as we:
1. Recognize God’s Power in Jesus Christ;
2. Respond to God’s Authority in Jesus Christ;
3. Renew Our Mind in God’s Word as revealed in Jesus Christ; and
4. Refocus Our Mission to Follow God’s Directions.
