Title: Revision 2024 in the Ministry of Christ Script: Mark 5:1ff
Type: Expository Where: GNBC 1-14-24
Intro: Is there anything in life wish you could do over? Decision could make? The man in today’s message undoubtedly made several choices that led him down a road to misery. World tells you no going back. Let’s see if that’s true. Last week I outlined 4 “re” words that I believe should characterize the ministry of GNBC for 2024. Those words were: Redeem, Restore, Recruit, Release. Those are four important concepts for ministry. Today we are going to look at one of the best-known encounters Christ had with an individual in His ministry. I believe this encounter illustrates the four ministry focal points that we would have for our church in this year.
Prop: In Mk5 we see Xst’s encounter w/a demoniac illustrate our 4 ministry principles for 2024.
BG: 1. 3 Synoptics Mt 8 & Lk 8. Apparently, there is another man who is a lesser character who also appears in the story. Demoniac who never dreamed have ability to start over life.
2. Gadara, Gergesa – Region that was tribe of Gad. Stayed east of the Jordan.
3. Christ has just concluded parabolic ministry in Galilee. The calming of the storm on Sea of Galilee has taken place, now landing on the eastern shore of Galilee, into the region of Gerasenes.
Prop: Exam Mk 5 we’ll see Xst’s encounter w/the demoniac illustrates our 4 ministry principles.
I. Christ’s Encounter w/the Demoniac Demonstrates Principle: Redeem vv.1-8
A. Let’s Examine the Demoniac.
1. This man was a terrifying figure.
a. We just read how terrifying of an individual this man was. He had the appearance of a wild animal. He was scarred and bleeding. He possessed supernatural strength. He was violent and aggressive. Illust: We hear a lot of philosophical blowhards bovinating about how much better the world would be without God and His Church. Let me show you what depths this man’s separation from God had taken him to: He had lost his friends and family. He had lost dignity -naked. Lost all help and hope. He was marginalized, alienated, dehumanized, demonized. He was alienated from God, self, and others. He was alienated from the very God in whose image he had been created. (Rusty Woomer and Bob McAlister -Prison Fellowship/ Gov. Campbell chief of staff. Broad River Road death row. Wild man. Murderer. Filth and porn. Dead eyes.)
b. Can I tell you friends, this man loathed himself. He loathed himself so much that was involved in self-harm and self-mutilation. Self-harm and self-mutilation is demonic in orientation. It is not from God and is in fact the result of not being in a right relationship with God and not understanding your identity in God. Illust: Our society is moving further and further from God. Is it any wonder that 1:5 US Teens are involved in self harm? (University Hospitals blog 11-16-20). We tell children there is no God. We tell them they are animals…the biproduct of time and chance. We tell them there is no set standard of morality or truth. We tell them they know best. Then we have professionals hack off their body parts and prescribe them hormones or blockers to finish the job of the destruction of their God given design. (John 10:10 makes this very clear! And may I say that it is dressed up demonic oppression to tell a 6 or 16 yrs old he/she is not what God created and cut and mutilate and be dependent upon drugs?
2. This man is the epitome of the example of all who are alienated from Christ.
a. When men and women turn their backs on God they take on their rebellion in the flesh. Separated man no more looks for God today that when Adam and Eve fell in the garden. In fact, like Adam of old, we hide from God. This demoniac was hiding about as far away from God as one could get. But he hadn’t counted on the fact that Christ was looking for him.
b. Illust: Alistair Begg tells the story of arriving at church the beginning of a new school year. The church has a Christian school. There were all of these precious early elementary children with parents. All neatly scrubbed and brushed. In their school uniforms. Looking absolutely angelic. And yet, Begg overheard nervous young parents instructing their children: “Make sure to obey the teacher.” “Make sure to be respectful.” “Don’t lie.” “Don’t cheat.” “Make sure to share.” “Don’t hit anyone.” Why do we say those things? Because sin comes naturally! Don’t have to learn how to sin. Have to learn self control.
B. Let’s Examine Christ’s Encounter with the Demoniac.
1. Christ came for this man.
a. What did the disciples see when they saw the Gadarene? What would you and I have seen? The disciples saw a terrifying figure. They saw a demoniac. They saw a raving lunatic. They saw someone to steer clear of. Illust: What do we often see on the streets of Iowa City here in our neighborhood? We see alcoholics. We see drug addicts. We see homeless. We see a bother a danger a trouble an inconvenience an oddity.
b. What did Jesus see when He saw the Gadarene? Jesus saw “a man”! Jesus was able to look beyond the effects of sin to see someone that He loved, that He had created in His own image, that He desired to have a relationship with. Christ didn’t see the man thru the lens of the man’s troubles faults or failure. He saw Him thru the lens of love and the possibility of what he could become in Christ. (That is the way you and I must see people!)
2. This man perfectly demonstrates important spiritual truths that we must realize today.
a. Col. 1:21 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” This man was alienated from God. In his mind he was an enemy of God – v.7 (He was afraid of Christ.) he was participating in evil behavior because of his alienation. The demoniac was hanging out in the graveyard because that’s where death feels most at home.
b. Eph. 2:1 – “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Friend, may I tell you there are no degrees of deadness. Ilust: When the M.E. signs off on a death certificate, he/she doesn’t say: “This one was 35% more dead than the last person I declared to be dead.” Our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers, our family members need Christ! They need redemption.
C. Applic: There is no redemption outside of personally meeting and trusting in Christ. And there is no degree of degradation that can keep someone from Christ.
II. Christ’s Encounter w/the Demoniac Demonstrates Principle: Restore vv. 9-15
A. Christ’s Interaction Ended with this man Being restored.
1. Christ Identifies those Troubling this Man’s Soul.
a. V.9 – “What is your name?” “My name is Legion, for we are many.” Illust: At the time of Caesar Augustus a Roman legion consisted of about 6k soldiers and officers and about 700 horsemen. Now, I don’t think this man was possessed by 6700 demons, however, he was obviously possessed by many that were working in conjunction to subjugate this man to sin and suffering.
b. Now this is an interesting exchange. The demons were not allowing this man to state his actual name. In fact, I think that it was an attempt to scare Jesus and the disciples. To the superstitious onlooker, it would have appeared as though the demons had the advantage since they knew Christ’s name and yet they were not allowing this man to give his real name. There is a superstition in parts of the church today that an exorcist needs to find the name and rank of each demon in order to then cast them out. No!
2. Christ Evicts those Troubling this Man’s Soul.
a. Illust: Iowa City is a town with a lot of rental property. I know there can be bad landlords, but there can also be bad tenants. What a landlord’s legal resort when a tenant trashes the property, refuses to pay rent, obey the rules? When intention is to make a mess and cause mayhem & mischief? Eviction notice! You are out!
b. Christ gives the eviction notice to the demons tormenting this troubled soul. For far to long the demons had been squatters in the soul and psyche of this man. For years they had made a mess of his life, having a free hand to cause mayhem and mischief. V.13 – Christ sends them into a herd of swine.
c. Why send into the pigs? I don’t know and don’t know a great explanation. Illust: J. Vernon McGee felt it was to rebuke the region of Gad. Shows how far had fallen by time of Christ. Not honoring dietary law of God and now in the pig business.
B. What is the Result of Christ’s Encounter with this Formerly Demon-Possessed Man?
1. There is an immediate change when this man comes to Christ.
a. Notice the transformation that takes place between v.3 and v. 15 – The Gadarene is a traumatized, terrifying, tortured tomb dweller. In v.15 he is calm, clothed, clean, and clear minded! Who or what was the agent of change? Jesus Christ! Jesus saves and Jesus restores.
b. Illust: I want to tell you that Christ is still changing people today. There’s a young man in our congregation today that is unrecognizable from who he was a few years ago. I have asked his permission to briefly share his story as an illustration. He was raised in a Christ loving home. He went to Christian school. But over time wrong crowd and wrong choices ruined his life. Addictions separated him from the Savior, the Church, and family and friends. He was firmly in the grip and grasp of the devil. His thinking became confused.
At a cabin in TN with “friends” who were all doing drugs. Had overwhelming feeling he was going to die. Scared. Terrified. On the window sill of his room there was a Bible! Locked self in room for next several hours pored over the WOG! And the WOG began to wash him! And there in that locked room in a cabin in TN Austin Tomash found freedom in Christ! He didn’t go there that weekend looking for Christ, but Praise God, Christ was looking for him!
2. This formerly demon possessed man has his life restored to him again!
a. Often the biblical meaning of the word “restoration” is to receive back more than has been lost to the point where the final state is greater than the original condition. The main point is that someone or something is improved beyond measure. Unlike the regular dictionary meaning of “restoration”, which is to return something back to its original condition, the biblical definition of the word has greater connotations that go above and beyond the typical everyday usage.
b. Illust: There are people who are sitting in our churches each week who are hooked into a sin or a circumstance, and although they pull hard to try and break free, they only tighten the chains themselves into the situation. Many times we want to help people out of a circumstance without identifying the spiritual root of the problem. But if the spiritual is the cause, the spiritual must be the cure. A snare is always rooted in a spiritual cause because the root of any snare is Satan, our flesh or both.
C. Applic: v.15 – Read – What is the response of the residents of the community? Frightened! Why? Jesus is more powerful than the man who had been terrorizing them. Shows us there’s always various responses people can have to the power of Christ. The demon possessed man surrenders to Christ and is restored entirely. The community rejects Christ out of fear and remain enslaved. May you are listening today. Afraid to give life to Christ…you will remain enslaved.
III. Christ’s Encounter w/the Demoniac Demonstrates Principle: Recruit v. 18
A. Notice the Amazing Change in this Man’s Orientation to Christ.
1. This man’s orientation towards Christ had changed from v.7 “do not torment me!” to v.18 “Please take me with you!” Now friends, that’s a change!
2. You want to know what evidence of true conversion is? It’s not baptism. It’s not communion. It’s not tithing or church membership. It’s not having 100% correct doctrine. (All of these things are important!) It is a desire to be with Jesus! The man who had been set free by Jesus just wanted to be with Jesus. This man didn’t want only what Jesus could do for him. The true change in his heart was shown by his desire to be with Jesus. Do you want Jesus for what He can do for you or do you want Jesus for Jesus’ sake.
B. This Man Demonstrates that When Someone Truly Comes to Christ, He/She Will Want to Serve Christ!
1. The former demoniac named Legion instanly goes AWOL! He instantly goes from being a conscripted shock troop in the devil’s outfit to being a volunteer chaplain in Christ’s army! Look at this man! “Please let me join you, Jesus!” I want to come along! I want to help!
2. Often the church wastes too much time and effort in attempting to get people to serve.
a. Illust: Poor Pastor Richard trying to recruit teachers. Years ago trying to recruit teachers for a SCL class. Hadn’t been able to get response from a man asked. Saw wife at church. He asked her to relay message. Wife was angry: “Why do you know how busy my husband is?” (REW is much more kind than me. I would have responded: “No, has he told God?” Christian we need to rethink serving the Church. Serving the Church is serving Christ. Not a chore but an honor to teach WOG. Discipleship. Awana. OWLS. Serving. Making meals.
b. So one of the clearest indications that a person has believed the gospel of Jesus is that his selfish desire to be served begins to be overcome by a Christlike desire to serve. He starts looking for ways to do something for Christ’s church, especially in ways that will serve the gospel.
C. Applic: The Gospel of Grace is utterly astonishing! It turns sinners into servants!
IV. Christ’s Encounter w/the Demoniac Demonstrates Principle: Release vv.19-20
A. In Order to Be Released for Ministry One Must Know His/Her Calling for Ministry.
1. How does Jesus respond to this Fresh Convert’s Desire to Serve Him?
a. Christ directs the former demoniac to a specific ministry. This restored man was thought that his calling upon conversion was to become the 13th disciple! Why? That’s all he knew that’s all he had seen. Yet Jesus wanted to direct him to an even more appropriate and personalized ministry.
b. After being recruited to Christ’s Kingdom, we need to have assurance of our calling to a place of service in Christ’s Kingdom. Men of old used to call this the “internal call”, which is the inward, subjective desire on the part of the individual to serve the church and the personal sense that God has, in fact, chosen him/her for that task (1 Tim. 3:1). Yet we need not limit the internal call only to pastor/missionary. The Lord has not given the vocation of pastor to every Christian, but He has called all of us to serve others, and He gifts us differently so that each of us is equipped for a specific service. God has given each of us gifts that make us particularly well-suited for specific tasks, and we are responsible to discern these things so that we can find our way into the vocation that will best allow us to serve others with our talents. You can serve Christ in IT, 1st Responder, Business, Teaching, factory, farming, military, medicine, daycare, but you must be intentional and not passive about it!
2. Christ gave the Gadarene Evangelist a specific calling of ministry.
a. V.19 – Go to your family! Go to your hometown. I know 1st hand that family and hometown can be very difficult spiritual ground to plow! They know you. They know your past. They know your failures. They know your faults! But praise God they can also most clearly see the change that takes place in your life when the devil goes out and the Savior comes in! Illust: There’s a hilarious seen in the old John Wayne film, “The Quiet Man”. The wedding has taken place and the brother of the bride (Will Danaher) is proposing a toast. “Today I’ve given my sister, my only sister in marriage. But now she is gone from my house. And what is a house without a woman. Why, where would any man of us be without a woman. Looks at the parish priest and declares: “Why even Father Lanergan had a mother!” “Annoyed priest responds: “What do ya expect!?” Did you ever think that just maybe this man’s mother was still alive and when he walked thru the doors of his parent’s home calm, clothed, clean, and clear minded, the tears of joy fell like a fountain! “How, my son?!” There’s no need for a course in apologetics when your friends and family see the change that has transpired in your life that no one and nothing but the Savior could complete!
b. What was the response of this ministry: v.20 – He began to go throughout the 10 Cities of Decapolis proclaiming “What great things Jesus had done for him.” Friend, that’s your testimony. Not how vile of a sinner you once were. Not how you came to a reasoned response to Christ. Rather, it should always point people to our great Savior Who has done great things for us!
B. What do we apply from the Gadarene Evangelist’ Release into Ministry?
1. We all have a unique sphere of influence that Christ wants us to invade with the Gospel.
2. Christ has a Special Purpose and Ministry for Each One of His Followers. Illust: I have a friend, that many of you know. Pastor Thony Paul of Plain du Nord, Haiti. Thony is now an old man. But 60 yrs ago, he was in his own words an illiterate, skinny, dirty, fearful boy living way up in the mountains of Haiti. No future and no hope. Enslaved to Voodoo. One day an American evangelist was preaching at a little mission station in the mountains. He heard the good news but to afraid to enter the grass hut church.
C. Applic: The main point of the passage, then, is that Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, has absolute authority over all the spirit world, over Satan, over demons, and over those whom they control. Christ can redeem, restore, recruit, and release for ministry ANYONE who comes to Him! Life can change. Turn to Christ.
