Summary: A reminder of the dangerous and slippery path of sin....A reminder, that we ming not again be lured into the path of sin, which we left.

(Mark 5:1-20 - “1Then they came to the other side of the

sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when He had

come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the

tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling

among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even

with chains, 4because he had often been bound with

shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart

by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could

anyone tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in

the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting

himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran

and worshipped Him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice

and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the

Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not

torment me.” 8For He said to him, “Come out of the man,

unclean spirit!” 9Then He asked him, “What is your

name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for

we are many.” 10Also he begged Him earnestly that He

would not send them out of the country. 11Now a large

herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12So

all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine,

that we may enter them.” 13And at once Jesus gave them

permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered

the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd

ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and

drowned in the sea. 14So those who fed the swine fled, and

they told it in the city and in the country. And they went

out to see what it was that had happened. 15Then they

came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been

demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed

and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16And those

who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been

demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17Then they began

to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18And when

He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed

begged Him that he might be with Him. 19However, Jesus

did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your

friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done

for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20And

he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that

Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”)

Sin can have some truly terrible effects upon the sinner.

A. Though seldom, if ever, does anyone today

experience the effects of sin in such a terrible way

as this account shows...sin still does produce as

terrifying end results...if we could only see them.

1. We of fleshly eyes cannot see the horrible and

ugly results of the sins that we commit.

a. But whether we see those results, or not...

we need to understand that they are just

as terrible as this scenario.

In the time allotted, today, I wish to go over the effects of

sin on our soul.

A. Perhaps you are astute and fully know thesethings.

1. Then I present them, again to you, as a

review and a warning.

B. There are some, however, who may not

realize the horrors of sin.

1. Only when a person sees the repugnance of

sin will he be prone to shunning sin.

a. Sin is always wrapped up in a desirable

package...it is meant to look appealing...

pleasure is it’s appeal.

1.) Only if we peel away the wrappings

can we see sin in all of its wicked

ugliness.

Let us take a look at sin and its effects so that we might

recognize the ugliness, hurtfulness, and destructiveness of

that which is present to hurt and destroy us.

I. Sin poisons our environment.

(II Peter 2:21-22 - “21For it would have been better for

them not to have known the way of righteousness, than

having known it, to turn from the holy commandment

delivered to them. 22But it has happened to them according

to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and,

“a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”)

A. Each time that we give in to sin, we become

more comfortable with the things that destroy.

1. It’s like snuggling up with a monster who

has dressed up like a white, fuzzy, bunny

rabbit.

(II Cor. 11:13-15 - “13For such are false apostles,

deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of

Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms

himself into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great

thing if his ministers also transform themselves into

ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to

their works.”)

a. In essence, when we sin...that sin

helps to make an environment that

is friendly to more sin.

B. Involuntary demon possession is not present in

this day and age...because of our free will (I

will be happy to discuss this sometime after

services if you don’t understand).

1. Even though “involuntary demon possession”

may be a thing of the past...voluntary

demon possession” is quite real.

a. It comes from entertaining sin and

satan for so long...that you create

an environment that he needs.

b. Just as following the things of God

create an environment in which the

Holy Spirit can live...so, also can we

drive Him from us by creating an

environment that is compatible to

satan.

** The creation of this environment comes from the

practice...the embracing of that which is offensive

to God...SIN.

C. In the story that was cited of the encounter

between Christ and the demon possessed man...

we note that this man lived among the unclean

dead.

1. If this man was righteous he would not have

spent a moment in this place...no more than

a lamb would spend his time in a pig wallow.

a. Sinful practices in our lives allows us

to feel comfortable around ugly and

wicked and vile and disgusting...SIN!

b. A righteous person who would shun

sin, would also shun the environment

of sin (in whatever form it may take).

II. Another effect of sin...and many do not learn this until

it is way too late...is the fact that WE CANNOT EVER

CONTROL SIN!

A. There is no way that we can open the door to sin in

our “everyday life”, without it taking over.

1. satan is not contented to have a partial role to

play in our lives...he wants to take possession

of our hearts.

a. Only in this way can he displace Jesus

Christ...and know this...SATAN WANTS

TO DISPLACE CHRIST IN EVERY-

ONE’S HEART!

B. Back to our text...we would question some

things.

1. Question #1: What sins had this man

started off with?

2. Question #2: How long had he been messing

with sin and how deeply had he gotten into it

before the demons had the environment that

they needed to take over?

** Just a side note here...it is possible, at this time, that

this man had not involved himself with sin...it is at this

time in history that “involuntary possession” was

possible...but for the sake of this discussion andlooking

at today which only embraces VOLUNTARY

possession,...let us assume that this was voluntary and

not involuntary possession.

D. A person’s mind...will...desires...and motives are

all affected when he gives in to the impulse of sin.

1. In essence, then, we are speaking of the

spiritual heart.

a. satan knows it and we had better come to

understand it...this is a struggle for our

hearts!

E. When left to follow its course, sin will only

escalate.

1. There is nothing to stop sinful practices from

growing to major and epidemic proportions.

a. Sin has a very bad habit of “branching

out”.

1.) Sin begets sin...one sin leads to

...or opens the door...to another

kind of sin.

a.) It doesn’t take very long

before a person becomes

consumed...and taken over

by sin.

** This person has actually invited satan in to take

possession of his life...

1. Oh the actual request might not be made, but

the invitation is real, none-the-less.

III. Sin creates a feeling of being dirty...of hating one’s

self...of guilt.

A. No Christian that is in the grip of habitual sin,

can respect himself.

1. We know who we are supposed to be...who’s

child we are.

a. We also know what is expected of us and

what is forbidden.

1.) We know and understand that we

have failed Christ...that we have

done despite to the gift that He

gave His life to provide.

(Heb. 10:29 - “29Of how much worse punishment, do you

suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the

Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant

by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted

the Spirit of grace?”)

2.) We know that...even though we

may have thought of ourselves as

a child of God, at one time, we are

more of a child of the devil, now.

B. Guilt and depression and a despising of one’s self

start to set in.

1. We feel that we are no longer worthy of what

Christ has done for us and we might as well

remain in the muck and mire that we have

been immersed in.

a. The truth be known...WE WERE

NEVER WORTHY OF WHAT CHRIST

HAS DONE FOR US!

** satan loves it when he can get a person to this stage.

1. Unless this person receives some strong

Christian counseling...he stands in a very real

danger of forever being lost to the grip of satan.

D. Let us return to the original account of the demon

possessed man, for a moment:

1. Why was this man crying out and cutting

himself with stones?

a. I propose that there was enough of his

sense left to him to know what a horrible

thing had happened to him.

1.) It was horrible...whether it was

voluntary or involuntary.

b. Part of it was the possession, but part of

it could also be the loathing of self and

what self had become.

E. Let us understand satan a little bit...he works with..

he uses........feelings of low self-esteem!

1. While he has a sinner in his grasp, he goads

him...he reminds him of how low he has

fallen...how much of a failure he is...how, not

even God could love him again.

a. satan is not called “the accuser” for no

good reason.

2. If we would just think about it for a moment,

we could see the power in all of this.

a. When do we feel the best about

ourselves?

1.) When we have caved in to

temptations and have sinned

against God?

2.) OR.....When we have overcome

and resisted that temptation?

CONCLUSION:

Sinful practices draw us away from God and delude us into

thinking that we can never return.

A. There is no way that we can feel comfortable in

both camps.

ILLUSTRATION: Do little boys snuggle up closely to

their dads and smoke a cigarette?

Not unless they are insane...no...they

hide...they get as far away from their

fathers as they can.

We must remember this...God has not drawn away from

us...we have drawn away from him in our sins.

A. With this in mind, however, we must also

remember the story of the “prodigal son”.

(Luke 17:11-32 - 11Then He said: “A certain man had

two sons. 12“And the younger of them said to his father,

‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So

he divided to them his livelihood. 13“And not many days

after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a

far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal

living. 14“But when he had spent all, there arose a severe

famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15“Then

he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and

he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16“And he would

gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine

ate, and no one gave him anything. 17“But when he came

to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired

servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with

hunger! 18‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to

him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,

19“and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make

me like one of your hired servants.” ’ 20“And he arose and

came to his father. But when he was still a great way off,

his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on

his neck and kissed him. 21“And the son said to him,

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and

am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the

father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put

it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his

feet. 23‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us

eat and be merry; 24‘for this my son was dead and is alive

again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be

merry. 25“Now his older son was in the field. And as he

came and drew near to the house, he heard music and

dancing. 26“So he called one of the servants and asked

what these things meant. 27“And he said to him, ‘Your

brother has come, and because he has received him safe

and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28“But he

was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came

out and pleaded with him. 29“So he answered and said to

his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I

never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet

you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry

with my friends. 30‘But as soon as this son of yours came,

who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed

the fatted calf for him.’ 31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you

are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32‘It was

right that we should make merry and be glad, for your

brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is

found.’ ”)

1. Even though he had left the father and

immersed himself in sin...THE FATHER

STILL CARED FOR HIM AND

AWAITED THE SINFUL WANDERER’S

RETURN!

None of us wants to identify with this demon possessed

man, but we are identified with the ugliness of this man

if we allow sinful practices to become a part of our lives.

A. We see that we have drawn away from God and

Christ and have embraced satan and all of his

demons.

1. In all of this, however, there is hope.

a. Contrary to what satan wants you to

believe...God wants you back.

1. God is...and has always been...

waiting for any and all sinners to

either come to Him or to return to

Him.

If you have seen yourself reflected in this message, will you

not take this opportunity to get everything straightened out?

A. Come, while the Father is waiting.

B. Come, while the devil says don’t.

C. Come, in a moment of urging.

D. Come, before it’s too late...