SURPRISING ANSWERS TO PRAYER
"And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, Go home to your to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you." Mark 5:19-20
Every Christian’s prayers are answered. Sometimes the answer is "Yes"; sometimes "No"; and at other times "Later". Often we become frustrated if the answer we get is not the answer we had hoped for.
I. CONSIDER THE MAN POSSESSED BY DEMONIC POWERS.
"…there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit…and no man could bind him, not even with chains…neither could anyone tame him…and always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones." (Mark 5:1-5)
II. CONSIDER THE DEMONS THAT POSSESSED THE MAN.
"For He said unto him, ’Come out of the man, unclean spirit!’ Then He asked him, ’What is your name?’ And he answered, saying, ’My name is Legion; for we are many." (Mark 5:6-9)
III. JESUS ANSWERED "YES" TO THE "PRAYER" OF THE DEMONS.
"Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying: ’Send us to the swine, that we may enter them. And at once Jesus gave them permission." (Mark 5:10-13)
IV. JESUS ANSWERED "YES" TO THE "PRAYER" OF THE CROWD.
"So 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. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one that had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat…." (Mark 5:14-18a)
V. JESUS ANSWERED "NO" TO THE PRAYER OF THE REDEEMED MAN.
"And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, 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. And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled." (Mark 5:18-20).
Like this healed, redeemed demoniac, we are to graciously accept the Lord’s answer to our petitions, and with zeal, obey His command.
