Title:
“The Salvation of a Naked Rock Star”
Introduction: Who is the naked star in the text? The demon possessed man of the Gadarenes ran about naked in the rocks and caves at night. Hence, the title.
In this message will take a biblical look at what it means to be saved. We will also emphasize the importance of why our Church needs to let its light shine in this darkened world. There are only two points to this message:
Point number One: What we are saved from:
We are saved from the Devil
His power (bondage) as mentioned in these verses:
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
His place (Hell)
(Mat 25:41 KJV) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
We are saved from the world
The world has a greater love for pigs than it does for God
17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
We are saved from ourselves
Prov 14:14 KJV) The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
Until a man gets saved, "from himself," he will never be "satisfied."
The greatest enemy that you will ever face is yourself. Consider these verses:
(Rom 3:10 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Point number two: What are we saved for?
Note that the man out of whom Jesus cast the demons was now seated, clothed, and in his right man. He did not want to continue to stay in his world. He wanted to get on board the ship and leave to be with Jesus. Note what Jesus told the man:
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
That’s what God saved you for: tell people about the great love of God and how that he has changed you because of his grace. He has had compassion on you!
Conclusion:
Have you been saved? Do you care about the salvation of others?
