January 8, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ Mark 5:1-20

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1 Mark 5:1-20 LORD vs Legion January 8, 2017pm Ne w Hope R oad Joelton, TN READ Mark 5:1-20 Miracles Power over nature- water to wine, calms the sea Power over disease- Lame man Power over sin s curse- healed the boy on his deathbed Power over Law/Pharisees distortion of the law- healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath Power over Satan- Tempted in the desert after 40 days of fasting Strangely, Jesus s face-off against Satan in the wilderness read VERY tame in comparison to this evening s miracle. I have heard SO MANY good sermons from this passage. They all have really witty titles too. I think I have told you my childhood pastor s title for the maniac: The Nude Dude in the Rude Mood. I once had a youth pastor that preached a powerful sermon from the Matthew text of this story: The Teens in the Tombs. Corey M. Minter Page 1 of 7

2 I think it is safe to say that just about everyone has a very confused idea about demons and their work in this world. Most of our demonology comes from movies instead of Scripture, and that is very dangerous. I have worked among teens enough to know that if you ever open up a time to ask anything, there will undoubtedly be several about demons. Don t The best advice I can give you about studying demons is to not. I am not encouraging ignorance, but think with me. 1. Your worship is largely tied to your time. Therefore, studying demons because you are casually interested in the topic is giving too much time Satan. 2. There really is no profit in doing an in depth study on them. In my experience, falling down the rabbit hole of such a study is more of a distraction/ time waster than anything. Some might say, Study your enemy, and that has some merit, but I feel like Study your Savior will be more helpful. If you do 1. Your study should be bound to Scripture and not folklore. Do not fall into the trap of believing things about demons that is not in Scripture. 2. Your study should really be about God s power over demons and not they, themselves. That s how we will approach this story tonight. 5:1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. Corey M. Minter Page 2 of 7

3 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 1. Jesus is stronger than the most terrifying thing Satan can hurl at Him. As we go through this story, I want to remind you that Jesus is tired. Mark 4 has Jesus healing and preaching for several days on end. He and the disciples get into the boat (to go to the other side) to get some much needed rest. However, a tempest came while Jesus was on the water, and He stilled it. Then 5:2 says as they docked the boat, He was immediately approached by the maniac. No rest for the weary. Remember, Jesus was tempted by Satan at His weakest point after a 40 day fast. Adam was tempted in the Garden after a lifetime of paradise. Adam was tempted and fell on his best day, in the best environment. Jesus was tempted and victorious on His weakest day, in the worst ecosystem. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because 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. Corey M. Minter Page 3 of 7

4 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. I want you to put yourself in the disciples s shoes this evening. They are still kind of awestruck at Jesus from a few hours ago when He calmed the storm and sea by speaking two words. They feared exceedingly asking among themselves, What manner of Man is He?! Now, they are approaching Gadera, and I am sure the rumors have been spread about some mad man who lives in the tombs. Let s add some fog to the scene. It was morning, so that is not too crazy. As they are about to dock the boat, they all hear a scream and from the morning mist emerges this naked man, shackles and loose chains clanging from his wrists and ankles, blood dripping with a knife in one hand and a sharp stone in another. He is running towards Jesus (the 12 are probably running over each other to get back to the boat), and Jesus does not even flinch. 2. Jesus is a Good Master. Dwelling Tombs Indwelling Unclean Spirit Restless Spiritually and Physically Bound Chained, roped, shackled Mistreated No one could tame Dwelling Eph. 2:6 Seated in the Heavenlies Indwelling 1 Cor. 3:16 Temple of God s Spirit Rest Mat. 11:28 Come to Me; I will give rest Free Ps 107:14 brought out of dark/burst bonds Welcomed Prodigal Son 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And 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. 8 For He said to him, Come out of the man, unclean spirit! Corey M. Minter Page 4 of 7

5 9 Then He asked him, What is your name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion; for we are many. 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 3. Jesus is highly respected above any other. Notice the demon s words: 1. What have I to do with You? Who am I? 2. Jesus, Son of the Most High God Who Jesus is 3. I Implore You by God Who gives power (Legion does not even care to call out to his master Satan because he knows that what power he has is allowed by God) Now, I have no idea of the ins and outs of all the details of what is about to happen (and I am convinced that no one else does either) 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, Send us to the swine, that we may enter them. 13 And 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. Why did the demons not want to leave the country? Why did Jesus aqueous to their request of being allowed to enter the swine? Why would they want to go into pigs? especially when they are about to kill them any way Corey M. Minter Page 5 of 7

6 What happened to them after the pigs drowned? 14 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. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demonpossessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 4. Jesus is in the business of changing us Paul-Murderer Jesus Planter John Newton-Slaver Jesus Grace Corey-Sure of myself Jesus Convinced of Him Jesus Restless-naked-out of his mind Jesus sitting-clothed-in his right mind 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demonpossessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 5. Jesus is a Gentleman. He does not go where He is unwanted. 6. Jesus saves for a purpose. 18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. Corey M. Minter Page 6 of 7

7 19 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. 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Mark 7-8 tells the story of Jesus coming back through to Decapolis and there awaited Him over 4,000 people to hear Him Corey M. Minter Page 7 of 7