Jesus: He Is Everything You Need
Miracles: Jesus Wants to Set Us Free
(Gadarene Demoniac, Mark 5:1-20)
Antioch Church, Sunday, September 14, 2014
Texts
Mark 5:1–20 (NIV) — 1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Review
Why do miracles matter?
· Miracles bring glory to God (Mark 2:12)
· Miracles point people to Jesus (Acts 3:12-16; 4:29-31)
· Miracles meet deep human needs. (John 9:24-25; Heb. 4:15-16)
What do we learn from Jesus stilling the storm (Mark 4)?
· When Jesus is in my boat, I will still go through storms. (4:35)
· When Jesus is in my boat, storms cannot stop me from doing His will, they simply set the stage for greater miracles and a greater revelation of who He is. (5:1)
· When Jesus is in my boat, He sometimes waits to calm the storm until all human hope is lost. (4:37-39)
The BIG Idea
As I open my heart to Jesus, He sets me completely free from whatever binds me and then He uses me to set others free in His name.
Jesus Wants to Set Me Completely Free…!
John 8:34–36 (NIV) — 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1. Jesus sets me free when nothing else can set me free. (5:4)
Mark 5:4 (NIV) — 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
Ø Note the paradox of spiritual bondage…Because of demonic bondage, he could not be “bound.” (i.e., live within boundaries, exercise self-control, be kept from hurting himself or others, etc.)
Ø Freedom is not the right to do what you want to do, but the power to do what you ought to do!
Fruit of the spirit is self-control…!
Galatians 5:19–25 (NIV) — 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet.
1 Corinthians 14:32 (NIV) — 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
Sometimes deliverance calls for the gift of “discerning of spirits,” both in order to know if a demonic spirit is operating and to know which demonic spirit is operating.
1 Corinthians 12:10 (NIV) — 10…to another distinguishing between spirits…
Demons are afraid of Jesus…!
James 2:19 (NIV) — 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
2. Jesus sets me free when I truly want to be free. (5:6)
Mark 5:6 (NIV) — 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.
Bondage sets the stage for a tremendous inner battle/struggle/conflict.
When I would do good, evil is present….
Romans 7:21–25 (NIV) — 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Ø Repentance is a key to deliverance…
Mark 6:12–13 (NIV) — 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
3. Jesus sets me free so my testimony can set others free. (5:18-20)
Mark 5:18–20 (NIV) — 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
How to share your story (testimony) effectively (5:20)
1. Begin by telling those closest to you (those who know you best).
“Go home to your own people…” (vs.2 0)
2. Be transparent, open, and honest about what the Lord has done for you.
“…and tell them how much the Lord has done for you…”
3. Be sure to make it clear the miracle is not because of you.
“…and how he has had mercy on you..”
