Come as you are… but don't stay that way
Mark 5
Message
by Kurt Jones
November 5, 2006
Introduction
How many of us spent a long time getting ready this morning?
What does "dressing up" mean in California? I put on my nice jeans and good pair of flip flops?
WE live in a world where people long to be known, to be accepted and to be welcome, "just as they are…" to know and be known
Beverly Hillbilly's – "…set a spell, take your shoes off, y'all come back now, ya hear?"
"Come as you are…" is a phrase that we want to live by around here at Neighborhood Bible Church. (Marty in bare feet!)
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The Setting.
Mark 5:1-5 - They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
Gerasense (Matt. 8:28 Luke 8:26) is on the other side of the Sea of Galilee from where Jesus just was. Since he left there in the evening, it's night now. It was a non Jewish area so most of his Jewish guys were a little edgy to start with. His men are carrying torches to be able to see… off in the distance comes a howl or a snarl or a growl…
Peter "It was just a coyote"
THOMAS "I doubt it."
Then a clinking, a clanking, and a rattling of chains comes out of the darkenss…
Now ALL the disciples are sitting on Jesus' lap.
Up out of the shadows comes a figure…
Picture "Gollum" (Video clip here?)
3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, 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.
What does it mean for us today?
"Demons" for us are either a cartoon, something that comes to our door in the 4 ft size on Oct. 31, or an occasional character in a Hollywood movie. They many seen as bad habits,
Our world plays with spiritual forces rather than take them seriously. It's fashionable to be "spiritual", even if that means being a witch. Like the lady we met on Halloween when asked about the design on her sweatshirt who said, "Yes, it's a witch, but she's a GOOD witch."
The Bible makes it clear that there is a spiritual dimension to life. Our world tries to ignore this reality and so we have purely "scientific" answers for all these things now… epilepsy, schizophrenia, MPD Multiple personality disorder - As we look through the Bible it is apparent that many times conditions that we would call muteness, manic depression, seizures or epilepsy, have their causes in the spiritual world. That doesn't mean EVERY case is a result of spiritual possession or oppression, so I've spent a lot of time praying AND going to the doctor with people. It isn't always clear where the cause is, so considering BOTH is warranted.
A lot of it, such as epilepsy, can definitely be due to a physical problem, rather than a spiritual problem. Today, we have sophisticated enough diagnostic techniques to do that. But, I think that there is behavior that might appear to be epileptic that definitely could be demonic.
The reality is that we live in a spiritual world, even though we can't see it, and we should not underestimate the influence and impact these forces have on us. We should not minimize the impact demonic forces have on us today.
EX: MPD girl in my office. Ed Silovoso
When we see the horrific destructive character of our world and how terribly we can treat one another, it is not hard to recognize the face of true evil in the world.
We know that we do battle on a daily basis with the world, the flesh, and the devil. People in the chains of alcohol or drug addiction can tell you about the "demons" they battle on a daily basis.
Let me ask you if you've every tangled with any of these characters:
Bitterness, Jealousy, Depression, Lust, Resentment, Grief, Pain, Procrastination, Rumor. How about Comparison, Expectations, Pessimism, Habits, Busyness, or Impatience…? Have you ever met the beast of Fear? Sure you have. Fear of heights. Fear of crowds. Fear of disease. Fear of rejection. Fear of failure, Fear of what others are saying about you. Fear of moving away, Fear of height, or depth, or distance, or death.
Your set of "demons" may be different from my set… the reality is you have areas of pain and weakness that have plagued you for years. You bleed secretly, you weep silently…
EX: Counseling couple having marital problems. They had been at our church for several months, very nice looking couple, very supportive, brought their daughter and grandson to church, great attenders – "how did you meet?" "I was a prostitute and he was one of my Johns'.
I don't know what challenges you are battling, but I know Someone who does… He stood alone against all the demons of Hell and Satan Himself – He took on Loneliness, Temptation, Rejection, Pain, even Death… and WON.
1 Cor 6:9-11 Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
We must remember the promise, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," and when we come to Christ, "Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world."
I want you to see three responses to this encounter with Christ.
The Demon's Response. 5:6-13
Mark 5:6-9 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7a He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
7b Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."
Q: So what are the Devil's schemes? Look at Satan's names to give you an idea of his tactics.
Chinese General Sun Tsu - The Art of War said "All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away , we must make him believe we are near. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him... If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him . Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected."
Two extremes – no one believes in me any more, or too much emphasis on demonic powers…
EX: Tracy/DC "…TWO demons behind every bush!"
1. We are in a struggle against a Spiritual Enemy.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
1. Powerful
Strata and ranking of evil demons. Each a level of authority or category?
"Ruler" = some higher order of demonic soldier (Col. 2:15 = "authority")
"Powers" = some other rank (1 Peter 3:22)
"World forces…" possibly those demons infiltrating the social, cultural, and political structures of the world
"Spiritual Forces…" perhaps those demons focused on the most perverse and wicked of practices – occult, Satan worship, etc.
NOT explaining the details of the demonic army, but trying to convery the idea or POWER, ORGANIZATION, and SOPHISTICATION. The point is that they are highly organized and structured for warfare! Are WE?
2. Wicked
"world forces of this DARKNESS"
"spiritual forces of WICKENESS in the heavenly places"
3. Cunning
"Open persecution and open temptations to sin are not Satan's only or even his most common weapons; he prefers to seduce us into compromise and deceive us into error." Stott p. 265
2 Cor. 11:14 …Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Intimidation and insinuation
Bully and beguiler
Force and Fraud
EX: Fridge demon story.
Paul is not trying to satisfy our curiosity about demons, but to warn us about their hostility and teach us how to overcome!!!
The New Testament focuses on the devil and demons for only two purposes: to say evil and death are defeated, and to warn us not to be beguiled by evil.
"Christians often make the error of giving the devil way more than it is due." Snodgrass p. 357
C.S. Lewis in his book, The Screwtape Letters, claims that there are two equal and opposite errors into which we can fall about Satan and demons. "One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them"(p.3)
Mark 5:10-13
THE RESPONSE: The Demons obey him but do as much damage as possible.
Demonic activity is always about destruction of life.
The Crowd's Response. 5:14-17
Mark 5:14-17. 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.
Dave pointed out to us that they were so close to Jesus and yet so far away.
THE RESPONSE: The Crowd feared him and asked him to stay as far away as possible.
The Man's Response.
Mark 5:18-20
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
It is about liberation of the soul.
THE RESPONSE: The man followed him and wanted to tell as many people about Jesus as possible.
What is YOUR RESPONSE?
You…
Are you facing a demon? Do you need to be set free?
Yes, I do believe that much of mental illness is a result of demonic and Satanic activity, but it is hard to just isolate it, because it is a result of sin, it is a result of willful choices made by human beings, and it certainly involves Satan. John MacA.
Lurking in the shadows around every imaginable corner, it threatens your inner peace and outward poise. Bully that it is, the creature relies on scare tactics and surprise attacks. It watches for your vulnerable moments, then picks the lock that safeguards your security. Once inside, it strikes quickly to transform spiritual muscle into mental mush. (from Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns, by Chuck Swindoll)
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 evil 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.
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 family 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.
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