Sunday Morning’s message: July 28th2024
Pastor David Jones
YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/_-6dgl5deX8
Discussion Time
Jesus leads his disciples over the lake of Galilee into one off the most amazing encounters recorded in the New Testament. An area known as the Gerasenes which is largely full of Gentile Greek people. (Gentile being non-Jew). From this amazing encounter we want to look at the two different responses from the people present. First the herdsmen and the crowd and then secondly the man delivered from a demon.
Read Main Text
Mark 5:2- 20 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 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!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 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.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 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.” 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.
First Response – The response of the towns people
A large portion of the community would have known of this man. The shrieks and screams would have pierced the night sending shivers down their spines. When the herdsmen went into the town and reported the news to the towns people, they all came running to see. They came and found this naked man clothed and in his correct mind. But they had no street party, party poppers and celebrations. Instead, they asked Jesus to leave the area and pleaded with Jesus and his disciples to leave.
Let’s look at three reasons why they asked Jesus to leave and what applications we can gain from this for our own personal walk with Jesus
The do not disturbs:
One- Do not disturb our possessions
Financial example: let’s say, one pig is worth $200. Times that by 2000 pigs equals $400,000 dollars of pigs that ran down the hill into the lake and drowned.
Read and discuss Scriptures below
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 16:13
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Question and conversation starters
Has money got a hold on you, or have you got a hold on it?
Does your money master you, or do you master it?
Do we love our possessions more than being obedient to God?
(Leader: These are personal questions. Do not call people out but allow conversation)
Money takes on the character of the owner. Money is neither good nor bad. If the owner of the money is stingy and withholds. Their money has power that can master the owner. But if the owner is generous with what God has given them its also powerful and money is not their master.
Two - Do not disturb our beliefs
and they were afraid.
The towns people believed with all their heart that demons should of have had the upper hand over Jesus and the disciples. All their superstitions were shattered, and this challenged their beliefs.
Question
What beliefs do we need to have disturbed in our life.
Answer
Possible things that need to be disturbed:
Being afraid of changed
This is the way we have always done it
False worldly Ideology by societies culture
Sinfulness and living according to our own desires
Hypocrisy
Just to name a few to get the conversation rolling. What does the group say?
Three - Do not disturb my Comfort
We are hardwired to protect ourselves in life. I do not believe people are generally lazy as some would accuse people of being who do not do much for Gods kingdom. I believe most people have no idea how much God has for them. Also, they may not believe that God would love to use them for something special.
Read and discuss
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Question
What could you’re stepping out of the comfort zone look like?
Second Response – The man delivered from demons
Re read Verse 18-20 again and discuss
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 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.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[a] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Question
Why did Jesus make the man delivered from demons stay?
The free man did the correct thing and wanted to stick with Jesus and possibly believed that if he got to far away from Jesus the demons may of come back. But God had a task for him to do.
Question
What task has Jesus given you to do?
And how can your testimony and experience with Jesus make an impact?
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