Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,[a]two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
These two men had many evil spirits that were possessing, controlling, destroying, debilitating them. They were, to say the least, disturbed. It is interesting to note that these two men were able to hang around each other, but no one else could deal with them. They were disturbed together. Be careful with whom you choose to “buddy up." We don’t know how these two ended up possessed together, but somehow they were able to hang out in dead places with one another. Don’t allow people to drag you into their tombs. Don’t allow people to pull you into their disturbed, dysfunctional, destructive arena. Be careful. Do what you can but avoid ending up in a co-dependent situation! If you are not careful, you may find yourself possessed, disturbed, dysfunctional and in dead places!
In this text, Jesus does not even speak to the men. He interacts directly with the demons who recognized him immediately. The demons begged Jesus not to have to leave the man and go into the abyss, so Jesus allowed them to be cast out into a herd of swine or pigs.
Not even the pigs, however, wanted anything to do with the demons – rather than be possessed by them, they ran down into the lake and drowned themselves! When the pig owners saw what happened they ran and told the towns people. Everyone came running out to see what happened. You would think that they would give God high praise that the men were delivered. But instead, they begged Jesus to leave! Deliverance can cause a disturbance!
The herdsman lost their livelihood – a disturbance. These once dysfunctional, crazy men are now clothed and in their “right mind,” and the towns people didn’t know what to think or how to deal with them – a disturbance! The demons had to find somewhere else to go – A DISTURBANCE!!! The people had learned to accept and live with the demons. The deliverance created a new learning curve! For some, it’s easier to accept the demons than to do the hard work associated with deliverance.
Demons come in all shapes, and forms and sizes. They are not the mythical figures we see on television or in cartoons of red creatures with pitchforks with horns and jagged teeth. Nor are they reserved simply for those who we think are crazy or evil.
The devil is much more cunning than that. “Demons” are anything that oppress, shackle, depress, isolate, crush and come in the middle of our relationship with God. And while we may not go and hang out in literal grave yards, there are things that can separate us, isolate us, oppress, depress, hinder, obstruct, and yes crush our spirits, such that we even pull away from others and our relationship with God.
If you are pushed down long enough, you can begin to stop looking up. If you are criticized long enough you can stop dreaming and reaching for higher. If you are failed repeatedly without any path for success you will deem yourself a failure. Even if you begin to succeed you will begin to make yourself fail so that you will fulfill your acquired MO.
Demons that shackle, demons that oppress, demons that tear at the very soul of our beings DON’T HAVE THE LAST SAY!!! Jesus is saying, TODAY get out of my daughter! TODAY, get out of my son! TODAY, get out of their situation! With the help of the Lord, deliverance can happen. But once deliverance happens, the challenging work of healing, thorough healing, full healing, complete and total deliverance begins. You may not have the support that you thought you would have from the same people that saw you in the tombs. The people in the text did not come to help them find a new place to live, get food to eat, clothes to wear. They were delivered, but their deliverance created a new reality not just for them but for everyone in the town.
You must realize that everyone will not be excited about your new found healing. Like the people in our text, there will be those who don’t understand what Jesus did for you. There will be those who have grown accustomed to your craziness! There will even be those who have profited from your sickness. There will be those who don’t want Jesus coming to town because he just might expose the demons in them!
When you walk out in the “new you,” there will be those who will question your authenticity, question your motives, question your glow of glory, question your new walk, your new talk, your new “swagger,” but you don’t have to answer them, just start singing to yourself, “I know I’ve been changed… the angels in heaven done signed my name!”
The challenge of deliverance is that you’ve got to fill up the empty spaces that have been created because the demons have left. You have to develop new habits, you’ve got to develop new relationships or at least change the dynamics of the relationships wherein you found yourself. You may have to change the places that you go, the activities in which you engage, the thoughts that you think, the words that you speak. For some, going back to the tombs may seem easier. But don’t you accept or believe that lie! Deliverance is a challenge, but you can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST that strengthens you!
Deliverance will disturb somethings in your life, but if you will press through the disturbance, healing is on the other side. Peace is on the other side. Wholeness is on the other side. Joy is on the other side. THE NEW YOU is on the other side!!! Don’t waste your time trying to convince anyone of your healing, your deliverance, your break through. It’s not for them, it’s for you and those who will be blessed and healed and delivered because of your testimony. There will always be those who want to stand in the way of your deliverance, but you let God handle them…you just keep moving forward.
Do you want to come out of the tombs…the lonely dark places, that place where you are broken and bruised, shackled and ashamed? Jesus can speak to those demons in your life and say, “COME OUT!” Even in their demented state, the men had enough within them to come out to meet Jesus. Yes, Jesus stepped onto the shore from the boat, but the men came out to meet Jesus.
You’ve got to come out to meet Jesus. In other words, you’ve got to present yourself to the Lord…He knows you need healing…He knows you are shackled and broken and bruised…He knows that you desire to get clothed, your mind healed, your body healed, your self-respect restored…The Lord knows…but you’ve got to make that step and open up to Him. The Lord will never force Himself upon you. Won’t you open up and receive Him and get delivered today?
Post a comment or send me an email at Revcsmith1@gmail.com
Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Deliverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org
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