With Jesus pt4

Ryan Abernathy

With Jesus • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 7 months ago

Mark 5:1–20

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Spiritual oppression is real.

Can I just say that to start off this morning. We may not see it the way we saw it in Ghana this spring, but there is a very real war going on for the souls of people in our world. In Ghana it may manifest itself in a more blatant fashion, but here in Oklahoma we see it as well- in different forms.

And the solution is the same- the oppressor leaves when the Son of God arrives.

This morning I want to look at a very dramatic moment in the ministry of Jesus, and while we look at it, I want all of us to be considering this- where are we not asking Jesus to intervene in the lives of others. Because we have the Spirit of God and we have the ability to discern when something is off…and that should drive us to our knees.

Go to Mark 5:1-20.

First thing to note, when Jesus arrives the oppressor takes notice. (v1-2)

This guy came right at Jesus. We should not think for a moment that spiritual oppression is going to be marked by weakness or timidity. Spiritual darkness, when it builds a stronghold, is powerful. This oppression is not going to take kindly to being intruded on.

Second, spiritual oppression does not respond to conventional means of restraint. (v3-4)

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

The description emphasizes the destruction of his personality to the point of insanity by the demons and the ostracism and brutal treatment he had received from the people

I know many of you, as we dive into this today, may be wondering if we are talking about mental illness or sickness or addiction. And if we are going to somehow discredit counseling, or meds, or recovery, or doctors.

Nope. Sure not.

All those things are valid and needed. They are blessings from God that we have through science- and since He has all knowledge, He has allowed them to be discovered and come into being.

But have you ever considered, that in some cases though these interventions address some of the symptoms, some folks just don’t ever seem to thrive?

The people of this town have tried everything they know to do to help this man- to keep him from hurting them and himself, but nothing worked. Something far stronger was at work.

We should NEVER trust just interventions without also praying for the person who is receiving them. Because if there is both a physical and a spiritual issue at cause, we want to see that revealed!

Look friends, I went to counseling and the advice and strategies I learned helped me a ton, but there was also an underlying spiritual issue…and that was dealt with thru prayer, not just a counseling session.

We need to consider both/and so that our hearts are awake to the reality of what someone may be going thru.

Because here is the third thing- someone who is under spiritual oppression, may be VERY resistant to hearing from God (v6-9)

This man has a literal demonic presence in him…and that demon wants noting to do with Jesus. Whether someone is this far gone or not, when the enemy has a hold of someone the last thing he wants is for them to hear about the possibility of freedom.

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

The demons employed the name and a title of Jesus in a vain attempt to render him ineffective. Just as knowing the name of a demon was thought to assist in its exorcism (cf. v. 9), likewise using the name of the exorcist was thought to hinder him (cf. 1:24; 3:11). The title “Most High God” is sometimes used in the Old Testament by a Gentile to refer to the God of Israel, and that seems to be the case here. Inasmuch as adjuration formulas were usually used by the exorcist, the one here by the possessed person and/or his demon parodies an attempt to gain the upper hand.

And that is what Jesus comes to bring.

But to do that, we have to be PRESENT. Jesus engages in this guy’s life because He is THERE. We need to be willing to go where people are who are struggling. We cannot leave them alone to figure it out for themselves.

Next, notice this amazing exchange (v9-13)

Jesus has authority. What is there cannot stand against Him.

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

Whether the word is a proper name as in the NIV, an arrogant boast, or an attempt to avoid giving the actual name is uncertain. No such proper name is elsewhere attested. No significance should be attached to the fluctuation between the singular and plural; sometimes the demons are looked upon as a whole and sometimes as individuals

Now check yourself, YOU do not have that authority. Jesus does. We are not going around ordering the spiritual forces of darkness around (Acts 19:11-16 and Matthew 17:14-21)

We are asking Jesus to intervene. To bring freedom. And He will!

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

The destruction of the pigs also had a definite purpose, to dramatically symbolize the ability of Jesus to destroy the demonic in human beings. To say the least, the restoration of the demoniac and the destruction of the demons were more important than the pigs

So what happens when this occurs- well it is a mixed bag. (v14-17)

Some people are VERY weirded out by this. They don’t want to deal with the spiritual implications. Not everyone who sees a deliverance is going to be happy about it. In fact, they may even ask you to stop coming around.

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

No doubt Mark’s description of the man in v. 15 pictures conversion. The man’s composure doubtless made a more positive impression on Jesus’ disciples than on the local residents. Because of their superstition they were terrified by anyone who had such enormous power, and they begged Jesus to go away. Ironically they feared Jesus more than they did the demoniac and cared more for their pigs than for a fellow human being. As important as miracles are in Mark’s account, he obviously did not use them to “prove” who Jesus was or to compel faith

That’s ok. They did that to Jesus- and He left.

But what was left with them was a constant reminder (v18-20)

Mark (2) The Exorcising of the Demons from the Wild Man of Gerasa (5:1–20)

Mark probably saw in the man the first missionary to the Gentiles and a preview of the Gentile mission that flourished during the quarter century before the writing of his Gospel.

They may not want you around, but the person who has been delivered stays. And the differences in them are noticeable. Their life becomes a testimony of the power of God to change a life.

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