Before and After

Before and After Before and After Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Demon Possession; Deliverance; Fear; Reject; Testimony; Faith / Luke 8:26-29 Introduction 1. We have talked about before and after pictures and using them to document your progress in the journey for CrossFitness a. A picture at the start and a picture months in and its easy to see the transformation i. These pictures are used as testimonials to push a particular workout, product, or diet ii. People expect to achieve similar results in a similar time b. What no one expects with before and after shots is that they can be taken on the same day and show any type of transformation. 2. Luke brings us to a rather odd event in the ministry of Jesus with a powerful statement - Jesus has the power of transformation - I mean He can totally transform a life so dramatically in an instant a. The before and after shots for one transformed by Jesus can be taken in the same day and reveal the difference. b. Part of CrossFitness is using the before and after to share the power of transformation as a testimony of what God has done for us. › SLIDE Luke 8:26-27 CSB 26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. › SLIDE Luke 8:28-29 CSB 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, "What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torment me!" 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places. › SLIDE Luke 8:30-32 CSB 30 "What is your name?" Jesus asked him. "Legion," he said, because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. › SLIDE Luke 8:33-34 CSB 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. › SLIDE Luke 8:35-36 CSB 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. › SLIDE Luke 8:37-39 CSB 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, 39 "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him. › SLIDE Before Picture › SLIDE Luke 8:26-27 CSB 26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. 1. In the region of the Gerasenes they sailed - Jesus and His disciples in the boat. a. A steep eastern bank of the sea of Galilee - in the Gentile area of Decapolis 2. As soon as they get out on the land - they are met by a man who is demon-possessed a. This account is the most detailed account of demon possession that we have in the Bible i. This man did not start out this way - no one is born demon possessed. 1. I assume at one point he was a part of the community of the nearby village. 2. Until his behavior - irrational and wild had him put out of the village a. He was uncontrollable ii. This man at this point had been demon-possessed for a long time 1. He wore no clothes and lived more like a wild animal than a human being a. He didnt live in a house and verse 29 tells us he would be driven by the demon into deserted places b. He lived in the tombs - among the decaying and the dead - contrary to law and instinct 2. He had supernatural strength - verse 29 tells us chains shackles and restraints would be snapped › SLIDE Mark 5:4 CSB 4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had torn the chains apart and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 3. He would harm himself in self-destruction › SLIDE Mark 5:5 CSB 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. b. Demons are real - demon possession is real and this man suffered from it - to the point where it ruined his life and caused him to be cast out of societal living and sent out among the tombs of the dead and decaying › SLIDE After Picture › SLIDE - middle of verse 35 They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed and in his right mind. 1. The same man has been changed - He is no longer demon possessed a. It states here the demons have departed from him i. No longer throwing himself down - here he is sitting at Jesus's feet b. He is no longer naked but fully dressed and in his right mind i. Making sensible conversation and choices and actions 2. What a picture of transformation - completely unrecognizable from what he was before a. How did such a change come - surely it was weeks later - same day b. Maybe after much counseling and other therapies - same day in the very moment c. How you ask? - Jesus has the power to transform a life - the power of transformation was at work in this man's life i. What power is this? › SLIDE Power to Remove Evil › SLIDE Luke 8:28-29 CSB 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said in a loud voice, "What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torment me!" 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was guarded, bound by chains and shackles, he would snap the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places. › SLIDE Luke 8:30-32 CSB 30 "What is your name?" Jesus asked him. "Legion," he said, because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to banish them to the abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to permit them to enter the pigs, and he gave them permission. › SLIDE Luke 8:33 CSB 33 The demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 1. Jesus walked on dry land and was met by this man who fell down - face forward possibly kneeling a. Doubtful this was a genuine kneeling - but interesting to see Jesus did not seek this man out i. It seems more likely the man was drawn or driven to Him - perhaps the demon thought he could intimidate Jesus b. Interesting question - what do you have to do with me? i. Another way of saying this is why are you interfering with me ii. Then he says Jesus, Son of the Most High God 1. This was something to do with superstition that you have spiritual power over another if you know or say their exact name 2. Jewish exorcists had to know the name of the demon in order to gain authority over it and deliver the one whom was possessed 2. Jesus asks the demon his name a. Demonic possession is when a demonic spirit resides in a body and exhibits their personality i. We must understand it is a reality even today 1. We must be careful not to ignore it and neither should we over emphasize it ii. We do not know exactly how one gets possessed other than inference that it must be some sort of invitation - offered knowingly or unknowningly iii. Gateways - Superstitions, Fortune-telling (Horoscopes, Tarot, Psychics, etc), harmless occult games and practices, spiritism, New Age, magic, drugs and other things will open the doors of deception to the believer and demonic danger to the unbeliever iv. Most get involved with the occult because things seem to work - unfortunately is it not something working it is someone at work - a demonic spirit v. Demons possess humans in a way to attack God since people are in the image of God they want to mar that image by making man grotesque vi. Believers can not be demon-possessed - demons power over believers was disarmed at the cross › SLIDE Colossians 2:15 CSB 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him. 1. They can cause much damage and intimidation through fear and unbelief however b. The demon answers Legion - which isnt a name but rather a number i. This tactic was to hide his name and remove the power and authority from Jesus 1. Using a number as a name - was also a intimidating factor - a legion is about 6,826 men 2. This man was more demon possess than Mary Magdalene (she only had 7) ii. Yet Jesus had commanded the demons to leave the man without a name 1. Jesus demonstrated His authority goes beyond superstitious beliefs 3. Notice there was no fight - Jesus commanded the demons out and they had to leave a. They begged Jesus not to banish them to the abyss i. The demons knew the name of Jesus - they knew His position and they acknowledge His authority to banish them 1. None of this mattered they were still demons ii. The abyss is the interim container for demonic spirits before their final resting place of judgment 1. It is a bottomless pit that contains the dead and the abode of demons › SLIDE Romans 10:7 CSB 7 or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. › SLIDE Revelation 9:11 CSB 11 They had as their king the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. › SLIDE Revelation 11:7 CSB 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war on them, conquer them, and kill them. › SLIDE Revelation 17:8 CSB 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come. › SLIDE - 2 Slides Revelation 20:1,3 Revelation 20:1 CSB 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. Revelation 20:3 CSB 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. b. They asked permission to enter the pigs i. In the presence of Jesus evil has to ask permission even to afflict pigs › SLIDE The evil of the satanic realm is such that they would rather afflict animals than cause no harm at all ii. Jesus perhaps permitted them to do as they wanted with the pigs to show the only intent of demons is to destroy iii. Also this provided a visual for those to see the man had been delivered and the demons had left him › SLIDE When Jesus banishes evil - it must leave completely- there is no arguing › SLIDE - 4 Pics of Gerasene Site in Israel › SLIDE Power to Change Life › SLIDE Luke 8:34-35 CSB 34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran off and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man the demons had departed from, sitting at Jesus's feet, dressed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. › SLIDE Luke 8:36-37 CSB 36 Meanwhile, the eyewitnesses reported to them how the demon-possessed man was delivered. 37 Then all the people of the Gerasene region asked him to leave them, because they were gripped by great fear. So getting into the boat, he returned. 1. Men who tended the herd of pigs saw everything that happened and ran off to report it a. The people came back to see what had happened and they find two things i. They find their herds in the sea floating (its not mentioned but I imagine they noticed it) ii. They find the demoniac man - delivered, sane normal dressed, at the feet of Jesus in his right mind 1. Instead of being driven out by the demons - here he was sitting 2. Instead of being without clothes - here he was fully dressed 3. instead of being among the tombs he was at Jesus's feet 4. Intead of being chained and restrained here he was in his right mind b. At this sight they were afraid - phobos - phobia paralyzing fear i. Perhaps their fear came from their superstitions being proved wrong ii. Interesting that they were more fearful of the liberated man than the possessed man 1. The eye witnesses had reported to them how the man was delivered - the whole herd of pigs drowning thing 2. They cannot explain the transformed life - neither can they deny it - it was literally night and day completely changed life a. Their response is peculiar - they ask Jesus to leave i. Gripped by a great fear - they ask Jesus to leave 1. They desired comfort of what they knew and what they were used more than changed lives from Jesus 2. They desired their way of life - pig farmers - over the promise of life abundant from Jesus 3. They desired financial gains more than Jesus ii. Though they saw a demoniac completely changed to normal sanity and decency - they asked Jesus to leave b. Miracles in our midst do not always lead to faith › SLIDE They could handle demons in their midst but not Jesus! i. They were more afraid of what Jesus WOULD change than what Satan HAS destroyed - so they asked Jesus to leave - so he left and only one life was changed that day › SLIDE When people fear the freedom Jesus more than the bondage of Satan - they ask Jesus to leave ii. Jesus got in the boat and returned › SLIDE Power to Fully Transform › SLIDE Luke 8:38-39 CSB 38 The man from whom the demons had departed begged him earnestly to be with him. But he sent him away and said, 39 "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him. 1. As we consider the Before and After picture - we see the change in the life through the transforming power of Jesus a. Jesus banished the evil from the live of this now former demoniac b. Jesus also changed his life - so that he isnt who he was anymore 2. Jesus fully transformed His life a. He went from begging Jesus to not torment him (verse (like the demons) to begging Jesus to let him go with Him i. He went from demoniac to sitting at Jesus feet to wanting to go with Jesus - a picture of one who goes onto full discipleship to seek CrossFitness b. Jesus had impacted and transformed his life so much - he didnt think twice about not going to the village he was from and remaining with Jesus. c. Jesus replied by telling the man to go back home to tell all that God has done i. The request to follow Jesus was not rejected but instead given a different focus › SLIDE Sometimes we are better use for Jesus among our family and community ii. We may have a hard time understanding why God answers as He does 1. Demons ask of Jesus is granted 2. Crowd asking Jesus to leave is granted 3. Man asking to stay with Jesus is not granted Conclusion With such a dramatic before and after - this man had a story to tell - and he went off proclaiming among the people and town who asked Jesus to leave - He had an audience where Jesus did not We all who are in Jesus have our before and after picture and testimony of His transforming power. We too must be proclaiming all that God has done for us - telling how much Jesus has done Did you all catch that Jesus and the disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee and endured that crazy storm - all to meet this man - Jesus only delivered this one man. Look at the value of a single person to Jesus - understand that you have that same value to Him Also see this madman - demon possessed beyond human hope - tossed out written off as without hope and without deliverance - they couldnt help him. This same man Jesus freed - Jesus transformed completely --- No one no matter how dire the situation is beyond the transforming power of Jesus He can change any man Dont let fear keep you from experiencing the transforming power of Jesus Evil fears Jesus transforming power - torment and banishment from Jesus - because He will one day banish it to eternal torment The people feared Jesus changing their life too much - they instead asked Him to leave and they were unchanged and unsaved The man was delivered and He feared Jesus leaving Him - but Jesus graciously left to allow that fear too to leave Him as he would discover that truth of freedom and deliverance in Jesus › SLIDE John 8:36 NKJV 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:17 PM May 2, 2020.