Darkness among us

Mark 5:1-17

Mark 5:1–17 NKJV

1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

1. Jesus was on his way across the Sea of Galilee and a storm came

a. Jesus rebukes it and it stops

2. Then he land in the region of Gad-ar-re-nos

a. A man possessed meets him at the shore.

1. Full of many demons

2. It would cause him to run around unclothed

3. Un-bathed

4. To be very violent

5. Someone no one wanted to be around

a. People couldn’t help but tried

b. He would be bound in chains because of his problem

6. He was sitting there cutting himself with rocks

b. Jesus gets out of the boat and commands the demons out of him

1. He falls down writhes on the floor and begs

2. Please don’t send us into the abyss

a. Send us into the pigs

ii. Jesus asks him his name and he says Legion

1. Meaning many demons

2. The man was really bad off

3. Talk about having problems

1 Demon possession and Demon influence are real

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1. I know many after reading this story are amazed at the idea of demon possession.

a. Just thinking about being possessed by demons make people shutter.

b. Many disbelieve it

i. But the bible records demon possession many times and the writers write it in such a way that seems very nonchalant.

ii. Like it was common knowledge of possession.

c. Now I am not saying everything is demon possession.

d. But we need to be careful and watch because demons are real

e. And their influence is strong

i. We wage war not against flesh and blood but and powers and dark forces

D. W. Whittle tells of a man who came to Charles Finney and said: "I don’t believe in the existence of a devil." "Don’t you?" said the old man. "Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it."

2. They come at us in different ways

a. Some time through possession

i. Where they take hold of the person an reside in them

b. Mostly through influence

i. Temptation

ii. Enticement

iii. Lies

iv. deceit

3. We see it in different ways

a. He tries to divide.

b. He tries to get us focused on anything but the truth.

c. A little whisper her and a little whisper there and we fall for It and he has us.

Examples: Anyone ever think about why sometime whenever things are going well for you why things all of a sudden go wrong? Fight with your husband? Loose a job?

He always shows up.

You want to read your bible and the phone rings are you get distracted. You can think. You can’t remember.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Demons today

4. look around us

a. We see people who are bound by

i. Fear (covid, health, jobs etc…) God says that He is health to our flesh- His Word is in Proverbs 3 and 4.

Scripture tells us that God is our provision!

1. To many people live in fear

2. Afraid to go outside

3. Afraid to try something new

4. Afraid of the future

5. Fear is not of God

and our Lack of Trust and True Belief that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do is an open door for the forces of darkness influence, oppress and possess.

ii. lack of trust (paranoia)

1. Can’t trust God

2. Always thinking someone is out to get them

iii. Panic (attacks)

1. I understand there are physical sides to this

2. But many live their whole lives in a panic attack

3. They can’t go anywhere

4. Always on pills

iv. Dissensions

1. Always causing trouble

a. You know those people

b. Just always negative

c. Can find the bad in everything

v. Shame, guilt,

vi. doubt

vii. Depression

1. We know this is a big demonic influence on the world

a. So many people committing suicide

b. Self mutilation

c. Always feeling down

i. When God says we should be happy and at peace

Window: Many believe that demonic influence is always the cause of severe depression that leads to suicide and self mutilation. It was causes himself to hate himself, God says we are His beloved children, Demonic influence says we are worthless

Homelessness

Story: Saw a show last night about homeless. Living in terrible conditions. My heart was breaking for them. They had demons…addiction depression

2 Demons hate God and they hate us

We are created in God’s image and they want to destroy that image and destroy us.

They will put a rift in anything good. Will stir up all kinds of divisions and dissensions. Will prey on our sin nature and our emotions, will influence not only ourselves but those closest to us to try and cause problems.

Satan is set on the destruction of the Bride of Christ, the Church, and His people!

God has chose us to fulfill His commission and to carry the Gospel. The enemy is in direct opposition to this and will frequently use Church Folks to inhibit fulfilling this commissioning from God!

Mark 16:15–18 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

What’s the point of this story?

3 Jesus has authority over them

Mark 5:12 NKJV

12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

Seen also in the Great Commission given in Mark and

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 NKJV

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Many Christians have stronghold in their lives. Some are of the flesh and many are influenced by the forces of darkness.

Insecurity, trust issues, gossip issues, lying tongues, cheating, stealing, stronghold of lustful thoughts, etc....

Overcome strongholds

3. There is nothing Jesus can’t do

a. Whatever strongholds there are in your life they can be pulled down by Christ!

i. Demon influence

ii. Whatever lies we might have believed

iii. He can cast out all fear, un-sureness, depression

iv. Or just problems

4 Jesus gives us that same authority

Luke 9:1-2 (KJV)

1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

5 The Outcome is Complete healing

Mark 5:1-17 (NIV)

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.

- He was made well

o He was in his right mind

o No more jealousy

o Rage,

o Anger

o Low self esteem

- He was dressed

o Had himself put back together

o Got his dignity back

- Sitting with Jesus

o Wanting to fellowship with Him

- Wanting to follow Him

- Telling the world his testimony

The reality is God loves His creation. He is not sitting ideally by.

How do we apply this in our life? We need to rebuke them! In our lives and the loves of others

The power is in Him

He gives us power and authority over them

The power is in Him

That’s the answer run to Jesus!