He Won't Leave You Like He Found You

Text

Mark 5:14-17 “Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. And they began to implore Him to leave their region.”

This topic answers the question; Can Jesus really work?

Can He really impact my life?

Can He really deal with all that I have?

What we will find out is that Jesus is more than able, He is more than enough

This Passage shows that Jesus’ presence can really change a situation

His adequacies nullify my insufficiencies

He is not willing to leave you as He found you!

Will you come as you are?

Will you make Jesus the most important thing in our life?

Mk 5:1 “They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.” The Gerasenes was more than likely the region and Gadara, the local city. Mk 5:2 “When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit [for a long time] met Him,”

Mk 5:3 “and he had his dwelling among the tombs. [And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain;” ] Mk 5:4 “because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him.”

This tells me that they tried. They tried to fix the problem - But they were not able

We have met some situations/people and exclaimed “I eh able” - But Jesus is able!

APPL. if you are in sin, you’re not able to deal with that by yourself.

Mk 5:5 “Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.”

This tells me he was:

Restless, Unsettled,

Luke adds, Lk 8:27 “And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.” - He wasn’t normal

His life was amongst the dead. He lived in isolation. Instilled fear in those that came near him

He was the ultimate reject, BUT NOT FOR JESUS!

Yet Jesus made time for him

Mk 5:6 “Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;”

Did you notice where he was?

Do you know where you are? Right Now!!!

APPL. if you are away from God you need to close the distance

This is what problems can do

This is what sin can do

But we will see wat JESUS can do

What we also notice here, are the presence of two powers

The interaction Jesus from a traditional lens, can be seen as an attempt by Legion to gain control over Jesus

Jesus was up against an army, but Jesus was chill. He had all the power.

APPL. Maybe you just need that reminder that Jesus still has ALL the power - Notice in Mk 5:13 “Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.”

We are up against spiritual powers, but they’re no match for our Lord

Mk 5:7 “and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”” [I wonder if that’s what we do when we are confrotnted by Jesus]

For the demons Jesus is ruining the moment. Taking away the convenience.

For the man, He’s bringing salvation

By the Power of God, Jesus cured this man of demonic possession

He did not leave Him like He found Him

Aren’t you glad that Jesus didn’t leave you like He found you.

Mk 5:14-15 “Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened.”

I see salvation

Sitting - Eph 2:6 “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”

Clothed - Gal 3:27 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Right Mind - Eph 4:23 “and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,”

Jesus will not leave you like He found you

I see choices

The man was happy the people were not

The man wanted to stay with Jesus the people wanted Jesus to Go!

APPL. For some, when they assess a life with Christ around, it comes at too high a cost

Plan of salvation

Don’t try to pre-clean before Jesus cleans