Getting Out of the Graveyard!

Getting Out of the Graveyard!

Luke 8:26–39 NKJV

26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. 30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. 32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. 38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

INTRODUCTION:

Jesus found his man in the city of the dead.

The demoniac had his dwellings in a country graveyard.

A place where the dead are buried

Graveyard Necropolis Boneyard Churchyard

Crypt Tomb Catacomb Vault

Urn field Mausoleum Mortuary Ossuary

Boot hill

Burial pit Burial place

Burial ground

Marble town City of the dead Resting place (Yet no matter how hard he looked he found no rest) Plot

Potterʼs field Sepulcher Shrine Sarcophagus Chamber

This is perfect type of a lost man’s spiritual condition.

Every sinner is “dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1)

He lived in tombstone territory!

Note the salvation of the man who lived in a graveyard.

I. HIS DREADFUL CONDITION. He Was—

A. Shameless…

“He wore no Clothes” Luke 8:27.

Naked, and he knew it not.

He was so completely possessed and occupied by evil spirits that he was utterly unconscious of his own nakedness.

When Adam and Eve sinned they knew.

B. He was Friendless…

“Neither abode he in any house but in the tombs.” Luke 8:27.

Being in league with the devil he was cut off from all his relatives and friends.

He could have no fellowship with the dead, yet his desire was to be there.

C. He was Helpless…

“He was driven of the devil” Luke 8:29.

He could in no wise help himself;

he was like a beast driven by impulses wrought in him by the wicked spirits.

His mind was blinded by the God of this age.

II. HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD CHRIST.

It was one of—

A. Fear…

“He cried, and fell down before Him” Luke 8:28. When a person comes face to face with God the inner thought and intents of the heart are revealed. There is the dominating power of fear that controls the mind.

B. Opposition…

“He said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High.” Luke 8:28

The demon-possessed have nothing in common with the Son of God,

… any more than the pits of hell have with the glory of heaven.

C. Entreaty…

“I beseech thee, torment me not.” Luke 8:28 Here is the confession of the inner heart with conviction that the final judgment is in the hands of Jesus the Son of God. “He hath loosed us and from our sins by his Blood,” Rev. 1:5.

III. HIS PERFECT DELIVERANCE

A. Confession…

“Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? and he said Legion.” Luke 8:30

Nothing good can come from a deceitful heart.

B. Emancipation…

(Lifted) “They found the man out of whom the devils were departed sitting at the feet of Jesus, Clothed, and in his right mind.” Luke 8:35

C. Witness-Bearing…

“He went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him… ” Luke 8:39