Jesus Is Stronger Than Demons

https://youtu.be/tc5rDVyhKb0?si=T6KbQN8sMrEUwTVg

“The Ring came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. And there, it consumed him. The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind.”

LOTR Video Of Gollum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knImeAiO1qc&t=100s

The whole story, with a sea storm just before, this demon possessed man meeting them, and what happens after, indicates that the demons did not want Jesus in this territory.

Demons Separate From Life and Love

Mark 5:1–2 NIV

1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

Mark 5:3 (NIV)

3 This man lived in the tombs

Notice this man was completely separated from other living people.

The man was isolated by both the demon’s influence over his mind and the people’s response to his terrible captivity.

All people tormented by demons are victims.

Demons seek to disrupt our connections with God (life) and others (love).

Demons Create a Threat to Others

Mark 5:3 (NIV)

3 … and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.

Obviously, people felt threatened by this demon possessed man.

While demonized people are themselves victims, the demonized will also become demonizers.

This makes dealing with them even more difficult and requires God’s wisdom

Demons Overpower Human Strength

Mark 5:4 NIV

4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

There is no solution that man can create that will be strong enough to rescue others from demonic power.

Some try to medicate, imprison, appease, e

Nothing we can do will fully release others or lift strongholds

Demons Inspire Despair and Self Harm

Mark 5:5 NIV

5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

mMuch of what people feel and think that causes harm and despair is really a result of demons working

Demons Know Who Jesus Is

Mark 5:6–8 NIV

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Even the demons shudder at His name.

This one bows

Demons Don’t Work Alone

Mark 5:9 NIV

9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

Demons Will Scheme To Disrupt Ministry

Mark 5:10–17 NIV

10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

The pig story overshadowed the man’s deliverance.

Jesus Cannot Be Stopped by Demons

Mark 5:18–20 NIV

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

The demons thought Jesus’ mission was for the whole city… But, Jesus’ mission was to set ONE MAN free!