Prepare For The Other Side

Intro Story…

Talk about the UnKnown…

Underestimating Property Line - changed the entire border of France and Belguim.

When we “underestimate” something, we aren’t prepared for the reality that something can create.

- ILL: Ordering flooring // um, I didn’t measure, but I think the floor is about…3 boxes should do…get 2/3 into the room & run out. “underestimate”

- Some of you are getting 2/3rd’s down the road of our assignment by God & the enemy is fighting you and you’re wondering “should I turn back” “maybe this isn’t God”

(It’s because we are underestimating the attack trying to hold us back)

Underestimating His Presence

Have you ever wondered “God where are you?”

I believe that Jesus wants to visit us individually today. Jesus prophetically spoke in letters to the church written by the Apostle John and he said…

Revelation 3:20 NLT

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Church family – I believe today is a day of encounter with Jesus!

We don’t have to wonder where he is – HE IS HERE!

There are moments in scripture where the people felt one way…but the reality was another!

Daniel – looked around and saw lions, but God shut the mouths of the lions

Woman who was almost stoned, but Jesus said “look around, where are your accusers?”

Abraham – about to sacrifice Isaac – he looked up and saw a ram!

I believe today is a day where your feelings turn into a Jesus reality – he wants to encounter us – he standing at the door – will we open it???

Underestimating Vision

Matthew 5:14 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

He goes on to say why…so that people would see our good deeds & glorify our Father in heaven.

Our call is to be Jesus to our families, our friends, in our workplace…to bring glory to God!

I want us to understand that when Jesus spoke this parable, he was speaking these words from Galilee, but was most likely pointing across the “sea of Galilee” to an actual city that was on a hill, known as “Hippos”.

- MAP PICTURE - Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide- SEA OF GALILEE PICTURE - So, Jesus points 8 miles away to this city on a hill in the Decapolis Region

(when that city lights up – it can’t be hidden)

Mark 4:35 NLT

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

So, remember, Jesus is on the side of Galilee (preaching, teaching, miracles all to the Jewish people) & he tells his disciples, let’s go OVER THERE! 8 miles away, at night, to a place we have never been…

Now this part of the story, many of us are probably familiar with…they are in the boat & Jesus is asleep through the storm (to his credit, he had taught a lot that day – nothing like a Sunday afternoon nap after ministering all day) The disciples wake him up and cry out “don’t you care about us?” Jesus speaks to the storm and the waters quiet.

- This was a traumatic night and would have taken 6 hours if the seas were calm, but most likely it was close to a 12-hour journey because we see in the next chapter that it’s daytime when they arrive.

The “other side” isn’t easier, but always worth it.

Ever have a God-idea and because of the clarity, “I heard from God” we attach “easy” to it?

Jesus said “let’s go to the other side” – get in the boat (storm) – did you bring us here to die?? // Dating – let’s do it God’s way & stay pure – temptation comes // Fasting – I sensed

God speaking to stretch, go without – Hunger pains, enemy throws arrows like a flood in Cape Coral // We begin to tithe & put God first, car breaks down or medical bills

I just want to remind you…If Jesus said it, in spite of the storm, in spite of the hardships…He promises, it’s worth it – Following Jesus to where he’s leading is always worth it…and we are

about to see why in this story!

Mark 5:1–4 NLT

So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

Jesus cares about the outcast.

- “this man lived in the tombs” We were able to visit the Holy Land in June. Got to visit Hippos, the city in the Decapolis that was upon a Hill! Archeological site- uncovered the city from the time of Jesus.

I’ve always read this and thought of tombs like a cemetery (he was walking around the cemetery – like the Michael Jackson “thriller” scene)

Guide explained that tombs were actual “caves” – they would bury the dead in caves.

CAVES PICTURE

This outcast – man with impure spirit had been chained, but he broke the chains, no one could subdue him…so he ends up in the caves…

There are some in our city that have been disregarded or forgotten about…but Jesus cares for them.

Mark 5:5–10 NLT

Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.

Underestimate Spiritual Warfare

We aren’t demon-possessed, but we’ve got “legion” of demons that are attacking us – JESUS SAYS, “what is your name?”

It’s time to start naming the warfare for what it is…Demon of:

Disbelief (doubt that it will happen)

Fear (holding me back)

Temptation, Sin that I keep getting entangled in

Insecurity & People Pleasing

Lies (wake up hearing “you’re not good enough” “you’re so stupid”)

Division (our marriage is a mess, our relationships are broken, no one is good enough because we’ve let bitterness & pride overtake us instead of forgiveness & peacemaking)

Jesus had already said “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” – His goal is freedom for this man!

Jesus’ goal was freedom for this man and His goal is freedom for you too!

Same for us… don’t underestimate the Spiritual Warfare

Underestimating Your Purpose

1 John 4:4 NLT

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

BUT ALSO - don’t underestimate that there are more for you than are against you – greater is He that’s in YOU than he that’s in the world.

MIP: But we have to put on the full armor of God and fight – shield of faith & sword of the Spirit…where do you need to experience freedom today?

Mark 5:11–14 NLT

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.” So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened.

the steep bank (remember, it’s a city on the hill)…so they go down and were drowned…the people are like “what is happening?”

Mark 5:15–20 NLT

A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

The healed man wants to go with Jesus… Why didn’t Jesus let him?

If He told other people, “Come follow me” then why does He tell this man “Go home”?

God can take our setbacks and create more purpose than we could ever imagine.

Jesus traveled with the disciples 12 hours, in a storm, to get to the other side for this one man. This one outcast. This one in need.

This was the first Gentile that was reached…up until that point, Jesus had only been in the Jewish regions…so the other side that wasn’t easier was a “new people group” and it made the warfare so worth it!

They were the “city on a hill” and the purpose of this demon-possessed man being healed was because he was chosen to carry the good news.

Mark 7-8 records that Jesus is back in that region and a large crowd of 4,000 show up to learn from Jesus.

Where did they come from?? From this one man!

Your life matters more than you could ever imagine. You have great purpose.

Church family, He hears our Cry!

Tears have great purpose. Did a little research, medically proven: Reduces Stress, Improves Mood, Helps you recover from grief, restore emotional balance

MOUNTAIN PICTURE – STANDING ON THE MOUNTAIN - Noise from the Lake (man in the caves) – crying day and night – JESUS didn’t just randomly pick him, he heard him cry!

It’s okay to embrace where you’re at. No matter what you’ve done. What you’ve been through.

Wherever you are, Jesus is near.

- Freedom (this is why Jesus came, to set us free…)

- Battling Warfare (someone to agree with you)

- Heart to Care again (been self-serving…for the lost & the broken)

- Purpose (boldness to share – to be salt & light)

INVITE TO STAND - PRAY