What’s my Message?

He’d shared his story several hundred times but it never got old. He loved seeing the look on the listeners face as talked the day that he first heard the voice. It was so real and near that he turned around to see who was whispering in his ear. It took almost a day to realize the voice was coming from inside his own mind. It wasn’t kind either. The voice said all kinds of horrible things about himself and would not leave him alone. Then one day the voice took control of his own mouth. Randomly horrible and crazy things would come out of his mouth and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He tried to explain his struggles to those near him but nobody understood. He’d already lost all hope when the now voices took over control of his body to the point that people in his village, even his own parents, would chain him up in the cemetery. The message couldn’t be more clear, they just wanted him to die already. He tried to scream, “I’m the victim!” but no words could come out.

One day as he was walking along the beach alone, he was always alone the there was an unmistakable fear in the voices he’d never heard before. Something about a man named Jesus that was on the boat that he could barely see in the distance. The voices pressed him to run into the fills but with all his might he stayed put with both feet in the water. He had no idea that the man on the boat was about to change his life forever.

Two weeks ago we kicked it off by saying that “We are all called”. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, God has an exciting plant for your life

Then last week we said, “Ok, if I’m so called then so what now?” We walked through the huge question “What’s my mission?” We shared that ultimately our mission is Jesus’ mission must be our 1st priority and then everything falls into place after that. Still, it’s so easy to get off track with competing missions and lose our life focus.

Today we will spend time answering the question, “What’s my message?” What do I actually say while living on mission. If you are already a Christian then this is at the very heart of following Jesus. If you are just checking out this whole God/Church/Jesus thing then you need to know as you try to figure out do I or don’t I—will I or won’t I become a Christian that this is crucial to being a Jesus follower.

Illustration of having a hard time communicating.

Do you ever feel like sharing Jesus is like speaking in a different language?

You just can’t seem to get the words out and you’re pretty sure you are confusing the other person more than you are helping them. You could be talking with a neighbor about sports and it’s easy but the moment you bring up God it’s like you’re playing chubby bunny with 10 marshmallows in your mouth.

If you can relate at all then today’s passage we are studying should greatly encourage you. We are going to look at the same story from two different perspectives. You can start by turning to and later we’ll transition to . Two different perspectives of same story.

Read 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.

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.

That they went across the Sea of Galilee is hugely significant. This was where the non-Jews lived. It traced all the way back to the Old Testament when the Israelites did not complete their job of clearing out all of the Promise Land like God had commanded.

There were the descendants of the people that they let stay. Young Jewish boys did not travel to the other side of the lake.

Read This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

Just because someone has rejected God before doesn’t mean they will this time. The average person who receives Christ has already had 17 unique spiritual encounters before. You have no idea where you fit in that and the impact your words are making. God is far more concerned with your obedience than your impact.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Read Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him

What is your name? Jesus wanted to know his name? Notice that the man is so overpowered by demons that he doesn’t even know his real name. He just calls himself, “Legion”. Can someone’s life seem so hopeless that they forget their identity in God and instead label themselves—ugly, worthless, alone, evil?

So the man asks the question, “Jesus, what do you want with me?”

1) I want to know your name.

2) I want to help you.

3) I want a relationship with you.

What’s my message? It’s simple, To share how God’s goodness has intersected with my life.What did Jesus do and how has it personally impacted my life. Can you do that? That’s the message you’re supposed to be ready with.

(NKJV) 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.

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.

the demon Possessed went on to reach thousands.

Think for a second what that means, he probably went and shared about Jesus to everyone. He probably shared with the very people who cuffed him in chains and left him to die. The message was just too good, his past relationships just didn’t seem to matter anymore