You Keep the Pigs, I'll Take His Presence

TELL THEM WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!

Mark 5:1–5 ESV

1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.

mark 5.1-

Demon-possessed people can have supernatural strength.

Demons like to isolate individuals and their ultimate goal is the utter destruction of that person.

A person, fully possessed with a demon can begin to act out and manifest in ways that have no common explanation.

Demon-possessed girl in the Netherlands.

Mark 5:19–20 ESV

19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

mark

Tell them how much the Lord has done for you

How He has had mercy on you!

He went away and began to PROCLAIM

In the Decapolis - (ten cities)

How much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?

Two years ago, an archeological expedition in the area uncovered a mask that was supposed to represent the Greek God, Pan - half man- half goat

Two years ago archaeologists in northern Israel may have unearthed a sanctuary of the Greek god Pan in the ancient city of Hippos.

Excavations by the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa have uncovered a monumental Roman gate, which may have led to a compound dedicated to the worship of Pan, the god of flocks and shepherds, who is depicted as half man and half goat in Greek mythology.

The new archaeological find may help researchers better understand previous discoveries in the ancient city. Last year, the archaeologists discovered a bronze mask of Pan, which is unusually large compared to other such bronze masks of the Greek God that date from the same period

"The mask, and now the gate in which it was embedded, are continuing to fire our imaginations," Eisenberg said. "The worship of Pan sometimes included ceremonies involving drinking, sacrifices and ecstatic rituals, including nudity and sex. This worship usually took place outside the city walls, in caves and other natural settings."

Hippos, also called Sussita, overlooks the Sea of Galilee and was established in the third century B.C. and destroyed by an earthquake in the year A.D. 749. Hippos is also of historic significance in Christianity, because it once formed what is known as the "Decapolis" — an area along the Jordan River described in the New Testament that, together with other ancient cities along the Jordan River, was the land in which Jesus performed miracles.

No wonder the man had devils, we was from an epicenter of demonic worship! We think we can expose ourselves to anything and it not bother us!

This man possessed with legions of demons began to go into a region that was established as a regional demonic stronghold and began to proclaim Jesus!

THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY

We preach this story and talk about how awesome it is that this demon-possessed man got delivered and set free.

How Jesus cast the devils out and the man was restored

And we should - that’s a good word!

It tells me that no matter how bound up you are, there is hope!

Mark 5:5–7 ESV

5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

mk 5.5

mark 5.8

Mark 5:8–13 ESV

8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

Hippos, also called Sussita, overlooks the Sea of Galilee and was established in the third century B.C. and destroyed by an earthquake in the year A.D. 749. Hippos is also of historic significance in Christianity, because it once formed what is known as the "Decapolis" — an area along the Jordan River described in the New Testament that, together with other ancient cities along the Jordan River, was the land in which Jesus performed miracles.

Jesus begins addressing the demon and not the man, because this demon had such control over this person in full possession that the man was not even there any more.

When Jesus asks the demon his name, he’s not trying to carry on a conversation with the demon. He’s gained control of the demon and the demon revealed that there were actually several of them inhabiting this man.

When Jesus asks the demon his name, he’s not trying to carry on a conversation with the demon. He’s gained control of the demon and the demon revealed that there were actually several of them inhabiting this man.

Mark 3:27 ESV

27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

When Jesus asks the demon his name, he’s not trying to carry on a conversation with the demon. He’s gained control of the demon and the demon revealed that there were actually several of them inhabiting this man.

Mark 3:27 ESV

27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Jesus was not granting the demons a favor by sending them into the pigs - he’s demonstrating that ultimate goal of every devil - TO TOTALLY DESTROY THE BODY THEY INHABIT.

To invoke a response in the people to make a decision.

Will we celebrate deliverance and welcome true power of God over these false things we worship

Or will we reject the presence that has NOW cost us something!?

You Keep the Pigs, I’ll Take the Presence!

Mark 5:14 ESV

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened.

mk 5. 1

Who fled? The herdsman, the ones watching over the pigs.

They told it in the city and the hill country!

What story are you telling?

The content of our story reveals the content of our hearts!

PIGS OVER PRESENCE

Mark 5:15 ESV

15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

. 14

AND THEY WERE AFRAID.....

INSTEAD OF JOY, THERE WAS FEAR

THEIR RESPONSE REVEALED THEIR HEART

THEIR RESPONSE REVEALED THE THEIR HEART

INSTEAD OF JOY, THERE WAS FEAR

Mark 5:16–17 ESV

16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE THE DEMON-POSSESSED MAN

. 16-17

THE 5 PIGS THAT WILL ROB YOU OF HIS PRESENCE

1. PIGS OF PERSONAL PRIORITY

PIGS OF PERSONAL PRIORITY

WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US?

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY WHAT IS PRIORITY? - PRIORITY IS WHAT PEOPLE MAKE TIME FOR!

2. THE PIGS OF MAN’S AGENDA

WHAT ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO BUILD OR ACCOMPLISH?

WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVE. EVERYONE HAS A MOTIVE!

SOME GOOD, SOME BAD

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PIGS, I’LL TAKE HIS PRESENCE!

3. THE PIGS OF OUR PET SINS

THE PIGS OF OUR PET SINS

WHAT ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO HOLD ON TO?

THE PET SINS ARE WHAT WE WANT TO HOLD BACK

THEY ARE CALLED PET SINS BECAUSE WE THINK WE HAVE THEM BUT REALLY THEY HAVE US.

WHAT YOU FEED IS GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK!

4. THE PIGS OF COMFORT AND COMPLACENCY

WHAT IS OUR DESTINATION?

WE WANT A NON-BLOODY AND NON-CONFRONTATIONAL CROSS

WE

5. THE PIGS OF PAST MOVES

WHERE ARE WE HEADING?

I’M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR LAST 5 YEARS, I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR NEXT 5!