When Pigs Fly

Title: LEGION AND THE PIGS

Intro: 1. The Bible is full of miracles- someone counted 182, not counting creating stars, creation

2. The Gospel of John calls them signs

3. Signs point to something, they aren’t there for themselves

a. Family trip to California, we didn’t stop at the sign that said, “Welcome to California”

b. The sign isn’t the point, the sign points to something

4. Signs in the Gospel of John

a. water to wine- Jesus is the best, God saves the best for last

b. Healing the lame man at Bethesda- Lord of the Sabbath

c. Feeding the 5000- I am the Bread of Life

d. Healing the man blind from birth- I am the Light of the World

e. Raising Lazarus from the dead- I am the Resurrection and the Life

5. They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 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!” 29 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. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

TS: Some lessons we can learn from this miracle that apply to us today

I. THE SIGN

A. Jesus is Lord over all

1. No man was able to control the man, but Jesus was (Ricky Bobby- I’m on fire)

a. Everything changed when Jesus stepped onto the shore that day (East of the Jordan)

b. Everything changes when Jesus steps into our chaos

2. The demons recognized Him and were afraid of Him

a. The didn’t want to be in His presence

1) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder

b. They were afraid of being cast into hell

1) Demons don’t want to not have a home

2) Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first

3) Always looking for a place they are welcome

B. Jesus is in control of the uncontrollable things in your life

1. Sometimes the stuff that happens to us is demonic

2. Sometimes it is the results of being broken people living in a broken world

3. Sometimes it’s our fault. Sometimes it’s the fault of others

4. Regardless… God works it all for our good

a. Christian hope says I can trust God this will be the best for me

b. “Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

c. Ron Carpenter’s grandma would use a stool to reach the top shelf of the pantry. The footstool helped her reach places she couldn’t otherwise reach. Could your adversary take you to higher places. Could Goliath be the one who made David what he was to become?

5. Jesus is in control of the uncontrollable things in your life

II. THE MAN

A. He lived in the graveyard v3

1. Tombstones are interesting

a. Funny tombstones

1) Tennessee- “He was a simple man who died of complications.”

2) Here lies the body of our Anna, done to death by a banana. It wasn’t the fruit that laid her low, but the skin of the thing that made her go- Enosburg, Vermont

3) Here lie the bones of Nancy Jones. A life lived with no terrors, she lived an old maid and died an old maid, no hits, no runs, no errors

4) Beneath this stone my wife doth lie. Now she’s at rest and so am I

5) I told you I was sick- Round Rock, TX

6) Anton LaVey- written on his epitaph “I only regret the times that I was too nice”

7) Leonard Ravenhill’s epitaph- Are the things your living for worth Christ dying for

8) AW Milne- When he came there was no light. When he left there was no darkness

2. They represent the past

a. He was haunted by his past

1) Something he had done- mistake, sin, regrets, shame

2) Something that was done to him- parents, abuse, hurtful words

3) Diablo- accuser

B. His bondage was Self-induced 4

1. No one could bind him, but himself

2. He could break free from the chains but he was still bound

a. Paul & Silas in Philippi- they were free, jailer was bound

3. And now that you have found God or should I say, now that God has found you, why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual powers of this world?

a. Baby elephant is trained by being chained to a stake when it is young- never forgets

4. Most of our bondage is of our own doing

a. I had a part in every bad decision I have made

C. He was alone

1. He stayed in solitary places 29

a. We learn to hide it by staying away from relationships

b. We don’t let people get too close so they won’t see our chaos, issues

c. He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom

d. Redwoods falling down on expensive houses- 350’ tall, 5-6’ in the ground

e. We need friends who are close enough to know when something is up

2. Some of don’t enjoy the company when we are alone

a. We don’t like ourselves and we take it out on others

1) We project our feelings about ourselves onto others- weight, clothing, acne

b. The devil wants us to feel trapped and like things will never change

D. There are some things we will never get free from until we involve others

1. Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed

a. Most people need help getting free from habits

b. Confessing to God can be easy, confessing to a friend takes humility

2. Friendship becomes the road that the Holy Spirit most often travels- Jeanne Mayo

3. When you are up in life, your friends get to know who you are. When you are down in life, you get to know who your friends are- Nicky Gumbel

III. THE PEOPLE

A. They asked Him to leave

1. They were afraid v35

2. They were overcome with fear v37

3. Dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid

a. This guy had been running around the cemetery naked- that’s scary

b. They were more afraid of him being dressed and in his right mind

B. Some people are more comfortable in their chaos than they are in peace 15

1. Seems like some people are drama magnets

a. Maybe we just hear about it more because of social media

b. We have so much more information these days that it can bring stress

2. Chaos comes in many shapes & sizes

a. Schedules- always running, going, can’t slow down

b. Family dysfunction- kids, extended family, co-signed

c. Health- changed your plans

d. Finances- behind on taxes, lost job

C. We learn to live with stuff

1. - 38 years, “Do you want to get well?”

2. - roll away the stone- He’ll stink

3. We will never change until the pain of staying where you are becomes greater than the pain of change- Pat Mesiti

4. - Four friends didn’t settle, they went through the roof

Cncl: 1. The rest of the story

a. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

1) , - large crowds followed, feeding of the 4,000

2. Pain is inevitable but misery is optional. We can’t stop what happens to us, but we can certainly stop what happens in us- Andre Olivier‬

3. Jesus has stepped into the room and wants to bring peace to your chaos

4. Don’t be afraid?- others think, I’ve tried before

5. What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

Altr: 1. Salvation

2. Peace in the chaos, control of the uncontrollable