Self-Help

Christopher Stephens

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Jesus proves to be the strongest force in the face of the demon possesed man and societal influence. He can do the same for the black community today.

Notes

Transcript

A Minority Group

Speak from the heart to

The oppression of black people

How long inequality has existed 401 years now

The appearance of equality and the reality of it not appearing

The destruction of the black family

The imbalanced justice system toward black people. Longer crime for the same time

The suppression of true feelings to make sure we don’t nullify progress or upset others who are not dealing with the same issues

It’s enough to make you lose your mind, let alone your cool.

Where do we go when we lose control?

I believe that the answer is Jesus…

Mark 5:1–20 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. 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.” 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. 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. 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. 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. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 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.

The Adversary

Mark 5:1–5 ESV

Mark 5:1–20 (BEC): Demons are “unclean spirits” and can easily get a foothold in the lives of people who cultivate sinful practices.

John 10:10: All Satan wishes to do is to kill, steal, and destroy!

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

1 Peter 5:8-9 He seeks to devour

1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Satan will use what he can to rob you of what God has for you. Do not become possessed with what is not of God!

Society

Mark 5:3–5 ESV

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.

Society could not help

They tried to bind in shackles and chains, but it was no help.

They tried to subdue him, but it was no help!

Demons give power to break chains!

lk 8 29

Luke 8:29 ESV

29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.)

Laws cannot change the hearts of men!

We can eradicate polio and chicken pox but society cannot get rid of racism, sexism, or classism.

When it comes to the problem of the heart. Society still has no answer to fix these issues.

Savior

Mark 4:39 ESV

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Jesus came to the man in a gracious way. Even through a storm!

Mark 5:6–7 ESV

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.”

Jesus provided an ear and gave them a voice!

Jesus spoke to the men and then allowed them to speak.

Mark 5:7–8 ESV

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.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

Demons confessed their belief system to Jesus!

Authority of Jesus

Reality of judgment

Their final destination

Mark 5:9–14 ESV

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. 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.

The demons were a legion.

This could be up to 6,000 men in a Roman army

The Demons showed just how highly they think of mankind.

They are OK with being in pigs and men.

If you give in to the demons, know that they care nothing about you or what you believe in.

V13

For Jesus to allow pigs to go into a herd of pigs showed that he cared nothing about the structure of their economy! He loved people first!

Mark 5:15–16 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. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs.

Jesus gives the ability to become new creatures

2 cor 5 17

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

3 Requests

Mark 5:17–20 ESV

17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 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.

The request of the demons

“Jesus get out of here!”

Demon possessed man wants to go with Jesus

Jesus did not grant the request of the demon possessed man who was now clean.

The man needed to stay where he was planted to be a witness to the power, love, and grace of Jesus Christ!