Our brother, the free Man

Introduction

I have always referred to this as the story of the Maniac of Gadara. I do not plan to that anymore. He is our brother.

What Jesus makes new should not be referred to as it’s old, unchanged identity.

Son of God.... “While the men in the boat are doubting what manner of man this is, that even the winds and the sea obey him, the demons come to tell them....”

Major Premise: There are many ways to be bound by sin, but there is only one way to be set free.

Luke 8:26–40 (KJV 1900)

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

No man could pass by the way

Matthew 8:28 (KJV 1900)

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Untold story of a mother that wonders how did we get here?

Did he get in some trouble at school and get around some other troubled kids? In Matthew it speaks of two men.

Did he begin to experiment with drugs and that led him to friends who were getting into the occult?

Had his name been on a prayer list? Had people tried to help.

We only know no man could pass by because apparently there had been some attempts.

This is a sad place for a family to be. No more numbers to call. yellow notepad) http://www.findmysanctuary.com

People could not constrain him because what he desperately needed as the Lord to come and free him.

Mark 5:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

Free Bird: 'Cause I'm as free as a bird now. And this bird you cannot change

When you realize that you are helpless in this situation.

Acts 19:13–16 (KJV 1900)

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

If we are possessed by what we want or by what we have and if what we want or what we have is not God in the Gospel of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, then we are no less in the thrall of sin that this man.

Purpose of Satan in this world

Satan has come to steal.

John 10:10 (KJV 1900)

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This is seen on the opening pages of Scripture with Adam and Eve.

Satan has come to destroy.

The fate of the pigs illustrates the sheer destructiveness of demons to their hosts.

It corresponds with the father’s report in Mk. 9:22 of the demon’s attempts to kill his possessed child by throwing him into water.

Mark 9:22 (KJV 1900)

22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Satan wants to take our life.

The devil is the enemy of life and truth. By a lie he brought spiritual and physical death to mankind

John 8:44 (KJV 1900)

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan doesn’t even stop after we become believers. He would love to have you live your days in the tomb of despair.

Luke 22:31 (KJV 1900)

31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Many testimonies of people who say I was away from the Lord and I had a friend who knew Jesus but was not living for Him get his life right and invite me to church.

No man could constrain him until he met Jesus.

Luke 8:28 (KJV 1900)

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

When Jesus is enthroned, Satan is dethroned.

In times past.

Ephesians 2:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

There is a battle.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV 1900)

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

What is Satan’s strategy?

Satan lies, and is the father of lies. John 8:44

Satan blinds the mind of unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan disguises himself as a messenger of light giving him access to more areas and influence. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

I am certain Satan is pleased with some occult practice happening in the woods of North GA.

Satan is certainly find with people dressing up and going into nice buildings to hear less harsh but equally damning lies about God.

Satan wants to remove the Word of God from peoples heart. Luke 8

The battle has been won by Jesus, who disarmed them in the cross and resurrection.

Colossians 2:14–15 (KJV 1900)

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

This is the reason for the Season, this is why Jesus came!

1 John 3:8 (KJV 1900)

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Mighty Fortress

VERSE 2 Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He The Lord of hosts His name, from age to age the same And He must win the battle

VERSE 3 And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure One little word shall fell him

What is the word? _______________ Jesus

It is clearly not the mere sound of those two syllables that commands Satan, but the authority from God that lies behind them.

Luke 8:28–29 (KJV 1900)

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

It is not just repeating the name Jesus over and over again.

The demons were not in trouble in hearing the name but in the fact the man would be recognizing and submitting to Him as “Son of God most high”

God loves you is an important truth. Something else that is important for you to know is that Satan hates you. The truth that will be so liberating to this man is not that God loves him but that Jesus is Lord!

This man realized he was believing lies

It doesn’t really matter what took him to the tombs but believing the truth of God’s Word is what is going to set him free.

In research to find out if Luther meant Jesus as his word I came to find that it is most likely the word “Liar”. Luther says that the one simple proclamation that defeats Satan is the simple verdict “Liar.”

Revelation 12:10 (KJV 1900)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

What have I do with you?

The man had believed a lie. Luke 8:28 “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.”

Torment you? No, Jesus came to give you life!

You are justified in Christ Romans 5:1

He came to make you clean 1 Corinthians 6:11

He will make you holy and blameless Ephesians 1:4

You are loved by God Colossians 3:12

To help those in bondage we have to help liberate them by showing them the truth of God’s Word.

To resist you must submit.

James 4:7 (KJV 1900)

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

There is many articles about resisting and how to tame ourselves but none of them will have any lasting change without a submission to Jesus as Lord.

When we submit to the Lord more than Satan will flee.

Power of a changed life

BEFORE Possessed by Demons

Demon-possessed Luke 8:27

In the tombs Mark 5:3

Chained hand and foot Mark 5:4

No man could tame him Mark 5:4

Crying Mark 5:5

Cutting himself Mark 5:5

No clothes Luke 8:27

AFTER Liberated by Christ

Demons had gone out Luke 8:35

At the feet of Jesus Luke 8:35

Sitting Mark 5:15

In his right mind Luke 8:35

Begged……him Mark 5:18

Go home to your family Mark 5:19

Dressed Luke 8:35

Told Everything

Matthew 8:33 (KJV 1900)

33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

This was not small incident. The man was saved from more than they could have ever imagined. 2000 pigs

Mark 5:13 (KJV 1900)

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

The man was ready to follow Jesus anywhere.

Mark 5:18 (KJV 1900)

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Going home most certainly wasn’t easy but it was so rewarding.

Could you imagine the rebuttal?

But they know me!

They know the man that I was!

I have hurt so many people along the way!

Jesus response could have been “exactly”

The commission that Jesus sends people on regardless of geography is simple!

Luke 8:39 (KJV 1900)

39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

God used this man’s testimony in a powerful manner.

Luke 8:40 (KJV 1900)

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

The man got his name back!

"Jesus asked him, 'What is your name?'" Speaking to the man but knowing he would be answered by the dominant personalities, the dominant force in the man.

Maybe you have a person in your life that is so under bondage and you say you just want “name” back

Only Jesus through the truth of His Word can do this but He is willing and able.

Not everyone is looking to celebrate a changed life

Matthew 8:34 (KJV 1900)

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Demons wanted more time to cause damage.

They feared being sent out into the abyss before time.

They know their time is coming.

2 Peter 2:4 (KJV 1900)

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Demons had a proper fear of the Lord.

Matthew 10:28 (KJV 1900)

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Deliverer Dismissed

“To name the demons in modern society is to incur disfavor.”

Man in Dawsonville found guilty of killing friend because she might tell the police he robbed a store. Her life not worth the chance he might spend time in jail

It is not uncommon to experience a backlash for ministry that opposes the economic gain of sin.

Acts 19:27 (KJV 1900)

27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

Every redeemed person is the a lost customer for this world. So we should never expect them to understand or celebrate a life changed by the Gospel. Nor should we expect them to see Jesus as the answer for taming a man.