Bible Study - Miracle - Wholeness Restored

Bible Study – Miracle – Wholeness Restored – October 23, 2011

This lesson four (4) in our series of study entitled “It’s a Miracle.”

Our scripture is Mark 5:1-3, 6-13a, 15-20.

This week we will study JESUS’ authority over the spirit world. Many people today do not believe there is a spirit world – evil spirits, demons, Satan. JESUS spoke of
the spirit world in Luke 10:17-20: (My Insert)

17 The Seventy[4] (Those JESUS sent out) returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” 18 He (JESUS) said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions[5]and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that[6]the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

A word of caution, pay special attention to verse 20. Never get over confident in what GOD is doing through you. When Christians become over confident, they often lead rather than follow - I know, I have been there. GOD has HIS ways of getting your attention.

The Apostle Paul wrote about the spirit world in Ephesians 6:10-13:
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics[10] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.[11] 13 This is why you must take up the full armor[12] of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

The good news is that JESUS is the authority over the spirit world. If you encounter evil and you are a Christian, claim the blood of JESUS out loud and speak the name of JESUS. James 4:7 - 7 Therefore, submit to God (Through JESUS). But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Keep in mind that JESUS is your protector. Just say “NO” in the name of JESUS. HE has defeated Satan. HE has won the victory. Keep in mind 1 John 4:1-4:

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh[1] is from God. 3 But every spirit who does not confess Jesus[2] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.
4 You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

We will be studying about the spirit world. I have prayed that all who read this will be protected by the power of GOD and the blood of JESUS. My prayer is that all will see the truth and power in JESUS. Satan will do all he can to blind you to truth.

JESUS and HIS disciples had just encountered a terrible storm as they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. JESUS was asleep. HIS disciples woke HIM up and JESUS spoke and the storm stopped. JESUS has authority over nature. Satan was likely at work to keep JESUS from getting to where HE was going, which can often happen when Christians are called to serve GOD. It was a teaching moment for JESUS’ disciples and prepared them for what was about to happen when they reached their destination. Christians must keep in mind that JESUS has the authority over all things – the physical and the spirit worlds – things seen and unseen.

Let’s read Mark 5:1-3, 6-13a:
Demons Driven Out by the Master
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.[1] 2 As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him. 3 He lived in the tombs. No one was able to restrain him any more—even with chains—

JESUS and HIS disciples arrived at their destination, which was Gentile territory called Gerasenes (GEHR uh seens). Matthew referred to the area as Gadarenes (GAD uh reens) and Gadara was one of the ten (10) cities located in the area also known as Decapolis. Most Christians refer to the area as Gadarene. Some of the old copies of Mark referred to the area as Gedarenes but most copies refer to the area as Gerasenes. There was a town located about 35 miles inland called Gerasa and a town about 6 miles inland called Gedara.

There is an interesting difference between Matthew’s account of this event and Luke’s and Mark’s account. Matthew reported that there were two (2) demon possessed men. We can only speculate why the difference. Some Bible scholars think that there were two (2) possessed men but only one spoke. But the main point is that GOD provided a teaching opportunity for JESUS’ disciples and the people who lived in that area which included some Jews but mostly Gentiles by healing the demon possessed man, which resulted in a witness to remain behind to spread the gospel of CHRIST.

People possessed by a demon or evil spirit can have extraordinary strength and perception. This man could not be restrained even with chains. People controlled by drugs can have similar behavior. In fact, various addictions can possess a person and cause them to lose all the ability to control their behavior. They can open themselves to be controlled by evil. This is not to say that all people with addictions are possessed but it can be a form of possession which is referred to as oppression. Things that control the mind can open people, including Christians, up to being oppressed or possessed by evil spirits. Oppression is just short of possession.

Christians must be very careful when dealing with people oppressed and especially those possessed. Always bathe situations where you suspect oppression or possession in prayer. I mean have a group of prayer warriors praying before, during and after you interact with such a person. Never approach a person you suspect of being oppressed or possessed alone. Two (2) or more Christians should go when encountering such a person and during the encounter those not speaking must be praying along with a group that is elsewhere praying during the period you are encountering such a person.

Some Christians try to deliver a person from either oppression or possession. This is an area where you need to know what you are doing. JESUS gives us some insight into delivering people from evil spirits in Matthew 12:43-45: (JESUS is speaking)

An Unclean Spirit’s Return
43 “When an unclean[15]spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And when it arrives, it finds [the house]* vacant, swept, and put in order. 45 Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first. That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

When a demon or evil spirit is cast out of a person with nothing to replace it, mainly the Holy Spirit, the person is subject to being invaded by many other demons/evil spirits. There is another insightful event recorded in Acts 19:11-20 regarding delivering those possessed with demons and evil spirits:

11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or work aprons[1] that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish • chief priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value, and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. 20 In this way the Lord’s message flourished and prevailed.

So many Christians dabble in the occult and think it harmless – horoscopes, fortune tellers, tarot cards, rabbit’s foot, lucky wearing apparel, reading tea leaves, palm reading, séances and the list goes on and on. Christians DON’T DO IT!!! And teach your children not to do it. The spirit world is real and it is designed to enslave and destroy.

Christians, JESUS is the authority over your life, do not compromise. Notice in our next scripture that the spirit world acknowledges the authority of JESUS.

Let’s read Verses 6-13a:
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do You have to do with me,[2] Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg[3] You before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For He had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 “What is your name?” He asked him. “My name is Legion,”[4] he answered Him, “because we are many.” 10 And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region. 11 Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons[5] begged Him, “Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them.” 13 And He gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs, and the herd of about 2,000 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.

The spirit world knows GOD and JESUS. In James 2:19 - 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. Believing that GOD exists is one thing but do you believe in HIS ONLY SON, JESUS. JESUS is your way to salvation, eternal life, the miracle of rebirth, the abundant life, citizenship in heaven, being GOD’S child and protection as long as you do not remove yourself from HIS circle of protection due to bad choices, to name a few of the benefits that are out of this world.

The possessed man ran to JESUS and knelt. The demons knew that JESUS was the Son of the Most High GOD. They knew that HE would judge them and that HE had not completed HIS mission upon earth so HE had not come to judge them. They knew that HE had the authority over them. So they begged HIM not to torment them and ask that HE not send them out of the region. We know for whatever reason, demons seem to like dry places.

JESUS had told the demons to come out of the man but they kept pleading with JESUS. It could be that JESUS wanted HIS disciples and any other onlookers to know the gravity of the situation.

JESUS asked for the demon to reveal his name. The demon obeyed JESUS’ request, which revealed the authority of JESUS over the demons. The demon complied and revealed that his name was legion because they were many. We can speculate that in the spirit world that there is a hierarchy and the demon speaking to JESUS was the lead demon. Keep in mind this is speculation.

We know that a Roman legion contained 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers. The demons know that a herd of swine was feeding near-by and they asked JESUS to send them into the swine. Notice that JESUS had total authority over them, they were subservient to HIM. JESUS spoke and the demons left the man and went immediately into the swine. The power and authority of JESUS over the spirit world was revealed and confirmed. JESUS has this same power today. Do you trust HIM to deliver you from the bondage of things that control your life and keep you from obediently serving JESUS?

Why the swine? It would be a visual demonstration of the magnitude of the demons involved and it would reveal JESUS authority over the demons to the disciples of JESUS and all who were observing. It was a dramatic event, as well as, an economic loss for those who owned the pigs, which would spread the story like wildfire.

Does this mean there were about 2,000 unclean spirits? What we know is that there were enough pigs for the demons to occupy and confine them to a watery grave.

Let’s read Mark 5:14-17: (My Insert)
14 The men who tended them[6] (The swine) ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been demon-possessed by the legion, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and [told]* about the pigs. 17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region.
Those who tended the pigs ran to town to tell the owners of the pigs what had happened. As they ran, they told people along the way, as well as, the town’s people what had happened. So an entourage goes out to meet JESUS and see what on earth took place. They saw JESUS and the man who had been demon-possessed sitting together. The man was dressed and sane. Rather than rejoicing, they were afraid. Who was this man called JESUS who had the power to make a crazy man sane and destroy 2,000 pigs.
Those who witnessed what had happened told the town people what happened. Rather than rejoicing that a demon-possessed man had been healed and made whole, they beg JESUS to leave. So often we want to reject that which we do not understand or threaten our economy.

JESUS does not embrace unbelief. So HE honored their request and prepared to leave but HE left them with a powerful message. JESUS casting out demons was a sign that JESUS spoke of in Luke 11:20 - 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. There were Jews living in this area and they likely knew the scriptures. They were likely the owners of the pigs in spite of the fact that pigs were not kosher. GOD wants the message of salvation to reach all people regardless of nationality or profession.
Let’s read Mark 5:18-20:

18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. 19 But He would not let him; instead, He told him, “Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you.” 20 So he went out and began to proclaim in the • Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and they were all amazed.

The man who had been demon-possessed begged JESUS to let him go with them but JESUS told him that he needed to stay. It was “no” with a purpose. JESUS had a plan and a purpose for the man. So often when Christians encounter JESUS, they want to spend their time with HIM, which is good. But once they encounter JESUS and have been made whole, it is time for them to put into action what they know about HIM. This is not saying not to study and build a relationship with JESUS. But there comes a time when Christians are called to leave their comfort zone and spread the Good News of JESUS to others. The man had a powerful story to tell to others about the power of JESUS. HE had authority over demons and HE was the true Son of GOD, the promised Messiah. The man was obedient and stayed back and witnessed to others and they were amazed.
Your personal testimony is the most powerful witness for CHRIST. Tell others how you came to know CHRIST as your Savior.

CHRIST makes all who believe in HIM whole and HIS desire is for Christians to tell others about HIM where they live. Some are called to go to other places but all are called to witness at home. We are in spiritual warfare every day. The Apostle Paul wrote how Christians are to be prepared to do battle every day in Ephesians 6:13-17:
13 This is why you must take up the full armor[12] of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.[13]16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

Has JESUS made your life whole? If not, now is the time to ask HIM to take charge of your life and to make you whole. Obediently serving HIM is the most exciting and hardest thing you will ever do but the most rewarding. Ask HIM to forgive you of your sins and to deliver you from that which prevents you from obediently serving HIM. Then rejoice that your name is written in the book of heaven, the Lambs Book of Life. Blessings!