Bible Study - Broken (6) - Right Here, Right Now - Mark 5:1-20 - August 27, 2017

Bible Study – Broken (6) – Right Here, Right Now – August 27, 2017

This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Broken 

Vessels: How GOD Uses Imperfect People.”

Our focus scripture is Mark 5:1-2, 8-15, 18-20.

You don’t have to go far to share your transformed life in CHRIST.

GOD prepares us for what lies ahead. Our background scripture reveals how

GOD prepared JESUS’ disciples for what they were about to witness when they arrived at their destination. Let’s explore!

[Additional thoughts - How did JESUS know where the man possessed by the demons was located? Why did JESUS disciples have to experience the terrible storm before they arrived to their destination? How did the people of view the man who lived among them? How did JESUS view the man possessed by demons? How should we view those who live around us? May we have the mind of JESUS. May we view others through the eyes of JESUS.]

Let’s read Mark 4:35-41 (Background)

Wind and Wave Obey the Master

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side [of the lake]." 

36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was [already] in the boat. And other boats were with Him. 

37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 

38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't you care that we're going to die?" 

39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

40 Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?" 

41 And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

JESUS and HIS disciples were in a boat traveling across the Sea of Galilee. They had launched their boat from Capernaum going to “the country of the Gadarenes.” This was an area known as Decapolis which consisted of ten cities with independent governments. It was an area occupied by Gentiles, thus the raising of pigs.

Why this background? We need to see that Satan will do all he can to prevent us from ministering to those in need of deliverance from sin and the forces that bind them.

JESUS was in the boat during the fierce storm. JESUS knew that HE was secure in the care of HIS Father, GOD. JESUS set the example of trust in GOD.

There was a terrible storm on the sea. JESUS was asleep in the boat. The disciples woke JESUS up because they were afraid for their lives. They asked JESUS didn’t HE care about their lives. This suggests they knew HE was secure but they were not.

JESUS spoke and immediately the wind and the sea calmed. HIS spoken word reflected the power of GOD, HIS Father. GOD spoke the world and the universe into being. This demonstrated JESUS’ authority over the physical and prepared the disciples for what would soon take place when they arrived at their destination. GOD wanted JESUS’ disciples to know that JESUS had authority not only over the physical realm but also the spiritual realm. Let’s continue ---

Let’s read Mark 5:1-7:

Demons Driven Out by the Master

1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. 

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- 

4 because he often had been bound with shackles and chains, but had snapped off the chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 

5 And always, night and day, he was crying out among the tombs and in the mountains and cutting himself with stones. 

6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he (the demon possessed man) ran and knelt down before Him.

7 And he cried out with a loud voice, "What do You have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God, don't torment me!" 

The demons/evil spirits knew JESUS. They knew that JESUS had authority over them and their eternal destiny.

Scripture reveals in James 2:19:

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shutter!

Let’s read Mark 5:8-15:

8 For He had told him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 

JESUS spoke directly to the unclean spirit and commanded that the spirit come out,

9 "What is your name?" He asked him. "My name is Legion," he answered Him, "because we are many." 

JESUS asked the spirit to reveal his name. His name was “Legion.” We know that in the military “Legion” referred to three thousand soldiers but in JESUS’ day it was six thousand soldiers. The bottom line “legion” referred to a multitude of demons.

Addicts can open themselves to multiple enslavements from the world of evil. My prayer is for deliverance but when delivered there must be a filling of the Holy Spirit or else a person can become worse off. How do we know this? Let’s read Matthew 12:43-45:

Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 

44 Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 

45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."

Back to our focus scripture Mark 5:10:

10 And he (legion) kept begging Him not to send them out of the region. 

The spirit speaking to JESUS represented thousands of other spirits dwelling within the man. For whatever reason they liked that region. In general, evil spirits like hot, dry desert type areas. Demons and evil spirits like to inhabit bodies. The good news is that Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit and cannot be possessed but they can be oppressed.

Christians dealing with the spirit world must exercise caution. They must be prayed up and have no unconfessed sin. They need to have fellow Christians praying with them when they deal with the possessed or the oppressed.

In Acts 19:13-16, we read:

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 

14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 

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

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

The spirit world in not to be taken lightly. The Apostle Paul gives us additional insight into the spirit world as recorded in Ephesians 6:10-12:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And how to be prepared to fight against the forces of evil as recorded in Ephesians 6:13-20:

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 

19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

All Christians are ambassadors for CHRIST and need to be lifted up in prayer. All Christians need to have the courage to speak with boldness. Christians need to pray for each other because we are all in spiritual warfare.

Let’s continue reading our focus scripture Mark 5:11-15:

11 Now a large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 

12 The demons begged Him, "Send us to the pigs, so we may enter them."

The demons suggest that JESUS send them into pigs. The demons knew the power and authority of JESUS.

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.

JESUS gave them permission to enter into the pigs. When the evil spirits entered the pigs, it gave those witnessing this event an idea of the magnitude of the event. It also revealed the devastating nature of demons in an organic living animal or person.

Why didn’t JESUS just cast them into Hell? Was it because HE had not completed HIS passion? Yet, HE had authority over the demons. Was it a test for JESUS to go beyond the will of the Father and assume authority HE had not yet achieved?

As we studied in last week’s lesson, the shed blood of JESUS, upon the cross, paid, in full, for the sin of all who place their faith in JESUS. The resurrection of JESUS was proof that HIS passion conquered both sin and eternal death. Because JESUS was completely faithful to HIS Father’s will, plan and purpose, GOD granted all judgment to HIM. At this time, JESUS had not fulfilled HIS passion. HE reserved final judgment until all had been completed.

14 The men who tended them ran off and reported it in the town and the countryside, and people went to see what had happened. 

Those tending the pigs witnessed the event and reported the event broadly to others. Those in the surrounding area responded and came out to JESUS. This was Gentile territory as evidenced by the raising of pigs. So what was their response to what JESUS had done for the demon possessed man? Let’s read on --

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. 

The people residing in the area came to JESUS and witnessed the power and authority of JESUS. The demon possessed man was dressed, calm and in his right mind. This was glaring evidence of the power and authority of JESUS. How would the area people respond to JESUS? They were afraid. Often, people fear what they do not understand. But this event was a witness and likely lingered for years afterwards. Such events are never without purpose. This event was a witness to JESUS’ disciples, those in that area and for us today. Where the pig farmers more concerned with the loss of their pigs than the poor soul who was restored to his right mind?

Let’s read Mark 5: 16-20:

16 The eyewitnesses described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and [told] about the pigs. 

Eyewitnesses gave testimony of the event. It was evident that 2,000 pigs were missing.

17 Then they began to beg Him to leave their region. 

Who were “they?” Why did they ask JESUS to leave? What did JESUS do? Who begged JESUS to let him go with HIM? Was JESUS bad for the pig farmer?

18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to be with Him. 

The answer to the last question is answered in this verse. What was JESUS’ response and why? That answer is in our next verse.

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 delivered from the demons witnessed to those in that area. He had a personal witness of what JESUS had done for him. Our personal testimony of our encounter with JESUS is powerful. People can debate the Bible but they cannot debate, “Once, I was a helpless, hopeless sinner but I encountered JESUS and I asked HIM to forgive me and for HIM to come into my life. HE changed my life the instant I asked HIM to take my life like it was, to cleanse me of all my sin and for HIM to give me HIS power to live according to HIS plan, purpose and will.” Then go tell others, as led by the Holy Spirit what JESUS has done for you and ask them to do the same.

As Christians GOD, provides each of us with opportunities. May our eyes be open to these opportunities and may we have the courage to take them. Blessings!!!