Becoming A Stronger Disciple

(Mark 5:1-20) They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of Him. He shouted at the top if his voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The heard, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man - and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

THINGS A DISCPLE LEARNS

Growing stronger requires that we learn the truth about some misunderstandings.

1. BELIEF – means more than “Acknowledgment”

(7) “What do You want of me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

A. Demons believe there is only one true God.

B. Demons believe Jesus is the Son of God.

C. Are demons Christians?

D. Am I a Christian?

(James 2:19) “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shutter.”

(Romans 10:9-11) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”

2. PEOPLE – mean more than “Animals”

A. Jesus chose the well-being of one human over the lives of 2,000 animals.

Genesis 1:28 – We are to rule over all animals.

Genesis 1:30 – All animals are ours to eat.

Acts 10:9ff – “Kill and eat.”

Genesis 3:21 – God made clothes for Adam and Eve out of animal skins

2 Chronicles 9:21 – Solomon entertained by apes and baboons.

Mark 5:13 – 2,000 pigs killed to help one human

B. In God’s mind, people always mean more than animals.

3. CONVERSION – means more than “Ritual”

A. “evil” = “unclean”

B. This man was possessed by spirits that were spiritually and morally unclean; unholy.

(15) “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”

C. The evidence of this man’s conversion was he was noticeably different.

(James 4:7) “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

D. When people are genuinely converted from sin – they are different.

4. WITNESSING – means more than “Devotion”

(20) “So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

“The thing I really want you to do - is tell others what I’ve done for you.”