(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.
(5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
(6) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him,
(7) And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. There is three significant things in this particular chapter that demoniac man done, despite how hopeless and dead his situation looked. Prior toJesus entering into the country of the Gadarenes, Jesus and His disciples were ministering to the multitudes, preaching & teaching at synagogues, villages and every town that they entered. After all of that the Lord took his disciples on a journey as they entered the ship to go over to the other side of the lake. I'm pretty sure the disciples probably thought; we're about to get some rest before our next ministry crusade. They had no idea what was over on the other side. Even before they got to the other side they encountered a sudden storm that arose like a vicious viper on a prowl, waiting to strike them, while they were in transition on their way to the other side. Many times in our lives we encounter sudden storms even with Jesus in our ship sleep. However the disciples as fearful as they were, knew to awaken the Master by crying out to him in sincerity. Jesus immediately rebuked the wind & the raging water and instantly there was a calm. He looked at His disciples and said "where is your faith"?
We are no different than the disciples who walked with Jesus back in the biblical times. We see the Master perform miracle after miracle in our lives and the lives of others and yet when the storms of life come, and the water is filling our ship with jeopardy, and the wind is raging against us, we find ourselves crying out to him in frustration and distrust rather than out of genuine faith! Jesus knew that ship was not going to sink because He and the disciples had an appointment over on the other side of the lake. Many of us today have divine appointments over on the other side. To get to the other side is going to require active faith in Jesus and preserverance through the storms of life. Once Jesus and His disciples arrived on the other side in the country of the Gadarenes immediately they were greeted by a certain man According to (Luke 8:27) which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.This man's home and dwelling were in the tombs and the graveyard. He was a exile from society, he couldn't be tamed because he possessed with a legion of devils residing in soul and body. This man had enormous strength because of the legion of devils that possessed him. It was recorded in (Luke 8:29) & (Mark 5:4-5) (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.
(5) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones".
We get a brief description why society didn't want to deal with this man and couldn't handle him either. I guessed all of their head-knowledge, psychology,philosophy,and medication couldn't cure this man. He was totally out of control. This man was easily 100 times plus, stronger than some of the world's strongest bodybuilders and athletes of this day and time. I can imagine how this man brought terror to that entire country by brutalizing some by his strength and insanity. I'm pretty sure that his family and friends didn't want anything to do with this man; and if he was married and had kids, they probably didn't want to bothered either. So here he is making the tombs, and the graveyard his daily habitation. Anger, rage and suicide probably were his best of friends at that time until His appointment with the Master came. Many of us at one point in our lives we have had some things that were totally out of our control,whether it be finances, children, family, husbands, wives, friends, associates, our enemies, our mind, and last but not least ourselves.The good news is that there is somebody that is greater than you and I, and greater than any circumstance, problem, thing, person, or entity. The amazing thing about this story is we see Jesus Christ (God Almighty) express his love by, taking the time out, by accepting a ministry engagement at the graveyard; after ministering to the multitudes, publicly in synagogues, villages and various towns. Most people today would have a temper-tantrum especially if they only want to minister on the big platforms, where everyone can see them shine. The question that we all must answer is, are we willing to go to the dark places of the earth to let our lights shine before the walking dead (people in the world that are lost) that need Christ today? I'm not saying that God doesn't want us to minister on the great platforms,radio, and TV; however we can't limit God to just one venue.
We have to be willing to go and share God's love with just one lost soul that may be dwelling in the alley, homeless and desolate; even if it is inconvenient for us. Serving God and living for him is not based on what's convenient for us; however it is based on pleasing Father God and doing His will! Jesus declared His purpose for being anointed and appointed by God The Father in Luke 4:18-19 (King James Version)
(18)The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,(19) to preach the acceptable year of the Lord! He wasn't anointed to be stationary or for himself; however he was anointed to do the will of God and to serve others. Not to prove how much power he had, in the sense of showing off; but to Glorify His Father by doing His will in the earth. The same applies to all of us today as children of the Most High God! Jesus was the answer that God sent to the other side of the lake to set the captive demoniac possessed, depressed, oppressed, blind and broken-hearted madman.
(Mark 5:6) says (6) But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him. He also fell down before Jesus according to Luke 8:28.
This man did three significant things despite how messed up he was. #1. He saw Jesus afar off. This man even in the dark state he was in saw The Light of life & Light of the world enter the graveyard from afar off ( we have to be willing to let our Light of Christ shine so that those who are in darkness can see Christ the Hope of Glory in us). Proverbs 29:18 says Where there is no vision the people perish: No matter how dark and hopeless our situation may be, if you can see Jesus afar off,you are on the road to recovery, salvation and transformation. #2. This man after he saw, he ran toJesus! He drew near to Jesus despite the strength of the legion of devils that were taking residence in him and constantly tormenting him. I believe the very presence and sight of Jesus gave this man the strength to draw near. After we see Jesus afar off in our dark situations, we must immediately respond by running to Him instead of away from Him! Finally, once we get to Jesus we must bowand worship Him (True worship requires surrendering our will and issues unto Jesus), just like the man possessed with the legion of devils.
After Jesus set this man free by casting out the legion of devils in him; according to( Luke 8:35)"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, (positioned in a place of humility & worship after his deliverance) clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid". The people in the town were afraid because they knew that nobody could heal him or tame him, until that man encountered Jesus Christ! I believe that deep on the inside that this man was crying out in agony to be set free from his bondage, that it caught Jesus attention while He was ministering prior to coming over to the other side of the lake. In conclusion Jesus loved this man, and saw precious treasure in the graveyard and tomb in this man that others couldn't see and then sent him forth into ministry as an evangelist to publish the goodness of the Lord to the whole country of the Gadarenes! Let's see the treasure in others despite how grave and dark there life may appear.
Godbless you Face-book Family, and I pray that God will perfect everything concerning you all in Jesus name amen! Love you all much!
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