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The Reality of the Spiritual World

Text: Mark 4:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39
19 January 2014

THE REALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD

1. There are demons

2. They are wicked and powerful as well

3. Man is no match for the demons on his own strength

A MAN CALLED LEGION            Mark 5:1-9

1. He was possessed by a legion of demons

2. He lived among the tombs

3. He was violently disposed and had to be restrained with shackles and chains

4. He hurt himself

THE PERSON AND POWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST            Mark 5:6-10

1. He was instantly recognised by the demons

2. They submitted to His word of authority

3. They had no choice but to obey Him

4. They had to leave the man they possessed… never to return!

A STRANGE REQUEST            Mark 5:10-13

1. To be allowed to enter into some 2000 swine

2. These pigs jumped over a cliff and were all drowned

THE REQUEST OF THE MAN WHO WAS DELIVERED            Mark 5:18-19

1. To follow Jesus

2. This was denied

A NEW MINISTRY BEGUN            Mark 5:20

1. To share with others what he had experienced from the Lord

2. The region did not want Jesus in their midst            Mark 5:17

3. He began to tell people what he knew about the Lord Jesus

4. Many marvelled at what he had to share

a) His story of deliverance
b) A completely changed life

POEMS – Charles Tan

TELL WHAT GREAT THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU

Jesus had safely crossed over to the other side, it was a different scene,
He had come to the Gentile country of the Gadarenes.
He did not disclose the reason for coming to this place,
He had come to do a special and wonderful work of grace.

A man who lived among the tombs sensed the Presence of the Lord,
He was alarmed and ran to confront Jesus, the Son of God!
This man was feared by all who lived the country of the Gadarenes,
No one had the power to control him, no matter what the means.

He was bound with shackles and with chains,
But he broke them all without any strain.
When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him,
But the evil spirit resisted and cried out from deep within.

The evil spirit spoke with fear and trembling before the Lord,
He recognized that Jesus was the Son of the Most High God.
He spoke on behalf of a Legion of demons and their wicked plan,
Thousands of these evil spirits trembled before the Son of Man.

Could they inhabit the herd of swine they saw before them?
They had to ask for permission before they left the possessed man.
Jesus gave them permission and the demons immediately fled,
They possessed the herd of swine and drove them mad.

The swineherds reported this grim news to all in the country,
A Stranger had brought about this awesome tragedy.
They could not understand or appreciate this great work of Christ,
They only knew that they had lost a lot of money in a trice.

The man who was formerly possessed pleaded to follow Christ,
Nothing could be more important, but what was Christ’s advice?
Jesus had a work for him to fulfil in the land of the Gadarenes,
He must explain to people his experience of deliverance and what that means.

The Lord had done great things for him and that must be told,
Only he would be able to speak with power to all who would behold.
The work of deliverance from the power of Satan’s well portrays
The Lord’s redemptive power is truly glorious in its display.

Inspiration: Mark 5:1-20