HAVE THEY ‘HERD’ OF JESUS?
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, that you are always at work. Empower me to be an instrument for bringing you praise today.
Read LUKE 8:26-39
Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[a] which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Footnotes
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
As you think about your local area, what is the most obvious work of the enemy to bring harm and destruction? Can you list two or three things that come to mind?When the forces of evil get hold of a life, the impact is genuinely destructive. As Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee into gentile territory, he encountered a man who had suffered significantly with many demons at work in him. The exorcism of these demons was a vivid demonstration of God’s power as the demons went into a herd of pigs and immediately drowned them all (v 33).
Then we read of the reaction to the miracle (vs 34–39). The news quickly spread, and people came to see the radical transformation that had taken place. The change in the man was very significant and the crowd reacted with fear (v 37). They wanted Jesus to leave. As the story ends, we see Jesus sending the man back to his people to tell them what he had done for him (v 39).
In our culture, we may not typically see evil in such a tangible way. Nevertheless, there are two big lessons for us to learn from this story: the forces of evil still seek to destroy lives in our world, and Jesus is still the only hope for anyone in this world.
Apply
Where would God be having you pray for the enemy’s work to be thwarted in your local area?
Closing prayer
Mighty God, thank you for your power that can redeem a life, entire communities, even whole nations. Give me greater vision to experience what you can do.
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