Mission Of Mercy
Or
Demons To Be Delivered
Sunday March 8, 2020
Scripture To Consider:
“Then they [Jesus and His disciples] sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when Jesus stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!’”
“For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon in the wilderness.”
“Jesus asked him, saying, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Legion,’ because many demons had entered him. And they begged Jesus that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Jesus that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons ran out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.” Luke 8.26-33
Something To Consider:
The crossing over faith journey to the other side of the Sea of Galilee was for more than just a display of divine power and authority over the elements. It was a mission of mercy to a man in much need of being delivered of demons. But Jesus and His disciples did not receive red carpet treatment when they arrived. They received no warm community welcome, no local news channel coverage, only a demon-possessed, homeless, naked, Gadarene man who was waiting to meet them as they stepped ashore.
The calming of the seas, the wind, and the waves, was indeed a display of divine supremacy and could be considered a tremendous spiritual victory. And yet, the moment they reached land they were met by the demonic force of the opposition. After a spiritual victory, or after our crossing over to the other side of whatever spiritual difficulty we may have faced, there is usually another battle that awaits us!
Maybe we will be met on the other side of our own victory with a battle of personal pride, or a clash with anger, jealousy, or arrogance. And only our total surrender and often submission to Jesus Christ will again gain us the victory over even the appearance of evil. Any spiritual victory gained in this life as a true Christian believer is because of Christ in us. We, as the Gadarene man, are the recipients of God’s true mission of mercy and therefore, we too have been graciously delivered of our own evil!
Something Else To Consider:
The moment the man saw Jesus he fell down before Him as if in adoration or as in submission to His authority and cried out with a loud voice; “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” The question did not deserve nor did it receive an answer from Jesus. The only response by Jesus was a question in return that cast illuminating light upon the terror and torment of this poor demon occupied man. “What is your name?”
The deadening reply of the demon-possessed man was probably distorted as if from deep within him or someone worse, “Legion.” This individual was under the control of hordes of demons. He was in need of a mission of mercy and yet, his cry was, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” This legion of demons recognized and acknowledged the Lordship and Sonship of Jesus. And yet, most of the human race refuses to do the same! How sad, and yet, how revealing.
If we do not have anything to do with Jesus, how can we be delivered of our demons and all appearance of evil? Without having anything to do with Jesus, how can we become the recipients of God’s mission of mercy?
But something within this demon-possessed man caused him to fall down before Jesus as if in a show of submission and respect. And at that gesture of honor Jesus commanded the unclean spirits to come out of the man. This mission of mercy to one individual was accomplished by the deliverance of a legion of demons.
Something More To Consider:
It never ceases to amaze me to realize the fierceness and number of those in opposition to Jesus. And yet, they never had or never will have much of an effect or impact on Him or on His attitude toward the spiritual business of His Father. His focus never seemed to have been broken, altered, or interrupted. Whether one or one thousand, Jesus remained calm and in total control over every situation that was thrust upon Him.
These many demons begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss, that final destination that even they were fully aware was to become their eternal abiding place. Why is it that demons so easily recognize Jesus and His divine authority, and so many men, women, and young people do not? These demons recognized and firmly understood their eternal destination was being cast into the abyss or the bottomless pit where according to Scripture, they will suffer for all eternity.
Are we as present tense occupants of planet earth, aware of, or understand our eternal destination as according to Scripture? I did not say as according to most mainstream organized religious preachers, teachers, or denominational places of so-called worship. And while we consider the question, let us not forget that we too, as the Gadarene demonic man, we too are the target of God’s mission of mercy. Will we be delivered of our falsely created demonic doctrines propagated by false prophets and religious but not spiritual organizations? And if not, we too will suffer for all eternity!
A Few Final Words:
Once delivered of our demons, once forgiven of our sins, and once the blood of Jesus has washed away every trace of our past sins, iniquities, and trespasses, we can be no more holy than at that very moment. And yet, the writer of Hebrews chapter 12, beginning in verse 14, commands us to; “Pursue peace with all people, and [also pursue] holiness, without which no one [no man, no woman, no young person] will see the Lord.”
The writer continued his thought by declaring in verse 15, “Looking carefully [or diligently] lest anyone [man, woman, or young person] fall short [miss the mark due to sin] of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness [more sin] springing up cause trouble, and by this [sin added to more sin] many become defiled.”
If we are true born-again present tense believers in Jesus, it is because of God’s mission of mercy in our lives. If we have been delivered from whatever, it is because of God’s mission of mercy in and through Jesus Christ and His atoning death upon an old rugged cross. May we forever take full advantage of Christ’s accomplishment as it pertains to our present and possible future sins.
Leaders and leaders in training can never anticipate every unexpected event, therefore, they must be prepared at all times for a mission of mercy to unfold. And the end result to every God ordained mission of mercy is deliverance from whatever has attempted to overcome us. In Christ alone, we find deliverance!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for Your mercy that is extended to us and others even though we do not deserve it. Thank You Father! In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 