Our summer series is entitled JOURNEY with the FAITHFUL. We are looking at the lives of a number of men and women in the Bible. Each of them chose to leave their comfort zone to follow God and do what He wanted them to do. Each person had to GET UP and GO; they had to move from HERE to THERE.

The passage we are looking at today is found in Mark 5:1-20. It is the story of the Demoniac.
Like all stories, there are two common themes: Good vs. Evil
When it comes to the Bible we can think along those same lines: Jesus vs. Satan.
There is a battle going on between Jesus and Satan for our souls. But it is not a fair fight if we put on the full armor of God!
Ephesians 6:12-13

Before we dig into our text today we'll look at what was happening prior in Mark 4:35-41.
When the storm comes Jesus is sleeping. The disciples wake him and ask why he doesn't care they are going to drown. Jesus calms the storm and then asks the disciples why they are afraid and have no faith.
The disciples have witnessed Jesus' 11th miracle and they still don't understand.
We do the same thing. The wind and waves and storms of life come crashing around us and we say, "Jesus don't you care that we are going to drown?!"

The passage said that Jesus rebuked the wind. This is the same word used by Mark for confronting demonic forces in Mark 1:25 and 3:2.
The storm is believed to be of demonic origin. Jesus and the disciples are going from here to there. From Israel to the Decapolis. From Godly to pagan territory. The demonic forces are trying to prevent Jesus' arrival.
Mark 5:1-6

Jesus and the disciples are going to a place where they meet a man with an unclean spirit, among unclean tombs, in an unclean cemetery, surrounded by pagans employed in unclean jobs, and raising unclean pigs. All of this in an unclean Gentile territory... a terrible place for Jewish men to be. Imagine what they must have been thinking!

What a contrast between the disciples response to Jesus and the Demoniac's response.
-The disciples had just witnessed Jesus calming a storm in which they all thought they were going to drown and ask, "who is this?"
-Yet the Demoniac, who had seen no miracle, declares Jesus to be the Son of the Most High God!
The Demoniac recognizes the power of Jesus and that Jesus has authority over him.

There is much evil in our world today. The goal of Satan is to put us in bondage to something that keeps us from God. He keeps us from asking God what He wants from us. The tighter we have hold of it, the more of a foothold we give to Satan and his army in our lives.

Mark 5:11 tells us there was a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside and the demons begged Jesus to send them into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission to enter the pigs and we see that they enter 2,000 pigs who run down a hillside and into the lake where they drown.
The disciples have now witnessed Jesus' 12th miracle.
The townspeople only see 2,000 dead pigs which represent an economic catastrophe for them. They ask Jesus to leave which tells us they dismiss Him and His message. They chose pigs over people and their finances over Jesus...as we all do at times.

Mark 5:19
As Jesus got in the boat to leave, the man who was demon possessed begged to go with him. Jesus tells him to instead go home to tell his family what the Lord has done. This is the only time in Mark that Jesus doesn't conceal His identity.
Jesus wanted this man to be an effective witness to the Gentile area. Jesus is essentially sending out His first missionary. Some interesting things to think about:
-the first missionary is a Gentile
-he is a healed demoniac
-never sat through a Bible class
-never heard a sermon
-had only his experience about the Grace of God
-had only known Jesus a couple of hours
-his comfort zone was a cemetery (with the dead, not the living)
-he became the John the Baptist of the Decapolis

Mark 5:20
When Jesus changes our life, when He is real in our life, our family, friends, co-workers, and classmates will see the change.
What would happen if we told just one person each week what God has done for us? People can't deny your personal experience with the Lord.
In Mark 7 and 8 we see that Jesus goes back to the Decapolis area to heal and teach. The people of this area respond differently to Jesus this time. It appears that the healed Demoniac telling his story made a difference!

Have you ever been in a storm?
What difference did the event make in your life?

God's Word is powerful. Supernatural events won't change your life, but God's Word will. Romans 10:17
God is all-powerful. Every problem and trial is under His control. Jeremiah 32:17 [NLV]

God has given each of us:

1. HOPE
Matthew 5:14-16 [NLT]
We have a message of HOPE that is in Christ. We don't have all the answers, but we do have the Lord.
Are you sharing or hiding the light of hope?

2. PEACE
John 14:27 [NLT]
In Christ there is nothing to be afraid of. Peace is something that everyone wants, yet few find it. Are you seeking peace in your life?

3. MISSION
Acts 1:8 [NIV]
If you are a believer in Christ, God has empowered you with His Holy Spirit. Walk out into your neighborhood, pray, and look for opportunities to share your story.
What will you do to bring the message of Christ to a family member, friend, or co-worker?

Application and Discussion Questions:

1. When was the last time you had such wonderful news that you couldn't wait to tell someone about it?

2. What are some ways Satan tries to keep you from sharing the message of Christ (your story) with others?

3. Which of the three points are you struggling with the most? What are some concrete steps you will take to turn over control to Christ?

4. Are you sitting still and asking God to use someone else? How are you influencing people for Christ? How do you represent Him with your words and actions?

Birthdays and Anniversaries this week:

Monday, July 20 - Ashley Meehan, Bob Allen, Darren & Cheryl Ayles
Wednesday, July 22 - Evelyn Fisher, Bryan Carpenter, Larry & Trish Miller
Saturday, July 25 - Wyatt Erb