What God has done

Midway Church Coeburn VA

AIM: How Jesus delivers you from sin.

WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Luke 8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

THOUGHT

For the past 5 weeks we have taken a look at SIN

We looked at the definition of SIN

• Lawlessness is sin
• Neglect is sin
• Doubt is sin
• Unbelief is sin
• All unrighteousness is sin

We looked at the origin of sin

We looked at the process of sin

We looked at the result of sin

• James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

We looked at the Law exposing SIN

We have looked at the ANSWER to SIN

• That answer is JESUS

SETTING THE STAGE

The disciples had just come through a life-threatening experience on the Sea of Galilee.

• A terrible storm had almost taken their lives, and in a moment of weakness, they thought that Jesus had forsaken them.
• Awakening Him in a panic, they cried out, “Save us or we perish!”
• The Lord rebuked the wind and the raging water.
• The Lord rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith in Him.
• They sat in awe of their Lord, as the boats drew close to the shore..

That day would not end without another miracle taking place in the fading light of day.

• The Lord had calmed the storm
• But that day was not over yet
• On shore you could hear the calm waves along the shore
• Just then a piercing scream cuts through the silence
• A man–But not just any man
• This man was wounded, naked
• Hair matted, wild eyes,
• Broke chains rattling on his wrist and ankles
• Ran up to Jesus and through himself down at his feet

1. There is a Real Spiritual Battle for the Hearts of Men
Luke 8:26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

• The bible says that this man had devils for a long time
• He had many demons

Two mistakes that can be made when looking at demons:

• One is to disbelieve in their existence.
• The other is to believe, and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.
• Our world plays with spiritual forces
• They don’t take them seriously
• People seem to be intrigued by Psychics
• And the bigger thing now is Medians

Side note :

Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
These demonic encounters

• was going on during the ministry of Jesus,
• it was seen in the early days of the church,
• and it will continue in every generation until the Lord comes again and Satan and all of his demons are forever cast into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:10).

2. Sin Leaves Us Abandoned and Without Hope
V27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

• The Towns people had subdued this man
• He had broken his restraints and escaped
• Took up residence in a cemetery
• He had gotten so bad that he was abandoned by other human beings
• Not only does SIN abandon us
• SIN leaves us with out hope

3. Sin Is Self-Destructive
V 29b (For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

• This man had become his own worst enemy
• Sin does that
• Sin is always self-destructive
• The alcoholic, drug dependent, promiscuous are all degrees of destroying the life that God has given.
• This man had become little more than an animal
• He was frightening to others
• And at times frightening to himself
• He was completely controlled by the demons within him.
• Who controls your life?
• The Sin within?
• Or the Lord our God?

Sin Is Self-Destructive but –

4. God’s Power Is Always Greater Than Any Sin
V 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

• On the day that Christ and Satan meet head to head it is not going to be a Clash of the Titans.
• Satan and his demons do not stand a chance
• God’s power is ALWAYS greater
• Let your DESPERATION lead you to the same place as this demon possessed man
• Let it lead you to the feet of JESUS
• Demons immediately recognize who Jesus is
• The sad thing is that sinful man will often continue in his sin with falling down before the Lord

In Verse 28 The demons ask Jesus “Why have you come to torment us before the time?”

Before what time? Before the time of judgment.

The word “torment” tells us that the demons believe in Hell

• Even if men and women of today do not.

God’s Power Is Always Greater Than Any Sin

5. Sin May Leave You Desperate But You Can Be Delivered

V 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

• Why did Jesus ask his name?
• It wasn’t for information
• He asked so all could see how pitiful this man’s condition was
• The demon answered “Legion” because there were many devils in him.
• A Roman legion consisted of 6000 soldiers

V 32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

• For all you Christians worried about being demon possessed
• Note they could not go into the swine without permission
• How likely is it that they could enter sheep.
• When Jesus lives inside there is no room for any other!!!

Sin May Leave You Desperate But You Can Be Delivered

6. Accepting Jesus Always Results In A Change

V 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, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

• Word spread fast with the Townspeople
• When they came out they saw a completely different man
• This man’s look was changed
• Clothed and in his right mind
• And his outlook was changed
• He is a new creation;
• Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.

V38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

His Outlook had changed:

• No longer did he want to stay in the tombs
• He wanted to follow Jesus
• Jesus gave him a ministry
• I want you to go and show the Great things God has done!!
• Jesus gave his life “A new reason to Live”
• He gave him life
• He gave him life more abundantly

Accepting Jesus Always Results In A Change
7. Following Jesus Always Involves A Choice
V 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear:

• Following Jesus is always a choice
• It is a choice you get to make
• The town would rather push Jesus away
• Than to risk Jesus changing their lives
• Many are satisfied in their SIN
• They are not looking for CHANGE

Be VERY careful about asking Jesus to leave you alone.

• V 37 tells us that he got in the boat and left
• As far as we know Jesus never returned to Gadarenes.
• Never!
• This was their only chance
• It is said that 85% of all people who do not accept Jesus before they are 18 never will.
• Jesus simply left
• He got in the boat and left
• He didn’t beg
• He didn’t plead
• He didn’t threaten
• He didn’t come back
• It’s your choice

I found a hymn called: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” A verse goes like this:

• And though this world with devils filled,
  Should threaten to undo us,
  We will not fear, for God hath willed
  His truth to triumph through us.
  The prince of darkness grim,
  We tremble not for him –
  His rage we can endure,
  For lo, his doom is sure:
  One little word shall fell him.”
  And that word my friend is “Jesus”

THE GOOD NEWS (text concerning Jesus)

APPLICATION- Now what are we going to do with what we learned?

SUMMARY

CALL TO REPENTANCE- LOST

REALIZE YOU ARE A SINNER

Romans 3:10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

HOLY SPIRIT To realize you are a sinner you must be convicted by the Holy Spirit. You must see you are guilty.

John 6:44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

REPENT OF YOUR SIN

Romans 10: 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

CRY OUT TO JESUS

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.