Sermon Outline By Steve Mays
Where: Faith Baptist Church
When: April 9, 2000
Title: The Power of the Lord Jesus Christ

Text: Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

Nobody could bind him, nobody could tame him, nobody could shut him up.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

The Power of the Lord Jesus Christ made this man sit down, get dressed, and think clearly.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

It is interesting: In this chapter the Lord manifests His power in 3 Major ways.

A. Power over Demons and the Devilvr. 1-20
B. Power over Disease woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years vr. 21-34
C. Power over Death Jairus little daughter vr. 35-43

One thing is certain today. We serve an All-Powerful God!

This morning I want to notice some things that are found in verses 1 - 20 that will happen when the Power of the Lord is present.

Thank God for HIS Presence!

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalms 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

I. Satan will Flee

Vr. 1 - 13
1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

A. The plight of the sinner vr. 3 - 5 - dwelling among the tombs - might as well have said the bars or night clubs.. place of darkness and death.

Nobody could bind him, nobody could tame him, nobody could shut him up....

B. The might of the Savior vr. 8, 13

8 Come out of the man is what the Lord said, He just spoke... not an offer of explanation as to He was, or what Gave Him authority.. They knew he had authority..

God is powerful today. No sinner in this building that he couldn't save. No saint in this building that He couldn't help!

What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties. -- G. Campbell Morgan

C. The Flight of the Spirits v. 10 - 13

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

II. Society will Fear

Vr. 14 - 17
14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

Notice some things which bring fear to society

A. The Demonstration of a Sovereign God 1 - 13

The world is very afraid of anything they cannot explain.
Hence EVILution (a.k.a. evolution)
Liberalism - no miracles

B. The Display of Salvation 15

Religion doesn't scare anyone... part of the definition of "religion" is "maintaining the status quo".. not rocking the boat.. not upsetting the apple cart... leaving the thing alone.. not changing.. Religion has an order of services.. and a lethargy that remains constant.. But a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is quite different...

C. The Deceitfulness of Sin 16 - 17

Read the Tongue Screw..

I've seen this more times than I count.. a momma cries and says pray for my son, he's not in Church, he's out of the will of God. Then that son get right with God and sells out.. and begins to say some things that convict momma, and then he begins to feel the call to do something for God, and all Hell Breaks loose... that same momma goes on the War path... she attacks the preacher, she attacks the Church.... she didn't like him in the Gutter but she didn't want him sold out to God!

III. Saints will Follow

vr. 18 - 20
18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Why?

A. The Desire for His presence vr. 18-20

prayed him that he might be with him.

Let me explain something that is easy to see... Saints want to be where God is... Sinners don't...

B. The Duty of Publication vr. 19

Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

That is your duty.. We'd like to stay in Church, we'd like to stay at the feet but we have to do what HE said, and that is giving out the gospel.

C. The Delight of Publishing v. 20

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

What a wonderful testimony and what wonderful results..

IV. How are we going to have the Power of Presence?

1.) Right kind of Worship..... Jn. 4:23-24 -- true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:

2.) Right Kind of Walk... I John 1:6 -- If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

3.) Right Kind of Welcome Rev. 3:20 -- 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.




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