Jesus was a promoter of witnessing

JESUS WAS A PROMOTER OF WITNESSING
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Mark 5:19 19
Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home
to your own people and tell them how much the LORD
has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Desire And Duty
Mark 5:18-20
A. RowlandThere was wonderful variety in the methods of treatment adopted
by our Lord in dealing with those who surrounded him. He touched the eyes
of the blind; he garb his hand to those prostrate by illness or strickenwith
death; he sometimes spoke the word of healing first, and sometimes the word
of pardon, always suiting himself to the specialcondition of each, according to
his perfectknowledge ofhis deepestneed. The same completeness of
knowledge and of considerationreveals itselfin his intercourse with those who
had been blessed, and were now among his followers. Some were urged to
follow him, others were discouragedby a presentationof difficulties. A
beautiful example of this is given by Luke (Luke 9:57-62), in his accountof
those who spoke to our Lord just before he crossedthe lake. The same
gracious considerationofwhat was really best for one of his followers is seen
here. And his disciples now do not all require the same treatment, nor have
they all the same work to do or the same sphere to fill.
I. THE CONVERT'S DESIRE. (Ver. 18.)"When Jesus was come into the
ship," or, more correctly(RevisedVersion), "as he was entering into the
boat," the delivered demoniac prayed that he might be with him. It was a
natural desire, and a right one, although all the motives which prompted it
were possibly not worthy. As in us, so in him, there was a mingling of the
noble with the ignoble. let us see what actuatedhim.

1. Admiration. No wonder that he satat the feet of this Mighty One, and
gazedupon him with adoring love. Angels bow before him; the redeemed cast
their crowns at his feet. Reverence andawe are too rarely felt now. Proud self-
sufficiency characterizesthe civilized world, and even the professedly
Christian Church. It is well to know, but it is better to adore. Consciousnessof
ignorance and weakness, in the presence of God, leads to worship. let
reverence characterize oursearchinto the Divine Word, our utterances in
God's name, our approaches to his throne.
2. Gratitude. Having receivedsalvation, this man longed to prove his
thankfulness, and he naturally thought that an opportunity would be found,
while following Jesus, to defend his reputation or to do him some lowly
service. Under the old economymany thank-offerings were presented. The
firstfruits of the fields and flocks were offeredto the Lord, and any special
blessing receivedfrom him calledforth specialacknowledgment. Show how
thank-offerings have dice out of the Church, and how they might be profitably
revived. Point out various modes of showing thankfulness to God.
3. Self-distrust. Nearthe Delivererhe was safe, but might there not be some
relapse when he was gone? A right feeling on his part and on ours. See the
teaching of our Lord in John 15 on the necessityofthe branch abiding in the
vine.
4. Fear. The people were greatlyexcited. They had beggedChrist to go out of
their coasts,lesthe should destroymore of their possessions. It was not
improbable that they would wreak their vengeance ona man whose
deliverance had been the cause of their loss. Theydid not believe, as Christ
did, that it was better that any lowercreatures should perish if only one
human soul was rescued. But this is in harmony with all God's works, in
which the less is being constantly destroyedfor the preservation and
sustenance ofthe greater. The luxuriant growth of the fields is cut down that
the cattle may live; myriads of creatures in the air and in the sea are devoured
by those higher in the scale ofcreationthan themselves;living creatures are
slain that we may be fed and clothed. In harmony with all this, the destruction
of the swine was the accompaniment of, or the shadow castby, the redemption
of the man. And high above all these mysteries rises the cross ofCalvary, on
which the highest life was given as a sacrifice forthe sins of the world. In this
event we cansee glimpses of Divine righteousness andpity; but these people of
Gadara shut their eyes to them, and were angry at their loss. Amongst them
this man must "endure hardness as a goodsoldier of Jesus Christ."
II. THE CONVERT'S DUTY. (Ver. 19.)

1. His work was to begin at home. "Go home to thy friends." His presence
there would be a constantsermon. In the truest sense he was "a living
epistle." Sane insteadof mad, holy instead of unclean, gentle instead of
raving; he was "a new creation." All true work for God should commence in
the home. Self-controland self-sacrifice,gentlenessand patience, purity and
truth, in the domestic circle - will make the home a temple of God.
2. His work was to be found among old acquaintances. Some had scornedhim,
others had hated and perhaps ill-treated him. But resentment was to be
conquered in him by God's grace, andto those who knew him at his worsthe
was now to speak for Christ. Such witness-bearing is the most difficult, but
the most effective. Johnthe Baptist told the penitents around him, whether
publicans or soldiers, to go back to their old spheres, and prove repentance by
changedlife and spirit amid the old temptations.
3. His work was to be quiet and unostentatious. Perhaps Christ saw that
publicity would injure him spiritually, for it does injure some; or it may be
that the excitement involved in following the Lord would be unsafe for him so
soonafter his restoration. Forsome reasonhe had assignedto him a quiet
work, which was not the less true and effective. Luke says that he was to show
"how greatthings God had done for him," as if the witness-bearing was to be
in living rather than in talking. Speak ofthe quiet spheres in which many can
still serve God.
4. His work was to spread and grow. The home was too small a sphere for
such gratitude as his. He published the fame of the Lord in "allDecapolis."
This was not wrong, or forbidden, for there were not the reasons forrestraint
of testimony in Peraea whichexisted in Galilee. It was a natural and
legitimate enlargement of commission. Similarly the apostles were to preach
to all nations, but to begin in Jerusalem. He who is faithful with a few things is
made ruler over many things, sometimes on earth, and invariably in heaven. -
A.R.
Biblical Illustrator

Prayed Him that he might be with Him.
Mark 5:18, 20
The unansweredprayer
W. G. Barrett.I. THE PROBABLE REASON THAT LED THIS RESTORED
DEMONIAC TO OFFER THIS PRAYER.
1. A vague but very dreadful fear may have takenpossessionofhim that,
perhaps, in the absence of Christ, his deliverer, these demoniac powers might
againregain the mastery over him. Fear, the salutary fear, of going astray
may often assistthe soul; it may be, and has often been our wisdom to be
afraid of the possibility of departure from Christ.
2. And there may have been, who can doubt that there was, a depth of
gratitude in his heart towards Christ, that, perhaps, he thought could only be
expressedby his becoming His disciple.
II. SOME OR THE PROBABLE REASONS THAT LED TO THE REFUSAL
OF THIS PRAYER BY OUR SAVIOUR. "Go home to thy friends," etc.
1. Because, perhaps, it was better for the healed Gadarene to be a living
witness of Christ's goodness andpoweramongst his countrymen.
2. Becauseyoung converts are generallyunfit to choose their spiritual
vocation. Many, in the freshness oftheir love, are as impetuous and misguided
as a mountain streambursting from its hidden prison.
(W. G. Barrett.)
Witnessing for Christ
H. W. Beecher.Ingeneral, everyman who believes himself to be a Christian, is
bound to make such public acknowledgmentthat men shall know the source
of his godly life. Every man who is consciousthat his characterhas been
brought under the powerof the Spirit of God, is bound to let men know that
the life which is flowing out from him now is not his own natural life, but one
which proceeds from the Spirit of God. This would seemtoo obvious for
remark, did not facts show that multitudes of men endeavourto live
Christianly, but are very cautious about saying that they are Christians —
and from shame-facedreasons, sometimes;from reasons offear, sometimes;
from reasons ofpride, sometimes. Menwho are endeavouring to live
Christianly say, often, "Let my example speak, andnot my lips." Why should
not a man's lips and example both speak? Whyshould not a man interpret his
example? Why should a man leave it to be inferred, in this world, that he is
still living simply by the powerof his own will? Why should he leave it for

men to point to him, and say, "There is a man of a well-regulatedlife who
holds his temper aright; but see, it is on accountof the household that he has
around him; it is on accountof the companionship that he keeps;it is on
accountof the valorous purpose which he has fashioned in his ownmind" —
thus giving credit to these secondarycauses, and not to that Divine
inspiration, that power from on high, which gives to all secondarycausestheir
efficiency?
(H. W. Beecher.)
Personaltestimony appreciated
H. W. Beecher.Twomen come together, one of whom is shrunk and crippled
with a rheumatic affection, and the other of whom is walking in health and
comfort; and the well man says to the other, "My friend, I know how to pity
you. I spent fifteen as wretched years as any man ever spent in the world. I,
too, was a miserable cripple, in the same way that you are." And the man with
rheumatism at once says, "You were?" He sees him walk;he sees how lithe
and nimble he is; he sees that he can straighten out his limbs, and that his
joints are not swollen; he sees thathe is in the enjoyment of all his bodily
power; and he is eagerto know more about it. "Yes, I was as bad off as you
are, and I suffered everything." "Tellme what cured you." There is nothing
that a man wants to hear so much as the history of one who has been cured, if
he too is a sufferer.
(H. W. Beecher.)
Personaltestimony hindered by the fear of subsequent fai
H. W. Beecher.lure:— When a watchmakersets a watch, he almost always
stops it first, in order to get the secondhand right; and then, at the right
second, he gives it a turn, and starts it. But suppose, having stopped a watch,
he should lay it down, and should not start it till he knew whether it would
keeptime or not, how long would he wait? There are a greatmany men who
are setexactly right, and all that is wantedis, that they should start, and go on
and keeptime. But no, they are not going to tick until they know whether they
are going to continue right or not. And what is needed is, that somebody, out
of his own experience, should sayto them, "You are under an illusion. Your
reasoning is false. You are being held back by a misconception. You have
enough sense ofsin to actas a motive. If you have wind enough to fill a sail,
you have enough to start a voyage with. You do not need to wait for a gale
before you go out of the harbour. If you have enoughwind to getsteerage
way, start!" And if a man has enough feeling to give him an impulse forward,
let him move. After that he will have more and more feeling.

(H. W. Beecher.)
Personaltestimony permits others to share the joys of the Christian
experience
H. W. Beecher.Iwas as much struck, when I travelled in England, with the
stinginess of the people there, in respectto their gardens, as with anything
else. It was afterwards explained to me, as owing partly to conditions of
climate, and partly to the notions of the people. I travelled two miles along a
park shut in by a fence, that was probably twelve feet high, of solid brick and
copedwith stone. On the other side were all sorts of trees and shrubs, and
though I was skirting along within a few feetof them, I could not see a single
one of them. There were fine gardens in which almost all the fruits in the
world were cultivated, either under glass, oragainstwalls, or out in the open
air; and a man might smell something in the air; but what it came from, he
had to imagine. There were plants and shrubs drooping to the ground with
gorgeous blossoms, andthere might just as wellas not have been an open iron
fence, so that every poor beggarchild might look through and see the flowers,
and feelthat he had an ownershipin them, and congratulate himself, and say,
"Are not these mine?" Oh! I like to see the little wretches of the street go and
stand before a rich man's house, and look over into his grounds, and feast
their eyes on the trees, and shrubs, and plants, and piebald beds, and
magnificent blossoms, and luscious fruit, and comfort themselves with the
thought that they cansee everything that the rich man owns;and I like to
hear them tell what they would do if they were only rich. And I always feelas
though, if a man has a fine garden, it is mean for him to build around it a
close fence, so that nobody but himself and his friends can enjoy it. But oh! it
is a greatdeal meaner, when the Lord has made a garden of Eden in your
soul, for you to build around it a greatdumb wallso close and so high that
nobody can look through it or over it, and nobody can hear the birds singing
in it. And yet, there are persons who carry a heart full of sweet, gardenesque
experiences allthe way through life, only letting here and there a very
confidential friend know anything about the wealth that is in them.
(H. W. Beecher.)
The gospela living Christ in living men
H. W. Beecher.Why, then, did Christ refuse to allow the man to go with Him?
Be was calling disciples, and the very watchwordalmostwas, "Follow Me."
But now, here was one that wanted to follow Him, doubtless from the best
motives, and He says, "Go home." Why? Well, for the best reasonin the
world, I think. The man's nature was so transformed, the very radiancy of his

joy was sucha moral power, that not in one of the twelve disciples was there
probably so much of the gospelas this man had in his new experience;and He
sends him out thus to make known the Christ; to glow before men with trust,
with gratitude, and with love. He was a glorious manifestation of the
transforming power of the gospelupon the human soul, and that was the
powerthat Christ came to institute in this world. It was because he was a
gospel. The gospelnever canbe preached. The gospelcannever be spoken. It
is a thing that must be lived. It defies letters. It is a living soul in a Christ-like
estate. Thatis the gospel. Thatcan be manifested, but it cannot be described.
No philosophy can unfold it. No symbols can demonstrate it. It is life centred
on love, inflamed by the conscious presenceofthe Divine and the eternal. That
is the realpower of the gospel.
(H. W. Beecher.)
The powerof God working through man upon men
H. W. Beecher.This conditionof the human soul carries with it a mysterious
powerwhich all ages and nations have associatedwith the Divine presence. A
man living in that high state of purity, rapture, and love, always seems sacred.
He is like a man standing apart and standing above, and seems to have been
one informed with the Divine presence. Thatis always efficacious upon the
imagination of men, whether they are brutal, vulgar, or heathen. Anything
that seems to represent the near presence of God stops them, binds them,
electrifies them. A greatsoul carrying itself greatly in the sweetness andputty
of love, in the powerof intelligence, and with all other implements in its hand
and around about it, suggestsmore nearly the sense ofDivine presence than
any other thing in this world. When the human faculties are centred upon
love, and all of them are inflamed by it; when conscience,reason, knowledge,
the will power, all skill, all taste, and all culture are the bodyguards of this
central element of Christian love, they are really, by their ownnature, what
electricityis by its nature, or what light is by its nature. They are infectious. If
you want to move upon the human mind, that is the one force that all men
everywhere and always yield to. The glowing enthusiastic soul, even in its
lowestmoods, and from its lowestfaculties, has greatcontagious power. If you
raise man higher along the levels of wisdom and of socialexcellence, stillmore
powerful is he; if you give him the dimensions of a hero and make him a
patriot, and give him the disinterestedness ofa glowing love of country and a
love of mankind, still higher he rises and wider is the circle that he shines
upon; but if you give him the ineffable presence of God, if God is associatedin
his thought and perception, as in his own consciousness withthe eternities, if
he has in himself all the vigour of Divine inspiration and walks so among men,

there is no other powerlike Divine-crownedpower, no sordid power, no
philosophic power, no aesthetic power, no artistic power. Nothing on earth is
like God in a man.
(H. W. Beecher.)
Men too opaque to let the gospelthrough them
H. W. Beecher.Time and time againI have felt as though I were a window
through which the sun straggledto come. You may remember those old bull's-
eye windows, with the glass bulging in the centre so that the sun could not get
through them except in twilight. I have felt that the natural man in me was so
strong that not half the light of the gospelcame through. Or, as you have seen,
in an attic long unvisited by the broom, the only windows, jutting out from
under the gable, have been takenpossessionofby dust and spiders, until a veil
is woven over them, and the sun outside cannot getinside exceptas twilight!
So men, cumbered with care and worldly conditions, and all manner of
worldly ambitions, attempting to preach the doctrinal Christianity, are too
opaque, or too nearly opaque, to let the gospelthrough.
(H. W. Beecher.)
The testimony of a gospellife within the reachof every variety of talent
H. W. Beecher.This issue comes home to all souls alike. It is the solvent of the
difficulties which we feelin diversities of talent. One Christian man says,
"How can I be expected to do much good? I am not eloquent, I am not an
apostle, I am not Apollos, I am not a Paul." Another man says, "I should be
very glad if I were a man of affairs; I should like to live a Christian life in the
conduct of affairs; but I have no ability." Now, the gospelforce belongs to
every man alike. If you are low in life, you are susceptible of living like Christ.
If you are very high in life, you are susceptible of living a Christ-like life. If
you are wise and educated, that is the life for you. If you are ignorant, that is
just as much the life for you. It does not lie in those gifts that the world prizes,
and justly prizes, too. It is something deeper than that, far more interior than
that; and it is clothed by the creative idea of God with an influence over men's
souls greaterthan any other. Wherever you are;whether you are poor,
obscure, mean, even sick and bedridden, or in places of conspicuity, the
highest, the lowest, and the middle, all come to a gracious unity. Notonly that,
but they all feel resting upon them the sweetobligations ofthe duty of loving
Christ, of being like Christ, of loving our fellow men. When we shall become
communal, whenever the coronalfaculties of the human soul are in
ascendencyand in sympathetic unity, the world will not linger another

eighteenhundred years before it will be illumined. The new heavens will
come, and the new earth.
(H. W. Beecher.)
The apostle to the Gadarenes
L. W. Bacon.Thingsmust have lookedperplexing enough to this poor man!
"Go home to thy friends!" "But, Lord, I have no friend but Thee. I have been
an outcastnow these many years — a dweller in unclean sepulchres, abhorred
of men. What have men done for me but bind me in chains and fetters of iron?
But Thy hand hath loosedmy bonds of pain, and bound me with Thy love. Let
me be with Thee where Thou art!" But still from that most gracious One
came the inexorable "Go back — back to thy friends and thy father's house.
Go, tell them what the Lord hath done for thee." "What? I, Lord? I, so
disused to rational speech? whose lips and tongue were but now the organs of
demoniac blasphemy? I, just rallying from the rending of the exorcised
fiends? I, surrounded by a hostile people that have just warnedaway my Lord
and Saviour from their coasts?And can I hope that they will hear my words,
who turn a deaf and rebellious ear to Thee? Nay, Lord, I entreat Thee let me
be with Thee, there sitting at Thy feetclothed and in my right mind, that men
may look and point at me and glorify my Lord, my Saviour! Let them go,
whose zealto tell of Thee even Thy interdict cannot repress — there be many
such, send them! But let me be near Thee, be with Thee, and gaze, and love,
and be silent, and adore!" Was ever a strongerargument of prayer? And yet
the little boatmoves off, and Christ departs, and the grateful believer is left
alone to do the work for which he seems so insufficient and unfit! How like
Christ's dealing is to His Father's!To translate the story into the terms of our
daily life it shows us —
I. THAT THE PATH OF DUTY WHICH CHRIST HAS MARKED OUT
FOR US MAY BE THE OPPOSITEOF THAT WHICH WE NATURALLY
THINK AND ARDENTLY DESIRE. All our natural aptitudes, as we estimate
them, yea, our purest and highest religious aspirations, may draw us toward a
certain line of conduct, while on the other hand the manifest indications of
God's Word and providence inexorably close up that way and wave us off in
another direction.
II. WHEN RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE AND RELIGIOUS DUTY SEEM TO
CONFLICT, THE DUTY IS TO BE PREFERREDABOVE THE
PRIVILEGE.
III. DUTY, PREFERRED AND FOLLOWED INSTEAD OF PRIVILEGE,
BECOMESITSELF THE SUPREME PRIVILEGE. The interests of the soul

are very great, but they are not supreme. The supreme interests are those of
the kingdom of God and His righteousness, andwhoso, forgetting the interests
of his own soul, shall follow after these, shallsurely find that all things beside
are added unto him.
(L. W. Bacon.)
Going home -- a Christmas story
C. H. Spurgeon.I. WHAT THEY ARE TO TELL. Personalexperience. A
story of free grace. A story filled with gratitude.
II. WHY THEY ARE TO TELL IT. For the Master's sake. To make others
glad.
III. HOW IS THIS STORYTO BE TOLD?
1. Truthfully.
2. Humbly.
3. Earnestly.
4. Devoutly.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
The refused request
R. Glover.It was a natural prayer of gratitude and sweetness. Why, when
Christ giants the bad prayer of the people, does He deny the goodprayer of
the restoredsufferer?
I. MERCYTO THE MAN HIMSELF.
1. To teachhim to walk by faith, not by sight.
2. To leave his fears of a return of his affliction unsanctioned.
3. To indicate that Christ's work was perfect, not in danger of relapse.
4. To suggestthat a distant Christ, if trusted, is as strong to save as a Christ
who is nigh at hand.
II. MERCYTO THE GERGESENES. The presence ofthe Lord oppressed
them. The presence ofa disciple among them was
(1)a link to Him, and
(2)a testimony of Him. So the man is left, a living gospel, seeing whom, others
may reflect, repent, and ultimately believe.
III. MERCYTO THE FAMILY OF THE RESTORED MAN. His family had
suffered much pain, and probably poverty; let them have the pleasure of

seeing his health and peace, and the advantage of his care. Forwife and
children's comforthe should return. How thoughtful is Christ of our best
interests, even when He is crossing ourwishes!How merciful in leaving an
evangelistwith those on whom some would have calleddown fire from
heaven!
(R. Glover.)
Christ's disinterestedness
Segneri.Do youever find, among all the persons whom Christ miraculously
cured, a single one whom He retained to be afterwards nearHim as His
disciple, His attendant, His votary?...Where now is your worldly friend who
will behave himself towards you in this fashion? So far from it, no soonerhas
he done you any service, howevertrifling, than he immediately lays a claim
upon you for your daily attendance upon him. He requires you to be
henceforth always at his elbow, and to be giving him continually every
possible proof of your gratitude, of your devoted and even slavish attachment
to his person.
(Segneri.)
The home missionary
H. Phillips.A convertedman should be a missionary to his fellow men.
I. CHRISTIAN MISSIONARYWORK, THE DUTY OF EVERY
CONVERTEDMAN, should be undertaken
(1)out of gratitude to God;
(2)from regardto human need,
(3)to promote the glory of Christ.
II. CHRISTIAN EFFORT SHOULD BEGIN AT HOME.
III. CHRISTIAN USEFULNESS MUST BE BASED ON PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
IV. CHRISTIAN OBEDIENCE WILL BE CROWNED WITHTHE
REWARD OF SUCCESS.
(H. Phillips.)
The mission of the saved
C. H. Spurgeon.Mensavedfrom Satan —
1. Beg to sit at Jesus'feet, clothed, and in their right mind.

2. Ask to be with Him always, and never to ceasefrom personalattendance
upon Him.
3. Go at His bidding, and publish abroad what greatthings He has done for
them.
4. Henceforth have nothing to do but to live for Jesus and for Him alone.
Come, ye despisers, and see yourselves as in a looking glass. The opposite of
all this is true of you. Look until you see yourselves transformed.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
The restoreddemoniac
J. Burns, D. D. , LL. D.I. AN INTERESTINGPRAYER which
notwithstanding was rejected,
1. The prayer itself — "To be with Christ." Was not this the end of Christ's
mission, that He might collectsouls to Himself? Gather them out of the world,
etc. It seems evidently a wise and proper prayer, a pious prayer, the signof a
gracious state ofsoul.
2. The probable reasons by which this prayer was dictated. It might be the
result
(1)Of holy cautiousness andfear.
(2)From grateful love to Jesus.
(3)From a desire to know more of Christ.
3. The refusal of this request. "But Christ sent him away." Howeverwise and
proper and pious the man's petition appears, Jesus determinedand directed
otherwise;his suit could not be granted. Here let us pause and learn
(1)how necessaryto be taught rightly to pray. We know not what we should
pray for.
(2)We should learn to be satisfiedwith the Lord's goodpleasure whether He
grants our requests or not.
II. AN IMPORTANT COMMANDWHICH WAS PIOUSLY OBEYED.
"Jesus senthim," etc.
1. The nature of the command. He was to be a personalwitness for Christ; a
monument of Christ's powerand compassion. He could testify
(1)to the enthronement of reason.
(2)To emancipation from the thraldom of evil spirits.
(3)To restorationto happiness.

(4)To the Author of his deliverance, "Jesus."
2. The obedience which was rendered.
(1)It was prompt and immediate. He did not cavil, nor reason, nor refuse.
(2)It was decided and public. Notafraid, nor ashamed.Application:
1. The end of our conversionis more than our own salvation.
(1)We must testify to and for the benefit of others.
(2)We must glorify Christ.
2. The converted should not consult merely their owncomfort.
3. Christian obedience is unquestioning and exact.
4. The hearts' desires of the saints shall be granted in a future state. Be with
Jesus forever, etc.
(J. Burns, D. D. , LL. D.)
At the feet of Jesus
J. Caroming, D. D.Two grandfeatures in the close ofthe parable.
I. THE POSITION IN WHICH THE MAN WAS FOUND.
1. How interesting is this spectacle. Itwas the place of nearness to Jesus and
intimate communion with Him. Perhaps he selectedthis place also as the site
of safety, or, he may have been seeking that instruction which was requisite to
guide and to direct him.
2. What took place in the case ofthe demoniac is only a fore-light of what will
take place in the case ofall creation.
II. THE PETITION THAT HE MIGHT BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN WITH
HIM OR TO ACCOMPANY HIM. Why?
1. Becausehe might have recollectedthe factof which the words are the
description (Matthew 12:43). If we have obtained anything from Christ for
which we feel thankful, we shall be jealous lest we lose it.
2. To give expressionto the deep love that he felt to Him.
III. THE ACTUAL ANSWER THAT CHRIST GAVE HIM. Explain the
seeming contradiction betweenthis and Luke 8:56 and others. We have in this
indirect but striking evidence of the divinity of the characterof Jesus. A mere,
common wonder workerwould have been too glad of having a living specimen
of his greatpowerto accompanyhim into all lands, etc. We have these great
lessons taughtus! That he that receives the largestblessing from Christ is

bound to go and be the largestand most untiring distributor of that blessing.
We receive not for ourselves, but for diffusion, etc.
2. That the way, if you are Christians, to be with Christ, and to be with Him
most closely, is to go out and labour for Christ with the greatestdiligence. We
are never so near to Christ as when, in His spirit and in His name, we are
doing His work and fulfilling His will.
3. That labouring for Christ, according to Christ's command, is the very way
to enjoy the greatesthappiness that results from being with Christ. Labour
for Christ and happiness from Christ are twins that are never separated.
4. That as Christ, in hearing the demoniac, had an object beyond him, so, in
healing us, He has an object beyond us.
5. But there is something very instructive, too, in the place that the Saviour
bade this recovereddemoniac go to. Go to the sphere in which providence has
placed you, and into that sphere bring the glorious riches with which grace
has enriched you...Testyour missionary powers at home before you try them
in the school, etc. The little home, the family, is the fountain that feeds with a
pure and noble population the large home, which is the country. Let us begin
at home, but let us not stop there.
6. Conceive, if you can, the return of the man to his home — the picture
realized in his reception.
(J. Caroming, D. D.)
The powerof home in regenerating society
J. Cumming, D. D.Loyalty, and love, and happiness in Britain's homes, will
make loyalty, and happiness, and love be reflected from Britain's altars and
from Britain's shores. There may be a mob, or there may be slaves;but let
statesmenrecollectthere cannotbe a people unless there be a home. I repeat,
there may be in a country slaves, orthere may be mobs, but there cannot be in
a country a people, the people, unless it be a country of holy and happy
homes. And he that helps to elevate, sustain, ennoble, and sanctify the homes
of a country, contributes more to its glory, its beauty, its permanence, than all
its legislators, its laws, its literature, its science, its poetry together. Our Lord
beganat the first home that was found at Bethabara beyond Jordan — the
home of Andrew and Peter; and starting from it, he carried the glorious
gospelof which he was the author into the home of Mary and Martha at
Bethany, of Cornelius the centurion, of Lydia, of the gaolerof Philippi, of
Crispus, and finally of Timothy; and these consecratedand converted homes
became multiplying foci amid the world's darkness, till the scatteredand ever

multiplying lights shall be gatheredone day into one broad blaze, that shall
illuminate and make glad the wide world. Let us begin at home, but let us not
stop there. It is groups of homes that make a congregation;it is clusters of
congregations that make a country.
(J. Cumming, D. D.)
The return of the cured demoniac
J. Cumming, D. D.He went home, and proclaimed not only there, but in all
Decapolis,whatGod had done for him. Conceive, if you can, the picture
realized in his reception. He turns his face quietly to his home the first time,
perhaps, for years — the first time, at least, that he recollects. One child of
his, looking from the casement, sees the father return, and gives the alarm:
every door is doubly bolted; the mother and children cling togetherin one
group, lest the supposed still fierce demoniac, who had so often torn and
assailedthem before, should againtear and utterly destroy them. But a second
child, looking, calls out, "My father is clothed; before he was not clothed at
all." A third child shouts to the mother, "My father is not only clothed, but he
comes home so quietly, so beautifully, that he looks as when he dandled us
upon his knee, kissedus, and told us sweetand interesting stories:can this be
he?" A fourth exclaims, "It is my father, and he seems so gentle, and so quiet,
and so beautiful — come, my mother, and see." The mother, not believing it to
be true, but wishing it were so, runs and looks with scepticalbelief; and lo! it
is the dead one alive, it is the lost one found, it is the naked one clothed, it is
the demon-possessedone, holy, happy, peaceful; and when he comes and
mingles with that glad and welcoming household, the group upon the
threshold grows too beautiful before my imagination for me to attempt to
delineate, and its hearts are too happy for human language to express. The
father crossesthe threshold, and the inmates welcome him home to their
fireside. The father gathers his children around him, while his wife sits and
listens, and is not wearywith listening the whole day and the whole night, as
he tells them how One who proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah, who is the
Prophet promised to the fathers, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty
God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, spaketo him, exorcisedthe
demons, and restoredhim to his right mind, and made him happy.
(J. Cumming, D. D.)
Work for Christ the way to retain the vision of Him
J. Cumming, D. D.A poor monk, who, in spite of his cowl, seems from the fact
to have been one of God's hidden ones, was one day, according to a mediaeval
legend, meditating in his cell. A glorious vision burst upon him, it is recorded,

with the brilliancy of noon-day, and revealedin its bosomthe "Manof
Sorrows,"the "acquaintedwith grief." The monk was gazing on the spectacle
charmed, delighted, adoring. The convent bell rang; and that bell was the
daily signalfor the monk to go to the poor that were crowding round the
convent gate, and distribute bread and fragments of food among them. The
monk hesitated whether he should remain to enjoy the splendid apocalypse, or
should go out to do the daily drudgery that belongedto him. At last he
decided on the latter; he left the vision with regret, and went out at the
bidding of the bell to distribute the alms, and bread, and crumbs among the
poor. He returned, of course expecting that, because ofhis not seeming to
appreciate it, the vision would be darkened; but to his surprise, when he
returned, the vision was there still, and on his expressing his amazement that
his apparent want of appreciating it and being thankful for it should be
overlooked, andthat the vision should still continue in augmented splendour,
a voice came from the lips of the Saviour it revealed, which said, "If you had
stayed, I had not." This may be a legendbut it teaches a greatlesson — that
active duty in Christ's name and for Christ's sake is the way to retain the
vision of His peace in all its permanence and power.
(J. Cumming, D. D.)
The three prayers
W. Jay.Here are three prayers, the prayer of the devils, of the Gadarenes, and
of the demoniac who had been restored. The first prayer was answered, and
the devils obtained their wish; the secondwas complied with, but the last was
re. fused, though all he askedwas permissionto be with Christ; surely there
must be something very instructive in all this, otherwise it would not have
been registered.
I. "AND ALL THE DEVILS BESOUGHT JESUS, SAYING, SEND US INTO
THE SWINE." Here, the devils acknowledgethe powerof Christ over them;
they cannot injure even a brute without leave. This is orthodox so far as it
goes, andeven beyond the creedof many who profess themselves Christians.
None of the devils in hell disbelieve the divinity of Christ. But cannot faith
save us? It can, but not such faith as is purely a conviction of truth. All
Christians know that their speculative surpassestheir experimental and
practicalreligion. But will devils pray? and will they be heard? Yes — "and
forthwith Jesus gave them leave." Theirrequest was founded on malice and
mischief, in order to render Christ obnoxious to the Gadarenes, throughthe
spoiling of their goods. Permissionwas givenin judgment. Satan killed the
children of Job; but Job triumphed in his trial. The same permissionwas
given to Satan to tempt the Gadarenes, how different the result; he destroyed

their property and them with it. The gold will endure the furnace, the dross
will not.
II. THEY SAW THE POOR WRETCHDISPOSSESSEDAND INSTEAD OF
BRINGING ALL THEIR SICK TO BE HEALED BESOUGHT JESUS TO
DEPART. How dreadful was this prayer! Oh, if you were of Moses youwould
say, "If Thy presence go not with us, suffer us not to go up hence." David said,
"Castme not away from Thy presence."You need the Saviour's presence as
much as the earth needs the sun; in adversity, death, judgment. Observe, you
may pray thus without words, actions speak louderthan words. When you
would tell a man to be off, it is done without speaking;an eye, a finger, nay,
but turning your back will effect it. God interprets your meaning, he
translates your actions into intelligible language. Wondernot if God takes you
at your word; He punishes sin with sin; sealing men's eyes when they will not
see;withdrawing grace that is neglected.
III. THE POOR PATIENT PRAYED TO BE WITH CHRIST.
1. His prayer arose from fear.
2. From gratitude.
3. From love. Everyone who has obtained grace prays, "Lord, show me Thy
glory."Learn:
1. To think correctly of answers to prayers — that God may hear in wrath, or
refuse a petition in kindness. Godcan distinguish our welfare from our
wishes.
2. There is no ostentationin the miracle. The pure benevolence ofJesus
terminated with the individual. The religion of Jesus Christcalls us into the
world, as well as out of it. It calls us out, as to its spirit and maxims, in, as the
sphere of activity, and place of trial. The idea of living among the wretched
Gadarenes must have been uncomfortable to the renewedmind of the poor
man, yet he is directed to go, without murmuring or gainsaying;not, indeed,
in the spirit of the Pharisee, norof the rigid professor, who, while he confesses
a man can have nothing, except it be given him from above, is occupied all the
day in maligning and censuring his neighbours; but to display the meekness
and gentleness ofJesus Christin his conduct and conversation, to relate his
recovery, to honour the Physician, and to direct others unto Him. Oh, if there
were a history of all whom the Saviour has made whole, what a work would it
be.
(W. Jay.)
Home piety a proof of real religion

W. Jay.He that is not relatively godly, is not really so; a man who is bad at
home is bad throughout, and this reminds me of a wise reply of Whitfield to
the question "Is such a one a good man?" "How should I know that? I never
lived with him."
(W. Jay.)
The recovereddemoniac
S. Bridge, M. A.I. THE MAN'S REQUEST. We cannotwonderthat his mind
should shrink at the thought of the devil's returning in the absence of our
Lord. He may have heard of such cases. "Whenthe unclean spirit is gone out
of a man...the last state of that man is worse than the first." Thus the soul
rescuedfrom Satanis frequently for a time unable to rejoice, but appears to
"receive the spirit of bondage againto fear." Our feelings, after any
unexpected deliverance or event, are such that we find it difficult to believe its
reality. Go, tell the mother who has heard of the shipwreck of her child, that
her sonwho was dead is alive again, she is with difficulty persuaded of its
truth. And when so much is at stake we should fear for those who do not
sometimes fearfor themselves. Canthe Christian, harassed by rising
corruption, beset with temptation, feel no concern?
II. OUR LORD'S ANSWER. We might have supposed, after the great
salvationJesus had wrought for him, He would not have been reluctant to
grant him any favour, especiallywhen the request was dictated by gratitude.
1. The reply showedthe modesty of the Saviour.
2. Also His compassionfor the man's friends. Mercy to one member of the
family should be an encouragementto all the rest.
3. And the greatobject which every man truly converted to God will keep
perpetually in view is, the promotion of the Divine glory, and the extensionof
the Redeemer's kingdom, in the salvation of those around him. The wife of his
bosom, the parent, the brother, or the child; reason, as well as affection,
points out these as the first objects of our concern. Religiondoes not petrify
the feelings, and make us to be so absorbed in seeking ourown safety, as to be
indifferent to the fate of those about us; the grace of Goddoes not annihilate
the sympathies, or snap the bonds of nature; no, it strengthens and refines
those sympathies, deepens the channel in which the affections flow, and
purifies and consecratesthe stream. But are there not some, who, instead of
entreating Jesus that they may go with Him, are saying of the world and of the
flesh, We have loved these, and after them we will go? But, fellow sinners, be
persuaded it is the way of transgression, it is hard.

(S. Bridge, M. A.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19)The Lord hath done for
thee.—Coming from our Lord’s lips, and having “God” as its equivalent in
Luke 8:39, the word “Lord” must be takenin its Old Testamentsense, as
referring, not to the Lord Jesus, but to the Father.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary5:1-20 Some openly wilful sinners are
like this madman. The commands of the law are as chains and fetters, to
restrain sinners from their wickedcourses;but they break those bands in
sunder; and it is an evidence of the power of the devil in them. A legionof
soldiers consistedofsix thousand men, or more. What multitudes of fallen
spirits there must be, and all enemies to God and man, when here was a legion
in one poor wretchedcreature! Many there are that rise up againstus. We are
not a match for our spiritual enemies, in our own strength; but in the Lord,
and in the powerof his might, we shall be able to stand againstthem, though
there are legions of them. When the vilest transgressoris delivered by the
powerof Jesus from the bondage of Satan, he will gladly sit at the feetof his
Deliverer, and hear his word, who delivers the wretched slaves ofSatan, and
numbers them among his saints and servants. When the people found that
their swine were lost, they had a dislike to Christ. Long-suffering and mercy
may be seen, even in the corrections by which men lose their property while
their lives are saved, and warning given them to seek the salvation of their
souls. The man joyfully proclaimed what great things Jesus had done for him.
All men marvelled, but few followedhim. Many who cannotbut wonder at the
works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him.
Barnes'Notes on the BibleJesus sufferedhim not - Various reasons have been
conjecturedwhy Jesus did not suffer this man to go with him. It might have
been that he wished to leave him among the people as a conclusive evidence of
his powerto work miracles. Or it might have been that the man feared that if
Jesus left him the devils would return, and that Jesus told him to remain to
show to him that the cure was complete, and that he had powerover the devils
when absent as well as when present. But the probable reasonis, that he
desired to restore him to his family and friends. Jesus was unwilling to delay

the joy of his friends, and to prolong their anxiety by suffering him to remain
awayfrom them.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary19. Howbeit, Jesus sufferedhim
not, &c.—To be a missionary for Christ, in the regionwhere he was so well
known and so long dreaded, was a far nobler calling than to follow Him where
nobody had everheard of him, and where other trophies not less illustrious
could be raisedby the same power and grace.
Matthew Poole's CommentaryVer. 19. See Poole on"Mr 5:1"
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHowbeit Jesus sufferedhim not,.... He
being as able to preserve him from those evil spirits, when absent, as present;
and besides, to take him along with him, would look like ostentationand
boasting, which Christ was averse unto; and more especially, as is clearfrom
what follows, he chose he should stay behind, because he had work for him to
do in those parts, which would be for the glory of God, the spread of the
knowledge ofhimself, and his Gospel, among his friends, relations, and
countrymen: wherefore it follows,
but saith unto him, go home to thy friends, and tell them how greatthings the
Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion onthee: he bids him go to
his "ownhouse", as it is in Luke, Luke 8:39 to the place of his former abode;
to the town, or city, where he before dwelt, and where his father and mother,
brethren and sisters, wife and children might live; and there relate to them
what greatthings the Lord, or God, as the Ethiopic version reads, had done
for him; by casting out a legion of devils from him, and had restoredhim to
his perfectsenses andhealth, and had had compassiononhim, both as of his
soul and body, and had wrought a greatsalvation for him. So such as are
calledby grace, andare turned from darkness to light; and from the powerof
Satanunto God, ought to go, to their Christian friends, and to the church of
God, and declare in Zion the greatthings which God has done for their souls;
in enlightening, quickening, converting, and comforting them, to the glory of
his rich mercy, and abundant grace. Theyare "greatthings" indeed which the
Lord has done for his people: he has done greatthings for them in eternity; he
has loved then with an everlasting love; he has chosenthem in his Sonto
holiness and happiness; he has made a covenantwith him, for them, full of
spiritual blessings and promises; he has provided him, as a Saviour, for them,
and has appointed, and called him to that work;all which is more or less
made known to them in the effectualcalling, when they receive the Spirit of
God, that they may know the things which are freely given to them of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ has done great things for them, as before time, by
engaging for them as their surety; so, in time, by taking upon him their

nature, by bearing their sins, and suffering in their room and stead, thereby
working out a greatsalvation, which, in conversion, is brought near, and
applied unto them. And the Lord, the Spirit, does great things for them, when
he calls them by his grace, and afterwards;in opening their eyes who were
born blind, and who otherwise must have lift them up in hell; and in bringing
them into the marvellous light of, the Gospel;in quickening them, when dead
in trespassesand sins, who otherwise must have died the seconddeath; in
causing them, to hear the voice of Christ in the joyful sound of the word, who
otherwise must have heard the curses of a righteous law;in taking awaytheir
stony hearts, and giving them hearts, of flesh; in rescuing them out of Satan's
hands; in leading them to Christ for righteousness, life, and salvation; in
discovering pardoning grace and mercy to them, through the blood of Christ;
in delivering out of many and greattemptations; in applying greatand
precious promises, suitably and seasonably;and in restoring them when
backslidden, and speaking comfortablyto them; in witnessing to their spirits,
their adoption; and in sealing them up to the day of redemption; and all this
flows from divine "compassion",and not from any motive and merit in the
creature. It was sovereignpity and compassion;the Lord "has mercy on
whom he will have mercy, and has compassiononwhom he will have
compassion",Romans 9:15. It was discriminating mercy: this man was not
only dispossessedofSatan, but possessedof specialgrace, whichcausedhim to
desire to be with Christ, when his countrymen desired him to depart from
them; it was shown him, when he had no pity on himself, when he cut and
wounded himself; and it was bestowedupon him, when he could, not help
himself, when he had a legionof devils within him: and now these great
things, which spring from greatlove and mercy, should be told to others,
especiallyto them that fearthe Lord, to the churches of Christ: this is the will
of God, and has been the practice of the saints in former ages;it rejoices the
hearts of God's:people to hear of these things, and enhances the glory of the
grace ofGod: and what may serve to encourage souls,to such a work is, that
it is to their "friends" they are to declare these things; who are welldisposed
to: them, rejoice at their conversion, sympathize with them in their troubles,
know what the things they speak of mean, and gladly receive them into their
affections and fellowship.
Geneva Study BibleHowbeit Jesus sufferedhim not, but saith unto him, Go
home to thy friends, and tell them how greatthings the Lord hath done for
thee, and hath had compassionon thee.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek TestamentHYPERLINK"/mark/5-19.htm"Mark 5:19.
Jesus refuses, and, contrary to His usual practice, bids the healed one go and
spread the news, as a kind of missionary to Decapolis, as the Twelve were to
Galilee. The first apostle of the heathen (Holtz. (H. C.) after Volkmar). Jesus
determined that those who would not have Himself should have His
representative.—πεποίηκεν, perfect, the effectabiding: hath done for me, as
you see.—ἠλέησένσε: pitied thee at the time of cure. ὅσα may be understood
before ἠλ. = and how, etc., or καὶ ἠλ. may be a Hebraising way of speaking for
ἐλεήσας σε (Grotius).—Κυριός:the subject to the two verbs = God, as in O. T.
Sept[34][34]Septuagint.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges19. andtell them] On others (comp.
Matthew 8:4; Luke 8:56) after shewing forth towards them His miraculous
power, He enjoined silence;on this man He enjoined publicity. He appoints
him to be a living memorial of His own saving Power, and so to become the
first greatpreacherin the half-heathen district.
Bengel's GnomenHYPERLINK"/mark/5-19.htm"Mark 5:19. Τοὺς σοὺς,
thine own people) implying the obligationby which we are bound towards
relatives.—ἀνάγγειλον, announced)There is a time for speaking;see Mark
5:30 and following verses;and also a time for being silent, Mark 5:43.—ὁ
Κύριος, the Lord) Jesus;comp. Mark 5:20 [‘Jesus.’]
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
From a Maniac to a MissionaryMark 5: 1-20
Our text follows the greatmiracle Jesus performed as He calmedthe raging
sea that arose while they sailedupon the Sea of Galilee. As we come to
Chapter 5, we encounter severalmore miracles Jesus performed as He walked
among men. We will find Him casting out demons, healing a dreadful disease,
and raising a young girl from the dead.
This chapter emphasizes the greatpower and compassionJesushad as He
ministered in various places around Capernaum. There was no need too great
or too small. Everywhere Jesus wentHe transformed lives. For the believer,
eachof the accounts recordedin Mark 5 paint a beautiful picture of the

transformation that has takenplace in us. We have been setfree from the
bonds of sin, healedof the dreaded infirmity of our iniquity, and delivered
from eternal death and condemnation.
As we begin this wonderful chapter, I want to examine the details described in
the text and considerthe thought: From a Maniac to a Missionary. As we do, I
hope these verses will encourage us to look to Jesus forthe varied needs in our
lives.
I. Considerthe Maniac – Our text reveals a man in need of Jesus. Notice:
A. His Dwelling (3) – Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man
could bind him, no, not with chains. We find that he lived among the tombs.
We must understand that this wasn’t just a place he spent some time, but this
was his dwelling. He spent his days among the dead.
and have no fellowship with those who are alive in Christ. They are literally
dwelling among the dead in a spiritual sense. PraiseGodI no longer live
among the dead, but dwell in the land of the living.
B. His Desperation(4-5) – Becausethathe 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. He lived a life that was out of control. Others had tried to help
him, but could not. His life was dominated by the influence of Satan. He had
been bound with chains, but couldn’t be tamed.
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P a s t o r C h r i s B e n f i e l d – F e l l o w s h i p M i s s i o n a r y B a p t i s t
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– sad, lonely, rejected, and totally
avoided by society. The torments of life never ceased, V.5. Day and night the
pain and misery of life was upon him. He found no comfort or peace, only
despair and desolation.
any who dwell in the cemetery, but they live in despair. Their lives are
dominated by sin – drugs, alcohol, sexualaddiction, etc. Every day begins the
same as the day before – in despair. They find no way of escape and continue
to live in defeat. This man lived a tragic life, as many do today. They have no
hope, joy, peace, orcomfort, constantlysearching for a way to escape the pain
and suffering.
C. His Desire (2, 6) – And when he was come out of the ship, immediately
there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [6] But when he
saw Jesus afaroff, he ran and worshipped him. He dealt with circumstances
beyond his control, (we can’t handle sin in ourselves), but he must’ve longed
for the day that the suffering would end. There was a day that he caught a
glimpse of hope; he saw Jesus!
one day a small boat arrives. Something within him knew Jesus was his only
hope. I don’t know if the man knew Jesus, but the demons inside certainly did.
James 2:19 – the devils also believe, and tremble. Whateverthe case, he is
th those
who are in pain. We may never see or know, but their pain is real. They long
for a means to escape their desperation. Jesus is the way! Do you desire to
meet the Lord?
II. Considerthe Master – The text reveals much about Jesus. Notice:

A. His Presence (1) – And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into
the country of the Gadarenes. Jesuscame to where the demonic man was.
Jesus knew his condition and where to find him. It wasn’t coincidence orluck;
it was by divine appointment!
don’t find Him teaching in the synagogue, feeding multitudes, or healing their
sick. He came through the storm on Galilee to reach this lost sinner. That one
lost, wretched soul neededa Savior and Jesus showedup in his hour of need.
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’t you glad for the presence of Jesus? Iremember the day I was saved.
It wasn’t in a greatrevival where many were saved – just me; I was the only
one. Jesus came just for me! He will do the same for you. Jesus loves you; He
knows your need and He wants to meet that need today! He died for you;
you’re the reason.
B. His Preeminence (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. As Jesus appearedthat day, the man immediately knew
this was the Son of God. He was aware that Jesus was there and that He
possessedall deity. Clearlythe demons had no desire to worship Jesus, but
they too acknowledgedHis deity.

are to be saved and setfree from the bondage
of sin. If you have never recognizedJesus forwho He is and your need for
Him, you must do so. He is the only way to be redeemed and given eternallife.
We must come to the place that we realize we need Jesus. We must see
ourselves as unworthy and undone before Him.
C. His Power(8-9, 13) – For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou
unclean spirit. [9] And he askedhim, What is thy name? And he answered,
saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. [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 steepplace into the sea, (they were about two
thousand;) and were chokedin the sea. Forthose who knew this man, his was
a hopeless situation. He dwelt among the tombs, ran about naked, and was
unable to be bound.
could number as many as 6,000. Idon’t know how many he was possessed
with, but they were many. His was a desperate condition. There was only One
who could help this man and He had come. Jesus immediately commanded –
Come out of the man. Isn’t it amazing that at the voice of Jesus Satanhas to
flee? We are no match for him, but Jesus is!
however, canbring victory to your soul. He has the powerto cleanse your
heart, forgive your sin, and redeemyour soul. If Jesus possessedthe power to
save this man, (He did), I know He can save you! He forever defeatedsin on
the cross ofCalvary. Jesus has the powerto release youfrom the bondage of
sin if you will only trust Him.
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III. Considerthe Miracle – What a difference Jesus makes whenHe passes by.
This is the same man, that a few moments before was a maniac, living among
the tombs, desperate for a change in life. In a moment’s time he went from
complete despair to eternal deliverance. Notice:
A. His Conversion(15) – And they come to Jesus, and see him that was
possessedwith the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his
right mind: and they were afraid. As the people gatheredto see the spectacle,
they encounteredsomething they never imagined. This was the same man who
had brought terror to all who knew him. He had dwelt among the dead, but
now he has been changed. The Lord made all the difference in his life. Let’s
see what the Lord did for this man.
1. His Comfort – He is found sitting with Jesus. He is no longerrunning
among the tombs. He is no longer desperate for peace in his heart. He is no
longertormented by the demons and effects ofsin. If you are living life on the
run among the dead, Jesus alone canprovide the comfort you need. You can
come to Him and sit at His feet.
2. His Clothing – He was sitting, and clothed. He was no longerrunning
among the tombs nakedand unclothed. He was dressedand presentable.
There is a profound truth in the fact that the man was clothed. The point here
is that there was a change in the man that was noticeable for those who knew
him to see. The Lord had done a work on the inside and it was visible from the
outside.
3. His Comprehension – He was sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.
Meeting Jesus affectedthe way this man thought. His mind was no longer
controlled by Satan. He no longerdesired the things of the world or the
pleasures of sin. His mind was focusedon the Lord. An encounterwith Jesus
will change your thought processes. Youwill no longer question or deny the
powerof the Lord. Your thoughts will no longerbe on the things of the world
or the lusts of the flesh, but on the Lord.

B. His Commission (18-20)– And when he was come into the ship, he that had
been possessedwith the devil prayed him that he might be with him. [19]
Howbeit Jesus sufferedhim not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends,
and tell them how greatthings the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had
compassiononthee. [20] And he departed, and beganto publish in Decapolis
how greatthings Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. The man no
longerwanted to live alone, but desiredto go with Jesus. He wanted to be with
the One who had brought deliverance. Jesus had another plan for him. He
was to go and tell what had happened in his life.
man wastedno time. He beganto publish what the Lord had done for him. He
told it all around Decapolis,the regionof ten cities that included Gadara. He
became a true disciple for the Lord.
July 19, 2017
C h u r c h
Page 5
Conclusion:We didn’t deal with it, but those in Gadara rejectedJesus. They
wanted no part of Him. This world doesn’t want you to get to Jesus. He is
ready to deliver and save. Are you as the maniac among the tombs? Maybe
you have been savedby His grace, but sin and burdens of life have robbed
your joy. If so, why not come today?
BRIAN BILL
Mark 5:1-20 Breaking the Chains that Bind
Nate WeaverTestimony – Part 1

My Name is Nate, I’m an unashamed believer in Jesus Christ and I
struggle with sin.
When I was 16-years-old, my worstnightmare and biggestfear came
true. My parents announced that they were getting a divorce. I was
devastatedby this news and I plunged into a state of shock, depression,
grief, and confusion, without any support or sense of identity. I resorted
to a survival mode mentality.
I soondiscoveredthat my ego combined with my anxiety issues made
for very good company with alcoholconsumption. It was the beginning
of a long tragic love affair, and God had been removed as even a blip on
my radar for quite some time at this point.
Throughout college my drinking increasedexponentially and what I
thought at the time was just “experimental” drug use became much
more than an occasionalactivity.
In 2005 probably the secondmost traumatic event in my life happened.
One of my bestfriends who I had knownsince 7th grade died in a tragic
car accident…this is where my drinking took its most dramatic turn.
I was working in sales for a company and some of my co-workers liked
to split a couple pitchers of beer for lunch at work. This increase in
drinking quickly started to become out of controland I didn’t even
seemto notice it creeping up on me. Eventually I was drinking 24/7,
morning, noon and night. Every waking moment of my life was
controlled by the thinking about, acquiring and consuming of alcohol. It
wasn’t long before my mind and body were completelydependent on
the substance and it started to affectmy relationships and reliability at
work.
On a February morning in 2009 I had been feeling ill for a few days so I
left work early. The next thing I remember is waking up in the ICU.
Apparently I had an alcoholwithdrawal induced seizure and I wrecked
my carand had been in a coma for three days.
This was my first introduction to the horrible affects that this poison
drug does to the body. It is like no other drug in the way that it makes
the body’s vital central nervous systemcompletely dependent on alcohol
to function properly. You would think this near death experience would
be enough to scare someone into sobriety forever. Unfortunately, for
this alcoholic, notbeing able to drink was still scarierthan death. These
are the delusions of addiction at their finest.
I still somehow managedto keepa job for about three years. This lasted
until Octoberof 2012 when I went to the emergencyroom because I was
vomiting blood nonstop. The doctors lookedat me in amazement. They

said that my vitamin levels were so low that I should have had a cardiac
arrestthree days earlier. I told them it had been at least2 weekssince I
had eatenanything. They calledme a walking dead man.
Nate felt like a walking dead man. Grab your Bibles and turn to Mark 5
where we’ll meet a man who could be the main characterout of the Night of
the Living Deador the main star in the Zombie Apocalypse.
Last weekendwe traveled with Jesus across the Sea of Galilee when a mega
storm came up and we learned that God’s plans may be puzzling and they
often include problems. But those same plans come with His presence and His
powerand they always have a purpose.
After Jesus stilled the storm, we read in verse 1 that “they came to the other
side of the sea, to the country of the Garasenes.”Let’s just admit that this is a
rather strange encounter where we see three realms meeting – Satan, Society
and the Savior.
Let me also point out that the Bible declares demon possessionis a real issue.
This man is not just deranged or suffering from mental illness nor is this
encounter just symbolic of evil in the world today. The Bible presents demon
possessionas soberreality and that’s how we should take it as well.
I like what C.S. Lewis wrote: “There are two equal and opposite errors into
which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence.
The other is to believe, and to feelan excessive and unhealthy interest in them.
They themselves are equally pleasedby both errors and hail a materialist or a
magicianwith the same delight.”
I see a progressionin this passage thatcan be summarized with three words
that will serve as our outline:
• Destruction
• Deliverance
• Deployment
1. Destruction.
Nate just describedthe destruction that he experiencedthrough drugs and
alcohol. Let’s look now at the destruction demons were causing, leaving a man
in mega misery. Mark 5:2 says that, “When Jesus had stepped out of the boat,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” It
was still dark when they landed on the shore of a cemeteryand as soonas

Jesus disembarkeda wild man ran up to him. This had to be an eerie
experience for the disciples as their nerves were already shotfrom the storm
on the lake. Luke tells us that he didn’t have any clothes on and that he was
“driven by the demon” (Luke 8:29).
Mark 5:3-5 says that no one could restrain or subdue this man. On top of that,
he was self-destructive. He was uncontrollable outcast:“He lived among the
tombs. No one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had
often been bound with shacklesand chains, but he wrenchedthe chains apart,
and he broke the shacklesin pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying
out and cutting himself with stones.” He made his dwelling among the dead.
The word for “crying” means that he was shrieking and screaming wildly. He
was defiled, depraved and desperate!Satanloves to distort and destroy the
image of God in people.
Satanhad wreckedhim and societycouldn’t reform him. His problems
couldn’t be solved by socialprograms nor could he be assistedby human
intervention. Self-help programs didn’t help because he was self-destructive.
Nothing could restrain him. His lifestyle was destroying him. And he never
stopped crying and cutting himself.
In short, he was hopeless andhelpless, isolatedand empty, trapped and
tormented…and he neededsomeone to deliver him.
2. Deliverance.
Nate went through a long period of destructive behavior but then Jesus Christ
beganto deliver him. Let’s listen to the next part of his testimony.
My mom flew in from the Quad Cities and took me back with her to
admit me into Riverside inpatient treatment facility in Rock Island. We
had a few different outside groups that would come in and talk to us
about recoverybut this one group stoodout to me. They would sing
contemporary Christian music and talk about the importance of Jesus
Christ in the 12-stepprocess. Theyemphasized sobriety and recovery
but most importantly that a relationship with Christ is something to
celebrate. I was intrigued. I said“Wait a minute, you are going to give
us food, sing with us, and tell us about God and 12-steprecovery? I need

all of those. Signme up!” After my month long inpatient treatment at
Riverside, I moved in with my Mom and her husband. I started
attending Celebrate Recoverybut I relapsedwithin 30 days. It was
breaking my mom’s heart as it does any parent to watch their child
struggle like this. So in January of 2013, they had me admitted into
Country Oaks. At first I was furious. Once my angersettled down I
thought long and hard about my options. I could be defiant, angry, and
bitter which would accomplishnothing or I could swallow my pride and
say I don’t like the situation but I am determined to getthe most out of
this. I found out from my counselorthat Edgewoodactuallybuses
people out to Celebrate Recoveryfrom Country Oaks. Fromthat point
on I was at CR every Friday night. After a couple of months, the CR
band announced that they were looking for a drummer. I clearly saw
how God had placedme at the perfect place at the perfect time in my
recovery. This new responsibility that God had blessedme with was
huge to my recovery. I had been playing drums my whole life and I now
realized that God had been preparing me for this opportunity to use this
gift to worship Him. I knew that I still needed a lot more help if I was
going to make this last and that meant that I needed to really develop
my relationship with Christ. I immediately signedup for the next 12-
step study group. It is hard to put into words the beautiful feeling it was
to have rekindled my long-lostrelationship with Christ. I still had a lot
of my life to cleanup from years of wrecking it but I saw hope and felt a
peace and comfort that I had always lookedforin a bottle. Though my
relationship with Christ was growing I reacheda point where I was
facedwith giving up some of my past. God wanted to make me into a
new creationand I was not willing to completely trust Him by
surrendering everything in my life. I had only 8 months of sobriety and
my refusalto completely surrender startedto make me feel discontent. I
now know that this is the most dangerous feeling in my recoveryand the
surestsign that I am close to a relapse. I found myself flat on my face
quite literally. I spent another miserable winter in what was a very low
depressing time to say the least. By January of 2014 I was back in the
hospital detoxing and clinging to life once again. I look back on that
relapse and thank God for it. It taught me so many goodlessons but I
had to pray and ask Him to show them to me as He healed my mind,
body and soul. It made me realize that I had to completelysurrender
my whole life to His will. If I hold on to even part of my sinful will it will
turn from a small path into a highway for the enemy into my life. I
thank God for the storms and the hardship because withoutthem I

never would have found peace. By working through Celebrate
Recovery, I was able to identify the root causes ofmost of my bad habits
including alcoholism. I askedGodfor freedom from this one compulsive
behavior and He showedme that the key to dealing with what I thought
was my one primary issue was to face all my sinful disobedience. I can’t
just mask one and hope the others go away. It just doesn’twork like
that. This process is not easyand it is not quick but it is free because
God’s Grace is free. I had to do more than turn the care of my will over
to God; I had to acceptthe sacrifice that Jesus made as my sin
substitute. He died so that I didn’t have to. How could I turn down a
free gift like absolute forgiveness and eternal life? I had to be willing to
be open and honest with myself and with God. By working through my
past and not around it God helped me to heal. Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledgehim, and he will make
straight your paths.” The greatthing about my Savior is that He asks
me to surrender everything and gives back to me what I need. But He
gives it back better than it was before, and more than I had in the first
place.
Let’s look and see how this messedup man found deliverance from his
destruction beginning in verse 6. As this tombstone terrorist came running up
to Jesus he hit the brakes and fell on his knees:“And when he saw Jesus from
afar, he ran and fell down before Him.” This shows the powerand authority
of Jesus. He hadn’t even said a word and the miserable man was on his face as
if in worship before Him. This man who ran from everyone else, ran to Jesus!
This makes me think of Philippians 2:10: “Thatat the name of Jesus every
knee should bow.”
The demon in this man becomes greatlydistressedbecause it knows exactly
who Jesus is. Verse 7 tells us what he said, “And crying out with a loud
[megas]voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, the Son of the
MostHigh God?’” The demon detects a dangerous opponent in Jesus and
cries out with a booming voice.
It’s interesting that demons are not atheists and their doctrine is orthodox.
They know exactly who Jesus is and call Him by His divine name – “Son of
the MostHigh God.” The demon cries out in fear because it’s scaredas James
2:19 says:“Eventhe demons believe—andshudder!”

By the way, this is less a confessionandmore a ploy to try and usurp the
authority of Jesus. Declaring one’s name was considereda way to secure
mastery over someone. And then the demon dared to arrogantly misuse the
name of God as he tried to get his way: “I adjure you by God, do not torment
me.” Jesus recognizedthat this man was in anguish not just mentally and
emotionally but also spiritually and therefore needed deliverance. Look at
verse 8: “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
In Mark 5:9 Jesus demands that the demon identify himself: “‘Whatis your
name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion, for we are many.’” A legion (not the
American Legion) was made up of 6,000 highly trained Roman soldiers,
revealing that this man had an army of evil spirits inside him.
What happens next is a bit strange in Mark 5:10-13:“And he beggedhim
earnestlynot to send them out of the country. Now a greatherd of pigs was
feeding there on the hillside, and they beggedhim, saying, ‘Send us to the
pigs; let us enter them.’ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits
came out and enteredthe pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand,
rushed down the steepbank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”
The demons don’t want to go to the abyss and so they beg Jesus for
permission to go into the pigs. The tense here is that they repeatedly made this
request. Whatever else you think about the destructionof all these pigs, notice
that Jesus gave the demons permission. Don’t ever think that Satan is more
powerful than God or that he’s on the same level with Him. Satanis a created
being who can do nothing without God’s permission.
BTW, this “swandive” is the first case of“deviled ham” and answers the
common question about whether pigs can fly. They can’t. They can’t swim
either. That’s a lot of bacon on the beach!
In Mark 5:14, we see that the herdsmen have a cow about the pigs and so they
“fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it
was that had happened.” We know from Matthew 8:33 that they wanted to
come see what had happened to the man. The people are curious and so they
now come and check it all out. Verse 15 describes their reaction:“And they
came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessedman, the one who had had the
legion, sitting there clothedand in his right mind…” This had to blow their
minds. No one had been able to help him and now he’s healed. He went from
screaming and shrieking and breaking shacklesto sitting peacefully. He is

now clothed and calm.
You’d think people would be really excited but insteadthey become very
unsettled. Look how Mark 5:15 ends: “…and they were afraid.” It’s
interesting, isn’t it? Why would they be afraid after he had been delivered?
For the same reasonthe disciples wiggedout after the wind and the waves
were stilled. They knew they were in the presence of deity.
While they were afraid of this maniacalman when he lived a destructive life
they had gottenused to it. Now they don’t know what to do when they see that
he’s been delivered. His transformation was so dramatic that they freak out.
You would think they would ask Jesus some questions or find out how he
could deliver them from the sins that were suffocating them. But insteadof
being drawn to Jesus, they demand that Jesus depart.
By the way, some of you have experiencedsomething similar since you’ve
been saved. Your friends and loved ones don’t want you to talk about Jesus
because they’re now uncomfortable around you.
We see this in Mark 5:16-17:“And those who had seenit describedto them
what had happened to the demon-possessedman and to the pigs. And they
beganto beg Jesus to depart from their region.” This is one of the saddest
sentences in Scripture. Lots of people choose dysfunction over deliverance
because they are afraid to change. Have you noticed that some seemeagerto
learn about Jesus and others want nothing to do with Him? I’m reminded that
it’s difficult to stay neutral about Him. You either want the Delivererto
deliver you or you want Him to depart from you. I saw something on Pastor
Dan’s Facebookwallthis week that serves as a goodreminder: “We change
when the pain of staying the same is greaterthan the pain of changing.” Are
you ready to change?
Jesus doesn’tforce Himself on anyone. When He’s invited, He comes. When
He’s received, He responds. When He’s told to go away, He leaves. Many
people don’t have anything againstJesus;they just want to keepHim at arms
length. One pastor sounds a warning: “WhenJesus knocks onthe door of
your heart, run quickly to let him in. Do not think that He is obligedto come
back againand again. We want a gentle Jesus who keeps his nose out of our
business and who will take us to heaven but not interfere in the way we live on
earth. We want a Jesus who builds our self-esteemand makes us happy, but
we want nothing to do with the Lord from heavenwho calls us to take up our

cross and follow Him.”
3. Deployment.
We see the progressionfrom destruction to deliverance and finally to
deployment. Nate, would you come back up and share how God has been
revealing His purpose to you?
I reacheda point during this process where I realized that I wasn’t
satisfiedto just stop being a bad drunk. I wanted more. I wantedto
start being the best Christian man that I could be. I have lived in many
different places in this world and I have experiencedmany “so called”
pleasures of the flesh but at the end of the day I was always left feeling
empty and alone. C.S. Lewis said, “It’s not that God thinks we ask for
too much; He thinks we settle for far too little.” Jesus wants to give me a
real life… and I chose a party. Jesus wants to give me long-lasting
contentment… and I chose a cheap, short lived high. Jesus wants to give
me a loving wife and I chose one night stands and pornography. I’m
tired of getting what I want. I’m now ready to getwhat Jesus wants me
to have and I’m tired of selling myself short and settling for anything
less. Jeremiah29:11 says, “ForI know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.” If I am honestwith myself I have to admit
that I should be dead severaltimes over. So at some point I had to ask
myself WHY ME? Today, I now know the answer, and it’s as true for
me as it is for anyone. It’s because Ihave a purpose, and it’s not my
purpose but it’s a purpose that has been given to me by the very same
person who savedme, which also happens to be the same One who
createdme for that very purpose. I live my life in constantpursuit of
more understanding about how to fulfill this purpose. I never dreamed
that I would be playing Christian music in a church but now I realize
that it’s one of many of God’s purposes for me. I now have the honor of
co-leading small groups on Friday nights and a 12-stepgroup on
Sunday nights. God has takenme from destruction to deliverance and
has now deployed me as a volunteer at Riverside in-patient treatment
center! Now I’m the one on the other side telling them about this
awesome programcalledCelebrate Recoverythat I first heard about
sitting right where they are sitting now. It has all come full circle and

God has turned this washedup wanna-be into an active member of the
Body of Christ. And the best part is, He and I are just getting started!
Let’s look now at how this delivered man was deployed. The crowdwanted
Jesus to get awayfrom them while the man wanted to get close to Him. Check
out Mark 5:18: “As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been
possessedwith demons beggedHim that he might be with Him.” He who
fearedHis arrival now dreaded His departure.
It’s interesting that Jesus honored the request of the people to leave them
alone but denied the request of a disciple who wanted to spend time with Him.
It’s because Jesus had a greaterpurpose for him. He was to be deployed as a
man on mission to the very people he already knew. In verse 19 Jesus gives
him his marching orders: “And He did not permit him but saidto him, ‘Go
home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and
how He had mercy on you.’” He was to go to his neighbors and to the nations
with his salvation story.
No one is ever savedto sit. Now that you know, you must go. Once you’re
saved, you have a story to tell.
Sometimes we don’t speak up for the Savior because we’re afraidwe’ll be
askedquestions we can’t answer. Listen. You don’t have to have all the
answers. I love how the man born blind replied to a bunch of religious guys
who were grilling him after he was healedin John 9:25: “One thing I do
know, that though I was blind, now I see.” Psalm66:16:“Come and hear, all
you who fearGod, and I will tell you what He has done for my soul.” Jesus
tells us exactly what to say: “Tellthem how much the Lord has done for you,
and how He has had mercy on you.”
This man went from destruction to deliverance and now he is fully deployed in
verse 20: “And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how
much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.” When God saves us
we must share it with others. That’s what the Samaritan woman did in John
4:29: “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the
Christ?” The word for “proclaim” is translatedas “publish.” The Decapolis
was a federationof 10 Greek cities. We read that “everyone marveled,” which
means that they were struck with astonishment.
Putting the Passage into Practice
1. Use this outline when you give your testimony.

One of the bestways to tell someone your salvationstory is to follow the
progressionfrom this passage. Move from destruction to deliverance to
deployment. Or to say it another way, start with talking about what your life
was like before you met Christ. Then let them know how you got savedand
end by celebrating how your life has been changedafter you were saved. Start
where you are and tell what you know. Go and tell.
2. God canaccomplishmuch through one person wholly devoted to Him.
D.L. Moody often said, “The world has yet to see what God will do with and
for and through and in the man who is fully consecratedto Him.”
Incidentally, because ofthis man’s faithful witness, legions ofpeople came to
faith in Jesus Christ. When Jesus returned to this area later a whole crowd
came out to see Him and believed. The Decapolisbecame a centerof
Christianity for many years. And it came about through the impact of one
person. Don’t forgetthat Jesus came to this side of the lake for one man and
now that he’s on mission amazing things are happening. One man or woman
on mission for Christ can accomplishmuch.
3. Intentionally spend time with lost people this summer.
One soul is worth far more than any possession. I’m reminded of some advice
I heard a pastor give when trying to shepherd multiple people with multiple
problems – “Do for one what you wish you could do for all.” That personyou
walk by…those people you look down on…that person you secretly
judge…that person who scaresyou…is a soul for whom Christ died. You have
never met anyone who does not matter to God.
Here’s an actionstep. I the 12 weeksofsummer, intentionally have a meal or
coffee or dessertwith six different people who don’t go to Edgewood…yet. On
average that’s one get-togethereverytwo weeks.You could reserve Sunday
nights for intentional neighboring since we don’t have Sunday evening
services in the summer. You can do it. We cando it.
4. Partner with ministries that are bringing freedom to people.
I’ve been very moved by all the ministries and places to gethelp in the QCA.
Here are some that I wrote down. These first ones are our Go TeamPartners,
which means that every time you give of your financial resources during the
offering or when you give online, you are helping these ministries go with the
gospel.

• Moody Radio (Under JasonCrosby’s leadership, Moody Radio is
bringing the Word to lives in this region)
• PregnancyResources(BabyBottle Project – Mobile Van will be here
July 5th!)
• World Relief(Walk for Freedomon June 18th)
• Calvary International Revival Church (made up of refugees from 7
different countries in Africa)
And this month we’ve added two new ministries to our missions Go Team:
• Youth Hope (a ministry that shares the hope of Jesus Christ by
focusing on children and youth activities for low-income families
through streetoutreach, youth centers and camping ministry. BTW,
you have an insert in your bulletin with a list of needs these campers
have)
• Safe Families of the QCA (volunteer movement motivated by
compassionthat gives hope and support to families in distress.)
I also think of the ministry we have by extensionin two big areas. Bothof
these make Anchor for the Soul from Keep Believing Ministries, another one
of our Go Team partners, available to people.
• Jail Ministry (Larry McLeanshares the gospelwith inmates at the
ScottCounty Jail)
• Salvation Army (Gary Pickering reaches outto men at the Salvation
Army every Sunday night)
In addition, Nate Weaveris ministering at Riverside Inpatient Treatment
Center. And then I think of other ministries in the QCA like Christian Care
Rescue Missionandthe 180 Zone. Their mission is to bring the love, hope and
opportunity of Jesus Christ to those in crisis situations by preventing,
reaching and developing in partnership with localchurches. I attended their
banquet a week ago with over 800 other people and was blown awaywith all
God is doing through this ministry.
I also celebrate Christiancounselors and those serving in the mental health
and medical fields!
And I’m grateful for what churches and fellow pastors are doing in the QCA.
I saw a pastorfriend at the 180 Zone banquet and when we left he gave me a
hug and said, “I love pastoring the Quad Cities with you.”
And of course, we celebrate the life change that happens in literally hundreds

of people just like Nate through PastorDan’s leadership of Celebrate
Recovery!In November we’ll celebrate the 15th anniversary of CR here at
Edgewood.
5. Don’t play around with sin.
Satandoes his most sinister work in secretways by “disguising himself as an
angelof light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Listen. Just because something looks
goodor feels gooddoes not mean that it is good.
Satanis out to fleece you as he seeksto destroy you. John 10:10 says, “The
thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” This man lost his family, his
decency, his self-control, his friends, everything. Don’t let that happen to you.
We don’t know what led to his bondage but somehow he opened himself up to
the dark forces ofevil. Proverbs 5:22: “The evil deeds of a wickedman
ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.”
Sin will always take you farther than you planned to go, keepyou longer than
you were planning to stay, and costyou more than you were planning to pay.
Jesus saidin John 8:34that “everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Sin is no
small thing. The more we play around with it, the more in bondage we
become.
6. Todayis your day for deliverance.
No one could help this man and he couldn’t help himself either. Jesus gave
him freedom and He can break the chains that bind you as well. Nothing is too
hard for Him and there is no sin beyond His power. Jeremiah32:27: “Behold,
I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is anything too hard for me?”
Like this man you and I live among the dead because we are dead in our
trespassesandsins. We’re shackledby sin and Satanis sabotaging ourlives.
That’s why we need the Savior. If you ask Him, Jesus will enter the squalor of
your sinful depravity and setyou free. Jesus tamed the tombstone terrorist
and He can tame you. He turned a drunk into a drummer for Christ!
Are you ready to admit that you’re a mess? Will you cry out for His mercy?
In the midst of your destructive behaviors, ask Him to deliver you. And when
He does, you’ll be deployed and thus fulfill your purpose in life.
Closing Song:“Amazing Grace:My Chains Are Gone”

Going Home—A Christmas Sermon by Spurgeon
“Go home to your friends and tell them how great things the Lord has
done for you and has had compassiononyou.”
Mark 5:19
THE case ofthe man here referred to is a very extraordinary one–itoccupies
a place among the memorabilia of Christ’s life, perhaps as high as anything
which is recordedby either of the Evangelists. This poor wretch being
possessedwith a legion of evil spirits had been driven to something worse than
madness. He fixed his home among the tombs where he dwelt by night and
day and was the terror of all those who passedby. The authorities had
attempted to curb him. He had been bound with fetters and chains but in the
paroxysms of his madness he had torn the chains in sunder and brokenthe
fetters in pieces.
Attempts had been made to reclaimhim but no man could tame him. He was
worse than the wild beasts–forthey might be tamed. But his fierce nature
would not yield. He was a misery to himself for he would run upon the
mountains by night and day–crying and howling fearfully–cutting himself
with the sharp flints and torturing his poor body in the most frightful manner.
Jesus Christ passedby. He said to the devils, “Come out of him.” The man
was healedin a moment–he fell down at Jesus'feet. He became a rational
being–anintelligent man. Yes, what is more–a convert to the Savior.
Out of gratitude to his Deliverer, he said, “Lord, I will follow You wherever
You go. I will be Your constantcompanion and Your servant, permit me so to
be.” “No,” saidChrist, “I esteemyour motive, it is one of gratitude to Me but
if you would show your gratitude, Go home to your friends and tell them how
greatthings the Lord has done for you and has had compassionon you.”
Now this teaches us a very important fact, namely this–that true religiondoes
not break in sunder the bonds of family relationship. True religionseldom

encroachesupon that sacred, I had almostsaid Divine institution called home.
It does not separate men from their families and make them aliens to their
flesh and blood. Superstition has done that. An awful superstition, which calls
itself Christianity, has sundered men from their kind. But true religion has
never done so.
Why, if I might be allowedto do such a thing, I would seek out the hermit in
his lonely cavern and I would go to him and say, “Friend, if you are what you
profess to be–a true servant of the living God and not a hypocrite, as I guess
you are–ifyou are a true Believerin Christ and would show forth what He has
done for you, upset that pitcher, eat the lastpiece of your bread. Leave this
dreary cave, washyour face, untie your hempen girdle–and if you would show
your gratitude, go home to your friends and tell them what greatthings the
Lord has done for you. Can you edify the sere leaves ofthe forest? Can the
beasts learn to adore that God whom your gratitude should strive to honor?
Do you hope to convertthese rocks and wake the echoes into songs?No, go
back–dwellwith your friends, reclaim your kinship with men and unite again
with your fellows–forthis is Christ’s approved way of showing gratitude.”
And I would go to every monastery and every nunnery and sayto the monks,
“Come out Brethren, come out! If you are what you sayyou are, servants of
God, go home to your friends. No more of this absurd discipline. It is not
Christ’s rule. You are acting differently from what He would have you do, go
home to your friends!” And to the sisters of mercy we would say, “Be sisters
of mercy to your own sisters–go home to your friends–take care ofyour aged
parents. Turn your own houses into convents–do not sit here nursing your
pride by a disobedience to Christ’s rule, which says, "go home to your
friends.” “Go home to your friends and tell them how greatthings the Lord
has done for you and has had compassionon you.”
The love of a solitary and ascetic life–whichis by some consideredto be a
Divine virtue–is neither more nor less than a disease ofthe mind. In the ages
when there was but little benevolence and consequentlyfew hands to build
lunatic asylums, superstition supplied the lack of charity and silly men and
women were allowedthe indulgence of their fancies in secludedhaunts or in
easylaziness. Young has most truly said–
“The first sure symptoms of a mind in health
Are restof heart and pleasure found at home.”
Avoid, my Friends, above all things, those romantic and absurd conceptions of
virtue which are the offspring of superstition and the enemies of

righteousness. Be notwithout natural affectionbut love those who are knit to
you by ties of nature.
True religion cannot be inconsistentwith nature. It never candemand that I
should abstainfrom weeping when my friend is dead. “Jesuswept.” It cannot
deny me the privilege of a smile when Providence looks favorablyupon me.
For once Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, “Father, I thank you.” It does not
make a man say to his father and mother, “I am no longer your son.” That is
not Christianity but something worse than what beasts woulddo–which would
lead us to be entirely sundered from our fellows–to walk among them as if we
had no kinship with them. To all who think a solitary life must be a life of
piety, I would say, “It is the greatestdelusion.”
To all who think that those must be goodpeople who break the ties of
relationship, let us say, “Those are the best who maintain them.” Christianity
makes a husband a better husband. It makes a wife a better wife than she was
before. It does not free me from my duties as a son. It makes me a better son
and my parents better parents. Instead of weakening my love, it gives me
fresh reasonfor my affection. And he whom I loved before as my father I now
love as my Brother and co-workerin Christ Jesus. And she whom I
reverencedas my mother I now love as my Sisterin the Covenantof Grace to
be mine forever in the state that is to come.
Oh, suppose not any of you, that Christianity was ever meant to interfere with
households. It is intended to cement them and to make them households which
death itself shall never sever–forit binds them up in the bundle of life with the
Lord their God and re-unites the severalindividuals on the other side of the
flood.
Now, I will tell you the reasonwhy I selectedmy text. I thought within myself
there are a large number of young men who always come to hear me preach.
They always crowdthe aisles ofmy chapeland many of them have been
convertedto God. Now, here is Christmas Day come round againand they are
going home to see their friends. When they gethome they will want a
Christmas Carolin the evening. I think I will suggestone to them–more
especiallyto such of them as have been lately convertedI will give them a
theme for their discourse on Christmas evening.
It may not be quite so amusing as “The Wreck of the Golden Mary,” but it
will be quite as interesting to Christian people. It shall be this–“Go home and
tell your friends what the Lord has done for your souls and how He has had
compassiononyou.” For my part, I wish there were twenty Christmas days in
the year. It is seldom that young men can meet with their friends. It is rarely

they can all be united as happy families. And though I have no respectto the
religious observance ofthe day, yet I love it as a family institution. It is one of
England’s brightest days–the greatSabbath of the year–whenthe plow rests
in its furrow. When the din of business is hushed–when the mechanic and the
working man go out to refresh themselves upon the green swardof the glad
earth.
If any of you are masters you will pardon me for the digression, when I most
respectfully beg you to pay your servants the same wages onChristmas Dayas
if they were at work. I am sure it will make their houses gladif you will do so.
It is unfair for you to make them feastor fast, unless you give them
wherewithalto feastand make themselves glad on that day of joy.
But now to come to the subject. We are going home to see our friends and
here is the story some of us have to tell. “Go home to your friends and tell
them how greatthings the Lord has done for you and has had compassionon
you.” First, here is what they are to tell. Then, secondly, why they are to tell it.
And then thirdly, how they ought to tell it.
1. First, then, HERE IS WHAT THEY ARE TO TELL. It is to be a story
of personalexperience. “Go home to your friends and tell them how
greatthings the Lord has done for you and has had compassionon
you.” You are not to repair to your houses and forthwith begin to
preach. That you are not commanded to do. You are not to begin to take
up doctrinal subjects and speak atlength on them and endeavorto
bring persons to your peculiar views and sentiments. You are not to go
home with sundry doctrines you have lately learned and try to teach
these. At least you are not commanded to do so.
You may, if you please and none shall hinder you. But you are to go home and
tell not what you have believed but what you have felt–whatyou really know
to be your own. Not what greatthings you have read, but what greatthings
the Lord has done for you. Not alone what you have seendone in the great
congregationand how greatsinners have turned to God but what the Lord
has done for you. And mark this–there is never a more interesting story than
that which a man tells about himself. The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner
derives much of its interestbecause the man who told it was himself the
mariner.
He sat down, that man whose finger was skinny, like the finger of death and
beganto tell that dismal story of the ship at sea in the greatcalm when slimy
things did crawlwith legs over the shiny sea. The wedding guests satstill to
listen, for the old man was himself a story. There is always a greatdeal of

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