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| The Presence of Jesus |
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The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man 26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,which is across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" 29For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The presence of Christ comes with a cost. We talk a good game when we say we want the Lord to show up. We pray and invoke a blessing upon our church services asking for the Lord to come and have His way among us. When I was a First Baptist Church Pastor I would often close the service with the greatest invitational hymn ever written "Just As I Am"... after the service amongst my preacher friends I would jokingly say, "We sing "Just As I Am" and leave just as we were." We go through the motions of worship but we don't really expect God to answer do we? Suppose Jesus was to show up in your service? Suppose the Holy Spirit would manifest His presence in a great and glorious way in your midst would you accept Him? This account of the encounter of Jesus with a demon possessed man is interesting to me in this regard. When Jesus did what Jesus came to do the people were filled with fear. Many of us are afraid of something different or something strange or something uncomfortable in the spiritual realm. When the Spirit of the Lord comes, the powers of darkness are stirred and are made uncomfortable. The strongholds of the evil one begin to crumble and fall apart at the very presence of God. When Jesus does show up there is a shaking that goes on between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. This shaking and upheaval can seem odd and peculiar to us. I am not just speaking about demonic deliverance either, but I am talking about the attitudes, doctrines, traditions that many church people cling to that are not of God. When the truth and power of God comes strange and weird things happen. When the Spirit comes the status quot within the church is threatened and will be changed if allowed to. It is interesting to me that the people of the town begged and pleaded (confer Matthew 8:34) for Jesus to leave. The scriptures tell us, He did leave. "So he got into the boat and left." No drama, no rebuke, no conversation, no appeal, He just got into the boat and left. There is an Old Testament word for that. "Ichabod" meaning the glory of the LORD has departed. I wonder how many of us have ever turned away the LORD because He scared us, He challenged us, He changed what we were used to? That is a thought worth pondering. If we really want Jesus to come and to "be" in our midst, we must give Him the freedom to do what He does. We are commanded not to grieve or quench the Spirit of God but rather we need to be open to Him and sensitive to Him so that He might come and do a beautiful and glorious work in all of us. |
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| To add a comment to "The Presence of Jesus" |
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| December 27, 2008 |
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| Powerful word Todd. "I wonder how many of us have ever turned away the LORD because He scared us, He challenged us, He changed what we were used to?" A good word from God should always make us at least a little uncomfortable, right?? I'm not afraid to ponder as you suggested. Thanks for the post, Todd. |
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| December 27, 2008 |
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| Thanks Mike..it takes a mature believer to exaine his heart and ways. Thanks as always for the encouragement! You are golden to me! |
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| December 28, 2008 |
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Great Word Todd, thank you. Got me thinking and relaize how easy it is to forget who is in charge.
I remember when i use to push God away due to the fear of what my life would be like and what others would think. When I totally accepted Him into my life So much changed in me and it was all for the better.
I agree with what Mike said ,"God should always make us at least a little uncomfortable."
Thanks again! God Bless |
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| December 28, 2008 |
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| I for one can say He's turned my life around over and over again. I had to surrender. When I began ministry at 25 I thought I knew everything, I was quickly developing into one of those "because the church says so" kind of guys, I was more focused on tradition and ritual than on praying in Spirit and in Truth. In fact, if the younger Vince met today's Vince he'd condemn him as a heretic. None of these changes would have happened if I had just enforced the rules, crushing people under their weight. Yeah, like Paul, I was a good Pharisee. Today I hope I'm a good disciple :) |
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| December 28, 2008 |
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That is a good word Todd. How much of our so-called walk with the Lord shall persist through the fire? A sobering thought to ponder indeed.
The passage you quoted from Matthew Chapter 8 has always intrigued me. It is interesting for me to realize that evil spirits require a physical body to operate. In fact, I have reason to believe that all spirits do. For that reason God himself had to come in the form of a man. A God-possessed man nonetheless, but a man indeed. And likewise, today the Spirit of God operates n the hearts of His children.
Another interesting thing I get from that passage is that even swine have more authority than a demon. The demons needed a physical body, they requested to enter the pigs and even the pigs were smart enough to commit suicide.
In today's world some who are possessed with demons become proud, boastful and even throw parades!
Back more in line with your point though, I find it odd that many today believe that healing, and miracles and speaking in tongues have passed away. It turns out that in some cases, the more we act like Jesus and the more we try to fulfill His commands, the more demonic we are seen by certain segments of the Christian society. Acting like Jesus, or even attempting to, in some regards would get you kicked out of most churches today. |
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| December 28, 2008 |
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Donna: What a wonderful testimony! God only changes us for the better. I am reminded of the verse in 1 John.."Perfect love casts out all fear." When we love Himi and we know in our hearts that He loves us, the fear goes away. We are then His to do as He wills.
Vin: I have a simlar testimony. The younger Todd would scorn the older Todd. I would have calledl him liberal, and a hertic. Praise God for His mercy..indeed it is hard to kick against the goads. You are a blessing to me Father Vinny.
Michael: I used to be one of those people. I Corinthians 13 says and tongues shall cease and prophecy will be done away...but it all boils down to the "and when that which is perfect has come." No need to get into all of the interpretations there, but needless to say, the Holy Spirit thankfully rearranged my way of thinking and now I am so free to trust God to do as He wills. You are so correct in your analysis! |
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| December 29, 2008 |
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The demons (Legion) were comfortable and did not want anything to change. They were content to keep the status quo. Then Jesus came. They begged Jesus not to torture them.
I am comfortable and don't want anything to change. I am content with the status quo. But then Jesus comes and I realize that life cannot stay the same. How do I respond to Jesus?
The people of the region enjoyed their prosperity. When a large company shut down (pig industry) there were people who lost everything. Yes, a miracle had taken place but was it really worth it? Why did so many have to suffer for this insignificant, troubled outsider? And what if Jesus decides to do another like miracle? How much could they afford to lose? Jesus had to leave.
Church is going good. Every department is growing. Then "those" people began to come. That unruly kid no one can control. That woman with so many problems. That man with the wrong skin color. Some families drop out because of "them". Others may. The church is suffering. Someone has to leave. What we do, how we act, will determine who leaves. And if Jesus stays.
In the Mark account of this it says the man who had been delivered left too. As Jesus was leaving he begged Jesus to go with Him. Jesus told him no but to go home to his friends and family and tell them what great things GOD had done for him. The man did and many people were touched by the presence of GOD.
My needs were great, my problems many, my life was in shambles, and then Jesus... I now am ready to do great things for GOD, go wherever He wishes to preach the gospel, whatever the cost. Jesus sends me home. Not to the mission field but to a job, a family, an ordinary life. And in this "great mission field" of friends and family, neighbors and fellow employess, daily life, people are touched by the presence of GOD.
.....peace.....
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| December 29, 2008 |
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| Todd, if I could I'd post a blushing face here... Thanks, v- |
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| December 30, 2008 |
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| Pureheart...such a incredible response. We have to choose don't we? Jesus or everything else. I am glad you chose Jesus as I did too...it costs me everything like the pearl of great price...but it is soooo worth it! I think you have found that to be true too! |
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| December 31, 2008 |
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I have to choose. All I have or all GOD has.
I look at my "treasure" that I had accumalated over a lifetime. The little good I did have came at a great price. The much bad came much easier. I was crushed underneath the heavy load of "my treasure".
And then I look at the riches of GOD's grace and mercy. The gift of salvation and the Comforter. None can be earned but it all can be received.
My life was like that of the Gadarene demoniac. I "chose" to give it up after Jesus chose to set me free. How can I not live a life for GOD when I never had a life before He gave me one?
.....peace..... |
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