POWER ENCOUNTER: LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Gospel of Mark #15
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
1. The Location
(Mark 5:1, NLT) “They arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes.”
(Joshua 13:8) “Half the tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad had already received their grants of land on the east side of the Jordan…”
2. The Visitation.
(Mark 5:2, NLT) “When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him.”
a. The demoniac matters to Jesus.
(Mark 5:15, NLT) “A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.”
b. The violence in his life was the work of Satan.
(Psalm 120:1, NLT) “I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.”
c. The crowd rejects the visitation of Jesus.
(Mark 5:11–13, NLT) “There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. “Send us into those pigs… the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.”
(Mark 5:16–17, NLT) “Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.”
(Luke 19:44, NASB) “You did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
3. The Confrontation.
(Mark 5:3–9, NLT) “This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him. With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
a. The devil’s goal is always to destroy
- Uncleaness
- Isolation
- Superhuman strength
- Self-destruction
b. Only God can control the devil.
(Mark 5:9, NLT) “Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
- The demons recognized Jesus
- The demons address Jesus as deity.
- Demons are afraid of their final doom.
- They do not want to be disembodied.
- Jesus is always in control.
(2 Corinthians 11:14–15, NLT) “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
4. The Transformation Celebration
(Mark 5:19–20, NLT) “Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”
GROWTHWORK
- Never underestimate evil.
- God is in control.
- Be a witness.