Sermon Central
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Jesus Vs. Legion
Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 18, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: In the battle of Jesus Vs. Legion, Jesus always wins. So are we begging him to leave or begging him to stay?
JESUS VS. LEGION
Introduction
Luke 8 introduces one of the most frightening sights the disciples had ever seen. (Luke 8:26-29).
Mark 5:5 “Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”
Luke 8:30-31 - A Roman legion 6,000 men … 6,000 demons in him? He was under their control. He dwelt among tombs - far from family/friends. He was in a state of wretchedness, Naked—homeless—wandering abroad in a state of pain. He was dangerous to others / They had bound him with chains but they could not restrain him. Still, they were no match for the power of Jesus. The demons believed that Jesus would torture them or send them into the Abyss….so they begged him.
Mark 5:20 And all the people were amazed.”
I wish we knew more about this man, could hear his testimony … because he faced an impossible enemy but found hope and health in Jesus. This chapter speaks to the authority and power of Jesus for the broken and hurting those facing Legion.
1. Everyone Faces Legion
A Legion of Demons. Parable of the Sower Luke 8:12 “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.” The work of Satan and his followers is evident in a very visible way in the New Testament.
Satan is…
Powerful (Eph 6:12 Powers of this dark world)
Liar (John 8:44 He is a Murderer … the Father of Lies)
Deceitful (2 Cor 11:14 Masquerades as angel of light)
Alert (1 Peter 5:8 Seeking to Devour)
The Enemy is beyond our power and can cause great destruction in our lives. Have you faced a problem with 6,000 faces? More power than you have to deal with? Such a problem that it overwhelms you in every direction? Even great men and women of God … heroes of the Bible … faced times of being overwhelmed.
Psalm 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
C. When our problems are Legion…
-They overwhelm us at every turn
-They seem insurmountable
-They appeal to our sense of helplessness
-They can lead us to feel acute loneliness.
-Sometimes we do not act like ourselves and can fall into destructive habits and troubles.
When Legion is winning, we need a Champion to fight for us!
2. Jesus Is the Victor in Your Battles with Legion
POWERFUL: He is more powerful than Legion. They demons beg him not to harm them; then beg to be sent into the pigs.. They have faith that Jesus is more powerful. They have faith that Jesus is able to send them to another place. They know He is the Son of God!
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Jesus is more powerful than your greatest problems! When faced with Legion, turn to the Powerful Jesus!
COMPASSIONATE: Seeks Out Those Who Need Him. Jesus purposefully wanders deep into Gentile territory to encounter man and defeat Legion.
“…There is no person that is God-forsaken. Unclean. Outcast. Abandoned. Unpopular. Incarcerated. Unbeliever. No one is left out.” - David Lose
Jesus’ compassion extends to all… including you.
MISSIONAL: Jesus Sends Us Out to Encounter Legion. Jesus sent this man who had been reclaimed to his own people to share with them the Gospel!
Delmer Chilton : We too have been healed by God inChrist. We too have been freed from sin and liberated from fear … we too have been sent out into the world to tell our story of God’s love and forgiveness…”
ETERNAL: Jesus Wins Beyond This Life. Jesus came to seek and save the lost! Galatians 3:26-29. Legion had a limited life-span … ran off the cliff in the pigs … our life is eternal!
Conclusion: In the battle of Jesus Vs. Legion, Jesus Always Wins!
The people of the town were fearful, even in the face of the healed demoniac! They begged Jesus to leave.
Who is begging Jesus to leave their life today? Or would you beg Him to stay?
Extra Clippings:
“That evil exists is a reality and mystery. Certainly events of history such as the Holocaust and lynchings remind us that evil is palpable. The unending reports of mass shootings in schools and at malls as well as bombs left on city streets are grim reminders that we have not eradicated evil or its causes. Admitting the there are powers in this world and in our lifetime that we cannot control or conquer saves us from trivializing their effects. only Jesus Christ as the power to conquer the demons.” Edna Jacobs Banes, Feasting On The Gospels, Luke, Vol. 1
