Imagine living your life in the cemetery. On top of this, imagine being possessed by thousands of demons that caused you to cut yourself and be a danger to your entire city. Since nothing could control or help you, you were isolated from everyone else!
As Christ disembarks the boat, He walks into this very situation. Instantly, He is greeted by the maniac and recognized as the Son of God. After meeting Christ, this man’s life would never be the same again. Let’s look at what Christ did for one man and in turn what one man did for Christ!
I. The Condition of the Man (1-13)
A. His Dwelling place (1-3)
B. His Destructiveness (4-5)
C. His Declaration (6-7)
D. His Deliverance (8-13)
1. A legion consisted of 3,000-12,500 people with 300- 500 horses.
2. To the devil, you are just as useful as a pig!
II. The Change in the Man (14-17)
A. It created a stir amongst the people
B. He had a change of:
1. His position had changed (sitting)
2. His appearance had changed (Clothed)
3. His disposition had changed (in his right mind)
C. It made those around them uncomfortable!
When God starts to work in a situtation, people start getting uncomfortable!
D. There solution was to get rid of Christ!
III. The Commission of the Man (18-20)
A. His desired to be with Christ.
B. Christ desired him to be a witness in his home area.
In Closing turn with me to Matthew 7:31-37.
And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
What an impact this one man had on not only Gadara but also the other nine cities of Decapolis! This area went from sending Christ away to welcoming Him with open arms and bringing their sick for him to heal! Never under-estimate what one witness for Christ can do! Christian, what are you doing to be that witness?
Friend, if God can change this man’s life and make the maniac into a missionary, then He can change your life too. Will you turn to Christ today?
