WEBVTT

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 If you have your Bibles, turn them with me this morning,

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 turn in them with me to Mark chapter five,

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 and we're going to look at 20 verses,

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 verses one through 20.

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 I'm not gonna read them all at once.

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 I'm gonna read them all before the message is over,

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 but we're going to just do an exposition of these verses

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 as we go this morning.

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 I wanna begin a series today

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 that I have entitled The Jesus Effect,

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 A-F-F-E-C-T, the impact that Jesus has on people.

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 How many of you have ever met somebody in your life

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 that after that encounter,

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 you were just never, ever the same?

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 And I'm not talking about Jesus, the Holy Spirit here,

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 but can you think of a person in your life?

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 There may or may not be for you,

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 but a lot of folk I meet have told me from time to time,

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 they ran into somebody or they had perhaps a planned meeting,

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 and that meeting absolutely changed the course of their life.

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 Some people are just like that,

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 and it seems that everyone Jesus ever met,

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 man, they went away different.

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 He had a tremendous impact on their life,

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 and so for about 10 Sundays,

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 we're gonna be looking at the Jesus Effect,

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 how he impacts people's lives.

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 This morning, we're looking at the guy who I think

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 is the scariest guy you'll ever meet in your life,

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 and you've met some scary folk, right?

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 In fact, look around the room right now.

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 I'm sure all of us have, at one time or another,

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 we've been somewhere where we just kind of wanted

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 to draw our spouse and our kids a little closer to us

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 because somebody's acting a little bit,

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 as a buddy of mine says, cray-cray.

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 You know what I mean?

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 I mean, they're just out there.

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 They're just a little bit different.

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 They've got a look about them.

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 There's something about them physically

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 that you just look at,

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 and it kind of frightens you, intimidates you,

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 maybe a real huge person, muscle-bound person,

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 maybe how they're dressed.

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 Most often, it's how they're acting, right?

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 I mean, I remember when I was still working

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 at Brushy Creek, I would go to the hospital

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 over at Memorial,

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 and almost always, you could count on this one guy

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 I'd pass going down academy,

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 and he would be talking to himself,

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 and this was before there were cell phones,

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 you know, before they had those little buds in their ears,

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 and he'd be having the grandest conversation,

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 but there wouldn't be anybody there but him, right?

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 And so, you know the kind of guy I'm talking about.

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 Well, that's the kind of guy we see here in Scripture,

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 so if you have your Bible, open it,

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 and let's just read these verses together,

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 beginning in Mark chapter five and verse one and two.

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 Then they came, speaking of the disciples,

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 to the other side of the sea.

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 This is the Sea of Galilee.

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 If you draw an oblong circle down on the lower right end,

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 the southeast side,

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 that's where they're headed to the area known as the Gerizines.

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 So the Scripture says,

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 then they came to the other side of the sea,

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 to the region of the Gerizines.

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 As soon as he, speaking of Jesus,

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 got out of the boat,

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 a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs

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 and met him.

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 Now, the only two things we know at this point

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 about this man we're referring to today

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 is the scariest man you've ever met

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 is that he has an unclean spirit,

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 which means he's demon-possessed.

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 There are evil spirits living in him,

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 not just one, but as you'll see,

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 many, many evil spirits,

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 and he's coming to meet Jesus,

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 apparently spots Jesus.

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 They beach the boat on the shore,

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 and as they do,

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 Jesus steps out of the boat.

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 He sees Jesus.

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 You're going to see in just a moment.

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 Knows who Jesus is

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 and goes running straight for Jesus.

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 He's coming, though,

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 out of the tombs.

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 Now, you've got to ask yourself,

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 why would anybody

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 be coming out of the tombs?

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 Had he just buried a loved one?

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 Was he there for a funeral?

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 Why would he be coming out of the tombs?

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 And when you think of the tombs,

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 let me just give you a clear picture in your mind.

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 If you're picturing something like Hillcrest Cemetery

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 just down the road from you guys,

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 think again.

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 I mean, there's no green grass.

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 There's no markers there.

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 It's not beautiful.

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 There are no artificial flowers

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 or real flowers or anything like that.

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 This is not a well-kept place.

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 These are caves there adjacent

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 to the Sea of Galilee.

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 This is where people have been buried.

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 They have been wrapped,

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 many of them in cloth and placed in there.

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 Animals have roamed the countryside.

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 Some of them, no doubt,

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 have come in and devoured the corpses.

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 You wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

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 You would, in fact, anticipate

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 and expect that when you walk in those caves,

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 you're going to see an elbow,

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 you're going to see an arm or a leg,

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 or you might encounter a skull or bones.

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 It's a pretty gross setting, right?

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 And so this man with the unclean spirit

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 runs out of the tombs

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 and he runs up to Jesus.

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 Now you've got to be asking,

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 as I said earlier,

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 why is he there?

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 Well, the next verse tells us,

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 verse three,

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 he lived in the tombs.

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 Now just stop for a moment

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 and let that sink in.

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 He lived in the tombs.

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 Can anyone in this room

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 rightfully say you can imagine

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 ever making your home in the tombs?

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 I talked to a guy a number of years ago,

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 a friend of mine,

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 and he lived right next door to a cemetery.

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 And so I asked him,

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 in fact, his house backed up to it,

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 I said,

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 does it ever bother you

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 that you live so close to a cemetery?

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 He says,

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 no, actually I get along well

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 with all my neighbors.

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 You know,

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 they don't give me any trouble.

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 But the truth of the matter is,

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 to live in an environment

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 like I was talking about a minute ago,

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 man,

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 there's got to be something wrong

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 in your life.

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 To live in a place like this,

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 you've got to ask,

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 why does he do that?

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 Why does he choose to live there?

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 Does he choose to live there?

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 Well,

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 as you'll see in a moment,

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 he doesn't.

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 Look at the remainder of the verse.

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 He lived in the tombs.

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 No one was able to restrain him anymore,

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 even with chains,

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 because he often had been bound

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 with shackles and chains,

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 but had,

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 and look at this word,

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 graphic word,

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 snapped off the chains

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 and smashed the shackles.

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 No one was strong enough

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 to subdue him.

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 He lives there

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 because that's where

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 the public demands

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 he lives.

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 In just a moment,

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 you're going to see

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 why they do that.

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 In fact,

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 probably already

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 you're getting a good idea

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 of why they do that.

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 They're scared to death

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 of this guy.

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 I mean,

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 this is not the kind of guy

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 you want to encounter

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 your preschool

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 or elementary age kids.

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 It's not the kind of guy

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 you want your teenagers

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 to be around.

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 It's not the kind of guy

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 you want to be near,

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 as you're going to see

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 in just a moment.

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 He's filled with these

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 demonic spirits,

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 and because of that,

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 he is completely

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 out of control.

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 He has,

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 because of these evil spirits

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 within him,

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 supernatural strength.

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 They can no longer

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 chain him

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 in these caves,

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 in these tombs,

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 but it's not because

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 they haven't tried.

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 They've sent out

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 committees of men before

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 who have bound him

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 to the ground

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 and have held him down

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 and shackled him,

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 but as soon as they would,

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 apparently,

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 he would snap

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 the chains in two.

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 Now,

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 when you think about chains,

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 you don't think about

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 just snapping them

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 in two,

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 right?

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 I've got a pair

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 of bolt cutters,

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 and occasionally,

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 they'll come in handy,

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 but boy,

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 you have to exert

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 some pressure

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 even using bolt cutters,

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 right?

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 We think about

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 cutting chains into,

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 we don't think about

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 snapping chains.

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 We think about

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 snapping a cord,

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 something like,

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 but this man

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 snapped these chains,

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 he smashed the shackles

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 to pieces,

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 they tried again and again,

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 but now they can

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 no longer even do that,

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 and the reason is because

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 they're not strong enough,

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 he seems to have

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 gained strength,

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 and they're not even

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 able any longer

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 to bind him

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 with the chains,

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 even momentarily.

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 Look at verse five,

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 and always,

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 now always is

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 an absolute term,

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 right?

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 Always means

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 always,

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 all the time,

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 there's no break in it.

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 Always,

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 night and day,

00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:47.879
 he was crying out

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 among the tombs,

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 and in the mountains,

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 and cutting himself

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 with stones.

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 You know,

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 the only way I know

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 to describe this man's

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 existence,

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 he was tormented,

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 wasn't he?

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 I mean,

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 why else would you

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 scream out

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 all the time?

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 Why would you be heard

00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:07.319
 screaming up in the mountains,

00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:08.500
 or screaming there

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 in the tombs,

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 and to do that

00:09:10.319 --> 00:09:11.740
 day and night,

00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.559
 he is absolutely

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 beside himself,

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 and the further evidence

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 of that is this,

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 he's cutting himself

00:09:18.579 --> 00:09:20.219
 with stones.

00:09:20.839 --> 00:09:21.240
 Now,

00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.179
 why would you do that?

00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:23.819
 You know what I guess?

00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:25.779
 I think this man

00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:27.579
 just hates his life.

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 I mean,

00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:29.939
 he hates everything

00:09:29.939 --> 00:09:31.379
 about his existence,

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 and I can understand,

00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:34.699
 he is just literally

00:09:34.699 --> 00:09:35.519
 beside himself.

00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:36.979
 There may have been

00:09:36.979 --> 00:09:38.839
 a moment in your life

00:09:38.839 --> 00:09:40.719
 for a moment or two,

00:09:40.939 --> 00:09:41.819
 or five minutes,

00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:42.459
 or an hour,

00:09:42.599 --> 00:09:43.000
 or a day,

00:09:43.059 --> 00:09:43.419
 or a week,

00:09:43.479 --> 00:09:44.459
 where you were just

00:09:44.459 --> 00:09:45.479
 tormented.

00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:46.500
 I mean,

00:09:46.819 --> 00:09:47.620
 thoughts just

00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:48.399
 overwhelm you.

00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:49.599
 If you've ever experienced

00:09:49.599 --> 00:09:51.199
 a great traumatic event

00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:51.780
 in your life,

00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.800
 you may know

00:09:52.800 --> 00:09:53.720
 what that's like

00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:54.900
 for just a moment

00:09:54.900 --> 00:09:55.340
 or two,

00:09:55.520 --> 00:09:56.080
 or minutes,

00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.240
 or even hours,

00:09:57.420 --> 00:09:58.840
 or even days,

00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:01.080
 but this is this man's

00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:01.860
 way of life

00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.300
 all the time.

00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:04.920
 Every day

00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:06.240
 when he awakens,

00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:07.500
 it begins.

00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:08.820
 It ends

00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:09.580
 when he finally

00:10:09.580 --> 00:10:11.500
 collapses from exhaustion

00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:12.480
 in the evening.

00:10:13.040 --> 00:10:13.840
 He's running

00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:14.740
 to and fro,

00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.440
 he's out of his mind,

00:10:16.800 --> 00:10:17.800
 he's crazed,

00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:19.060
 and he doesn't want

00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:19.599
 to be bound.

00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:20.719
 Now imagine this.

00:10:21.779 --> 00:10:22.739
 Every one of us

00:10:22.739 --> 00:10:23.439
 in this room

00:10:23.439 --> 00:10:25.119
 are to some degree

00:10:25.119 --> 00:10:26.500
 claustrophobic.

00:10:26.599 --> 00:10:27.319
 Did you know that?

00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:29.319
 That's yes

00:10:29.319 --> 00:10:30.019
 and no and no.

00:10:30.139 --> 00:10:30.899
 Do you know that?

00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.359
 Some of you

00:10:32.359 --> 00:10:34.439
 are badly claustrophobic.

00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:35.119
 I won't ask you

00:10:35.119 --> 00:10:35.719
 to raise your hand,

00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:36.219
 but you know

00:10:36.219 --> 00:10:36.859
 who you are.

00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:38.739
 All of us,

00:10:38.839 --> 00:10:39.119
 though,

00:10:39.739 --> 00:10:40.799
 to some degree

00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.359
 in the right circumstance

00:10:42.359 --> 00:10:44.559
 would find ourselves

00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.819
 claustrophobic.

00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:47.200
 We put you

00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:47.860
 in a tiny,

00:10:48.020 --> 00:10:48.640
 tiny cell

00:10:48.640 --> 00:10:49.540
 and there's no movement.

00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:50.920
 Let me tell you something.

00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:51.900
 You get claustrophobic

00:10:51.900 --> 00:10:52.560
 pretty quick.

00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:54.640
 We shackle you

00:10:54.640 --> 00:10:56.600
 and bind you

00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.900
 and fashion you

00:10:58.900 --> 00:10:59.480
 to the ground

00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.300
 or to a wall

00:11:00.300 --> 00:11:01.280
 where you can't move.

00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:03.500
 You'd get claustrophobic

00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.680
 in a hurry.

00:11:05.540 --> 00:11:06.000
 Have you ever seen

00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.780
 the movies,

00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.040
 the old pictures,

00:11:08.260 --> 00:11:09.100
 especially in the

00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:09.860
 insane asylums?

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.080
 They would come

00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:11.720
 into the room.

00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.140
 There would be

00:11:12.140 --> 00:11:13.200
 two or three orderlies.

00:11:13.640 --> 00:11:14.280
 Here's the guy

00:11:14.280 --> 00:11:14.620
 over here

00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.140
 who they're going

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:16.319
 to put him

00:11:16.319 --> 00:11:17.360
 in a straitjacket.

00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:18.740
 How do those scenes

00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:19.299
 play out?

00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:19.899
 You've seen them,

00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:20.199
 right?

00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.639
 You ever seen

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.179
 in a movie,

00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.019
 they come in

00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:23.439
 and say,

00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.139
 we've got to put you

00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:24.439
 in this

00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:24.860
 and he says,

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.159
 okay,

00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:25.819
 you want to put

00:11:25.819 --> 00:11:26.559
 my left arm in

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.279
 or how you want

00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:27.559
 to do it?

00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:28.759
 No.

00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:29.939
 Man,

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.439
 they would go

00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:31.039
 screaming

00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.759
 and kicking

00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.439
 and fighting

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.639
 because none of us

00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.819
 want something

00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:35.860
 to bind us

00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.500
 and then to put

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.399
 our arms in that.

00:11:37.699 --> 00:11:37.980
 In fact,

00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.360
 some of you

00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:38.819
 are breaking out

00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:39.500
 in sweat right now

00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.200
 to hear me tell

00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:40.779
 about this,

00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:41.080
 right?

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:42.299
 I mean,

00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:43.759
 the thought of that

00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:44.899
 is just horrific

00:11:44.899 --> 00:11:46.360
 and that's what

00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:46.720
 they did.

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.959
 They bind this man

00:11:47.959 --> 00:11:49.079
 and try to chain him

00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:49.959
 and subdue him

00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:51.559
 so he cannot harm

00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:53.240
 anyone else.

00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:53.899
 Now,

00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:54.500
 one other thing

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.199
 to keep in mind.

00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.019
 Do you think

00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:57.899
 they plan to come

00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.000
 daily and give him

00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.139
 water and food

00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.259
 in this cave?

00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.340
 Really?

00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:04.720
 No.

00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:04.800
 No.

00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.519
 You know what the plan,

00:12:06.680 --> 00:12:07.120
 I don't even know

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:07.540
 if they thought

00:12:07.540 --> 00:12:07.920
 it all the way

00:12:07.920 --> 00:12:08.180
 through.

00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:09.860
 He's going to die

00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:10.560
 in that cave.

00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:12.920
 If he doesn't break

00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:14.460
 those shackles,

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.580
 if he doesn't break

00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:16.519
 out of those chains,

00:12:17.160 --> 00:12:18.540
 he's going to die there.

00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:20.580
 They don't care.

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.899
 They don't want to

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.300
 just put him to death,

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.759
 but they're okay

00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:25.780
 with him not being

00:12:25.780 --> 00:12:27.220
 a part of their lives.

00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:28.500
 One other thing,

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.320
 we go to the next verse,

00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:32.260
 but Luke chapter 8,

00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:32.760
 you know what

00:12:32.760 --> 00:12:33.720
 it inserts here

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.800
 that Mark omits?

00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:36.280
 It says that

00:12:36.280 --> 00:12:37.280
 when he ran

00:12:37.280 --> 00:12:38.320
 through these caves

00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:39.220
 in the mountainside,

00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:40.920
 he did so

00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:42.100
 completely naked.

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.360
 He tore away

00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:45.460
 his clothes.

00:12:46.420 --> 00:12:46.680
 Now,

00:12:46.920 --> 00:12:48.020
 I'm no psychiatrist,

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.640
 but I've done

00:12:48.640 --> 00:12:49.280
 a lot of counseling

00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:49.760
 through the years,

00:12:49.820 --> 00:12:50.060
 and you know

00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:51.120
 what my guess is on this?

00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:53.620
 He couldn't even stand

00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:55.200
 the sense

00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.160
 of being bound

00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:57.180
 by his clothes.

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.440
 He just wanted

00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.040
 to be free.

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.659
 He thought about

00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.699
 being chained

00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:02.759
 and being subdued,

00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.620
 and those clothes

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.240
 were just another

00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:04.759
 form of that,

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:06.079
 and so the man

00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:06.819
 ran naked.

00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.779
 He was completely

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.980
 crazed and out

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:10.159
 of his mind.

00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:11.620
 Now,

00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.279
 let's just pause

00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.279
 for about 30 seconds.

00:13:13.379 --> 00:13:14.259
 Let me ask you something.

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.679
 Can you imagine

00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:16.500
 living the life

00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.219
 that this man lived?

00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:17.839
 Can you imagine

00:13:17.839 --> 00:13:18.759
 what it was like?

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.360
 He's cut off

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.599
 from his family.

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.179
 He had family

00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:23.799
 at one time.

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.099
 He's cut off

00:13:25.099 --> 00:13:25.779
 from his family.

00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:26.639
 He,

00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:27.439
 in all likelihood,

00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:28.579
 I can just imagine,

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.819
 had friends

00:13:29.819 --> 00:13:30.539
 at one time.

00:13:30.959 --> 00:13:31.679
 He's cut off

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.299
 from his friends.

00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.439
 He lives

00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:34.659
 in isolation.

00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:36.019
 Remember what

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.980
 isolation did

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.459
 to some of you

00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:37.919
 in this room

00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.599
 during COVID?

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.159
 Pretty tough,

00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.480
 isn't it,

00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:41.259
 being in the house

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:42.000
 by yourself?

00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.139
 We have phones.

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:43.899
 We talk to people.

00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:44.639
 We have computers.

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.379
 We communicate,

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.759
 but even then,

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.740
 it wasn't enough

00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:48.339
 for a lot of us.

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.860
 Imagine there's never

00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:51.399
 anyone that you

00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.439
 have conversation with.

00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:53.439
 There's no one

00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:54.980
 to tell how you feel.

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:56.759
 Are you beginning

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.539
 to get a picture

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:59.259
 of how horrible

00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.680
 this man's life was?

00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:01.539
 I've got to be honest,

00:14:01.800 --> 00:14:02.920
 I can't imagine

00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:04.240
 a life any worse

00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.279
 than this man

00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:05.720
 was living.

00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.180
 If he wasn't crazy

00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:08.399
 when the ordeal began,

00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:10.039
 he would have been crazy

00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:11.159
 by the time it was over.

00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:12.259
 Well,

00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:12.759
 look at verses

00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.659
 six to ten.

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.980
 When he saw Jesus

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.920
 from a distance,

00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:18.519
 he ran and knelt down

00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:19.159
 before him,

00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.139
 and he cried out

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:21.379
 with a loud voice,

00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.820
 What do you have

00:14:22.820 --> 00:14:23.700
 to do with me,

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.100
 Jesus,

00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:25.700
 Son of the Most High God?

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.899
 I beg you before God,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.899
 don't torment me.

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:32.279
 For he had told him,

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:33.399
 Come out of the man,

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.259
 this is Jesus,

00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.840
 you unclean spirit.

00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.059
 What is your name,

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.659
 he asked.

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.519
 My name is Legion,

00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:40.679
 he answered him,

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.299
 because we are many.

00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:45.320
 And he kept begging him

00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.840
 not to send them

00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:48.940
 out of the region.

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:50.980
 Now,

00:14:51.420 --> 00:14:52.140
 this demon,

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:52.860
 first thing I want you

00:14:52.860 --> 00:14:53.200
 to notice,

00:14:54.400 --> 00:14:56.180
 he recognizes,

00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:56.980
 as I said

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.400
 at the outset

00:14:57.400 --> 00:14:57.960
 of the sermon,

00:14:58.800 --> 00:14:59.920
 who Jesus is.

00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.420
 You know what's

00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.380
 astounding about that?

00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:04.140
 All the people

00:15:04.140 --> 00:15:04.880
 who had apparently

00:15:04.880 --> 00:15:06.160
 been looking for Jesus

00:15:06.160 --> 00:15:06.680
 to come,

00:15:06.780 --> 00:15:07.180
 the Messiah,

00:15:07.300 --> 00:15:07.940
 the Pharisees,

00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.580
 and all those,

00:15:09.520 --> 00:15:10.860
 they never recognize him.

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:13.020
 But in Mark's gospel,

00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.700
 all the demons

00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.120
 who have conversation

00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.720
 with Jesus

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.360
 as they possess

00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:19.159
 individuals,

00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.180
 every one of them

00:15:21.180 --> 00:15:21.840
 recognize

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.620
 you're the Son of God.

00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:25.120
 And they're all

00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.440
 fearful of him

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.500
 that he has come

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.940
 to harm them.

00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.639
 They know

00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.840
 that judgment

00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:31.560
 one day

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.460
 awaits them.

00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.000
 And so Jesus

00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.139
 asked this man,

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.759
 what is your name?

00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.919
 He runs up to Jesus,

00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:40.279
 what is your name?

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.139
 Now that's not

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:42.879
 a hard question,

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.240
 right?

00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:45.080
 What is your name?

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.879
 The man responds,

00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:48.639
 and it could have

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.320
 been the demons,

00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.139
 or it could have

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:50.680
 been the man,

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:51.139
 we don't have

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:51.780
 any way of knowing.

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:54.480
 The person responds,

00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:55.639
 Legion.

00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:57.620
 His parents

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.460
 had not named him

00:15:58.460 --> 00:15:58.900
 Legion,

00:15:59.080 --> 00:15:59.680
 you know that.

00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:01.700
 When he said Legion,

00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.240
 he says Legion,

00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.360
 I think for two reasons,

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.680
 one,

00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.680
 because it's indicative

00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.639
 of what's going on

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.420
 inside of him.

00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:08.639
 A Legion

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.680
 was a Roman group

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.280
 of soldiers

00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:11.940
 that numbered

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.780
 between three

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.939
 and seven thousand

00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:14.699
 in number.

00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.419
 Is he trying to say

00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.120
 there are three

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.939
 to seven thousand

00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:18.659
 demons in me?

00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.480
 I doubt that.

00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:21.100
 But what he was saying

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:21.679
 is this,

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.579
 I am filled

00:16:23.579 --> 00:16:25.299
 with an army

00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.419
 of demons.

00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:27.860
 There could have

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.439
 been a hundred,

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.059
 there could have

00:16:29.059 --> 00:16:29.740
 been a thousand,

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.179
 there could have

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:30.959
 been two thousand,

00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:31.740
 I don't know how many,

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.240
 but here's the important

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.500
 thing,

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.559
 these demons

00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.939
 have taken possession

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.639
 of this man's life.

00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.459
 He doesn't have

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.480
 a life anymore.

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.279
 They're in complete,

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.240
 utter control.

00:16:43.839 --> 00:16:44.639
 I think

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.919
 if he does know

00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.480
 who he is

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.899
 and he says Legion,

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:48.839
 he says so

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:50.779
 because he's lost

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.539
 all self-identity.

00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.139
 He doesn't think

00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:54.600
 of himself

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.860
 as a human being

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.500
 the way you and I

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.100
 do any longer.

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.519
 He thinks of himself

00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.699
 as this man

00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.919
 who is utterly

00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:02.379
 bound and controlled

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.559
 not by the shackles

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:05.240
 but by the demons

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.279
 within him.

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:07.859
 Now I know what

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.559
 a lot of you here

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.319
 got to be wondering

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.039
 at this point,

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:11.039
 preacher,

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.079
 can that still happen?

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.879
 Are people

00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:15.180
 demon-possessed

00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:15.700
 today?

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:17.460
 I've got to say

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:17.879
 to you

00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:19.399
 that I believe

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:20.700
 there are a number

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.720
 of people who are.

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:22.940
 In fact,

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.579
 I don't think

00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:25.019
 every horrific event

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:25.799
 is the result

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.839
 of demon possession

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.619
 that occurs

00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:28.460
 in our lives

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.599
 but I think

00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.200
 there are a number

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.240
 of horrific events

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.839
 that have happened

00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.879
 in human history

00:17:32.879 --> 00:17:34.079
 that we can look

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.539
 and say

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:36.339
 perhaps that person

00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:37.819
 was under the influence

00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.440
 of demons.

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.339
 Some of you

00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:39.940
 may be wondering,

00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.080
 can a believer

00:17:41.080 --> 00:17:42.360
 be demon-possessed?

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.100
 And they cannot

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:44.100
 because the Spirit

00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.240
 of God owns us.

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.400
 We've been bought

00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.420
 with the shed blood

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.640
 of the Lord Jesus Christ

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.220
 where he is

00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.140
 and a demon

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:52.259
 cannot possess us.

00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:53.720
 But I want to warn you,

00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:54.759
 demons

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:57.519
 can oppress us.

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:58.920
 Demons

00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.160
 can speak to us

00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.799
 and that's why

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.620
 we need to guard

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.820
 our minds and hearts.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.080
 We need to be careful

00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:05.039
 about what we see

00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:06.220
 and what we listen to,

00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.340
 the kind of things

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:07.939
 we read,

00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.899
 the kind of experiences

00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.759
 we have in life

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.839
 because I believe

00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:12.119
 Satan is on the prowl

00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.199
 and he can,

00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:15.220
 while not possessing us,

00:18:15.439 --> 00:18:17.000
 he can oppress us.

00:18:17.199 --> 00:18:18.839
 He can put satanic thoughts

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.720
 in our minds

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.139
 and I think oftentimes

00:18:21.139 --> 00:18:23.139
 that goes hand in hand

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:23.619
 with people

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.379
 who sometimes

00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.759
 have mental illness,

00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:26.779
 emotional illness.

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:27.619
 Does it mean

00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.399
 they're one and the same?

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.699
 No, of course not.

00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:31.099
 But sometimes

00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:32.299
 that can run

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.339
 hand in hand.

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:35.059
 Look at verse 11,

00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.720
 if you will.

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:38.019
 Now a large herd

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.779
 of pigs

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.620
 were there,

00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.519
 was there,

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.519
 feeding on the hillside.

00:18:43.120 --> 00:18:43.660
 The demons

00:18:43.660 --> 00:18:44.600
 begged him,

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:46.160
 send us to the pigs

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.640
 so that we may

00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.460
 enter them.

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.799
 The demons

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.740
 now speak out

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.259
 to Jesus.

00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:51.660
 Jesus,

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:52.980
 there's a large group

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.640
 of pigs over there,

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:55.120
 in fact 2,000 in number

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.180
 we'll see in just a moment.

00:18:56.839 --> 00:18:57.740
 And they asked

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.460
 for permission

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.860
 to be sent

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.480
 into this herd

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.160
 of swine.

00:19:02.620 --> 00:19:03.319
 Verse 13,

00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:05.200
 and he gave

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.319
 them permission.

00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.480
 I want you to know this,

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.439
 Jesus didn't order that,

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.619
 Jesus permits that.

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.720
 Then the unclean spirits

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.559
 came out

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.659
 and entered the pigs

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.279
 and the herd

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.439
 of about 2,000

00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:20.139
 rushed down the steep bank

00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:21.000
 into the sea

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.519
 and drowned there.

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:23.599
 Now,

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.559
 I don't know

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.859
 if you're here this morning

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.720
 and that causes you

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.939
 a problem or not.

00:19:28.439 --> 00:19:29.379
 I've heard it said

00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.179
 once or twice,

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.240
 why in the world

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:32.240
 did Jesus kill

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.980
 the 2,000 pigs?

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.320
 First of all,

00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.259
 I've got to say to you,

00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.480
 he didn't do that,

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.340
 he didn't order it,

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.360
 he permitted it.

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.200
 The demons asked

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.000
 for permission

00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.920
 and Jesus allowed it.

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:43.720
 If you say,

00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.960
 well that's just semantics,

00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.140
 then I've still got to

00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:47.320
 come back and tell you this,

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:48.580
 he did that

00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.940
 in order to save

00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.779
 a human being's life.

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:52.980
 And I've just got

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.660
 to be honest with you,

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.440
 I'll let you see

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.299
 a part of my personality

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:55.880
 this morning.

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.400
 If that troubles you,

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:59.019
 that Jesus would save

00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.240
 a human being's life

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.120
 at the expense

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.280
 of 2,000 swine,

00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:03.400
 then you and I

00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.080
 are just going to have

00:20:04.080 --> 00:20:05.060
 to agree to disagree.

00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:05.900
 Do you understand?

00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.380
 Because I think

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:08.940
 the value of a human life

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:10.060
 is far above

00:20:10.060 --> 00:20:11.620
 that of an animal

00:20:11.620 --> 00:20:12.400
 or a plant

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:13.460
 or anything else

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:15.220
 that's a living organism.

00:20:15.820 --> 00:20:16.080
 So,

00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:17.880
 they run into the pigs,

00:20:18.100 --> 00:20:19.940
 they run over the cliff

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.680
 and are drowned.

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.780
 Look at verse 14.

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.980
 The men who tended them

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.680
 ran off

00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:25.580
 and reported it

00:20:25.580 --> 00:20:26.340
 in the town.

00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.779
 And the countryside

00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.740
 and the people

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.579
 went to see

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:31.220
 what had happened.

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.339
 Now,

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:34.679
 don't just read that quickly

00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:36.000
 and pass to the next verse.

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.199
 I want you to consider that,

00:20:37.439 --> 00:20:38.319
 what that would look like

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:38.799
 for a moment.

00:20:39.599 --> 00:20:40.639
 How many of you think

00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:42.240
 a man could live

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.559
 in Pickens County

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.699
 who lived the way

00:20:45.699 --> 00:20:46.959
 this man lived

00:20:46.959 --> 00:20:49.319
 and you would know about it?

00:20:50.659 --> 00:20:51.579
 What do you think?

00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:53.879
 If a man lived

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.699
 in Pickens County

00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:55.840
 and was as crazy

00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.940
 as this man was,

00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.799
 ran naked,

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.960
 screamed night and day,

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.340
 the townsfolk

00:21:01.340 --> 00:21:02.039
 had gotten together,

00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:03.080
 the police had gotten together,

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:03.600
 shackled him,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.220
 he broke free of the shackles,

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.319
 he's tormented,

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.440
 he's running up

00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.460
 and down your streets,

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:10.120
 you're scared to death of him,

00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.960
 you'd know about it,

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.279
 wouldn't you?

00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.720
 You couldn't be a resident

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.340
 of Pickens

00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.059
 and not know about it.

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:16.179
 So these men

00:21:16.179 --> 00:21:16.819
 who are tending

00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:17.980
 the swine,

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.579
 when they see

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.539
 the swine drown,

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:22.019
 a sizable amount

00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.359
 of money

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.159
 has been lost

00:21:23.159 --> 00:21:23.819
 by the owner

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.619
 of these pigs.

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:25.919
 They rush back

00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.460
 to tell him

00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.480
 but in telling him,

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:29.240
 they begin to spread

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.220
 word everywhere

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.379
 and this is probably

00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:31.519
 what,

00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:31.960
 hey,

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.619
 you know that demoniac,

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.779
 the one we call

00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.539
 the demoniac

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.139
 of Gadara?

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:36.599
 Yeah?

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.419
 You won't believe

00:21:38.419 --> 00:21:39.279
 what we just saw.

00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:40.879
 What'd you just see?

00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.779
 We were there

00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.099
 tending the pigs

00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.720
 and this guy

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.399
 named Jesus,

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.759
 they pull up

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.339
 in this boat,

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:48.279
 they beach the boat

00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.779
 and they get out,

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.740
 he comes running

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.440
 out of the tombs

00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.899
 and Jesus actually

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:52.879
 has a conversation

00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.220
 with him.

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.180
 Jesus wasn't afraid

00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:54.559
 of him.

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.319
 Well,

00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:55.940
 what happened?

00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:56.839
 Well,

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.200
 he told these demons

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:59.619
 to leave the man

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.519
 and they went

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.740
 into the swine

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:03.379
 and the swine

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.579
 suddenly acted crazy,

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.059
 did something

00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:05.839
 we've never seen

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.519
 him do in the past.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.200
 They run over a cliff

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.920
 and 2,000 of them

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.759
 died.

00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:12.259
 Wow.

00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.940
 You gotta go out

00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.779
 and see that thing.

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.319
 Yeah,

00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:15.819
 maybe.

00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:16.559
 Well,

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:16.980
 wait a minute,

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.440
 let me tell you

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:17.839
 something else

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.180
 that happened.

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:18.940
 What else happened?

00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:21.319
 You know the crazy guy?

00:22:21.539 --> 00:22:21.779
 Yeah?

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.279
 Well,

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.059
 he's different.

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.400
 What do you mean

00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.819
 he's different?

00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:26.960
 Well,

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.759
 he's not acting

00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.640
 crazy anymore.

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.740
 He's what?

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.480
 He's not acting

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.660
 crazy.

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:34.359
 He acts civilized.

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.480
 You won't believe it.

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.539
 What would you do?

00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.240
 All the townspeople

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.380
 come out to see

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.640
 what has happened.

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.660
 Well,

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.960
 read the next verse.

00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.140
 This is my second

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:48.039
 favorite verse

00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:49.200
 in this passage.

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:49.960
 Not my favorite,

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.680
 but my second

00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.380
 favorite verse.

00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.579
 Verse 15.

00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.599
 They came to Jesus

00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.620
 and saw the man

00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:56.480
 who had been demon

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.779
 possessed by the legion.

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.799
 Now,

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.759
 read all this

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.420
 very carefully.

00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.420
 Sitting there,

00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.519
 dressed,

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.160
 and in his right mind.

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.920
 Is that astounding

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.460
 or what?

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.759
 Sitting there,

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:14.060
 dressed,

00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:15.600
 in his right mind.

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.920
 They would never

00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.620
 have guessed

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.720
 any of those things.

00:23:18.800 --> 00:23:19.220
 They've always

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.759
 seen him naked.

00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.680
 They've always

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.700
 seen him running

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.320
 to and fro.

00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:24.540
 Have you ever

00:23:24.540 --> 00:23:25.060
 known somebody

00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:25.880
 who had ants

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.240
 in their pants

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.640
 and they just

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.380
 couldn't sit still?

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.640
 They just couldn't

00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.080
 be still

00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.620
 if their life

00:23:29.620 --> 00:23:30.380
 depended on it?

00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.820
 That's this guy

00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:33.259
 to the hundredth power,

00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:33.759
 right?

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.680
 I mean,

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:36.000
 he's just crazed

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.839
 out of his mind.

00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:38.660
 These spirits

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.799
 torment him so badly.

00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:40.779
 He just can't

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.559
 stand his own flesh.

00:23:41.619 --> 00:23:42.339
 He cuts his flesh.

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.099
 He yells.

00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:43.700
 He screams.

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.180
 He doesn't wear clothes.

00:23:45.579 --> 00:23:46.220
 But now,

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.200
 take a look at it.

00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.579
 There he is

00:23:48.579 --> 00:23:51.920
 and he's seated

00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:54.779
 just like I am

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:55.980
 sitting there

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.579
 on the bank

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:59.039
 and he's still

00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:01.500
 and he's not screaming

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:03.440
 and when they say

00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.220
 something to him,

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:06.440
 he gives a sensible

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.240
 answer.

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.099
 He's just like

00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:10.680
 any of you

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.299
 in this room.

00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.480
 He looks so

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.480
 normal.

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.359
 He's just that.

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.279
 You wouldn't think

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:17.819
 if you walked

00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.279
 into a room

00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.859
 and saw somebody

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:19.819
 seated and his

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.680
 clothes and in

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.299
 his right mind,

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.500
 you just keep

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:22.859
 walking,

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.099
 right?

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.559
 No big deal.

00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.759
 But this guy,

00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:27.140
 we've never seen

00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:27.859
 him like that.

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.079
 How is it he's

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.819
 like that?

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.500
 Jesus has cast

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.339
 these demons out

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.319
 and here's the part

00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:33.679
 I like.

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.019
 You ready?

00:24:35.139 --> 00:24:35.720
 Look at the end

00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:36.599
 of verse 15.

00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.720
 And they were

00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.700
 afraid.

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.500
 That's funny,

00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:41.839
 isn't it?

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.639
 I mean,

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.139
 I don't care who

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.319
 you are.

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:43.859
 That's funny.

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.759
 They were afraid.

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.619
 They're more scared

00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:48.339
 of him sane

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:48.859
 than they were

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.519
 when he was insane.

00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:50.359
 At least insane

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.200
 he was predictable.

00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:51.539
 Now,

00:24:51.919 --> 00:24:52.359
 they don't know

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.159
 what's going on

00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:53.720
 with this guy.

00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:54.939
 And so,

00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.139
 it scares them

00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.919
 literally to death.

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:58.720
 Well,

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.099
 they do.

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.439
 Well,

00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:00.319
 look at verse 16

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.799
 and 17.

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.019
 The eyewitnesses

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.759
 described to them

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.480
 what had happened

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.939
 to the demon-possessed

00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.980
 man and told

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.779
 about the pigs.

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.539
 Then they began

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.339
 to beg him

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.919
 to leave

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:12.359
 their region.

00:25:13.939 --> 00:25:14.379
 Now,

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:14.980
 that's pretty

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:16.599
 ironic,

00:25:16.719 --> 00:25:17.059
 isn't it?

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.079
 Jesus comes,

00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:20.719
 solves their

00:25:20.719 --> 00:25:21.259
 problem.

00:25:21.939 --> 00:25:22.379
 This guy

00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.359
 has tormented

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.959
 them for years

00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:25.619
 and years on end

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.319
 in all likelihood.

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.559
 Jesus

00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.619
 cast the demons

00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:29.099
 out

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:31.460
 and he's seated,

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.399
 clothed in his

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.099
 right mind

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:34.539
 and the change

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.899
 is so radical

00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:37.319
 they're afraid

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:37.639
 of him.

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.220
 You know,

00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:40.639
 I gotta be honest

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.000
 with you.

00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.019
 You shouldn't

00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:43.119
 surprise us too much.

00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.819
 I have seen

00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.119
 before in my life

00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:47.819
 people who Jesus

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.460
 touched

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.879
 who the change

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.700
 was so radical

00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:52.659
 their old friends

00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:54.139
 were a little bit

00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.780
 afraid of him.

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.420
 They just

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.360
 actually wondered

00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.980
 what's going on

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.720
 with this guy

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.560
 and what's happened

00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:01.520
 he's had an encounter

00:26:01.520 --> 00:26:02.700
 with Christ.

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.140
 Well,

00:26:03.560 --> 00:26:04.700
 look at verse 18.

00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:05.520
 This is my favorite

00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:05.960
 verse.

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:07.840
 As he was getting

00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:08.420
 in the boat

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.080
 the man who had

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:11.080
 been demon-possessed

00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:12.259
 kept begging him,

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:13.400
 read that phrase

00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:14.620
 kept begging him

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:16.340
 to be with him.

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.740
 I said before

00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.080
 the preceding verse

00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:20.860
 was my second

00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:21.500
 favorite verse.

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.560
 This is my favorite

00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:22.800
 verse.

00:26:22.860 --> 00:26:23.500
 Let me show you why.

00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.660
 You gotta picture

00:26:25.660 --> 00:26:26.280
 this scene.

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.560
 Imagine that

00:26:27.560 --> 00:26:28.300
 we're on the shore

00:26:28.300 --> 00:26:29.220
 and that blue carpet

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.080
 or purple carpet

00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:33.220
 is the Sea of Galilee.

00:26:34.540 --> 00:26:35.480
 Those boats

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.560
 weren't John boats.

00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:36.960
 They weren't

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.840
 aluminum boats.

00:26:38.020 --> 00:26:38.900
 No Starcraft,

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.220
 right?

00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:41.040
 These are heavy,

00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.360
 heavy wooden boats.

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.380
 So you know

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:43.880
 what they did?

00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.540
 They beached that boat.

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:46.800
 They would have

00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:47.340
 just rowed

00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.960
 until it was up

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:48.360
 on the shore.

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.080
 When it got

00:26:49.080 --> 00:26:49.940
 a little bit of it

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.580
 up on the shore

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.340
 they would have

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:51.960
 gotten out

00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:52.980
 and those guys

00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:53.440
 in the boat

00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.259
 the disciples

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.259
 would have grabbed it

00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:55.779
 and they would have

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.279
 pulled it up

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.819
 further on the shore

00:26:57.819 --> 00:26:59.099
 so that it doesn't

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.839
 wash away.

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.259
 Well,

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.799
 they asked Jesus

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.539
 to leave.

00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:05.299
 Jesus apparently

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.240
 without argument

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:08.620
 he acquiesces

00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:09.339
 to their wishes.

00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:10.819
 They go

00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.420
 and they wouldn't

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.039
 have just piled

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.559
 in the boat

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.579
 again if you've ever

00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.500
 launched a boat

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.339
 from a beach.

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.880
 They push it out

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.440
 to the edge

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.880
 of the water,

00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.200
 right?

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.200
 And then they

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.740
 begin getting

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.259
 in the boat.

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.180
 The disciples

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.680
 get in the boat.

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.720
 Jesus gets in the boat.

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:23.980
 Probably one or two

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.759
 stayed on the outside

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.600
 and they push it out

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:26.440
 a little bit further

00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:28.100
 and now they're

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:29.140
 all getting in the boat

00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.779
 and they're taking

00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.340
 their oars

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:30.840
 and they're going

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.660
 to push it back

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.160
 and then they're

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.539
 going to begin

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.340
 rowing it back,

00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:33.640
 right?

00:27:34.360 --> 00:27:34.740
 Well,

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.779
 here's this demoniac

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.880
 and he sees them

00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:39.019
 pushing the boat

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.220
 and I can see him

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.600
 sitting there

00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.279
 and he stands up

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.840
 and he walks over

00:27:41.840 --> 00:27:42.680
 to the water edge

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:44.680
 and he says to Jesus,

00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.120
 Jesus,

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.940
 take me with you.

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.160
 Take me with you.

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.220
 And he wonders

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.220
 if Jesus hears him

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.600
 or not

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:54.039
 and so he goes

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.960
 down to the water's

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.319
 edge.

00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:56.660
 Jesus,

00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.620
 don't leave me here.

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.480
 Can you

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:02.160
 understand why

00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:02.819
 you would do that?

00:28:03.600 --> 00:28:04.539
 All these town

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.460
 people have hated him.

00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.340
 He's been public

00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:08.980
 enemy number one.

00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:11.140
 They chained him

00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:11.940
 and left him

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.819
 for dead.

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.580
 They've ridiculed him,

00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:17.100
 ostracized him.

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:18.179
 He's cut off

00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:18.799
 from family

00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:19.359
 and friends

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.719
 and everybody.

00:28:20.279 --> 00:28:21.419
 He has no life

00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:23.219
 here in his mind

00:28:23.219 --> 00:28:24.819
 and so they're

00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.399
 pushing this boat

00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.059
 out into the water

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.799
 and I can see him

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.319
 do this

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.339
 and I don't think

00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:29.579
 this is an exaggeration

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:29.779
 at all.

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.939
 I cannot imagine

00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:31.839
 in fact this story

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:33.059
 happened any other way.

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.079
 I can see him

00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:34.740
 put his hands

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.299
 up on the bow

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.779
 of that boat

00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.839
 and look up at Jesus

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.539
 in the boat

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:37.919
 and say,

00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:38.319
 Jesus,

00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.779
 please take me

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.159
 with you.

00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:41.679
 And he's

00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.559
 ankle deep

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.559
 and knee deep

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.039
 and on out

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.639
 until the water's

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.440
 up to his waist.

00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:47.839
 Jesus,

00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.679
 he's still begging.

00:28:48.779 --> 00:28:49.579
 He kept begging,

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.079
 kept begging.

00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:51.240
 So he's asked repeatedly,

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:52.119
 Jesus,

00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.940
 would you take me

00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.399
 with you?

00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:54.819
 Would you take me

00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:55.119
 with you?

00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.960
 Jesus' response

00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.700
 in one way,

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.519
 just to be honest,

00:28:58.599 --> 00:28:59.240
 is a little bit

00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.819
 surprising,

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.319
 isn't it?

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:01.679
 Because you know

00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:02.819
 what he says.

00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.220
 He says,

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.480
 no,

00:29:03.659 --> 00:29:04.460
 you can't come.

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.200
 And finally,

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:06.940
 when the water

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.980
 may be chest high,

00:29:08.179 --> 00:29:09.000
 the man realizes,

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:09.980
 he's not going

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:10.720
 to let me come.

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.380
 And he turns

00:29:12.380 --> 00:29:12.900
 and walks away.

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.579
 I want you to look

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.319
 at that response

00:29:14.319 --> 00:29:14.819
 of Jesus.

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.319
 Look back to the

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.180
 scripture for a moment.

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.599
 Look at what it says.

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.640
 Verse 19 and 20.

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.240
 But he would not

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.720
 let him.

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:26.059
 Instead,

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.740
 he told him,

00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.700
 go back home

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.740
 to your own people

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:30.440
 and report to them

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.360
 how much the Lord

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:32.259
 has done for you

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.880
 and how he has

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:35.039
 had mercy on you.

00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:35.400
 And boy,

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.420
 God had had mercy

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:36.799
 on him,

00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.140
 hadn't he?

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.940
 So he went out

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.960
 and began to proclaim

00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:41.240
 in the Decapolis,

00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:42.779
 that's the 10 city region,

00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:45.120
 how much Jesus

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.240
 had done for him.

00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:49.319
 And they were all amazed.

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:52.000
 Jesus wasn't being

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.720
 mean to him.

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:54.779
 I think he'd have loved

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.319
 to have had him

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.059
 go with him.

00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:58.019
 But he knew this man

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.980
 had a mission in life.

00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.400
 God had changed his life

00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.600
 and could use this man

00:30:01.600 --> 00:30:03.039
 more than he could ever

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.000
 have used him before.

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.620
 And so he says,

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.120
 you know what?

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:06.480
 There are people

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.680
 here in this region,

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.720
 in these 10 cities

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.579
 about this region,

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.200
 they know you.

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:14.160
 They know your reputation.

00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:16.779
 I want you to go to them

00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.980
 and I want you to show them

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:19.279
 the mercy that God

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.559
 has done in your life,

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.319
 the mercy God

00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:21.720
 has shown you,

00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:23.240
 the work he has accomplished

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.079
 in your life.

00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:26.900
 I want you to be used

00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:27.400
 of God

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:29.160
 to speak to these people

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.980
 when they see

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:31.200
 how God has worked

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.819
 in your life.

00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:33.360
 It'll change their lives.

00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.240
 And so that's what

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.819
 the man does.

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.100
 He begins going city

00:30:36.100 --> 00:30:37.140
 to city to city

00:30:37.140 --> 00:30:38.660
 telling them the story

00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.280
 about what God

00:30:39.280 --> 00:30:40.100
 has done in his life.

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.259
 Three things I want you

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.880
 to see today

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.920
 and I close.

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.240
 You ready?

00:30:43.540 --> 00:30:44.300
 Here's the first.

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:46.640
 Jesus loves those

00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:49.060
 who others despise

00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:50.600
 and fear

00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:52.780
 and flee from.

00:30:52.780 --> 00:30:55.440
 He is the friend

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:57.020
 of hardened sinners.

00:30:57.019 --> 00:31:00.200
 Jesus loves

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.819
 those who others

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.519
 despise,

00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:03.879
 fear,

00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.579
 and flee from.

00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.299
 In fact,

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.759
 if we're honest about it,

00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.960
 Jesus loves those

00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:09.879
 that many of us

00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.980
 in the church,

00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.319
 many of us

00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.139
 in the church

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:15.440
 are exactly like

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.859
 those townspeople,

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.639
 the people

00:31:17.639 --> 00:31:18.119
 of the region

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.720
 of Gadara.

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.799
 People like this guy,

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:21.879
 if we're honest about it,

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.799
 they scare us.

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.660
 We don't want them

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.180
 hanging around

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.839
 our preschool.

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:29.079
 We don't want them

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:29.720
 hanging around

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.639
 our youth.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.680
 We're uncomfortable

00:31:32.680 --> 00:31:33.460
 if they show up

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.660
 in a couples class

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:36.019
 because,

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:36.460
 I mean,

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:36.980
 look at us

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.680
 and look at them.

00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.819
 They're just a lot

00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.920
 different from us.

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.900
 But I want to tell you

00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.039
 something.

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.839
 When I read

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.779
 the New Testament,

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:46.059
 when I read the Gospels,

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.220
 if you said,

00:31:47.359 --> 00:31:47.639
 Pastor,

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.720
 I want you to tell me

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.180
 one word about Jesus,

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.319
 one sentence

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:52.079
 about Jesus

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.759
 you take from

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.059
 reading the Gospels.

00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:55.420
 Do you know what

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.160
 that sentence would be?

00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:58.019
 Jesus loves

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.860
 sinners.

00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:00.820
 Wouldn't you agree

00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.200
 with that?

00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:02.540
 In fact,

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.380
 every time,

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:04.940
 almost,

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.900
 he's in conflict

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.920
 with the Pharisees,

00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.440
 it's over his love

00:32:08.440 --> 00:32:08.860
 of sinners.

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.960
 Why do you hang out

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:11.620
 with drunks?

00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:13.240
 Why do you hang out

00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.000
 with prostitutes?

00:32:14.300 --> 00:32:14.820
 Why do you hang out?

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.880
 Can't you see this man

00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:16.519
 is crazy?

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.820
 He's demon possessed.

00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.720
 Why do you keep

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.240
 hanging out

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.480
 with people like this?

00:32:21.259 --> 00:32:21.919
 And the answer

00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.720
 is pretty obvious.

00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:24.399
 Jesus

00:32:24.399 --> 00:32:26.319
 has compassion

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.240
 and loves

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:28.639
 hardened sinners.

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.879
 Second thing

00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.659
 I want you to take away

00:32:31.659 --> 00:32:32.299
 from this passage

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.799
 this morning

00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.159
 is this.

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.579
 Jesus

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:35.439
 can change

00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.859
 anybody.

00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.679
 Now,

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.379
 I want to tell you,

00:32:39.419 --> 00:32:39.679
 I don't know

00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:40.399
 what you've done.

00:32:41.179 --> 00:32:41.500
 I don't know

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:42.259
 how deep in sin

00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.740
 you are,

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:43.940
 how immoral

00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.579
 you've been,

00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:45.799
 what's happened

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.680
 in your life,

00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.460
 the events of your life.

00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:48.980
 There may be

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.579
 some tragedy,

00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:50.140
 there may be

00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.799
 some heartache,

00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.319
 there may be

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.119
 some immorality,

00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.779
 but I want to tell you

00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:52.940
 something.

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:54.839
 I'm guessing

00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:56.019
 there's nobody here

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:57.740
 whose life

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.559
 was as ever

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.359
 messed up

00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:01.019
 as this guy's

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.019
 life was messed up.

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.599
 And yet,

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:04.460
 look at him now

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.500
 and he's seated

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:07.140
 and he's in his

00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:07.920
 right mind

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.980
 and he's clothed

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:11.460
 and God's going

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.019
 to use him

00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.079
 in a miraculous way

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.299
 in those

00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.559
 ten cities.

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.319
 And I want to tell you

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:17.920
 something here.

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.500
 In fact,

00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.940
 I have prayed for you

00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:21.779
 before I even

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.480
 came today

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.819
 that God would bring

00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.859
 somebody here today

00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:25.720
 in this room

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:27.559
 who could in some

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.400
 small measure

00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.059
 identify

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.599
 with this demoniac

00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:31.039
 because

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.839
 your life is a mess.

00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.200
 And in your mind

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.740
 and heart,

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.400
 you've come to the place

00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:37.980
 you just think,

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.420
 there's just not much

00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:40.019
 hope for me.

00:33:41.139 --> 00:33:41.480
 I mean,

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:43.059
 I just keep making

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.839
 one foolish decision

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.680
 after another.

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:47.400
 I've made so many

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.759
 mistakes.

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:48.339
 I've disappointed

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:48.900
 my family.

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.500
 I've disappointed

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.180
 my friends.

00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.180
 I've disappointed

00:33:51.180 --> 00:33:53.240
 I'm just a mess.

00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.799
 And there's just

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:56.099
 no hope for me.

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:57.779
 I want to tell you

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:57.940
 something,

00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:58.180
 friend.

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.660
 You couldn't be

00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:01.099
 further from the truth.

00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:02.539
 This message

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:03.579
 is exactly

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:04.700
 for you

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.880
 because I want

00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.279
 to tell you something.

00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:08.199
 Jesus can change

00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:09.400
 anybody.

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.019
 Amen?

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.800
 I know that

00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.500
 because he changed

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:12.820
 me.

00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:15.820
 I know who I was

00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:18.019
 and who I am.

00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.079
 And I'm no prize.

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:21.099
 I'm not what I should be.

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.860
 But I'll tell you this.

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.239
 I'm not who I used

00:34:23.239 --> 00:34:23.619
 to be.

00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:25.699
 And that's not because

00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.699
 of anything Ralph Carter

00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:26.940
 did.

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.800
 That's because of the

00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.360
 Spirit of God

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.619
 working in my life.

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.759
 And if he can change

00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.519
 me and he can change

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:32.039
 that demoniac,

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.559
 he can change you,

00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:35.360
 whoever you are.

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.980
 Maybe your first time,

00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.940
 ever walking in the doors,

00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.099
 First Baptist Pickens.

00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:40.960
 He can change you.

00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:43.000
 You're not without hope.

00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:44.639
 Here's the last

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:45.340
 and final thing

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:45.880
 and I'll leave you

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.199
 with this.

00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:47.139
 It is far more

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:48.119
 comfortable to be

00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.019
 huddled up with

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:50.099
 Jesus and fellow

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.500
 believers.

00:34:51.279 --> 00:34:52.500
 But he has put us

00:34:52.500 --> 00:34:53.380
 on a mission

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:55.059
 in the world.

00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:57.440
 The world is a

00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.840
 scary, scary place,

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.199
 isn't it?

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.019
 I've got to be

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.559
 honest with you.

00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.059
 I pray about it

00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.559
 all the time

00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.079
 because I've got

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.980
 a little 15-year-old

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.400
 granddaughter

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.340
 and a 3-year-old

00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:05.739
 grandson.

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.380
 And I've got to be

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.179
 honest, I don't like

00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:08.819
 the direction our

00:35:08.819 --> 00:35:09.539
 country is taking

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.659
 and it scares me

00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:12.519
 for them because

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.500
 the world has changed

00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:14.239
 radically from the

00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:14.819
 world that I was

00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:15.920
 born in and raised

00:35:15.920 --> 00:35:16.219
 in.

00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:17.599
 It's a scary,

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.319
 scary place.

00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:19.759
 But I've got to

00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:20.980
 tell you today,

00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.880
 that's where he

00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.519
 wants us.

00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.239
 That's where he

00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:26.799
 wants us.

00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.480
 He doesn't want us

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.219
 huddled up in our

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:30.279
 little beautiful

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:30.840
 churches,

00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:32.940
 holding each

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.680
 other's hands,

00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.360
 looking for folk

00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:35.980
 who are more like

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.700
 us to come and

00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:37.180
 join us.

00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:38.559
 How here so-and-so

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.680
 moved to town and

00:35:39.680 --> 00:35:40.600
 they're a believer,

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.760
 we'll rush out and

00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.220
 get them.

00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:43.760
 While there are tons

00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:44.620
 of lost people who've

00:35:44.620 --> 00:35:46.200
 been here forever and

00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:46.800
 we just don't bother

00:35:46.800 --> 00:35:47.280
 with them because

00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:48.039
 they're just not

00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:49.900
 church-type people,

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.300
 you know?

00:35:52.120 --> 00:35:52.980
 I'm telling you,

00:35:53.160 --> 00:35:54.340
 it's comfortable when

00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.120
 you huddle up with

00:35:55.120 --> 00:35:57.059
 the sheep and it's

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:58.000
 dangerous out in the

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.300
 world.

00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:59.940
 But that's where

00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.700
 God wants us.

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.560
 That's where he

00:36:02.560 --> 00:36:02.960
 wants us.

00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:04.539
 He wants us sharing

00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:05.539
 what God's done with

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:08.140
 us to other people

00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.480
 in whom he needs to

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.340
 do a great work.

00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:11.920
 And I'll tell you,

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.360
 you don't have to

00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:13.180
 drive far from this

00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:14.039
 church until you see

00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.380
 lots of people in

00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:16.480
 whom he needs to do

00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.600
 a great work.

00:36:17.660 --> 00:36:17.860
 Amen?

00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.920
 Let's pray.

00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:22.940
 Lord, thank you for

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.380
 your word.

00:36:24.260 --> 00:36:24.940
 Thank you for the

00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:25.519
 story you've given

00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.060
 us today.

00:36:26.059 --> 00:36:28.159
 Let us see ourselves.

00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:29.960
 Let us see people who

00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.539
 are like the demoniac.

00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.259
 Give us compassion for

00:36:33.259 --> 00:36:33.440
 them.

00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:36.000
 Lord, I pray if there's

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.019
 one here today who

00:36:37.019 --> 00:36:38.559
 they in some small

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.599
 measure can identify

00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.579
 that demoniac, their

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.599
 life's not nearly as

00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:43.679
 out of order, but they

00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:44.559
 just know that they're

00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.460
 not heading the

00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.279
 direction they need to

00:36:46.279 --> 00:36:47.259
 go and they need help

00:36:47.259 --> 00:36:48.980
 and they just have

00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.920
 resisted that because

00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:50.679
 they don't think there

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:51.619
 is anything that can

00:36:51.619 --> 00:36:51.840
 help.

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.759
 They've tried this and

00:36:52.759 --> 00:36:53.420
 they've tried that.

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.940
 God, would you today

00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.900
 open their eyes to what

00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:56.579
 you could do in

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:56.960
 their life?

00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.660
 You could do a

00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:58.260
 miracle in their

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:59.300
 life that you can

00:36:59.300 --> 00:36:59.980
 cause them to be

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:01.139
 born again, that your

00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:02.019
 spirit will come into

00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:03.780
 them and regenerate

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.880
 them and save them.

00:37:05.220 --> 00:37:06.119
 Please, oh God, do

00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:06.680
 that today.

00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.519
 If there's just one

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.160
 person in this room

00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:10.579
 who needs it, I pray

00:37:10.579 --> 00:37:11.360
 you'd speak to their

00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:11.760
 heart.

00:37:13.860 --> 00:37:14.660
 For we make this

00:37:14.660 --> 00:37:15.559
 prayer in Jesus' name

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.440
 and for his sake we

00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:16.860
 pray.

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:17.880
 Amen.

00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.039
 Amen.

00:37:18.039 --> 00:37:18.119
 Amen.

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.160
 Amen.