WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.100 So, I heard that you guys are going through a series in Matthew, but this morning I actually 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:07.940 want to take you to a book over to the Gospel of Mark. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:13.019 And so, if you've got your Bibles, turn to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 5. 00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:15.259 That's where we're going to be at this morning. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:25.900 So, Gospel of Mark, chapter 5, and we're going to be looking at verses 1 to 20 today. 00:00:25.899 --> 00:00:35.039 And so, this morning, in Mark 5, I want us to be drawn in to a dramatic scene in Jesus' 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:36.159 earthly ministry. 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:42.179 In this passage, we're going to see Jesus engage with truly an unforgettable man. 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:49.640 And in this unforgettable encounter, we're going to see a little more clearly who Jesus 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:54.619 really is and what difference that should make in our lives. 00:00:55.899 --> 00:00:59.539 Before we get there, I want to start by just by doing something. 00:00:59.619 --> 00:01:04.539 I want to start by saying a word, and I want to have you see what comes into your mind. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:04.780 Okay? 00:01:04.819 --> 00:01:07.659 So, I'm just going to say a word, and then you can feel free to write something down if 00:01:07.659 --> 00:01:10.400 you want, or just think about something, whatever comes to mind. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:11.539 So, here's the word. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.039 You ready? 00:01:12.900 --> 00:01:13.939 The word is this. 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:15.480 Freedom. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:18.500 Freedom. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:18.579 Freedom. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:24.840 What comes into your mind when you think about the word freedom? 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:28.800 Perhaps for you, you think about America. 00:01:29.380 --> 00:01:31.080 The land of the free, right? 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:33.040 And the home of the brave. 00:01:33.160 --> 00:01:36.860 Or maybe you think about specific freedoms that we have in our country. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:38.460 The freedom of religion. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:40.620 The freedom of speech. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:42.580 Freedom of press. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:44.780 The freedom to petition. 00:01:45.860 --> 00:01:46.840 Freedom to assemble. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:46.920 Freedom. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:51.719 Or maybe for you, freedom is something a little bit more personal. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:55.900 Freedom over a struggle that's in your life right now. 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:01.719 Freedom from a deep hurt or painful memories that haunt you. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:04.659 Freedom from a bad habit you just can't kick. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:09.300 Perhaps it's freedom of movement from your body or freedom from illness. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:11.480 Financial freedom. 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:11.560 Freedom. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.619 If you're a student, freedom of summer. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:18.719 No more homework. 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:20.239 Students, we're not going with this. 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:21.579 No more tests. 00:02:22.459 --> 00:02:22.859 Freedom. 00:02:23.799 --> 00:02:25.459 Can I get an amen from the students out there, anybody? 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:25.759 Okay. 00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:26.000 Okay. 00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:26.319 Thank you. 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:30.159 Well, I don't know what comes to your mind when you think about freedom. 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:35.239 But I think it's safe to say that freedom is important to all of us, right? 00:02:35.859 --> 00:02:39.079 We like being people who are free. 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:45.960 And yet imagine, imagine with me that you were not free. 00:02:47.040 --> 00:02:51.980 Imagine if all of your freedoms were suddenly stripped away. 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:55.380 Freedom to carry on a normal life. 00:02:55.900 --> 00:02:56.180 Gone. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.420 Freedom to be with your family and friends. 00:03:00.160 --> 00:03:00.480 Gone. 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:04.340 Freedom to speak and think clearly. 00:03:05.480 --> 00:03:05.820 Gone. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:05.900 Gone. 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:09.780 Freedom even over the movement of your own body. 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:13.280 That gone as well. 00:03:13.419 --> 00:03:21.060 And then to top it all off in this situation, imagine that you were in bondage to a cruel and ruthless master. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:25.719 Can you imagine that kind of experience? 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:27.799 It would be horrifying, right? 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:30.659 It would be absolutely terrible. 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:39.280 And yet it's into that kind of nightmare that we step as we open up the Gospel of Mark to chapter 5. 00:03:39.659 --> 00:03:41.759 So let's see what happens, starting in verse 1. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.500 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:54.080 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:04:00.620 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 00:04:01.259 --> 00:04:07.800 For he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:10.620 No one had the strength to subdue him. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:17.740 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.139 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:25.079 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.079 What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:32.800 I adjure you by God, do not torment me. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:34.840 For he was saying to him, 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:37.660 Come out of the man, you unclean spirit. 00:04:37.660 --> 00:04:39.720 And Jesus asked him, 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:40.939 What is your name? 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:42.640 He replied, 00:04:43.280 --> 00:04:45.480 My name is Legion, for we are many. 00:04:46.380 --> 00:04:49.880 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 00:04:50.760 --> 00:04:53.580 Now, a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:54.840 and they begged him, saying, 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:56.020 Send us to the pigs! 00:04:56.320 --> 00:04:57.360 Let us enter them! 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.360 So he gave them permission, 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:03.440 and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. 00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:06.319 And the herd, numbering about 2,000, 00:05:06.899 --> 00:05:12.160 rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:16.120 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.199 And people came to see what it was that had happened. 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:22.740 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:25.579 the one who had had the legion sitting there, 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:28.699 clothed and in his right mind. 00:05:29.300 --> 00:05:30.300 And they were afraid. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:33.319 And those who had seen it described to them 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:35.960 what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs, 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.000 and they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 00:05:41.280 --> 00:05:42.560 As he was getting into the boat, 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:45.300 the man who had been possessed with the demons begged him 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:47.300 that he might be with him. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.100 And he did not permit him, 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:50.540 but said to him, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:52.460 Go home to your friends 00:05:52.460 --> 00:05:56.840 and tell them how much the Lord has done for you 00:05:56.840 --> 00:05:59.939 and how he has had mercy on you. 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:01.520 And he went away 00:06:01.520 --> 00:06:04.439 and began to proclaim it in the Decapolis 00:06:04.439 --> 00:06:06.460 how much Jesus had done for him. 00:06:06.900 --> 00:06:09.040 And everyone marveled. 00:06:09.620 --> 00:06:10.139 Let's pray. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:16.080 Father, we come to your word this morning. 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:18.620 We thank you that you speak to us. 00:06:19.420 --> 00:06:21.500 God, we thank you that you've spoken to us 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:23.620 in many times and in many ways in your word 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:24.460 and to the prophets. 00:06:24.459 --> 00:06:27.279 We thank you most of all by sending Jesus, 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.839 the word made flesh. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.279 And God, we thank you that we had this written word 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:33.699 in our own language in our laps this morning. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:34.839 And so we pray, God, 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:38.000 we ask that you would feed our souls this morning. 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:39.839 We would ask, we would pray 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:41.359 that you would open up your word 00:06:41.359 --> 00:06:43.319 and show us wonderful things. 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:45.859 Show us more of who Jesus is. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:47.479 I pray in his name. 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:48.220 Amen. 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:52.840 So we've read the passage. 00:06:53.080 --> 00:06:54.600 We've entered into the nightmare. 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:56.879 And we see Jesus coming 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.140 and he changes everything, right? 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:00.860 But what are we supposed to make of all of this? 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:02.460 All this stuff that just happened? 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:03.680 Well, this morning, 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:06.620 I want to briefly walk through this story again 00:07:06.620 --> 00:07:08.580 to get a feel for what's actually going on. 00:07:08.579 --> 00:07:11.639 And then I want us to pull back from the story 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:14.719 and think about this passage's compelling truth 00:07:14.719 --> 00:07:17.199 and how it applies to our lives. 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.419 And so I think there's something 00:07:18.419 --> 00:07:20.000 that God wants us to know 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.779 from this passage this morning. 00:07:22.199 --> 00:07:23.579 So let's get that 00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:26.099 and then let's apply that to our lives. 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:28.779 So first, let's walk through the story again. 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.799 So the passage starts off in a rather eerie way. 00:07:32.939 --> 00:07:33.519 Look at verse one. 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.379 They came to the other side of the sea, 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:37.500 so Jesus and his disciples, 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:39.240 to the country of the Gerasenes. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:41.360 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:44.000 immediately there met him out of the tombs, 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:46.000 a man with an unclean spirit. 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:48.720 And so Jesus and his band of disciples 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.100 have gone to the eastern side 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:52.759 of the Sea of Galilee. 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:56.240 Now, what's so strange or eerie about that? 00:07:56.819 --> 00:07:59.920 Well, this is Gentile territory. 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:02.920 Gentiles are non-Jews. 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:05.839 They are considered unclean to the Jews. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.560 And so they don't worship the one true God. 00:08:09.679 --> 00:08:11.319 And yet here is Jesus, a Jew, 00:08:12.159 --> 00:08:14.819 boldly going to the other side. 00:08:15.359 --> 00:08:17.979 He's going to the country of the Gerasenes 00:08:17.979 --> 00:08:19.939 to raise some questions in our mind. 00:08:19.979 --> 00:08:20.879 What's going on here? 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:24.839 And yet the suspense only begins to build 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:27.819 because as soon as Jesus steps out of the boat, 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:30.599 out of nowhere comes running up to him 00:08:30.600 --> 00:08:33.600 a wild, naked, screaming man. 00:08:34.800 --> 00:08:36.340 And so we read that this man 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:38.700 has an unclean spirit. 00:08:40.040 --> 00:08:42.560 Somehow he's been possessed by a demon 00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:44.399 which has overpowered him 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.080 and enslaved him 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.360 and turned his life into a living horror show. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:51.779 And so look at verse 3 to 5. 00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:54.539 This man lived among the tombs 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:56.500 and no one could bind him anymore, 00:08:56.579 --> 00:08:57.620 not even with a chain, 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.379 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, 00:09:00.959 --> 00:09:03.339 but he wrenched the chains apart 00:09:03.339 --> 00:09:04.839 and he broke the shackles in pieces. 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:07.339 No one had the strength to subdue him. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:08.819 Night and day, imagine this, 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.539 among the tombs and on the mountains, 00:09:10.659 --> 00:09:12.059 he was always crying out 00:09:12.059 --> 00:09:14.500 and cutting himself with stones. 00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:17.220 And so this enslaved man 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:19.240 is in complete misery. 00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:21.940 He is such a danger to society 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:23.259 that he's been isolated 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:27.240 to live among the dirty, bone-riddled tombs. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:30.019 And he's so far beyond hope 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:33.220 that the locals have repeatedly tried to shackle him 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.460 so he doesn't hurt himself 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:35.940 or hurt other people. 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:38.100 And yet, it doesn't work. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:39.980 Time and time again, 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:42.139 this guy has wrenched these things off of him 00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:44.179 with his Herculean strength. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:46.539 And so cut off from society 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:49.039 with no cure in sight, 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:52.659 all this tortured, demonized man 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:55.679 is left to do is to wander around, 00:09:56.460 --> 00:10:00.379 crying out and cutting himself with stones. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.940 I mean, this is a wretched, wretched picture. 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.940 I mean, maybe you've been in a situation 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:09.720 where you felt stuck. 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:12.220 You were weighed down. 00:10:13.080 --> 00:10:14.159 You were overwhelmed. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:17.379 You were isolated from others. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.200 You saw no way out of the darkness 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:21.659 gathering around you 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:23.340 and gathering in you. 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:26.799 If you've had a taste of that kind of misery, 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:31.019 imagine that multiplied by 10,000. 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:35.100 And that is what this man is experiencing. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.460 His life is really a living hell. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:44.400 And yet, into this seemingly hopeless 00:10:44.400 --> 00:10:47.320 and enslaved situation, 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:49.600 steps a deliverer. 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:51.940 Jesus arrives. 00:10:52.900 --> 00:10:53.879 He steps out of the boat 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:54.720 and in verse 6, 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:56.639 we have a picture of the demon-possessed man 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.759 falling down before Jesus. 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:00.660 The fact that he falls down 00:11:00.660 --> 00:11:02.620 is a reminder that a power 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:04.379 far greater than Satan 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:06.100 is present here. 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:08.899 In fact, we know that because Jesus 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:12.159 begins to command the demon to leave. 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:14.540 And the demon cries out 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:15.899 through the man in verse 7, 00:11:16.259 --> 00:11:17.800 What have you to do with me, 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:20.159 Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.600 I adjure you, 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:22.340 by God, 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.740 do not torment me. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:27.580 Do not torment me. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:30.580 The demons know that Jesus 00:11:30.580 --> 00:11:32.440 is not here to mess around. 00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:34.900 And yet, the demons 00:11:34.900 --> 00:11:36.980 can do nothing to stop him. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:39.300 In calling Jesus 00:11:39.300 --> 00:11:40.940 the Son of the Most High God, 00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:42.340 some have thought that the demon 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:44.879 is trying to gain control of Jesus 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.520 by uttering his name. 00:11:47.540 --> 00:11:48.400 And yet, Jesus 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:51.080 is the one who's really in control. 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:53.800 He gets the name of the demon, 00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:54.500 Legion, 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:56.500 and to our horror, 00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.419 we learn that this man 00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:59.019 is not just possessed by a demon, 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.399 but by a vast number of demons. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:03.759 A Roman Legion 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.279 was a unit of around 6,000 soldiers, 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:08.779 an organized, efficient, 00:12:09.620 --> 00:12:10.860 mighty fighting force. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:13.179 And so a legion of demons 00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:14.340 is a terrifying, 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:17.559 terrifying supernatural foe. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:18.240 And yet, 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:20.039 this supernatural confrontation 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:22.580 is almost over before it begins. 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:25.639 Jesus walks onto the scene 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.759 and this powerful legion of demons 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.200 is falling to his feet. 00:12:30.259 --> 00:12:32.320 When Jesus simply speaks, 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:33.759 the demons are begging 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.600 to be sent away. 00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:36.680 Send us away! 00:12:37.400 --> 00:12:38.420 Send us away! 00:12:39.800 --> 00:12:41.120 This legion of demons 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.980 can't stand being in the presence 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:44.500 of such holy power, 00:12:45.420 --> 00:12:48.180 in the presence of unmistakable divinity. 00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:50.460 But where will they go? 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:53.040 Well, they want to be sent 00:12:53.040 --> 00:12:56.280 into a local herd of pigs, 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.220 peacefully grazing on the hillside. 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:01.620 And so if they can't destroy this man, 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:04.060 then they want to destroy something else. 00:13:05.040 --> 00:13:07.400 And so we read what happens in verse 13. 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:09.960 And so he gave them permission, 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.560 and the unclean spirits came out 00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:13.500 and entered the pigs, 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.780 and the herd, 00:13:15.160 --> 00:13:16.540 numbering about 2,000, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.180 rushed down the steep bank 00:13:18.179 --> 00:13:19.199 into the sea 00:13:19.199 --> 00:13:21.359 and drowned in the sea. 00:13:23.239 --> 00:13:23.639 Wow. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:25.939 I mean, can you imagine 00:13:25.939 --> 00:13:27.879 what that would have been like 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:29.099 to see that? 00:13:29.739 --> 00:13:30.659 A stampede, 00:13:31.179 --> 00:13:33.939 a stampede of 2,000 pigs, 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:35.099 suicidal pigs, 00:13:35.479 --> 00:13:36.419 rushing down, 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:39.799 rushing down a steep embankment, 00:13:40.579 --> 00:13:41.639 plummeting right into the sea. 00:13:42.219 --> 00:13:43.139 I mean, just try to imagine that. 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.639 I mean, I'm sure the jaws of the herzmen 00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.860 just dropped. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:47.939 Whoa. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:48.600 You know, 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:50.720 what in the world just happened? 00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.519 Our pigs, 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.360 they're just gone. 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.659 I mean, so these guys, 00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.159 obviously, 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.360 run off to tell everyone 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:58.980 what they just saw. 00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.179 I mean, 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:00.939 they get to their town, 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:01.159 maybe, 00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:01.500 and they're like, 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.639 you wouldn't believe 00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.419 what just happened. 00:14:03.819 --> 00:14:04.500 You know that crazy, 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.259 demon-possessed guy 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:05.779 out in the tombs? 00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:06.620 Yeah, well, 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:07.919 there's this guy named Jesus, 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.319 and he came, 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.360 and then he cast out 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.000 all the demons 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.379 into our pigs. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.960 And then the pigs, 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:14.200 like, 00:14:14.259 --> 00:14:15.600 took off down the hill 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.700 and into the sea. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.360 I mean, 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:18.980 you can just imagine 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:19.899 people's wide eyes, 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.159 like, 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:20.539 what? 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:21.840 I mean, 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.000 if it happened today, 00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.519 it would have been 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.460 on the front page 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.720 of the Gerasene Daily News, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.220 flying pigs 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.919 or something like that. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:29.120 It would have been 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.200 a trending topic 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:32.259 on the Gerasene Twitter feed, 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.919 hashtag pigs 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:34.740 into the sea. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:37.200 So it's not surprising 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:38.220 that these people 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:38.980 from the country 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:40.279 begin flocking in 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.120 to see what happened. 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:43.240 And when they come, 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.480 guess what they find? 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.399 Look at verse 15. 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.419 And they came to Jesus 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:50.120 and saw the demon-possessed man, 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:52.279 the one who had had the legion, 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.919 sitting there, 00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:55.500 clothed, 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.539 and in his right mind. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.319 And they were afraid. 00:15:00.959 --> 00:15:01.240 I mean, 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.879 if the pigs were wowed, 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:03.740 this is double wowed. 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:04.720 I mean, 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.459 it's one thing 00:15:05.459 --> 00:15:07.079 to see 2,000 swine 00:15:07.079 --> 00:15:08.039 shooting into the sea. 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.439 It's another thing 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.580 to see what used to be 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.340 a naked, 00:15:12.780 --> 00:15:13.280 insane, 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:13.800 raging, 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:14.880 demon-possessed man, 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.720 now sane, 00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:17.360 clothed, 00:15:17.880 --> 00:15:19.200 and peacefully sitting 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.260 at the feet of Jesus. 00:15:21.640 --> 00:15:24.280 What an amazing transformation. 00:15:25.280 --> 00:15:25.400 I mean, 00:15:25.420 --> 00:15:26.120 this is kind of like, 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:26.500 you know, 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.200 you meet someone 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:28.040 you used to know 00:15:28.040 --> 00:15:28.880 like years ago, 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:29.840 and then you meet them 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.060 and they're like 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:30.800 completely different. 00:15:31.280 --> 00:15:32.080 You ever had that experience? 00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.320 You get that feeling 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.280 of shock that comes over. 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:34.560 You're like, 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.380 are you the same person 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:36.820 like, 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:37.740 in grade school 00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.240 I used to know? 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:38.580 Okay. 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:40.720 That's what these people 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.320 were feeling. 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.059 Last they knew, 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.879 this crazy naked guy 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.200 was gashing himself 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:46.860 in the graveyard 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.860 and screaming like a maniac. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.840 And now, 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.039 here he is, 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.600 clothed, 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:54.039 calm, 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:55.899 clear-headed. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:57.840 I mean, 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.779 surely you would have 00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.139 to think 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.139 that this would have 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.960 inspired hope 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:02.879 for real change 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.159 and spiritual freedom 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.539 in that area. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:07.600 But look, 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:07.960 I mean, 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.740 this guy was healed. 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.720 He's free. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.480 But look what happens. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.460 Verse 16, 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:14.740 And those who had seen it 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.460 described to them 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:15.980 what had happened 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.000 to the demon-possessed man 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.639 to the pigs. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.000 Notice this. 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:20.379 And they began 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.320 to beg Jesus 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.379 to depart 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.820 from their region. 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.759 As he was getting 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.259 into the boat, 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.279 the man who had been 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.200 possessed by the demons 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.820 begged him 00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:29.659 that he might be 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:30.700 with him. 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.520 that people 00:16:32.520 --> 00:16:33.400 are completely 00:16:33.400 --> 00:16:34.940 spooked. 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:36.860 That people don't know 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.400 what to make 00:16:37.400 --> 00:16:38.660 of this Jesus character. 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:39.560 I mean, 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.220 is he some kind 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.100 of sorcerer? 00:16:42.060 --> 00:16:42.640 And what about 00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:43.879 those 2,000 pigs? 00:16:44.160 --> 00:16:44.280 I mean, 00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:45.280 that's a lot of money 00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:45.960 that just got hurled 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.879 into the sea. 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:49.060 Or maybe they were thinking, 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:49.240 you know, 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.120 if we couldn't control 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.460 the demon-possessed guy 00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.180 with all the chains 00:16:52.180 --> 00:16:53.300 broken in the tombs, 00:16:54.020 --> 00:16:54.700 we're definitely 00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:55.120 not going to be able 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.100 to control this Jesus 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.940 who just healed him. 00:16:58.540 --> 00:16:58.759 I mean, 00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.620 whatever they were thinking, 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.820 we don't know for sure. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.139 We do know this. 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:03.980 They begged Jesus 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.660 to leave. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.099 Get out of here, 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:06.400 Jesus. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:08.440 And yet, 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.940 the exact opposite 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.900 is true of the man 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:13.079 who had been possessed 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.680 by the demons. 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.759 In verse 18, 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:16.339 he begs Jesus 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:18.059 that he might be 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:18.640 with him. 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:20.059 Now, 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:20.859 think about this. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.200 Think about this. 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.400 Almost everyone else 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:24.119 in this passage, 00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:24.960 the demons, 00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.900 the people in the region, 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:27.780 are begging 00:17:27.780 --> 00:17:29.700 to be far from Jesus. 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:32.060 But this one man, 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.740 this former wretch, 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:34.820 is begging, 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:36.420 pleading 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.920 to be near Jesus. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.019 Jesus has just 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.820 saved his life. 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.500 Jesus had freed him. 00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.620 Why would he not 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.460 want to be with Jesus? 00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:48.820 And yet, 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:50.640 in one last 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.220 surprising turn of events, 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.380 Jesus says something 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.040 to this man 00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:55.240 that probably blew him away. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.960 He said no. 00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.539 What? 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.660 Why, Jesus? 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:00.859 I want to be with you. 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:01.900 No. 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.339 Jesus has a bigger plan. 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.259 Jesus says to the man, 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:06.940 verse 19, 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.779 he did not permit him 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:08.099 to go, 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:09.660 to permit him, 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.279 but said to him, 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.000 go home 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.519 to your friends 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.880 and tell them 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:15.099 how much the Lord 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.880 has done for you 00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.160 and how he has 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.279 had mercy on you. 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.680 And he went away 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.620 and began to proclaim 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.660 in the Decapolis 00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:23.140 how much Jesus 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:23.920 had done for him 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.079 and everyone 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:26.339 marveled. 00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.839 A miserable man 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:31.039 tortured and enslaved 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.339 by a legion of demons 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.899 is freed 00:18:33.899 --> 00:18:34.899 into being 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:36.359 a joyful proclaimer 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:39.099 of God's powerful mercy. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.839 What a powerful story 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.439 of healing, 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:44.139 of freedom 00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:45.179 from slavery. 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.179 But what are you 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:48.679 and I supposed 00:18:48.679 --> 00:18:49.259 to make of that? 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.159 What difference 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:52.639 should this true story 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:54.259 make in our lives? 00:18:55.020 --> 00:18:55.500 Well, I think 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.720 the compelling truth, 00:18:58.280 --> 00:18:59.600 the compelling truth 00:18:59.600 --> 00:19:00.980 of this passage 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:02.140 is simply this. 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.560 We are to find 00:19:04.560 --> 00:19:05.900 true freedom 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:07.820 in the powerful Jesus. 00:19:08.520 --> 00:19:09.420 This passage 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.180 is calling us 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.140 to find 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:13.020 true freedom 00:19:13.020 --> 00:19:15.040 in the powerful Jesus. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.019 If you want 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.059 to truly be free, 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:19.599 if you want 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.259 the shackles 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.480 broken in your life, 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.599 if you want 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.599 to be transformed, 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.220 you need, 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.579 I need, 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.639 a strong deliverer. 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.399 We need Jesus. 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.899 You need the power 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.639 and the mercy 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.379 of Jesus 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:36.159 to find true freedom. 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:38.019 That's what this passage 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.819 is telling us. 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.259 And yet, 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.339 in order to apply 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.019 that correctly, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.859 we need to think 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.740 very carefully 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.279 about what freedom 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.420 really is. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:48.339 See, 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:48.879 is freedom 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:50.160 just having the ability 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.579 to do whatever we want 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.700 as long as we don't 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.220 hurt anybody? 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.259 Is that the freedom 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.420 that Jesus gives us? 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.279 If we just come to him, 00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.599 we can spend our money 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.879 however we want. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.619 We can talk 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.379 however we want. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.579 We can do whatever we want 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.420 with our sexuality 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:06.500 as long as we don't 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:06.980 hurt anybody. 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:08.059 Is that the freedom 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.819 that Jesus provides? 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:10.960 And the answer 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.960 is no. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.139 Doing whatever you want 00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:14.799 as long as you don't 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.379 hurt anyone 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.240 is not true freedom. 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.660 Our culture might say it is, 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:18.920 but it's not. 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.799 According to the Bible, 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.680 that's not true freedom. 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:22.879 No, 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.799 true freedom 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.019 is shaped 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.160 by two things. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.259 By what Jesus 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:28.460 frees us from 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:30.059 and what Jesus 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:31.039 frees us to. 00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.259 True freedom 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.639 is shaped 00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:34.339 by what Jesus 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:35.319 frees us from 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:37.339 and by what Jesus 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.400 frees us to. 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.740 There's something 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.460 very specific 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.319 he frees us from 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.839 and there's something 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.720 very specific 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.059 he frees us to. 00:20:44.159 --> 00:20:44.659 And so I think 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.419 we need to see 00:20:45.419 --> 00:20:46.240 both sides 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.220 of this freedom coin 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:49.279 to get a clearer picture 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.200 of the true freedom 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:51.179 that Jesus 00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.359 powerfully provides. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.359 So first, 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.899 Jesus frees us 00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.539 from 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:57.139 the slavery 00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:58.179 of sin 00:20:58.179 --> 00:20:58.679 and Satan. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.720 Jesus frees us 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.179 from 00:21:01.179 --> 00:21:02.339 the slavery 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.220 of sin 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.659 and Satan. 00:21:04.159 --> 00:21:04.579 Clearly, 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.139 this demon-possessed man 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:06.720 is under 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.500 the destructive 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.259 sway 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.140 of Satan. 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.700 Satan knows 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.379 that this man 00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:12.420 and each one of us 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:12.980 are made 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.539 in the image 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:14.000 of God. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.660 And since 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:17.099 Satan hates God, 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.160 there is nothing 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.240 more that he enjoys 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.140 than destroying 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:21.279 those made 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:22.079 in the image 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:22.460 of God. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.240 Do you remember 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.400 that kid growing up 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:27.240 that always loved 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.119 to destroy 00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:29.000 other people's creations? 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:29.879 Maybe it was 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.559 your Lego set, 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.339 wham, 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.339 took it right out. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.680 Maybe you went 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.119 to the beach 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:34.519 and you're building 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.160 some beautiful 00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.759 sandcastle 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.500 and over they come 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:36.839 and they start 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.379 kicking away 00:21:37.380 --> 00:21:38.160 your sandcastle. 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:39.920 Well, 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.460 that's Satan. 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.260 That's what he loves 00:21:42.260 --> 00:21:43.140 to do with humanity. 00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:44.880 He gets pleasure 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:46.400 out of our misery. 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:48.000 He enjoys tempting, 00:21:48.300 --> 00:21:49.340 he enjoys accusing, 00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:50.720 he enjoys wreaking 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.220 havoc 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:53.020 with God's creation. 00:21:54.380 --> 00:21:54.580 Now, 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.560 knowing that about 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:56.140 Satan, 00:21:56.280 --> 00:21:56.920 would you want 00:21:56.920 --> 00:21:57.920 someone like that 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.240 to have a massive 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.920 influence 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.100 in your life? 00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:02.020 Well, 00:22:02.020 --> 00:22:02.140 no, 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.720 of course not. 00:22:04.040 --> 00:22:04.320 And yet, 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:05.100 that's exactly 00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:06.180 the kind of power 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:07.320 that Satan has 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:09.039 over the lives 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.079 of every single 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.939 person born 00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:11.859 into this world. 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.179 2 Corinthians 4, 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.319 4 says that Satan 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:16.240 has blinded 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.859 the minds 00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:17.659 of unbelievers 00:22:17.659 --> 00:22:18.779 to keep them 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.379 from seeing 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:19.859 the light 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.599 of the gospel. 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.419 And Ephesians 2 00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:22.980 says that 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.299 all of us 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:24.879 by nature 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.939 follow Satan, 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.700 the prince 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.259 of the power 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.839 of the air, 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.339 and are sons 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.220 of disobedience, 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.579 naturally children 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.399 of wrath. 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.559 So think about 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.099 your relatives. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:36.599 Think about 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.219 your neighbors, 00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.779 your co-workers, 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.679 your friends. 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.500 All of them. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.879 If they have not 00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.939 been set free, 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:46.059 are in the death 00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.139 grip of Satan. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.619 Their slavery, 00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:49.919 and perhaps 00:22:49.919 --> 00:22:50.819 your slavery, 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.819 may not look like 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:53.599 this man's 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.319 in this passage, 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.980 but it's no less 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.599 slavery to a cruel 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:59.299 master who is bent 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.159 on our utter 00:23:00.159 --> 00:23:01.079 destruction. 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:03.279 But here's the 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.119 really sad thing. 00:23:04.879 --> 00:23:05.779 Satan doesn't have 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.599 to work that hard. 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.220 Why is that? 00:23:09.179 --> 00:23:10.099 Because each of us 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.799 gladly put the shackles 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.839 on ourselves. 00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.379 From the moment 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.039 we are born, 00:23:15.179 --> 00:23:15.779 we love, 00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.659 we look to sin. 00:23:18.439 --> 00:23:19.299 Romans 3, 10 00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:19.980 through 12 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.460 says this, 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.460 None is righteous, 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.240 no, not one. 00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.659 No one understands. 00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:24.919 No one seeks 00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.699 after God. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.500 All have turned aside. 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.599 Together they have 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:29.240 become worthless. 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.419 No one does good, 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.480 not even one. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.539 We don't need to 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.220 teach our children 00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.920 to disobey. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.640 I'm learning that. 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.560 We don't have to 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:40.180 figure out how 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.800 to be greedy. 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.500 You don't have to 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.120 have a tutor 00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.019 to know how to lust. 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:46.060 It all comes 00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:46.779 so naturally. 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.539 Because we are 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:50.039 native-born slaves 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.640 to sin. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.200 Jesus said in 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.060 John 8, 34, 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:53.840 Everyone who 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.860 practices sin 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.180 is a slave to sin. 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:57.860 That's us. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:23:59.120 On our own, 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.360 that's us. 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.039 Every single 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:02.360 one of us. 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.200 So do you see, 00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:04.800 each of us 00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:05.680 need to be freed 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.740 from something. 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:08.340 We need to be 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.000 freed from the 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.380 slavery of sin 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.180 and Satan 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:12.380 in our lives. 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.320 And all of the 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:13.940 consequences 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.160 that come from that. 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:15.800 Guilt, 00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.060 shame, 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.740 broken relationships, 00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:20.039 despair, 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.240 death itself, 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.320 the list goes on. 00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.120 We need true 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.519 freedom. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.039 And that's 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.779 exactly, 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:28.420 exactly, 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.500 exactly, 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.700 what Jesus 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.339 provides. 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.920 Jesus comes 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.660 to free us. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:34.180 He comes to do 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.139 what we cannot do. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.619 He came to break 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.759 the grip of Satan 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:38.700 on our lives. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.240 And just like this 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.519 man, 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:41.399 Jesus comes to 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.200 make us whole, 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.200 to put us in 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.279 our right minds, 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.279 to bring us 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.279 near to God. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:48.359 And he does that. 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.180 Think about this. 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.839 He does that 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.799 despite great 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.619 cost. 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.819 Here, 00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.559 in this passage, 00:24:53.719 --> 00:24:54.599 Jesus crosses 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:56.379 a stormy sea 00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:57.839 to go to a region 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.479 where he's not 00:24:58.479 --> 00:24:59.759 welcome to free 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.319 a man whom 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.959 everybody had 00:25:00.959 --> 00:25:01.799 probably given up 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.079 on. 00:25:03.199 --> 00:25:03.679 And if that 00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:05.179 costs 2,000 pigs, 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:06.459 Jesus is willing 00:25:06.459 --> 00:25:07.059 to make the 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.539 sacrifice. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.459 He's willing 00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:10.219 to go to great 00:25:10.219 --> 00:25:11.059 lengths to free 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:12.419 even one person 00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:13.699 from their bondage 00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:14.759 to sin and Satan. 00:25:15.239 --> 00:25:15.719 He's willing 00:25:15.719 --> 00:25:16.479 to go to great 00:25:16.479 --> 00:25:17.899 lengths to heal 00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:19.059 a broken soul. 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.019 And the ultimate 00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.139 display of this 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:23.559 is seen in his 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.220 willingness to go 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:24.839 all the way to the 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.220 cross. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.299 Jesus was willing 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.259 to pay the ultimate 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.220 price to set us 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:29.400 free. 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.400 He was willing 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.420 to be forsaken 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.220 by the Father. 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.799 He was willing 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.539 to be tortured 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.559 in our place. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.079 He was willing 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.720 to overcome 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.599 death itself 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.859 for you and me. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.900 So when Jesus 00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.960 says in John 8, 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.420 36, 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.480 so if the Son 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.319 sets you free, 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.639 you will be free 00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.019 indeed. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.420 He means it. 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.079 He's done 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:51.000 everything to make 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.220 our true freedom 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.319 from sin 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.220 and Satan 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.980 possible. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.160 So the question 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.900 is this morning, 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.119 have you 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:01.920 personally come 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.480 to Jesus 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.220 to find freedom? 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:06.000 Let me encourage 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.500 you today 00:26:06.500 --> 00:26:07.619 to pause 00:26:07.619 --> 00:26:08.359 and take a 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:09.259 hard look 00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.720 in the mirror 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:11.819 and to see 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.440 the insanity 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.099 of your sin. 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:15.359 It promises freedom. 00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.299 It always does. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.039 But as we all know, 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.079 it enslaves us. 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:21.199 It only leads 00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:21.839 to misery 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:23.099 in the long run. 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.899 If not in this life, 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.859 then in the eternity 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:26.879 apart from God. 00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:28.319 There is no freedom 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.859 in sin. 00:26:29.679 --> 00:26:30.939 There is only freedom 00:26:30.939 --> 00:26:31.439 in Jesus. 00:26:32.939 --> 00:26:33.839 And so now, 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.779 friends, 00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:36.460 now is the time 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.899 to turn from your sin 00:26:37.899 --> 00:26:38.980 and turn to Jesus 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:41.119 who can free you. 00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:42.539 Now is the time 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.939 to fall at His feet. 00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.839 Now is the time 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:47.199 to receive His mercy. 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.879 Have you done that? 00:26:51.439 --> 00:26:52.699 Jesus stands ready 00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:53.419 to free 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:54.480 all those 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.319 who come to Him. 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.459 If you are hearing 00:26:57.459 --> 00:26:58.659 His call this morning, 00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:00.379 come to Jesus. 00:27:01.419 --> 00:27:02.459 He can free you. 00:27:05.079 --> 00:27:06.039 But if you have 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.799 trusted in Jesus, 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.959 if you have come to Jesus, 00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.899 let me encourage you 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:10.079 this morning as well 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.639 to consider this 00:27:11.639 --> 00:27:13.179 piece of beautiful news. 00:27:13.180 --> 00:27:14.580 guess what? 00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:16.200 You have been set free. 00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.779 You're free. 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.840 You're no longer 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.380 a Christian, 00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.560 a slave 00:27:20.560 --> 00:27:21.620 to sin 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:22.640 or Satan. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.600 You are a child 00:27:24.600 --> 00:27:25.700 of the Most High God. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.340 And that means 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:28.460 you do not have to sin. 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.519 You don't have to believe 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.480 Satan's lies anymore. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.060 You don't have to live 00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:33.779 in isolation, 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:35.200 struggling by yourself. 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.500 You are a new person 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.180 in Christ. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.440 The all-powerful God 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:40.920 of the universe 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:42.500 is at work in you. 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.039 And every day 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.180 He wants you to live 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.759 into the freedom 00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:46.600 you already have 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.060 in Christ. 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:49.440 1 Peter 2.16 says, 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.519 Live as people 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.360 who are free. 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:53.900 Not using your freedom 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:55.019 as a cover-up for evil, 00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:56.480 but living as servants 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:57.060 of God. 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:58.940 Live as people 00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.640 who are free. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.259 Believer, 00:28:01.340 --> 00:28:02.299 that is what you are now. 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.880 You are free. 00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:06.039 A servant of God 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.759 and nothing 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:08.480 can change that. 00:28:10.080 --> 00:28:11.140 Now this doesn't mean, 00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.440 believer, 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.759 that we aren't 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.259 going to struggle 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.700 with sin. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.240 It doesn't mean 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.620 that there aren't 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.500 going to be consequences 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.160 that we might have 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:17.840 to face for some 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.279 of the sins 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:19.019 that we have committed. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.620 It doesn't mean 00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.200 that we won't have 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:22.259 to face the effects 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.279 of living in a world 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.620 that is in bondage 00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:25.160 to corruption. 00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.900 Our minds are likely 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.420 going to wither. 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:29.279 Our bodies will fall apart. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.740 Sadly, 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:31.440 we will die. 00:28:32.600 --> 00:28:32.900 And yet, 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:33.620 as believers, 00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:35.920 we are truly free. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:38.080 An article reminded me 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.440 this week 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.300 that we have to remember 00:28:39.300 --> 00:28:40.200 the three Ps. 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.180 What are those? 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.300 Penalty, 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.039 power, 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.640 and presence. 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.560 In Christ, 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.820 we have been set free 00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.920 from the penalty 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:48.800 of our sin. 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:49.800 Done away with. 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:51.720 In Christ, 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:54.180 we are being set free 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.279 from the power 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.039 of sin. 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.380 Going on right now. 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.980 And one day, 00:28:59.080 --> 00:28:59.660 in Christ, 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:01.120 we will be set free 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.820 from the presence 00:29:01.820 --> 00:29:02.240 of sin. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:04.480 Penalty, 00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.140 power, 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.759 and presence. 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.339 We've been set free 00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.940 from the penalty. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.000 We are being set free 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.839 from the power 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.759 of sin in our lives. 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.859 And one day, 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:14.620 one glorious day, 00:29:15.120 --> 00:29:15.900 we're going to be set free 00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:16.420 from the presence 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:16.880 of sin. 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.779 Forever. 00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:18.839 See, 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.420 that's the kind 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.319 of true freedom 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:21.700 that Jesus provides 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.460 to all those 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.160 who come to Him. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.559 So believer, 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.839 keep coming to Jesus. 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.859 Come to Him daily 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.759 for the deliverance 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.200 from sin 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.259 that you still struggle with. 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.220 He does not grow weary 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.599 of you. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.220 He loves you. 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:36.859 Come to Him 00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:37.599 for strength 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.319 and perspective 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.160 in your marriage 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:40.180 and your parenting. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.180 Come to Him 00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.839 for the power 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.579 to persevere 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:43.660 through every trial 00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:45.420 and every suffering 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:46.259 you will face. 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:48.200 Because in Him 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.599 lies your hope. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.240 And in Him 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.599 lies your freedom. 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.519 So come to Jesus. 00:29:56.900 --> 00:29:57.839 There's one more thing 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.420 we need to see here 00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:59.180 before we close. 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:01.259 Jesus not only frees us 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:02.400 from something, 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.619 He also frees us 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.140 to something. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:07.079 Jesus frees us 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.819 to join God's mission 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.299 of mercy. 00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:12.259 Jesus frees us 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:14.660 to join God's mission 00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.339 of mercy. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.700 Did you notice 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.779 what happened to the man 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.660 after he was freed 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.240 from the demons? 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:22.379 Almost instantly 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.740 as Jesus begins to leave, 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.079 the man wants to be 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.660 with Jesus. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:27.299 He wants to go 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:27.900 with Jesus. 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.819 And it's not surprising. 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.019 I mean, he realizes 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.919 that his life 00:30:31.919 --> 00:30:33.059 is not his own. 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.960 He didn't free himself. 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.439 Jesus freed him. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.599 And so out of gratitude 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.139 and love, 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:40.159 he now wants to be 00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:40.819 with the one 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.799 who freed him. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.419 It's not a burden 00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:44.339 to be with Jesus. 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.859 It's a joy. 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.279 It's a privilege. 00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.960 And that should be 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:49.899 the heart's desire 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:51.079 of all those 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.919 who have been 00:30:51.919 --> 00:30:52.720 freed by Jesus. 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:54.200 We want to be with Him. 00:30:54.819 --> 00:30:56.159 We want to join Him 00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:57.200 in what He is doing. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:59.640 Yet this doesn't have 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:01.120 to be as complicated 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:02.539 as we sometimes make it. 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.220 Jesus is simply 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.840 telling this man, 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.519 go home 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:07.259 and tell your relatives 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.340 and tell your friends 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:09.240 about what God 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:09.980 has done for you. 00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:11.279 Tell them about 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.500 how enslaved you were. 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:13.480 Tell them about 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.660 how hopeless you were. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.960 And then tell them 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:17.640 how God reached down 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.840 and showed you mercy. 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.600 Tell them about 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.319 how He gave you 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.080 true freedom 00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:22.860 for your soul. 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:25.639 And do you know what? 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.219 Each of us, 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.019 each of us, 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.319 we know Christ, 00:31:29.419 --> 00:31:31.199 have the same exact call. 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:33.240 In His sovereign plan, 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.359 God has given us, 00:31:34.659 --> 00:31:35.219 each of us, 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.519 a unique network 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.579 of relationships 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.699 that other people 00:31:38.699 --> 00:31:39.199 don't have. 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.319 We have particular children. 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.879 We have particular 00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.479 classmates. 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.879 We have particular 00:31:44.879 --> 00:31:45.519 co-workers. 00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.759 We have particular 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:47.199 neighbors. 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:48.799 Think of their names. 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:51.960 It's not a mistake 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.419 that you are 00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:53.220 in their lives. 00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:55.200 No, it's a unique 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:55.839 opportunity. 00:31:56.159 --> 00:31:57.139 Those are the people 00:31:57.139 --> 00:31:58.339 that God wants you 00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:59.279 to go and tell 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:00.079 about His mercy. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.240 So have you been 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.539 set free, believer? 00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:05.619 Have you tasted 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.480 of God's mercy 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.119 in Christ? 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:09.180 Have you been clothed 00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.220 in the white robes 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.960 of His righteousness? 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.579 Do you know 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:13.579 of God's immense 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.460 love for you 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.059 in Christ? 00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:16.339 If so, 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:17.460 then you have 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.460 so much to share. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.480 You have had 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.460 the mercy of God 00:32:21.460 --> 00:32:22.740 poured out on your life 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:23.839 and others need 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.740 to hear about that. 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.599 Others need to hear 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.440 about the mercy 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.480 that God, 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:29.319 that Jesus, 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:31.099 can show to them. 00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:32.899 And so maybe 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:33.500 that will happen 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.879 this week 00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.319 when you are 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.980 taking out the trash 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.659 and you talk 00:32:36.659 --> 00:32:37.139 to a neighbor. 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:38.440 Maybe when you're 00:32:38.440 --> 00:32:39.259 putting your child 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.139 to sleep at night. 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:41.779 Or at the lunch table 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.579 with some classmates 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.619 or at a local Starbucks 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.180 with a friend. 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.299 Maybe there's someone 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:47.240 you've known for a while 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.879 that you simply 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.559 want to invite 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:48.839 to, hey, 00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.419 let's just read 00:32:49.419 --> 00:32:50.139 the Gospel of Mark 00:32:50.139 --> 00:32:51.079 one chapter at a time. 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.639 Just see what Jesus 00:32:52.639 --> 00:32:53.179 is all about. 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:54.839 I don't know 00:32:54.839 --> 00:32:55.559 what it looks like 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:55.919 for you, 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.399 but may God 00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:58.480 help each of us 00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:59.339 who have been freed 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:01.119 to tell others 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.059 where they can find 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:03.000 true freedom. 00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.759 And that's only 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:06.379 in the powerful Jesus. 00:33:07.159 --> 00:33:07.559 Let's pray. 00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:14.659 Lord, we thank you 00:33:14.659 --> 00:33:15.759 so much for your word. 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.500 We pray that you 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.399 would now plant it 00:33:17.399 --> 00:33:18.579 deep within us. 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.079 And we pray that you 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.579 would produce much fruit 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:23.259 for your glory 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.559 and for the good 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.700 of those around us. 00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:26.940 And for the good 00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.759 of our own lives, 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.119 God. 00:33:28.679 --> 00:33:29.319 We thank you 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.960 for the freedom 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.000 that you give us 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:31.519 in Christ. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.539 Help us to live 00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:33.899 in that this week. 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.419 I pray in Jesus' name. 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.279 Amen. 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.399 Amen. 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.559 Amen.