WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Well, good evening. 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:06.040 We're looking tonight at Mark chapter 5. 00:00:06.520 --> 00:00:13.060 So if you want to turn there in a Bible, it's page 840, if you're looking in one of the 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:14.099 Bibles in the pews. 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:25.019 Mark chapter 5, we're looking at verses 1 through 20. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.619 So let me read this for us tonight. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:42.240 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:48.340 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:50.539 a man with an unclean spirit. 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:53.359 He lived among the tombs. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:58.100 And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:02.140 For he had often been bound with shackles and chains. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.460 But he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. 00:01:06.099 --> 00:01:08.379 No one had the strength to subdue him. 00:01:08.960 --> 00:01:16.280 Night and day, among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:16.960 with stones. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:21.700 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:23.819 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:27.979 What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the most high God? 00:01:28.339 --> 00:01:31.500 I adjure you by God, do not torment me. 00:01:32.139 --> 00:01:35.859 For he was saying to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit. 00:01:36.399 --> 00:01:38.639 And Jesus asked him, What is your name? 00:01:39.379 --> 00:01:43.259 He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many. 00:01:43.979 --> 00:01:47.199 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 00:01:47.839 --> 00:01:51.019 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:55.099 And they begged him, saying, Send us to the pigs, let us enter them. 00:01:55.759 --> 00:01:56.920 So he gave them permission. 00:01:57.759 --> 00:02:00.719 And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:07.479 And the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:12.460 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. 00:02:12.979 --> 00:02:15.859 And people came to see what it was that had happened. 00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:26.660 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the Legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind. 00:02:27.140 --> 00:02:28.180 And they were afraid. 00:02:29.200 --> 00:02:34.160 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:38.780 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:45.099 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:57.560 And he did not permit him, but said to him, Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you. 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:02.740 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. 00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:05.219 And everyone marveled. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:11.340 Several years ago, I was leading two Bible study groups going through the Gospel of Mark. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:15.939 And when we came to this passage, the two groups had nearly opposite reactions. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:20.099 The first group was a group of Yale undergraduate students. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.020 And for the most part, most of the Yalies were turned off by this story. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:27.960 They said, This story is really weird. 00:03:28.880 --> 00:03:29.980 I can't relate to it. 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:30.880 I mean, demons? 00:03:31.380 --> 00:03:38.260 Do you really have to believe that evil spirits exist and possess people? 00:03:38.820 --> 00:03:40.140 And what about the pigs? 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.240 I mean, the slaughter of innocent animals. 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:47.240 And it's for no apparent reason. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.060 Why does Jesus allow that? 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:57.500 But they were turned off by this story. 00:03:57.920 --> 00:04:03.860 Now, the second group, the second Bible study group, was a group of mostly recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:06.479 And their reaction was the total opposite. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:11.039 They were immediately drawn to the Jesus described in this story. 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:20.539 They said, I can totally relate to that man's experience being a slave to a self-destructive pattern that spirals totally out of control. 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:23.659 And you know you're destroying yourself, but you just can't stop. 00:04:23.740 --> 00:04:26.639 And nobody else, no matter how hard they try, can stop you either. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:34.180 And they were drawn in to this Jesus who is powerful to rescue even the most tormented soul. 00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:39.079 So I wonder, what's your initial reaction to this story? 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:41.759 Are you turned off or are you drawn in? 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:47.139 Now, interestingly, we see these two reactions at the end of the story itself. 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:52.399 We see the townspeople who are turned off by Jesus. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:58.660 They beg him to depart and leave their region. 00:04:58.660 --> 00:05:01.700 Now, it says they were afraid of him. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:08.439 Well, they're afraid of Jesus because he's stronger than this man whom no one could contain. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:12.980 Whom no one could ever chain down and control. 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:15.960 And Jesus is even stronger than him. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:20.120 But they're also afraid because they've lost 2,000 pigs all in one day. 00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:22.560 Their local economy is shot. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:26.540 And they're afraid what might come next. 00:05:26.540 --> 00:05:28.780 And so they ask Jesus to leave. 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:30.180 And he goes. 00:05:31.340 --> 00:05:33.240 But we also see the man who had been healed. 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:36.040 And he's totally drawn to Jesus. 00:05:36.520 --> 00:05:41.040 He begs that he might be with Jesus and go with him. 00:05:41.820 --> 00:05:42.840 And Jesus says, no. 00:05:44.520 --> 00:05:45.640 He says, go home. 00:05:46.640 --> 00:05:51.320 Tell your friends how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you. 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:58.519 And then verse 20 says he went around not just to his friends, not just to his family, but to the Decapolis. 00:05:58.899 --> 00:06:00.599 That word means 10 cities. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:04.719 It was the whole region of 10 cities and the surrounding countryside. 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:12.320 And he becomes the first missionary preacher sent out by Jesus to the Gentiles. 00:06:13.520 --> 00:06:15.440 Commissioned directly by Jesus himself. 00:06:15.520 --> 00:06:24.100 A man who had spent probably years of his life cutting himself and living in a graveyard as a tormented soul. 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:34.100 Now the point of this story is that Jesus is the Lord who can rescue and redeem and restore even the most tormented soul. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:37.420 And the man totally gets it. 00:06:38.580 --> 00:06:41.580 See, Jesus says, go tell what the Lord has done for you. 00:06:41.900 --> 00:06:45.580 And then it says he began to tell what Jesus had done for him. 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:47.360 He gets the point. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:54.000 Jesus is the Lord who has authority over all the forces of evil. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:56.300 That's the point of the story. 00:06:56.840 --> 00:07:02.060 Now if you were here last week, we saw the disciples in the boat crossing the lake. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.540 Facing a raging storm at sea. 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:06.840 Like nothing they had ever seen. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:08.740 Totally out of their control. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.520 Threatening to capsize the boat and drown them all. 00:07:12.220 --> 00:07:15.020 And Jesus with a word calms the storm. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:20.400 And tonight, we see this man with a raging storm inside his soul. 00:07:21.400 --> 00:07:22.439 Totally out of control. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:24.139 Tearing him apart. 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:26.839 And threatening to utterly destroy him. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:31.800 And Jesus by his word brings peace to this man. 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:34.819 He's the Lord over the storm. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:39.459 He's the Lord over whether it's the storm on the lake or the storm in the man's soul. 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:45.579 Jesus has authority over all the forces of chaos and evil. 00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:49.620 Now Jesus' authority is both attractive and scary. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:52.599 So tonight I want to look at these two themes. 00:07:53.719 --> 00:07:56.159 First, why is Jesus' authority scary? 00:07:57.579 --> 00:08:01.680 And the answer is, Jesus' authority has no boundaries. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:04.620 Now notice this. 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:09.860 First, Jesus goes to a place where his disciples would never choose to go. 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:11.840 And he brings them along. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:16.040 Verse 1 says, they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:20.199 Now this was a region that every good Jewish person would avoid. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:23.500 Because it was full of Gentiles and foreigners. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:26.699 It was, in other words, it was the wrong side of the tracks. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:31.139 It was the bad neighborhood that you don't go through. 00:08:31.479 --> 00:08:34.100 And you certainly don't cross the lake to spend time there. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:36.980 Because they raised pigs. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:38.980 Thousands of pigs. 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:41.019 Now pigs were unclean. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:46.039 They were disgusting and offensive in the eyes of the Jewish people. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.379 Pigs represented the Roman occupying army. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:51.779 That's probably why they were raising so many pigs. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:55.039 To feed the army of the Romans. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.500 Romans who were occupying their land. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:08:58.719 And oppressing them. 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:04.939 And when Jesus steps off the boat, he's greeted by this man who's lived in the tombs. 00:09:05.599 --> 00:09:07.379 Who has an unclean spirit. 00:09:08.059 --> 00:09:12.259 Now the tombs were also off limits for faithful Jews. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.860 Because touching a dead body. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.439 Or touching someone, coming in contact with someone who had touched dead bodies. 00:09:19.719 --> 00:09:21.980 Would make you unclean for seven days. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:23.399 And then you had to go through a whole ritual. 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:27.460 To be restored to a place where you could enter the temple. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.620 And have fellowship with God. 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.500 And be in community with other people. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:33.080 So if you were one of the disciples. 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.440 Traveling with Jesus in the boat. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:35.860 You would be asking the question. 00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:40.120 Why in the world is Jesus taking us here? 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.080 It's like if you were the personal assistant. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:44.940 To the head of the United Nations. 00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.200 And accompanying him on his visit to New Haven. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:51.740 And he said tonight we're going to sleep outdoors. 00:09:52.020 --> 00:09:53.140 In the rain. 00:09:53.420 --> 00:09:54.220 On a bench. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.800 In the middle of the worst housing project in New Haven. 00:09:58.020 --> 00:10:00.040 Where someone was shot last week. 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:03.640 And that's where I'm going to give my speech about world peace. 00:10:05.640 --> 00:10:06.460 You think. 00:10:07.340 --> 00:10:09.100 What in the world is this guy doing? 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:10.580 No. 00:10:10.680 --> 00:10:11.700 You should speak at Yale. 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:14.320 That's where visiting dignitaries go and speak. 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:16.180 You should stay at the Omni Hotel. 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:18.059 Or the study. 00:10:18.839 --> 00:10:19.679 Take your pick. 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:23.519 You don't go there. 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:28.159 But Jesus doesn't conform to his disciples' expectations. 00:10:28.899 --> 00:10:32.359 And Jesus doesn't conform to the tormented man's expectations either. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:36.379 Jesus' arrival is unexpected and threatening to him. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.519 Now initially he seems attracted to Jesus. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:41.659 He runs to Jesus and falls down before him. 00:10:41.699 --> 00:10:43.199 It's almost like he's worshiping him. 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:45.639 But then he's resistant. 00:10:46.179 --> 00:10:47.299 And he's hostile. 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:49.039 Because Jesus is coming on his turf. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.459 And claiming authority. 00:10:51.579 --> 00:10:52.679 So he cries out. 00:10:52.739 --> 00:10:52.979 He says. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:54.419 What have you to do with me? 00:10:54.719 --> 00:10:55.359 In other words. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.859 Why are you messing with me? 00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.459 He says. 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.799 I adjure you by God. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:01.139 That's. 00:11:02.239 --> 00:11:03.139 As if he's saying. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.699 I bind you under oath. 00:11:05.359 --> 00:11:06.399 Don't torment me. 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.779 He's sort of using all the persuasive. 00:11:08.959 --> 00:11:10.120 And manipulative power. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:11.659 That he can grab onto. 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:14.339 To try to resist. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.679 Jesus' advances. 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:17.620 And he's frightened. 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:20.579 Because no one else has ever approached him. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:21.839 In this kind of way. 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:24.500 And he realizes he can't hide from Jesus. 00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:26.299 He's in the most desolate. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.839 And forsaken place in the world. 00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:30.240 And Jesus. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:31.360 Comes. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:32.939 And finds him there. 00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:35.059 The least. 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.980 The place you would least expect. 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:38.500 To meet God. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:40.500 And Jesus shows up. 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:42.159 You see. 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.139 Jesus doesn't stay. 00:11:43.340 --> 00:11:45.259 Within anyone's expected boundaries. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.779 Not within the disciples. 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:47.620 Expected boundaries. 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:49.360 Not within this man's expected boundaries. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.100 He goes where no one expects him to go. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.539 He does what no one expects him to do. 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.139 And then. 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.500 He permits the demons. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.559 To destroy 2,000 pigs. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.100 By drowning them in the lake. 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:01.340 Now I know. 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:02.759 Usually pigs can swim. 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:04.899 This is the whole point. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:06.460 Demons make. 00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:08.419 Them do things that are unnatural. 00:12:08.500 --> 00:12:09.679 And self-destructive. 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:10.960 Just like this man. 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:14.580 Right. 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:14.919 No one. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:15.820 But no one expected. 00:12:16.779 --> 00:12:18.500 The pigs to be destroyed either. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.580 So you might ask. 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:20.879 Okay. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:21.139 Well. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.639 What's. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.559 Why the pigs? 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:25.220 Why destroy all these pigs? 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:25.580 Okay. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:26.639 Let me give you two reasons. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:27.840 First. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.159 To show the magnitude. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.279 Of what Jesus has delivered this man from. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:34.740 Now think about it. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:35.840 Who would have believed. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:38.100 That this man was really. 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:39.580 Taken over. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:41.480 By a whole army. 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.519 A whole legion. 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:44.399 2,000 demons. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:47.680 If 2,000 pigs hadn't run off the. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:49.540 Edge of the lake. 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:50.720 And drowned in the water. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:52.800 Right. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.560 People could have said. 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:54.060 Well. 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.220 Okay. 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:57.279 Maybe he was possessed by one or two demons. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:57.779 Well. 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.700 I guess we couldn't deal with it. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:12:59.899 But. 00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:00.800 You know. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.320 There's people. 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.879 There's other exorcists out there. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:03.759 I mean. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:05.000 You can watch movies about. 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:07.000 And even maybe documentaries. 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.600 About exorcisms that have happened. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:08.879 And. 00:13:09.040 --> 00:13:10.519 Other people have done that too. 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.460 Or maybe the guy was just crazy. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.660 And not really demon possessed. 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:16.059 But. 00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:17.819 If you saw all the pigs. 00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:18.899 Drowned in the sea. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:21.240 You couldn't say those things. 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.199 You'd realize. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.079 How. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:26.159 The great magnitude. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.219 Of the deliverance. 00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:27.879 That Jesus had. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.079 Had. 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.019 Had done. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:31.500 No one could debate it. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:33.559 No one debates that in the story. 00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:35.120 Now some of you. 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.699 Some of you might be wondering. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.600 Well what about demons? 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:37.980 What. 00:13:38.059 --> 00:13:38.319 I mean. 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:40.360 It's not what I usually think about. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.100 Or talk about. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.399 Like. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:42.240 Sounds. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:44.079 This still sounds a little weird to me. 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:46.840 So let me give a brief answer to that. 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:47.960 So according to the Bible. 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:50.620 There are a whole range of afflictions. 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.379 That human beings experience. 00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:53.740 Physical. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:55.639 Emotional. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:56.980 Social. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.280 Political. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.379 Mental. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.400 Spiritual. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.840 Now many times these are combined. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.840 But it's wrong. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.800 According to the Bible. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.240 It is wrong to assume. 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:09.720 That for example. 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:11.660 A mental or emotional disturbance. 00:14:12.300 --> 00:14:13.759 Or a strong temptation. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:16.080 Is always caused by demons. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:18.060 The Bible does not teach that. 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.759 The Bible makes a distinction. 00:14:20.620 --> 00:14:21.720 On the other hand. 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.700 I would say. 00:14:22.780 --> 00:14:24.379 It's also naive to believe. 00:14:25.160 --> 00:14:25.480 That. 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:27.740 There's no way demons can exist at all. 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:28.360 Simply because. 00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:29.020 I've never. 00:14:29.660 --> 00:14:30.020 Visibly. 00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.520 Seen evidence of them. 00:14:32.520 --> 00:14:33.940 There's a lot more things in the world. 00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:34.180 Than. 00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:35.920 You and I have experienced. 00:14:35.920 --> 00:14:37.180 In our individual experience. 00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:39.860 Now the Bible acknowledges. 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:41.280 That there are forces in the world. 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.600 That seek to oppress. 00:14:42.740 --> 00:14:44.059 And dehumanize people. 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.679 And some of those forces. 00:14:45.679 --> 00:14:46.379 Are political. 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.879 Some are economic. 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.539 Or social. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:50.539 But the Bible also says. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:52.399 There are spiritual forces. 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.659 Intent on destroying. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.120 And distorting. 00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.399 The image of God. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.579 In human beings. 00:14:58.579 --> 00:14:59.959 That God created us. 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:00.659 To bear. 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.500 And that's sort of the broader world view. 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:04.059 Behind. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:05.079 This story. 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.279 But let me encourage you. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.759 Don't get hung up. 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.500 On this question. 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.139 Of demons. 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:10.939 And evil spirits. 00:15:11.059 --> 00:15:11.239 That's. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.539 The point of the story. 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.159 Is not. 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.119 To teach us. 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:15.879 How demons behave. 00:15:15.979 --> 00:15:17.179 Or don't behave. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.419 The point is. 00:15:18.459 --> 00:15:19.459 That Jesus has authority. 00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:20.879 Over all forms of evil. 00:15:21.699 --> 00:15:22.500 The pigs are simply. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.439 One piece of evidence. 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.119 Of that. 00:15:25.219 --> 00:15:26.359 So that's the first reason. 00:15:26.359 --> 00:15:26.919 The pigs matter. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.719 To show the magnitude. 00:15:27.719 --> 00:15:28.500 Of the deliverance. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.559 The second reason. 00:15:29.739 --> 00:15:30.419 Is that they force. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:31.339 The townspeople. 00:15:31.719 --> 00:15:32.279 To clarify. 00:15:32.479 --> 00:15:33.139 Their priorities. 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.759 In other words. 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:36.179 What matters more to you? 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:38.120 Two thousand pigs. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.620 Or one. 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:41.600 Tormented man. 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.100 Who's now healed. 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:44.019 And restored. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.740 And what's their answer? 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.139 This is probably the saddest part. 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:49.639 Of the story. 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.620 Their answer is. 00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:52.620 It's the pigs. 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.360 That's really why they asked Jesus. 00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:55.939 To leave. 00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:57.419 Right. 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.100 Verse 16. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:15:58.939 Those who had seen it. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.779 Described what had happened. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.860 To the demon possessed man. 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:01.759 And. 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.819 To the pigs. 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:05.139 And they began to beg Jesus. 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.639 To leave. 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.000 Their actions. 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.899 They don't say it directly. 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.939 But their actions show. 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:13.340 They cared more about the pigs. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.299 Than about the man. 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.539 So we see that Jesus authority. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.000 Knows no boundaries. 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.819 And that's why it scares them. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.919 And I think honestly. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.039 If we really. 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.100 Grapple with. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.699 The nature of Jesus authority. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.259 We might be scared too. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.919 Because it means that Jesus. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.340 Leads his disciples. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:33.799 Into intimidating situations. 00:16:34.319 --> 00:16:36.019 Into messy places. 00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.519 Into bad neighborhoods. 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.419 Into spiritual and physical prisons. 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.659 And graveyards. 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:44.259 Places that we would never choose to go otherwise. 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.720 All for the sake. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.799 Of redeeming. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:47.779 And restoring. 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.000 Lost. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.679 People. 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.299 Verse 21 says. 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.019 After Jesus. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.860 Healed this one man. 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:56.519 He went. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.120 Right back across the lake. 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:00.519 He led his disciples. 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.980 All the way across the lake. 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.519 Through a raging storm at sea. 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.339 All for the sake of this one. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.019 Man. 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.819 A man who nobody else. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.519 Cared for. 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:11.119 And everybody else. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.960 Had totally given up on. 00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:16.279 Jesus cares more. 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.259 About the restoration. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.500 Of one. 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.059 Tormented soul. 00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:22.200 Than he does about. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.359 The economy. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.359 Of downtown New Haven. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.579 And all the great restaurants. 00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:30.000 That many of us enjoy. 00:17:31.259 --> 00:17:32.079 And appreciate. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.139 In fact. 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:36.519 He cares more about. 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.099 The restoration of one soul. 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:38.779 Than the balance. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:40.019 In my bank account. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.500 Or your bank account. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.039 And Jesus is willing. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.879 To empty out. 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.720 My bank account. 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.799 Or yours. 00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.000 For the sake. 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:49.460 Of redeeming. 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.059 And restoring. 00:17:50.379 --> 00:17:51.779 One lost soul. 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:52.879 Without asking. 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.039 My permission. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.119 Or yours. 00:17:56.899 --> 00:17:57.779 That's scary. 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.579 If we take this seriously. 00:18:01.899 --> 00:18:03.059 That Jesus authority. 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.079 Knows no bounds. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.220 But at the very same time. 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:09.059 This story shows us. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.900 That Jesus authority. 00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.039 Is. 00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.940 Irresistibly attractive. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.660 Now imagine for a moment. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.380 That you are this man. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.539 Who's living in the tombs. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.759 Once. 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.980 You had a family. 00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.400 And a home. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.000 Now. 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.519 You're alienated. 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.700 And homeless. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:31.259 You find shelter in caves. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.120 Full of dead people's bones. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:35.579 Once you had friends. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:36.879 To eat. 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:37.979 And drink. 00:18:38.459 --> 00:18:39.319 And share meals with. 00:18:39.939 --> 00:18:41.839 Now you've broken all your relationships. 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.659 And no one wants. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:44.879 To share your company. 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.379 Once you interacted freely. 00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:49.239 With people in society. 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:52.219 Now they just try to lock you up. 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.459 In shackles and chains. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.639 And you. 00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.139 Break the chains. 00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.779 And scare them off. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:02.000 Once you could lie down. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:02.799 And sleep at night. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.139 Now you can never rest. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.599 For night. 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.379 And day. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:08.819 You cry out. 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.940 In anguish. 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.079 And rage. 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.119 And fear. 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.259 And hatred. 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:15.259 And you take it out on yourself. 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.279 By cutting yourself. 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.200 With stones. 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.019 Until you bleed. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.200 Once you felt like. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.279 A human being. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.139 Now you live like. 00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:25.240 A wild animal. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.279 Once you wanted to live. 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.339 And now you just want to die. 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.279 Nobody cares. 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:33.139 And even if somebody did care. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.920 They couldn't help you. 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.579 Until one day. 00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:38.899 Jesus. 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.220 Shows up. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.259 Now of course. 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.160 When Jesus shows up. 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:44.079 You have mixed feelings. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.259 You're drawn to him. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.899 But you also resist him. 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.680 And there's a struggle. 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.359 That plays itself out. 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.700 Between you. 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.619 And Jesus. 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:55.119 Now notice. 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:57.099 Jesus doesn't just command the demons to leave. 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:58.059 And they go right away. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.379 Verse 7 through 10. 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:00.059 There's a struggle. 00:20:00.439 --> 00:20:01.219 That goes on. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.519 A back and forth. 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:04.179 It's even hard to figure. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.099 Between the demon possessed man. 00:20:06.179 --> 00:20:06.659 And Jesus. 00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.000 It's even hard to figure out. 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.219 If the man is speaking. 00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:10.740 Or if the demons are speaking. 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.639 It goes back and forth. 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.899 Between he and they. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.839 And I and we. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.939 The point is. 00:20:16.959 --> 00:20:17.679 The man resists. 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.759 Jesus advances. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.879 But Jesus graciously. 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.359 Persists. 00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.779 And in the end. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:25.599 Jesus is stronger than the man. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.299 And he's stronger than all the demons inside him. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.339 And he overcomes the resistance. 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.339 And so at the end of the day. 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:34.859 That. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.279 Which began. 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:38.200 With crying out in rage. 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.399 And cutting. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.859 Himself in anguish. 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.839 This man is sitting peacefully. 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:45.279 For the first time. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.740 In years. 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.420 Sitting. 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.899 At the feet of Jesus. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.620 Clothed. 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.460 Decently. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.500 Thinking. 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.420 Clearly. 00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:56.060 His humanity. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.780 His human. 00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:57.500 Dignity. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.860 Which had been almost totally. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:00.960 Obliterated. 00:21:01.060 --> 00:21:01.820 And torn apart. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.680 By the legion. 00:21:03.860 --> 00:21:04.840 Of evil spirits. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.519 Is beautifully. 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.580 Restored. 00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.880 Isn't that a beautiful picture. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.220 Of what Jesus has come to do. 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.540 This man was destroying himself. 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.380 Out of control. 00:21:16.980 --> 00:21:18.019 Tormented himself. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.220 And tormenting others. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:21.539 And Jesus speaks peace. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.120 To his soul. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:26.039 Just as he stilled the storm at sea. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.660 With his word. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.880 Of course this man. 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.360 Begs to be with Jesus. 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.400 He's attracted to Jesus. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.120 Like a magnet. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:35.880 Because there's no one else. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.480 Like Jesus. 00:21:36.980 --> 00:21:37.860 There's no one else. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:39.640 Who's ever treated him like this. 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.799 There's no one else. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:42.059 Who's ever been able to do. 00:21:42.140 --> 00:21:43.059 What Jesus could do. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.759 There's no one else. 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:46.640 Who had authority to dispel. 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:47.680 The darkness. 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.059 And the chaos. 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.019 And the evil. 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.900 That had engulfed his life. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.039 Jesus' authority. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.319 Is wonderfully attractive. 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:59.940 And this is very good news. 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.279 For us today. 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:04.440 Because if Jesus could save. 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.539 And heal. 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:07.799 And restore this man. 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:09.019 Surely. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.779 He can save. 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:11.740 And heal. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.579 And restore you. 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:15.279 However disturbed. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.199 However disturbed. 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:17.960 Afflicted. 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.240 Restless. 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:20.599 Alienated. 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:21.599 You may be. 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.899 However full of anguish. 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:24.960 And rage. 00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.819 And fear. 00:22:26.179 --> 00:22:26.659 And hatred. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.159 Your heart may be. 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.919 However deeply. 00:22:30.139 --> 00:22:31.199 You've been locked. 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:33.259 Into self-destructive patterns. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:35.699 That you just can't seem to stop. 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:39.140 And nobody else can make you stop either. 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:40.920 No matter how hard they try. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.960 However much you have hurt other people. 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:47.180 And broken past relationships. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:49.400 As this man surely had. 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:51.259 Jesus is stronger. 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:55.980 Stronger than all the forces of evil inside this man. 00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:59.160 Stronger than all the forces of evil that afflict you and me. 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:01.040 Stronger than all the resistance. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:04.019 That we might hold inside us. 00:23:04.580 --> 00:23:05.620 And Jesus has come. 00:23:06.060 --> 00:23:07.920 To set his people free. 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:11.080 Now this man is an extreme example. 00:23:11.900 --> 00:23:13.400 He's in an extreme situation. 00:23:13.800 --> 00:23:16.019 But the whole story is simply a picture. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:18.080 Of what it means to become a Christian. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:20.080 To become a follower. 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.500 And a believer in Jesus. 00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:23.620 To pass from death. 00:23:24.120 --> 00:23:24.779 To life. 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.820 From fragmentation. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.080 And alienation. 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.140 To wholeness. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:30.860 From restlessness. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.019 To peace. 00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:36.019 From being all alone. 00:23:36.560 --> 00:23:38.160 To being united with Jesus. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.360 Forever. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.580 So turn. 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.940 To this Jesus tonight. 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.340 Come. 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.279 Sit at his feet. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.080 Be clothed. 00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.140 By his mercy. 00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:51.340 And his grace. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:54.380 Let his words of promise bring peace. 00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:55.720 And clarity. 00:23:56.560 --> 00:23:57.420 To the troubles. 00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:59.080 In your mind. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:23:59.960 And in your soul. 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.000 Now I know. 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:04.740 The transformation doesn't always happen. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:06.840 As immediately as it seems to here. 00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.700 And even in this story. 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:09.380 There's a struggle. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.160 Maybe you're. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.560 Struggling. 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.940 With Jesus. 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:14.640 You're drawn to him. 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:14.940 You're drawn to him. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:14.960 You're drawn to him. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.860 But you're also resisting him. 00:24:18.580 --> 00:24:20.120 In some part of your life. 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.080 Surrender. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.699 Give up fighting. 00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:26.919 Give up fighting. 00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.859 Against him. 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:30.000 Jesus is the rightful Lord. 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.039 Over all creation. 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.399 Jesus has come to bring order. 00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:34.500 And fullness. 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.779 Where there's only chaos. 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.619 And emptiness. 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:40.059 He's come to reclaim you. 00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:42.220 To restore in you. 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.839 The very image of God. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.399 That God created you to bear. 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.000 His grace. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:48.000 His grace. 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.860 Is greater. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:50.019 Than your sin. 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:51.820 His redemption. 00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:52.880 Is greater. 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:54.040 Than your past. 00:24:54.560 --> 00:24:56.019 His promise for your future. 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.040 Is greater than your past. 00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.460 His love. 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.340 Is even stronger. 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.240 Than death. 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:06.460 Brothers and sisters. 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.420 I know that for some of you. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:09.420 It's hard to believe those truths. 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.960 It's hard to live. 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.900 As if you believe them. 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:14.420 On a day-to-day basis. 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.620 Because your sin. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.200 Seems greater than God's grace. 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:19.740 Your past seems bigger. 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.339 Than God's redeeming power. 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:21.960 Your addiction. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.579 Seems to define you. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.759 More than your identity. 00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.460 In Jesus. 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.480 But I pray that tonight. 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.740 That you would see. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.380 Jesus. 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.579 The persistent. 00:25:30.579 --> 00:25:31.599 And victorious. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.619 And merciful. 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:33.399 Lord. 00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:35.240 And you'd be encouraged. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.240 To believe. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.039 And trust. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.240 This Jesus. 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.559 With all your heart. 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:41.579 And all your soul. 00:25:46.199 --> 00:25:47.679 Now the story doesn't end. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.279 With the man simply. 00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.599 Believing and trusting. 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:51.579 In Jesus. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:54.259 It ends with him being sent out. 00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:56.559 To proclaim the truth. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.099 And tell the story. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.879 Of what Jesus had done for him. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.760 Jesus went all the way. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:03.460 Across a lake. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.980 Through a raging storm. 00:26:05.060 --> 00:26:06.020 To a bad neighborhood. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:08.500 And a desolate graveyard. 00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:10.120 To rescue. 00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:12.880 This tormented man. 00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:16.300 But when Jesus departs. 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:18.000 He tells the man. 00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:19.820 Stay behind. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.180 Stay behind. 00:26:22.540 --> 00:26:23.900 For the sake of your family. 00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.360 And your friends. 00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.760 And your neighborhood. 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.920 And these ten cities. 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:30.879 That nobody else cares about. 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:33.259 And nobody else wants to go there. 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.859 So that they too might know. 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:37.539 The saving. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.339 And healing. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.259 And restoring. 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:39.940 Power. 00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.740 Of Jesus. 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:41.920 The merciful. 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:42.680 Lord. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:46.299 So if you have experienced. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.299 If you have even begun. 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.400 To experience. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.759 Jesus healing. 00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.460 And transforming power. 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.440 Go home tonight. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:56.240 To your family. 00:26:56.700 --> 00:26:57.420 And friends. 00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.740 To your neighborhood. 00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:01.299 To the desolate. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.560 Graveyards. 00:27:03.560 --> 00:27:04.400 Of this city. 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.259 In this region. 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.779 And tell. 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.619 What the Lord Jesus has done. 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.480 And how he has had mercy. 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.599 On you. 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.680 Let's pray. 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:30.120 Lord Jesus. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.759 We praise you. 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.740 For your. 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.200 Authority. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.660 That knows no bounds. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.480 And we praise you. 00:27:39.580 --> 00:27:40.120 For your mercy. 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:43.759 God knows no bounds either. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.339 Lord your mercy. 00:27:49.239 --> 00:27:50.079 And your authority. 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.419 Are stronger. 00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.679 Than the power of the grave. 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.839 Stronger than all. 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.199 The forces of evil. 00:27:59.479 --> 00:28:00.199 In the world. 00:28:00.739 --> 00:28:01.539 And in our hearts. 00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.479 Lord Jesus. 00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.119 We thank you. 00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.419 We thank you. 00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.079 For this picture. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.919 How you rescued this man. 00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.980 How you rescued him. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:14.319 And even. 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.399 Sent him out. 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.879 As a preacher. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.599 As a testimony. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:21.899 To you. 00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.480 Lord would you. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.720 Do your restoring work. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:28.960 Even tonight. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:31.359 In us here. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.839 Lord. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:31.899 Lord. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:36.599 And would you send us out. 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.679 To proclaim. 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.479 This. 00:28:40.479 --> 00:28:40.839 Message. 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:41.439 With joy. 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.479 And with peace. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.079 The peace. 00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:49.019 That only you can give. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.000 Pray this in your name. 00:28:53.619 --> 00:28:53.839 Amen.