Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Gerasene Demoniac
Passage:  Luke 8:26-39

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Series: Luke
Sermon Title: Gerasene Demoniac
Passage:  Luke 8:26-39

 

Evil and Evil forces are real
John 10:10

• Demons want to steal your true identity
   John 8:44
• “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their
  existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are
  equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight” (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)
• Demons want to kill you and your will to live
  Mark 5:5
• Demons want to destroy every relationship
• The ultimate combo of these things is to keep us separated from God forever
  1 Peter 5:8

Jesus came to overcome what’s overcoming you.
John 16:33
Rev 12:11

Sometimes we are too scared to surrender and change and we miss out on God’s best.
John 8:34
Romans 6:16

 

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. When Jesus arrived on the shore, it was clear that there was a presence of evil. What are some current demonstrations of evil in our world?
2. Do you tend to ignore demonic activity or over-emphasize supposed demonic activity?
3. Reread Luke 8:26-39.  Compare and contrast the differences between the man before and after his encounter with Jesus. What is the significant difference? 
4. Even this demon-controlled man was able to respond to Jesus in a way that enabled him to be delivered. What does this tell you about the human will (and what it is for) and how is that information helpful to us in dealing with an enemy who is committed to destroying us? 
5. When you surrender areas of your life to Jesus what does being “in his right mind” look like?
6. We read about how the demoniac was in isolation. Why does surrendering to evil and sin oftentimes lead people into isolation from family and community?
7. Why do you think Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs?  What do you think the significance is that the pigs killed themselves?
8. Why do you think the demonic forces want you to harm yourself and steal your will to live?
9. Why do you personally think that Jesus thought it was more important for him to go home to his family and tell his testimony and to have him join him ‘on the road’ so to speak? 
10. What comforts do you have knowing that Jesus is victorious over the demon and the demoniac experienced peace?
11. The demons calls him “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.” How does merely knowing who Jesus is not provide saving faith? (Read James 2:19 for more insight.)

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What new thoughts about Satan and the idea that you have an enemy do you have after this message? 
2. How do you think we might invite demonic activity into our lives?
3. Name some areas of your life that you have experienced freedom from bondage. Take a moment, and praise God for each one specifically.
4. What is one area you need to experience deliverance and freedom? Name them, verbalize them out loud in prayer, and invite the blood to cleanse you, the power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit to work in you, and surrender to the authority of the living God, then praise him for the victory and freedom in your life. Then go and tell someone, that continued isolation will invite a return to bondage.

 

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

• EPHESIANS 6:10-17
• COLOSSIANS 2:13-15
• GALATIANS 1:3-4
• JAMES 2:19

 

RESOURCES:

• Book | Michael Heiser | THE UNSEEN REALM
• Book | C.S.LEWIS | THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS
• Blog | Justin Taylor | SPIRITUAL WARFARE 101
• RIGHT NOW MEDIA | J.D.GREER | UNSEEN ENEMY, SPIRITUAL WARFARE FROM THE BIBLE TO TODAY

 

MONTHLY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TO TRY: CONTEMPLATION

“True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace.” – Thomas Merton. It has been said that our Adversary today majors in three things, noise, hurry, and crowds. If He can keep you busy, distracted with many “voices or distractions” he will rest satisfied, because you will not be able to truly focus and contemplate on the things of God.

This idea of contemplation or Christian mediation – a deep focus on God and his presence, is discussed or mentioned 58 times in the scriptures. From Isaac in Genesis 24:63 to the Psalms, Eli the priest, to Jesus himself. Contemplation and meditation on God permeate the lives of the people who had an incredible impact on the Kingdom of God, and the history of nations. Christian meditation and contemplation is simply this, slowing down, clearing thoughts to hear God’s voice and obey his word. God is Omnipresent, when we focus on His ongoing never-ending presence with us we begin to move a theological truth into a daily reality. One that actually impacts our moment-to-moment life. Thomas a’ Kempis calls this a “familiar friendship with Jesus”. We are urged to live in uninterrupted presence.

Contemplation seems foreign to many of us today. It has been high jacked by non christian spiritual religions. But here is the truth, it has been highjacked because your enemy knows the value of it and desires to keep you from it. We see Jesus all throughout the gospels retreat to meditate and pray. He starts his day early and alone. It is this contemplation that we desperately need to survive our daily culture. In fact, we can not only behavior modify our lives, we must surrender and attach to God himself to experience this life He has for us.

Here are a few practices to get started in your development:

Write out what your hesitations your experience when you think about contemplation and meditation. Acknowledge them to the Holy Spirit. Invite him into your moment and ask him for peace and clarity.

Sit in silence for 1 minute and acknowledge God’s glory in nature.

Take 15 minutes. Reflect on and Experience the words of Fredrick W Faber, “Only to sit and think of God, Oh what a joy it is! To think the thought, to breathe the name Earth has no higher bliss.” Write out what thoughts, promptings you have after this experience.

 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Looking at the idea of demons and the impact of demonic influence on people’s lives can have two very different responses. It is something that can be nerve-racking for some people which can lead to ignoring it completely, or it is all too enticing for others which can lead to attributing all things to the devil and his work. C.S. Lewis says it this way. “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence, the other is to believe and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight”

As a Christ follower, we need to understand a few basic truths. We really do have an enemy, and yet Christ is victorious over Him. Despite these truths, we see people surrender areas of their lives to evil, leading to an indwelling of demonic influence as we see in this story. I feel that far too often we focus on the impact of the demons instead of Jesus and His power, I would like to challenge you for a moment to focus on Jesus.

We see in this miracle, Jesus brings peace, order, healing, and restoration of mind and body. That is the great news of the story. Jesus’ presence initiates peace. Wherever Jesus is – peace reigns. Grasp this powerful truth, and open your life to it. Jesus’ compassion and desire for you is an invitation for you to sit at his feet. It empowers you to go back into your daily world not riddled with anger, anxiousness, fear, self-loathing, and other self-harming internal battles, but leads you to a peace that brings life.

If you find yourself battling evil or habitual sin and fear you are in spiritual bondage, seek out Jesus. This can be done with the church staff or someone who you know walks intimately with Jesus. The moral of this miraculous story is that there is freedom and peace available to all people. Nobody, no matter the situation, is in too much isolation, too much sin, or too much trouble to experience the healing power of Christ.

Pastor Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation Pastor