The Maniac (Part C)

In Christ cannot reach you it is because of you not Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost and that is without change. Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever. So here they were face-to-face with awesome goodness original holiness in Christ divine power and God's love face-to-face with it and it in like the recoil that he feared this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. The maniac is the title of Asterix message today. He will be teaching in Mark chapter 5 righteous defiance that is in response to all the truth in love with him, will we have a king. We serve him. Jesus said, you know, if I were of this world looking at this world might my subsequent fight for me but I'm a bit of things we have to learn this lesson.

Especially, we here in America overjoyed so much freedom those who stand for lies refuse the truth of Jesus Christ. We know that the ones being played by federal, for example, not only are they doing evil, but the neo-evil. The end time evil is recruiting people and you know they're targeting the most. The young because they think you're dumb enough to believe it.

And sadly, they are sometimes not all the time. Then, I've noticed something. The young become recruited by Satan and then they recruit their parents. The parents begin to sympathize. Only you know you got a point there, and in so doing, he takes out the whole family whole household whole church whole city state nation.

These are real things and you just look out the window you see them taking place me literally look out the one you see parked cars but look around society what's going on in the world. Satan says you know Jesus is love and it's okay to be homosexual while okay let me answer then is it also okay to murder till we got to downsize that one or you just pick the ones you want. You don't get the pick. The Bible has made it clear July.

Leviticus 1822. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.

It is an abomination is something that is hated.

Yet this selling it to our kids. This selling it to our adults, doesn't mean we hate them hate the monotonous wrong in the eyes of God. That's what we're interested in is God supposes that all old you like it that much of a change in okay this goes for now methamphetamine. Why be a crackhead and affect your children want to be a heroin addict configurable redhead because you want to do it doesn't do that under Satan spell the world advocate the murder of the unborn justify the fact they will advocate the murder of the just born to cover themselves and their filth. We are supposed to come along and say look, we can change anybody's mind, but we can be used by the Lord to get in front of those whom God is changing and he's going to use us to do it. You have to like it is going to happen a set defiance spirit that is a father saying. As for me I'm going to serve the Lord that the rest of my house doesn't serve the Lord.

I'm serving the Lord. That's the mother standing up and saying. As for me I don't arrest you want to do. I want to serve Christ. But if you don't serving him that the children standing up and saying, look, mom, dad, I'm hoping you're serving the Lord. But if you're not I'm serving the Lord. That's righteous defiance. What's the alternative, sniveling, backing down from the Fay price is not back down. For many of these people as we go through this story wherever I'm at, whatever verse I'm one verse 10 this try that one. And he begged him earnestly that he would not send him out of the country. What is that what is going on their wives not have a visa with his passports, not the date why I hate the picture on it. He must've feared the overlords in the underworld.

Their spiritual laws were not privy to. We get little hints of them and here's a big one.

He wants to stay where he is is Legion we know we huddled up here we find it, even in our own world.

We can with this chaos and anarchy. Verse 11 now a large herd of swine was feeding near the mountains so all the demons begged him, saying, send us to the swine, that we may enter them so to the demons that seem like a good idea at the time and this is helpful to us.

Verse 13 and at once Jesus caved them permission.

Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine.

There were about 2000, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea and drowned in the sea. So here in verse 13. They had several citizens of the pigs to sit before this is like a as you wish.

Knowing what's going to happen. He knows what's going to have another disciples and they can't see the demons like ghosts rise up and going to the man that just watching this exchange take place but they can see that stampede of swine rolling down the hill off the cliff and they knew that wasn't like we know Mars must've lined up with Jupiter. We didn't even know about it.

This was directly related to the word of the Lord come out, can we go into the pigs sure have added in their was the proof now only Mark counts how many swine there were. I don't know why but he is the one that tells us there were 2000 and so what is the lesson one human being can hold more demons than 2000 pigs not incredible.

Something to think about the capacity for evil in humanity and human beings is a big difference between humans and animals. They're not the same as confirmation that demons cannot successfully inhabit animals.

You have a mean and vicious dog is not demonic thinking may look like he is something is instinctually what they are, but only the unsaved can be possessed by demons. Now here was seeing. In addition to Christ muzzling the storm is casting out an army of ill spirits and it is also interesting that the swine seem to prefer death and possession their survival plan backfired.

They wanted to be embodied spirits embodied in some other living creature and it failed. Now the their disembodied after all. What happens after that they roam around looking for someone else.

We know that much from another story of Christ. What market already recorded Jesus words, no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man and then he will wonder his house and that's what's taking place here.

Prices come in and he's cleaning house because he is stronger than the demons that were in the man so God says yeah.

In spite of what happens. Still, the man is more important than the animal. Matthew 1212 of how much more value than is a man than a sheep, something we have to accept the doesn't mean that the some horrible therefore you know that wherever all the animals going to we can be cruel to them in one another's meaning the lie that just means that man is more valuable to God than animals. According to Jesus Christ, and it does not take brains to be destructive. A person can have brains and be destructive or they can be dumb and be destructive.

Many a home in your church. Many a country has been ruined by fools and we need to recognize that because what is the purpose of the lessons always is it why is it me, Lord.

One of you will betray me tonight and they all said is it me, they were concerned, they did not want to be that person will when we come to the Scripture. And we have good and evil lined up next to each other. We are supposed to say is it me. Am I the sky am I the full am I the one being played like a fiddle. Am I the one that the world has recruited using my carnality. My urges my passions my emotions spirit is supposed to overrule your emotions. Do you not know that if you say, but I just feel your does the Bible say because that has to be the deciding factor for the believer when you're young you don't know these things, yet you might think you do you may know portions of it. But if you're getting it wrong. Rather, define God to his face or you just don't get it. And that does not mean that Satan's going to show you mercy. The Bible does not say Blessed are the Dom. We are supposed to be enlightened and that takes work.

It's not automatic and that's why Satan spent so much time trying to dumb down the church so you know what to skip the preaching this just keep singing everybody's feel good about everything. But let's not expand our understanding of spiritual things and let Shirley not be convicted if we're doing something wrong.

The best way to handle that says the flesh is not here about the spirit knows better. I can only hear the bad things just be pummeled. That's not the idea either striking the balance, which is the definition essentially of grace. The balance given by God. Verse 14 so those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city in the country and they went out to see what it was that had happened. Well first off, the interim between they going to the city to tell the story, then come back with the whole mob Christ had time to minister to the men he delivered from the evil spirit now are we going to criticize the Lord for destroying someone else's property will first off was really him, I me was the demons just because he said sure.

All right maybe don't like that one. How about this one. He is King of Kings, he is Lord of lords. Everything is owned by him. It is his prerogative.

If you want to destroy the people to know that he could've been the way what it would have. He wanted to go that way, which he did not.

He has every right to interfere, to exercise lordship at his will or he is not Lord what he is pause there second. So we see laws spiritual laws we don't understand them all. As I mentioned, it is sort of like before men could harness flight they knew it was possible they just saw birds and bugs flying and they knew it existed, but the laws of gravity kept them on the ground until they learn the laws of aerodynamics. Then they used one law to overcome another law. The law of aerodynamics coming over the laws of gravity without violating anything. Such it is with Christ. He has rules and laws. We don't know the mall but he knows how to overcome them without violating the laws that are interlocked together verse 15 then they came to Jesus and saw the one who had been demon possessed, sitting and clothed in his right mind, and they were afraid when they come to Jesus for salvation of profound words that then they came to Jesus, we use that saying I came to Jesus. I got saved because I was happening here. Matthew tells us the whole city came out. Some go to church.

Some read the Bible with this identical attitude they're not coming for salvation that coming for confrontation with Christ.

He knew they were not coming to hear, to be healed but to be rid of him. It says here in verse 15 and saw the one who would been demon possessed and had the legion there. He was a living miracle.

Another living miracle sitting in clothed in his right mind sums up the mission of God in Christ on humanity. The message and the mission of Christ to come to seek to save that which is lost. To put it in its right mind by one not of Christ.

The unclean spirits fled this man and perished as far as we understand it, and here the man is now clothed in his right mind, and they were afraid something very wrong with the soul that is more afraid of goodness and wickedness. They should've been in all this should have said, Lord, you save this man you delivered him all we could do was shackle him and we can do a good job at that. You freed him. They too should about the need and worship him right there on the spot. This we came there for Samaritans got it. What's their excuse here was power beyond their understanding and filled them with dread what the believers from the little boats in the big boat they were in awe. If Christ cannot reach you it is because of you. It is not because of him, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost and that is without change Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever.

So here they were face-to-face with awesome goodness original holiness in Christ divine power and God's love face-to-face with it and it in like they recoiled at it. They feared it and they found it not worth keeping. Verse 16 and those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon possessed, and about the swine and they began to plead with him to depart from their region. They began to plead with him.

I mean this is knowing what we know, it's crazy, but knowing what they knew was the maniac was the maniac now who is the one that is doing violence to their own soul whole city city as we consider it, but pig village a lot of people enough. This is the real madness that men would chase got away from them when they have every reason to hold onto him. The world thinks it's better off without Jesus Christ as with these men did. They felt they were better off without him. If this is what is going to take to have Jesus run you don't. We don't want you the man was better off without the demons. The swine were better off without the demons.

These men they did not need demons to reject Christ.

You don't have to have a demon to tell Christ leave you alone. You can just be a sinner. That's all self-willed, blind, and not willing to receive him. How many sit and say I believe the word of God. I believe in Jesus Christ but I don't believe the Bible says so I need to change with the Bible says we have quite a view of all universities and seminaries, people like that boring. That's what you know the next time you come across somebody who was a liberal field and little liberal theologian is one who doesn't believe in the Bible.

That's what it means they believe in some parts of the Bible. They get the pick and choose what parts. To believe in what parts not to believe that as a liberal theologian and you risk some serious damage to yourself and others by lining up with such people is solar script Torah Scripture alone is our authority for life and how we should behave and not really anything else. Well anyway, they did not care about the swine they cared about the income from the swine was that they were the animal lovers and horrible thing the demons they can stay in the man so long as were making money. That's what this amounts to not find this kind of thinking. Let me just ask you at the pyramid. The top of Wall Street.

You think they're more interested in salvation or money. Top of the big corporations neighbors the top of a homemade is a top of the at the top of an individual's mind. What is more important. Money moves men more than mercy and miracles without Christ. This is the seed by the wayside.

Christ planted the seed through this action, Satan comes in just snatches the seeds up to them. Jesus was a greater threat than the maniac. They'd rather live at the man in the two moons howling all night long cutting himself than have Jesus with them is a serious problem here when men are more afraid of godliness and wickedness more sorry the loss of money, and again of holiness, so they didn't give them a chance to know Jesus said you know what the other pigs.

A deadlock is a herd of sheep. You gotta fix this if he wanted to as a bunker going also to the river.

They didn't give them a chance and how many times we see that how many times we see a human being not give Jesus a chance because this trouble in their life, and he doesn't heal it or stop it right away so they depart, they say they were saved but they go out and they get in trouble. Whatever happens, and all of a sudden there no longer interested. Verse 18 and when he got into the boat, he who had been demon possessed begged him that he might be with him or Christ is not going to force anyone to have him around.

Please going to go on the boat. He could've stayed but he goes the converted man. The man that was emancipated from the demons he wants to stay with Jesus to become one of his disciples. One man from good Dara. At this point. This is where this with AR full of wonder and gratitude. Just wanted to be with Jesus, and Jesus says no but he doesn't say no you can't be a believer know you cannot follow me in other ways is just saying you can't roll with me right now. Why is that one party asking to go, this one asked him to say Christ got in the boat's ship was sailing without those people considerate Christ left them. They are left behind, but what about this guy.

We want to focus on in verse 19. However, Jesus did not permit him but said to him, go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you. Christ knew what to do with him. Save them is that you know what you're calling is not with me your calling is to preach me where I'm not going right now as I mentioned, Christ is coming back to this region at least twice more, and it will be a different reception next time and I believe largely because of this man reborn his body the marks of demons now is in his right mind.

Nobody can dispute this.

We know you will wacko nobody could change a lot lately that when you and now you are telling us how good the Lord is making breakfast for everybody just what has happened to you. Jesus is what happened to me is this missing from our lives are we missing this where we go. We hadn't what we lost our impact on our surroundings. We are too preoccupied with something else we walk into a room of unbelievers. The presence of Christ is already there when we walk into that room. This should be a connection they should at least know somebody different is here now some of you in the workplace you experienced this, we have a responsibility to tell how Christ has delivered us. That's what this is saying pricing you've been delivered. I want you to go now. Tell every body, especially those who know you since he knew enough to be saved to want to follow Christ. He knew enough to preach Christ, and that is what he did. Verse 20 and he departed and began to proclaim it into Coppola's all that Jesus had done for him and all were amazed will get this in chapter 6 and chapter 7 when he does return to this area to Coppola's to rewords Decca in policy 10 cities so there were these 10 cities.

This is important to the story there.

These 10 cities with the main drag a main highway running through it from Damascus to Arabia on the on the edge of the desert. A lot of people caravans came to that region and here is where Christ planted this man to preach the gospel to prep them to prep them for when he came back get any of you have, you know may be like a chainsaw or or gas powered chain source or leaf blower. You gotta prime it to get it to go. That's what this man is he's the primer. Christ comes back they would've heard already, things about him and when they comes back to going to be bringing their sick to him. The going to be coming out to him.

This is very much so when Jesus said, let's get in the boat was go to the other side.

He beats back the stormy beast back the demons but he's got more to do before that happens. He's got a deal with disease and death. After this episode here. So the man with scars living testimony. Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse two Paul says to the Corinthians were largely a pain in the neck to ever miss saying something like that.

We talk about the Corinthians lesson we as a church we need to get back to the epistles. I'm not looking forward to it. It's a painful experience for me, but it's necessary. You have to understand why we do what we do as Christians in its found in the precepts when we say someone needs to sit under the word before they use its found that these first be proven. Paul said we have to get these things when you when you come across Christians that think it's okay to be crazy in charge, Paul stabilizes that within his Corinthian letters.

So here he says to them, you are our epistle in our hearts, known and read by all men.

That's what this man is is an epistle of Christ.

Now known and read by all men that come in contact with different is he has all of these scars on his body. So I ask you, and I asked myself in my Lord Jesus, and him are your letter of truth and love to other am I your letter will loss. Maybe I never had.

Maybe a bit confused by confusion weakens us getting the essentials right gives us strength and power move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio you could search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app that's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of Mark Rocky on cross reference radio