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Speaker: Rev. Shine Thomas
Posted on: 2009-11-15
Series: Miracles of Jesus

Series: Miracles of Jesus
Scripture: Mark 5:1-13

This morning we are going to see why demons possess human beings, the characteristics of demon possession based on this scripture, and how we can overcome the schemes and the attacks of the devil.

Brief History

• Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee with his disciples.
• Jesus slept in the boat.
• A great storm came up and the waves broke over the boat.
• The boat was about to drown and disciples were afraid.
• Jesus rebuked the wind and the wind calmed down.

Now, Jesus was going for a ministry. It was the demons and the demonic forces were working against Jesus’ boat. Child of God any time we do something for God we see opposition and that is the devil trying to oppose us. But we can be victorious over the devil’s plans against us because Jesus overtook the storm. In the name of Jesus there is victory.

Now, we come to Mark 5:1-21They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

The devil is real

As much as God and the Holy Spirit is real, the devil and the evil spirit is real. Man is either influenced by the Holy Spirit or by the evil spirit. Here, a man with an evil spirit came and met Jesus.

Mark 5:3-5 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This man not only had the evil spirit, he was possessed by it. Demon possession is real.

Now there are 2 ways demons attack a person:
Oppression: External works of demons upon a person. The demons influence the external factors.
Possession: The devil taking control of one’s body and acting from inside.

Usually the devil cannot possess a saved child of God; it oppresses him from the outside. This man in Gerasenes was possessed by the demons.

Why does demon possession come?

Let us look into the background of this passage.

This place where Jesus went is called Gerasenes or Gadara. Numbers 32:1-6 1 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3 "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon- 4 the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan." 6Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, "Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here?

Now, the people of Gadara was from the tribe of Gad. They had great cattle and when they came to the east of Jordan and saw the land was suitable for their livestock they did not want to cross river Jordan and enter the Promised Land. The other 10 tribes went to the Promised Land but and Gad and Ruben tribes settled in east of Jordan called Gadara. They were content with what they had. Sin starts from contentment. The Lord became angry with these people.

By the time we come to Mark 5 these people were pig farmers. They were out of cattle and sheep business and now into the pig business. Pigs were considered unclean animals and the Jews never had any pigs. Sin firstly made them content in staying at Gadara. Now sin made them do business against God’s laws. Their morality was corrupted. The devil took control of this place and the people.

Demon possession starts from sin and disobedience. If you are living in sin and disobedience to the word of God there is every chance that the devil can possess a godly man.

Characteristics of demon possession?

Let us look into the life of this man at Gadara.

1. Non-spiritual friendship or association

Mark 5:3 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain.

This man lived in the tombs and lived among the dead.

The devil likes to keep you in tombs. The devil likes you to hang out with those who are dead. Not necessarily physically dead but the devil likes you to hang out with the spiritually dead. He wants them to influence you.

If your association is more with the worldly people then it is highly likely you can be influenced and possessed by the devil. Our association and friendship must be with spiritual, Godly people.

2. Untamable character.

Mark 5:3-43This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

• He was a violent man.
• No one could do anything to him.
• Whatever he did was final and true.

There are many people among us who are like this man. No one can tame them. They do not listen to anyone’s advice and they take pride in doing so. People who do not subject to anyone or are untamable are often under the control of demons or Satan.

3. Habitual sins

Mark 4:5 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This man was continuously crying, always in tears. He was not happy in the way he was. He wanted deliverance. There was some power that made him do all these things. He desperately wanted to come out of this mess. The problem is involuntarily he does the same thing again and again. Therefore he keeps on crying regretting what he does.

I have seen people crying for committing habitual sins. Some demonic power makes them commit the sin but after committing it they cry and cry and regret. They want to come out of the habitual sins but again they fall for the same sin. It is a demon problem.

• Drug addiction
• Adultery
• Pornography
• Sexual additions
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Gambling
• Overeating
• Body building
• Career building

Romans 4:15,20 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Self abuse.

Mark 5:5 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

This demon possessed man used to cut himself with stones. It used to bleed, it would pain. Destroying one’s body is demonic. If you are in a habit of abusing your self, understand you have a demon problem.

There are various types of self abuse.

a. Domestic abuse. Some people abuse themselves while they fight or quarrel over some things. They hit their head, chest, bang their head to the wall, cut themselves, put the gas knob on, kick others, throw items, use foul language etc. This is uncontrollable anger. They have an uncontrollable force that is demonic.

b. Depression: People commit suicide, cut their veins, overdose on pills.

c. Body Piercing: Body piercing is self abuse. Nowadays people pierce all over the body and they say it is the trend. My friend it is demonic. Do not do it.

d. Tattooing: Tattooing is very painful. It is self inflicted torture. This is demonic.

Leviticus 19:28 28 Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

Now, Jesus cared for this man. Jesus has authority over all evil and in the name of Jesus the demons will go.

Everyone deserted him.

• The people of Gadara had nothing to do with him.
• His family separated him.
• His actions were demonic.
• He was unclean.

Now Jesus came near this man. Mark 5:6-8 6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

Jesus cares for you and your sufferings.

See what Jesus did to him. Mark 5:9 9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

A legion is a Roman regiment of 6000 soldiers. This man had 6000 demons inside him.

Mark 5:10 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. The devil did not want to go out of the area. The devil is territorial but our God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

Mark 5:11-13 11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

The devil wants to possess the body of someone and destroy him or her. The devil wanted to destroy this man but when Jesus cast out the devil from the man it asked permission to go into the pigs, 2000 of them. The pigs ran into the lake and were drowned. See, the devil is bent upon destruction.

What struck my attention is that the pigs of Gadara had more sense than the people of Gadara did. People were living in demon possession and were destroying themselves but the pigs thought they would rather die than being possessed by the devil, so they ran into the sea and drowned.
Evil possession destroys a person. Jesus is the answer.

Conclusion: Demon possession is real and the devil is real. The devil possesses a person because of sin and disobedience. This morning Jesus can deliver you out of every oppression and possession. Come to him today. Commit whatever you are facing to him just now. He is here to deliver you. In the name of Jesus there is victory. Today God is going to deliver many of you out of your evil that you are facing. Let’s pray.