SO, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS

Today’s Reading: Mark 5

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

This is the hill on the east side of the Sea of Galilee that is said to be the place where Jesus encountered and delivered the demoniac. Jesus cast the demons into the pigs and they ran down this hill into the water and drowned.

GOOGLE MAPS – See where Reynold took the photo Click HERE.

Key Verse: Mark 5:15

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

Three more times the word “immediately” appears. That makes 17 times so far in Mark. Do you think God wants action? The man in our key verse had BIG problems! That’s an understatement. He was full of evil spirits, cut off from all human contact. He constantly tortured himself and could not be restrained because of demonic strength. His home was a graveyard. Jesus solved these fearsome destructive results of satanic activity with Words of deliverance. With what little free will this man retained, he chose Jesus! On the other hand, the local townspeople were afraid of what Jesus might continue to do. Obviously the pork business was a mainstay of their economy. According to the historian Josephus,  there was a huge non-Jewish population in the Galilee at that time who, unlike the Jews, would eat pork. Their message to Jesus was, “Don’t mess with our finances.” What message are we sending Jesus today?

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, You are my Deliverer from ALL the works of the devil. In Your all-powerful NAME I am free and in my “RIGHT MIND.” You are welcome as Lord of my life, and Lord Mayor of our community. I yield to Your AUTHORITY in all things! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

It was a Sunday night after service when several young people came to me and said, “Kenny is downstairs!” Kenny was experimenting with drugs and dabbling in the occult. His parents and grandparents were church members, but this 19-year-old was not attending church. There he was, lying on the floor, writhing like a snake. As Pastor, I sensed divine authority come upon me. I knelt beside him and commanded him to say the Name of Jesus. I heard “J…J…J…” and then “JESUS!” in a loud cry. Immediately, he was delivered. His Dad picked him up like he was still a child, and they hugged and we all cried for joy. Kenny became a minister, specializing in children’s TV.

Oswald J. Smith wrote a song, “When Jesus comes, the tempter’s power is broken.” It’s about the deliverance of the demon-possessed man. I encourage you to read and meditate on all the lyrics of this hymn (you can find them by clicking HERE). You can also hear it sung at a 1992 Billy Graham Crusade by George Beverly Shea by clicking HERE.

Yours because of the fact that “JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER” (Hebrews 13:8),

David