Saturday, March 26, 2005

Gadarenes Evangelist

Luke 8:32  And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.   All must submit to the authority of Jesus. He gave the legion of demons permission to go into a herd of many swine. Many demons went into many pigs, that the Jews despised as unclean animals. Unclean spirits in unclean animals. Later God would say that all things are allowed for food, pigs should be cooked thoroughly for best nutrition.  God does not remove his judgment on fallen angels, the devils that torment, for them there is no repentance. Would you like to let a devil speak "angel" wisdom through you? Many do use these sly spirits to spout all manner of foolishness.
Luke 8:33  Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.   Note that the demons did not care for the well being of the ones they inhabited. The devil seeks to kill and they gave the pigs a self destructive impulse. What happened to the bad spirits. They looked for new hosts to enter, perhaps the towns people?   Luke 8:34  When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.   Miracles are one way to identify the work of God, but the word and Spirit of God confirm the miracles. The towns people went out, not as evangelists, but as people anger and full of fear. Their pigs were destroyed, so they lost money from this.
Luke 8:35  Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.   They should have rejoiced that the man was healed and at peace. Perhaps they were used to his madness. If we grew up in a bad home full of strife and bad spirits, we should want the peace of Jesus? yet, some choose more strife, being used to it.
Luke 8:36  They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
Luke 8:37  Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
  Amazing, they had fear, and chose to keep it. They had strife, darkness, unbelief. Who was this man from Galilee across the Lake from us? Go home! you make us uncomfortable. Yes, perhaps the bad spirits had found a good home in these people? Perhaps it was just their sins not wanting the light of God? Maybe the mad man who is now saved can reach his townsmen? God is awesome.   Luke 8:38  Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
Luke 8:39  Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
  Hello, I am now the Gaderenes evangelist. Let me tell you about a man who made me whole? He can do the same for you.
 

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