Your Testimony First
Mark 5:14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
The pig feeders witnessed a great sight. The demon possessed man had a legion of demons cast out of him by Jesus. The demons were so many that they entered all 2000 swine who rushed off a cliff into the sea. These great signs pointed to the power and holiness of Jesus, Son of God. Would they see him as he is and be drawn to him?
Mark 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
Remember the story of the prodigal son who took his inheritance from his father early? He spent it all on his lusts until he had no money and this resulted in no friends. He fed the pigs and ate the husks until he came to his senses?
Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
The Father saw him coming and hugged him, restoring him to what he was meant to be. The swine feeders and their friends had evidence, what would they do with it? Would they run to God through Jesus asking to be forgiven and restored?
Mark 5:17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
They prayed, beseeched and begged Jesus to depart, to leave, to go away. Their finances were in the sea with the dead pigs. This was not prosperity preaching. The true prosperity would be a changed heart, they were only upset. This was the viewpoint of the spectators and often the viewpoint of those we witness too. Go depart, leave, get out of here.
Mark 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
The man who was free from the legion of devils was grateful to Jesus. He truly was free and in his right mind. He wanted to follow Jesus. That is very good.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Mark 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Listen, this is important. You may think that to serve Jesus best that you must follow him to a foreign land. Listen to Jesus. Your ministry starts right where you live. Witness to those you know. If you were a bad sinner, they will see the difference.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It starts in Jerusalem, your home city. Be faithful there sharing your testimony and you may have opportunities to minister all over the world. Listen to Jesus and obey him. All the men who saw the witness of the demon possessed man of what Jesus had done for him, marveled, God was glorified in his witness.
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