My eighteen year old, son loves horror movies. These tend to scare me; my favorite however is the Exorcist. I love the classic scene where the main character spends her head completely around and spews green vomit everywhere. If you do not know of this movie. The premise is that the main character, a young girl is possessed by demons. So it is the job of the priest to exercise these demons and free the girl.
Let me say that I believe in demon possession. But I think far too often we use this out of context. I know I have, by using such phrases as, “my demons”. Throughout my past forty-one years of life and my many years in ministry both in the military and local congregations I am convinced that we are all possessed by something. More on that in a minute.
On July 9th we started a new sermon series here at Tomah CON. The title of the series is the Gospel of the Nobodies. The focus of the series is on those that society has discarded or keeps on the fringes. Society both in the church and outside. Although at times society outside of the church can be more understanding than those inside. But throughout the Gospels we see Jesus reaching out to these nobodies.
So with that said the first nobody is the possessed man in Luke 8:26-39. Here we see a man who is literally possessed by demons. They are controlling him. These demons causes him to be driven from his home and his family. They have caused him to be isolated and chained in a cave; even though he breaks those chains many times. They have caused him to throw himself into fire at various times. To say this man is a hell raiser is a huge understatement.
In this story we also see a group of people who while not possessed by demons are none the less still possessed by something that is keeping them from truly seeing Jesus. More on that in a minute, but now back to the man; his life is about to be turned upside down. His salvation is near.
Jesus steps out of the boat and immediately the man falls at His feet and begs that Jesus does not hurt him. I think two things are happening here. First I think it is the demons who are begging for mercy from God. Because eve the demons know who Jesus is and the power he has over them. The second thing I believe is happening, is the man in his brokenness is crying out to Jesus. He wants to be free but he has become familiar with his demons. Sure they have destroyed his life but he knows what to expect with them. Perhaps the man is crying out because he thinks Jesus is brining judgement instead of forgiveness.
But instead of finding judgement the man finds forgiveness and freedom at the feet of God who has just walked into his world. Without hesitation, Jesus frees him by driving the demons out. Then he restores him to his family; by telling him to go back to his family. Something remarkable happens the man goes from being demon possessed to being Jesus possessed. Luke tells us that the man goes all over town telling everyone about what Jesus had done for him. I wonder how many people found freedom and salvation from this man’s story. The Gospel does not tell us but I bet there were many who were saved because of this man’s story.
Now onto the other possessed people in this story. The group that is upset because their bacon got wet. This group knew the man. They knew how bad of a man he had become because of his possession. The group also sees that the man has been healed and restored. But instead of begging Jesus to heal them, or to teach them they beg him to leave. You see while they were not possessed by demons they are possessed none the less. They have allowed something to take over their lives to the point that they were unable to recognize the Savior.
So let’s talk about possession. Let me ask you what is possessing you? Is it your job? There’s nothing wrong with providing for your family. After all providing for your family is biblical. But has keeping up with others, having the latest greatest toy so taken over your life that you do not recognize Jesus when he shows up on your shore? What about church. Does it possess you? What I am taking about is getting wrapped up in tradition. Using the phrase, “We never done it that way before.” Being closed off to new approaches to outreach which do not water down the scriptures. What about T.V. are you so caught up into binge watching your favorite show that you forget your private devotional time with the Savior? When we think of possession we often think of addictions such as alcohol, drugs, pornography etc. But the above possession is just as harmful; because it takes our eyes of Jesus and makes something else in our lives a god.
I know this is a long post so I will wrap it up. Jesus pulled his boat ashore and healed the man who was possessed. Salvation was offered that day to all who were possessed, but instead of asking for salvation the crowd begs Jesus to leave them. Who are you in this story? What is possessing you? Is it success, is it tradition, T.V. etc? Is it an addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc.? Whatever you are possessed by Jesus is waiting to free you. Do you fall at his feet or like the crowd do you ask him to leave?
Finally we all know someone who is possessed by drugs, alcohol, pornography etc. Will you land your boat on their shore this week? Will you reach out to them as Jesus did, or will you cast them aside as the crowd did with the man in the story? Pastor Travis out.
