Matthew 8:28–34
28When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. 29And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” 30Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. 31The demons began to entreat Him, saying, “If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters. 33The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.
Focused Thinking:
What were the characteristics of these demon-possessed men?
“They were so Extremely Violent that no one could pass by that way.”
What did the demon-possessed people do?
They approached Jesus and cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
The demons in these men knew who Jesus was.
The demons in these men feared Jesus.
These men were extremely violent, but they were afraid of Jesus.
These men tormented others, but they were afraid of being tormented by Jesus.
These men had no power over Jesus.
These men had to be submissive to Jesus.
The demons asked to be sent into the heard of swine.
“And He said to them, “Go!”
“They went into the swine and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.”
I don’t think the demons requested to be sent into the swine for that to happen.
I don’t think the demons expected the swine to kill themselves from the presence of the demons.
I assume when the swine died, that the demons died as well. There is nothing in the story to indicates any other outcome.
33The herdsmen ran away, and went to the city and reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 34And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they implored Him to leave their region.
Were the herdsmen happy or unhappy?
I think the herdsmen were unhappy.
I think their primary concern was losing 2,000 swine (See Mark 5 account).
I think their primary concern was the money, not the demon-possessed men.
I think they cared more about losing their money than the men being healed.
Why did the whole city come out?
They were amazed by the story of the herdsmen.
They were amazed that somebody was able to heal the demon-possessed men.
- Remember, these were extremely violent men.
- Remember, no one was able to pass by these men.
Why did they implore Jesus to leave their region?
They were more worried about the 2,000 floating belly up than they were impressed by the men who had been healed by Jesus.
There is no other explanation.
What happens when you implore Jesus to leave your region?
He leaves!
Personal Application:
What is America constantly asking Jesus to do?
We are asking him to leave politically.
We are asking him to leave socially.
We are asking him to leave spiritually.
This country is at a dangerous crossroads in its history.
The country will not change her thinking on its own.
- Sin never voluntarily changes its mind.
- The church must wake up in order for the people to wake up.
- The church must wake up in order for the country to wake up.
How do the greatest empires and country throughout time fail?
They fail from within.
They self-destruction.
We can’t continually disobey God and ask for the blessings of God.
We can’t continually sow seeds of disobedience and expect a harvest of blessing.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, wake us up. Father, rise up leaders. Give us your supernatural anointing and power to do what we cannot do ourselves. Father, we cannot create a movement of God on our own. Father, we must wake up. I fear that we won’t wake up until it is too late. I fear we won’t wake up until we suffer great loss. Father, show us how to read world events and to respond appropriately. Father, give me and other leaders wisdom to understand the times and to respond accordingly. Give us the ability to see and understand biblical prophecy as it relates to our time today. Father, reveal Yourself and Your ways to us so that we can lead well. Give us true Holy Spirit led leaders who you’ve prepared for such a time as this. Father, give me the ability to lead our church and our city and even our country into a time of true revival and spiritual awakening. Father, there is absolutely no way I can do that in my own ability. Do something in me that enables and empowers me to hear Your voice more and to courageous obey You.
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