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Choosing the Way of Jesus

Choosing the Way of Jesus

Words of Faith 6-12-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 8:26-39

   They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. [27] When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. [28] When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" [29] For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

   [30] Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

   "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. [31] And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

   [32] A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. [33] When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

   [34] When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, [35] and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. [36] Those who had seen it told the people how the demon possessed man had been cured. [37] Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

     [38] The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, [39] "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

 

 

       Jesus comes to such regions to set the captive free! He comes to break the demonic powers that have held regions in conflict, families in torment and people in poverty.

         When we hear this truth we have several choices.

         1) We can be a PIG FARMER.   The Pig Farmers were upset about how much this might cost to set the region free. They got a group together and told Jesus to go away. The pig farmer is someone who is so invested in the world that they cannot see the Kingdom of God when it slaps them in the face. The truth is we often act like pig farmers when we determine that setting a region free will cost too much. Our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

       2) We can do as the DISCIPLES did. Did you notice? Where are they? It appears that they stayed in the boat. "Jesus, you go ahead and we will stay here and pray..."   That was the safest place. Too often this is is what church folk do. The boat is the security of the Church. We can stay with the disciples and be with those who are like us. We wait for the Master to do His thing and then come back and have fellowship with us.

       3) We can be TOWNSPEOPLE. They asked Jesus to go away simply because they were afraid.

     4) Or we can be FOLLOWERS of Jesus. We can walk with Jesus on shore. We can allow Jesus to place His footprint upon our hearts and souls. We can claim with victory the beachhead that belongs to Jesus.   Jesus said   Follow me. We can follow Jesus. If we have Jesus in us we have exactly that power with us. You have nothing to fear that Satan has to throw at you. The power of Jesus is in you to drive out even a legion of demons   He Gets there attention. The attention is off of you. He commands them out. He dispatches the cleansed to give testimony.

       Where are you today? Have you been harassed? Perhaps you realize that you have never known Jesus and you desire to invite Him onto the beach and to walk into your heart. Or maybe you have known Jesus for a long time and now are discovering that you have been harassed by something unclean. Jesus can have the victory today. He has come across the lake. And Jesus has stepped onto the shore.

 

       Jesus, I want to be where You are. I want to know Your power to cleanse and give freedom. Plant your feet with power and authority in my life. In Jesus' name.