Saturday September 7, 2013

Read Luke 8:26-38

A naked mad man runs through the cemetery every night, howling and screeching at the top of his lungs. He has no home to go to. He lives among the unclean graves. He eats what he can scavenge. Sometimes at night they’ll hear the painful screams as he deeply cuts himself.

 

The locals are too frightened to go near this mad man. A few times a local possie has sought to bind him, even with chains, but he just snaps them like thin cotton and continues on with his terrible rage. Even the guards posted to watch him were no match. The locals think he’s mad. Some say he’s demon possessed. Everyone avoids him and the territory over which he reigns is totally off limits.

 

As Jesus climbs off the boat onto the shore this demoniac darts towards Him, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. He knows who Jesus is. He knows the true identity of Jesus. He screams so loud that nearby farmers come to take a look.

 

As the farmers draw near they see a large herd of pigs rush towards a cliff. But rather than stopping or turning, they continue on and plummet to their death. 2,000 pigs all killed in one instant!

 

But the strangeness of the pigs vaporises as they see the madman sitting at Jesus’ feet. He’s dressed. He’s in his right mind. He’s not yelling and screaming. He’s not attacking anyone. He’s not cutting himself. In bewilderment the farmers rush off to tell the townsfolk what has just transpired.

 

A crowd rushes to the edge of the lake. They see Jesus. They see the madman. They see the drowned pigs. They are terrified.

 

Slowly the soft commotion rises to a peak. “Leave us!” they cry out in fear. “Go away from us!”

 

As Jesus climbs into the boat, prepared to leave, the mad man begs to go with Him. He pleads with Jesus to be able to follow Him anywhere and everywhere. But Jesus, to crowds astonishment, sends him away saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you’.

 

Soon that once-madman is seen throughout the various cities telling everyone about Jesus. He’s no longer crying out in fear or in oppression or because of demonic possession. Everyone who comes near hears how Jesus, the Messiah, has freed Him. Everyone hears of the wonders of God’s own son, sent to bring freedom to a world held in chains.

 

What Jesus tells the madman to do, He tells each of us. Return home and tell how much God has done for you.

 

Prayer:

Write down at least one prayer point in each category based on the following verse.

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

Luke 8:39

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray that you would have opportunity this week to share your testimony about how much God has done for you. Pray that you would be able to discern these opportunities and that you would be courageous enough to take them when they appear.

Each of us knows people who need the transforming power of God in their lives. Pray for each of these people by name and ask God in Christ Jesus to be transforming them, renewing them and sending them out into the world to share their testimony about how much God has done for them.

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Do you think that giving the warring parties at DPC a goal outside of or apart from their church service would be helpful?

2. What could this goal be?

3. How does having a goal like this help all believers?