The Gift of Freedom
The Gift of Freedom || Day 5
Mark 5:1-20 NKJV
"Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
Beloved, let’s pick back up on our discussion from yesterday…
Freedom is always the by product to the plan, not the end result.
As powerful as the supernatural breakthrough deliverance of the demoniac was, it was not the end result for the plan of God for his life. He is so grateful for the deliverance that God has given him, he wants to join Jesus in full-time ministry, but that was not even the end result for the plan of God for his life.
Instead, Jesus revealed what the plan of God was for his life…”Go back and tell your friends, tell your family, and the whole city what the Lord has done for you!” In other words, “This region wants me to leave. Therefore I am granting their request. However, they will receive you and will hear you. Now you go back and let them know what the Lord has done for you.”
This was the plan of God, regional revival. That’s why God sets us free!
Further reading: Matthew 8:23-34, Luke 8:22-39, Galatians 5:1