"Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him."
Good Morning beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a tremendous privilege to have you here with us today this Lord's Day, reminding me of both the blessing and importance of community and the shared faith that unites us all. We are especially grateful for those of you who have faithfully continued to share the ministry website, and social media platforms with all of your family and friends. Your commitment to share God's Word with others had continued to produce amazing results. May God continue to bless your efforts.
I also would like to humbly ask that you would please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing high levels of persecution, many face imprisonment, violence, and even death, simply for their faith in Jesus Christ. Many in these persecuted regions have assured me that our continued prayers are vital, providing spiritual support and strength in their hour of need.
If you been following along with us in our study of synoptic Gospels for very long, you have probably realized that Matthew, Mark and Luke, often record the same events but with slightly different detail. This has often caused much speculation as to whether who got it right and who got it wrong, or if the Bible can even be trusted at all as the sole authority. Allow me to be very clear, the Bible alone is indeed the truth, it is unequivocally the divine revelation of God. Any claims suggesting that the Bible contains errors is a lie! To further elucidate, any minor discrepancies in the Gospel accounts can often be attributed to the unique perspectives of each author as well as the distinct audiences to whom they were addressing.
For instance, Matthew, writing primarily for a Jewish audience, sought to demonstrate to his Jewish audience that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the anointed one who had been foretold by the prophets, whereas Mark, on the other hand, is believed to have written his Gospel account primarily to Roman readers, with values of efficiency and strength, whose concise account would have resonated well with his audience, while Luke, the beloved physician by profession, possessing a keen mind and a kind heart, aimed to provide us with a detailed, reliable and orderly historical account and parables, with a Gentile audience in mind, specifically an individual named Theophilus, (meaning "lover of God",) who is believed to be a high-ranking Roman official or was a very wealthy socially respected individual. However, Luke's Gospel allows for a symbolic interpretation, indicating it is written for anyone who loves God and is seeking to understand the truth about Jesus' life and teachings.
It’s really not a complicated thing to sort out and it's not as complex to understand as it might initially seem, God, the Divine Author, only wrote one book, using over forty human writers, each contributing their unique perspectives and experiences, over a period of about fifteen hundred years, with every word superintended by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, Who brought it all together in what we know as the Bible, which is made up of two different sections, the Old and the New Testaments, which collectively contain a total of sixty-six individual books, each offering distinct revelations and teachings, thirty-nine in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New Testament. That is why I can unequivocally say without the slightest hesitation, that the Bible is the one revelation from God, making it the absolute, single source of absolute Divine Truth of God. Now, whatever a person does with that Divine Truth contained in the Bible, meaning how a person chooses to respond to what God says in His Word, will ultimately determine whether that individual is eternally bound for heaven or whether that individual is eternally bound for hell.
If a person hears the Word of God obediently, meaning they do what it says, they belong to God, conversely, if a person hears the Word of God disobediently, meaning they do not do what it says, then, they do not belong to God, they are essentially aligning themselves with Satan. In 1 John 2:3-4, John articulates this Truth this way, "By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." One who claims to know God but fails to adhere to His commandments, they are deceiving themselves, highlighting the importance of authenticity. I don't believe that you can get much clearer than that.
I acknowledge that having such a narrow view, embracing a singular perspective is unpopular in today's pluralistic society, where diverse beliefs and interpretations not only coexist, the inclusivity and acceptance of varied religious and spiritual perspectives are strongly encouraged, therefore, declaring that the Bible, and only the Bible, serves as the authentic Word of God, is likely to be seen as controversial, particularly when I assert that all other religious claims to be of divine origin are not only misleading, they are damning lies, dangerous deceptions, stemming from the father of lies, Satan himself. While I recognize that to voice such a resolute belief with unshakeable conviction might be perceived as offensive to many, understand that it is not my goal to provoke or offend anyone, it is important to note that what I am proclaiming just so happens to be the Truth, derived from my years of extensive study and rigorous research of other religious doctrines. To say that the Bible is God’s truth; is about as relevant and straightforward as it needs to be.
And, frankly, those who hold a different religious perspective are generators of the problem that is plaguing the church, more progressive interpretations of Christianity. The root cause of this underlying division is simply defined as carnality and worldliness, both of which can be traced back to Satan. I believe the secondary causes of the problem, is exalted human wisdom, and exalted human leaders, neither of which should have any place in the church. One of the ways human wisdom is being exalted in the church is by those who are tempted to rate and rank the pastor, a practice that is becoming increasingly popular. Those who are evaluating the pastor, judgments typically driven by their own superficial criteria, such as the style and length of his preaching, the number of academic qualifications he has hanging on the wall in his office, his personality and popularity among the congregation, et cetera, et cetera. Those who engage in such behavior are playing God, which may I hasten to add is offensive to God, because it shifts the attention away from God's divine wisdom and the spiritual leadership that should guide the church. I believe we all know how Satan loves to divide the church, by sowing discord among the people of God, just take a look at what is happening in any number of denominations over the issues of homosexuality, transgenderism and the role of women in the ministry.
I must say that I am extremely thankful that God has helped me get to the place of spiritual maturity where I can honestly say, "As long as I am serving and pleasing God, I really don’t care what people think." Believe it or not, overcoming the natural craving for human validation and praise is not an easy spiritual milestone to achieve, because we all fight against the inherent desire to receive affirmations, "Wow pastor, that message really spoke to my heart. You must've really put a lot of effort into that," bolstering our fragile egos. Of course, on the flip side, there’s the critical feedback that really stings, like when someone remarks, "What were you thinking? That message was really horrible. You should do everyone a favor and step down from the ministry!" To which it's often tempting to respond with, "I really do not care what you think, because you are not on my level. It's not my fault that you're incapable of grasping the profound spiritual insights that I’m sharing."
I confess, early on in my ministry, it was really a challenge. I’ve reached the place where I've come to realize that we’re a bunch of depraved sinners saved by grace, and you're not qualified to give me a real godly evaluation and neither am I, my evaluation of myself is just as corrupt as yours is. I was called to the ministry to serve God, and I serve Him with all my heart. The most profound assurance that I can experience, indicating that God is pleased is manifest in the number of people whose lives are being changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is truly awe-inspiring to witness the Holy Spirit actively working towards fulfilling their true spiritual potential, a transformation that impacts hearts and minds, leading to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ.
Don't misunderstand me, I am genuinely appreciative when you’re kind enough to share your thoughts, whether commendation or constructive criticism, it let's me know you're listening with attentive ears, reassuring me that my words are not merely echoing into the emptiness of the universe, bouncing around out there in thin air. And, it provides valuable insights into the areas where I am able to improve, helping me to refine my approach. But, it's important to understand the focus of my ministry is solely on divine approval rather than being swayed by the ever-fluctuating human validation. You will be best served, when I serve God with all my heart.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, O' how we long to express our gratitude to You today for the precious gift of Your Word, we acknowledge its profound significance to guide and direct our lives, ever-changing us through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I humbly ask that You would bring clarity to our hearts, specifically as it applies to each of us as individuals. May we be consciously aware that our actions, no matter how great or insignificant they might seem, should be for Your glory alone, that in every endeavor we should refrain from pursuing anything that might tempt us to exalt ourselves, ensuring that our lives stand as a true testament to Your grace, mercy and love. Father, if there is anyone in our midst who has or is serving you with improper motives, from an impure heart, do that mighty work in their heart that only You can do, so they may be given over to Your Word and experience it's power. We ask and pray this in Christ's Name
Amen.
Today's Message: Christ The Redeemer of Ruined Lives
As a pastor, I've been involved in the lives of people for a long time, in different stages of their spiritual journey. I have encountered a number of people who are associated with the charismatic movement who claim that they possess extraordinary apostolic capabilities, such as speaking in tongues, healing the sick, and even resurrecting the dead. However, despite making these bold claims, there has been a noticeable lack of empirical evidence to substantiate any of these assertions, and that is primarily because these individuals are caught in a web of delusion, they are self-deceived, lacking any genuine apostolic capabilities, they are merely believing they possess spiritual gifts they do not actually have. I must say, this disparity between belief and evidence highlights a broader question about genuine saving faith and self-deluded perceptions. It is impossible for someone who is a genuine Spirit-led true believer to be at home with the erroneous views and outrageous misrepresentations of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit that exists within the Charismatic movement, when it comes to the spiritual gifts. I am a firm believer that everything must be measured against the Word of God and you just cannot reconcile the bizarre teaching that comes out of that movement with the Bible without contradiction, they're polar opposites. Paul says in Ephesians 2:20,, "They were given for the foundation of the church," and therefore, I believe they belong to that time.
Spiritual gifts are not given for the believer, they're given for the Body. As we each minister our unique spiritual gift, we build each other up, collectively in growth and maturity but we also provide valuable insights and guidance to each other understand individually how to better effectively serve help in a given area. You may not have the gift of preaching and teaching, but you’re being built up as I faithfully preach and teach the Word of God. Maybe I don't have the gift of compassion, but as you minister to me, having seen you in action, I will learn how to better show compassion to someone else. Spiritual gifts are a beautiful thing when they're properly used. It can also be spiritually crippling for those who misuse them. The most unloving thing a true believer can do, is leave people in spiritual darkness, we are commanded to speak the Truth in love. I don't want to belabor the point, but I just had to share what God has laid on my heart. Romans 15:2 reminds us that we have a responsibility before God to edify each other.
Open your Bibles with me, if you would and turn them to the Gospel of Luke chapter 8, Luke 8:26-39. I'd like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read, so that we can set the text in our minds, and allow it to settle deeply within our hearts, creating an opportunity for us to discern what the Holy Spirit has to personally say to each of us today through the Word and allow it to transform our lives. As I'm sure you are already aware, this is a much larger portion of Scripture than we usually tackle in one message, so we might not be able to get through the entire passage today and that's perfectly okay. My focus is on allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us through this or any other study, allowing divine inspiration to enrich our understanding.
"Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him."
This is an incredible story, it's interesting to me that in the three years of Jesus' ministry there is a manifestation of demon possessions that is unlike any other time in all of human history. Apart from the unique situation in Genesis 6, where the sons of God cohabitated with the daughters of men, and were put into everlasting chains according to Peter and Jude. After the four gospels were written, you don't see a single demon possession until you get to the Book of Acts, where there are only two occasions, one in Acts 16 and the other in Acts 19. Peter, James, John and Paul never even refer a demonic possession situation in the Epistles. And, we don't see it again until Revelation just before Christ returns, when God Himself will open up the pit of hell, letting it belch out some demons and they're allowed to run rampant over the earth, aiding in the future manifestation of demonic power on the earth. Modern skeptics of the Bible often argue that what is described as demon possession was merely an archaic way of explaining psychological or social disorders, such as schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder. However, the Scriptures clearly affirm the existence of demonic activity in the spiritual realm. Because you can't physically see what's going on doesn't mean that the forces of hell aren't active. When Lucifer was cast out of heaven, he wasn't alone, he took one-third of the angels with him, who are subsequently known as demons, which explains why they immediately recognized Jesus and were aware that His presence could mean judgment on them. They remember that all judgment has been given over to Him, He came to destroy the effects of Satan's work, and to deliver men's souls.
Let's get started, verse 26, "Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee." This passage has often caused some minor confusion with some people, Mark and Luke both call it Gerasenes, and Matthew refers to the area as Gadarenes, an area much further south and inland, away from the sea, where there's a larger town named Gadara. While some Greek texts use Gergesenes, which we'll not get into today. However, both Mark and Luke are noting the village, while Matthew is noting the entire area. A pagan region that was part of the Decapolis. Decapolis means "ten cities." These were largely Gentile cities, which may explain the pigs. In the Law of Moses, pigs were considered an unclean animal by the Jews. And Jesus’ use of the pigs in this passage would certainly attest to that point.
The country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee, located on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where there’s a small village about six miles from Capernaum named Gergesa, it's modern name is Kersa, that still has many hillsides with tombs hewn out of the rocks, whether naturally or man-made and a slope that descends to the lake, which perfectly describes the area talked about in all three Gospel accounts.
Verse 27, "And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs." Immediately after having been delivered from the most incredible, life threatening storm that they could've ever imagined, where His disciples witnessed Jesus miraculously do what no man has ever been able to do, not even the most proficient Charismatic leader,
they are met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons. By the way, in Matthew's account in chapter 8, he tells us there were two men, and they were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And, in Mark chapter 5, he says they tried to bind them with chains, and no matter how strong the chains were, they were able to break the chains. These two men apparently possessed tremendous immense physical.
Then, by all the accounts, a fascinating shift occurs where one of the men emerges as the the primary focus of the story, and the second man sort of just disappears, fading into the background. Interestingly enough, none of the Gospel accounts provide any additional information about this second individual, leaving his role rather ambiguous. It remains unclear whether he was simply a bystander or included in the deliverance, we don't know what happened to him, the fate of this second person remains a mystery. We can only hope that he received salvation as Jesus vanquished this massive number of demons.
Anybody that is not protected by Jesus Christ through salvation is exposed to Satan's influence, anyone who is not a citizen of the kingdom of God is a vulnerable member of the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan and his legions of demonic minions, they pick and choose who they will, within God's allowance. While I cannot be dogmatic, I believe there can certainly be a number of things that can potentially open the door, acting as a gateway to the to the demonic realm, such practices associated with the occult, involvement using Ouija boards, and tarot cards, attempting to communicate with the dead spirits through engaging in séances. I personally have come to believe that even seemingly harmless activities such as reading books or watching movies that delve deeply into demon possession are intended to create such openings in the ongoing spiritual warfare that occurs in the unseen world, thereby invoking a supernatural presence of evil forces where the kingdom of darkness contends with the kingdom of Light over the souls of humanity. Furthermore, I believe this passage highlights the necessity for individuals consciously choose which of the two spiritual realms they belong to.
When you look at the lives of some of the most notorious serial killers, people like Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer, we observe a chilling pattern of horrific behavior that's so out of control it suggests there seems to be something other than human impulse behind their brutally massacring people, how they physically torment their victims it can hardly be defined in human terms. We can certainly understand vengeance, wanting to kill someone that makes you so mad that you want to kill them, but in instances like these, they exhibit a behavior so extreme that it defies our human understanding. There's really nothing else I can add, except to say that we do know that God grants permission to Satan and his unclean spirits to do their work in those who live in rebellion. When evil becomes manifests itself people will often conduct themselves in ways that cannot be understood humanly, that is the man in this story. He had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs."
The Bible is very clear that since the fall, where Adam and Eve first realized their nakedness before God, leading to guilt and shame, human nakedness is associated with sexual perversion, sexual immorality and shamelessness. That's why God made a covering for them from animal skins, which is a picture of Christ Who covers us with a more permanent garment. This is vividly illustrated in Revelation 3:18 "I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see," contrasting the shame associated with physical exposure and moral corruption with the dignity and honor associated with the purity and righteousness of white garments, virtues that protect us from exposure to spiritual and moral decay. The "eye salve" emphasizes our need for spiritual insight to see beyond the superficial and understand deeper Truths. Mark again fills in the gaps, telling us he was constantly screaming, night and day, running around among the tombs and in the mountains, and gnashing himself with stones. The Greek verb "katakoptó," is used to describe the act of violence, in other words he was mutilating himself with sharp stones. This man was mentally and physically tormented.
Verse 28, "Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." This interaction highlights these demons profound understanding of their Christology, they clearly recognize Jesus and are acutely aware of His supreme authority and unparalleled power, which Mark tells us compels these once holy angels to bow down before Him and worship Him. As a footnote, this is not true worship. Despite their rebellion, they knew they must acknowledge Him as their Sovereign and ultimate Judge and they hate it! I believe this underscores the structured order within the spiritual realm but also emphasizes the inevitability of God's divine justice. Prostrate before Him, exclaiming in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" Their plea not to be tormented vividly illustrates their awareness of their impending judgment and of Christ's dominion over all creation, both seen and unseen. The Greek adjective "megas" is used to describe something of significant intensity. In other words these eternally damned beings were literally screaming and shrieking knowing that He has the power and authority to throw them into the lake of fire. They were begging Him not to torment them, the Greek verb "basanizó," they were worried their days were coming to an end, this wasn't the right time. It's fascinating to me that these demons have a more accurate eschatology than that of even the most learned theologians. It also amazes me just how Christians today fail to recognize He is the Holy God, and is to be reverenced, worshiped and honored. They deceive themselves with sugar coated Gospel presentation, attempting to bring Christ down to their level.
At this point, I am compelled to share something that is weighing heavily on my heart, the overwhelming obligation to address an issue that I have both personally and professionally observed escalating over the years, and appears to undeniably be, becoming more and more prevalent. There are a significant number of professing Christians, who have continued to live lives that reflect ungodly lifestyles, that are incongruent with sacred biblical teachings, claiming to be "born this way," a phrase often used to justify behaviors inconsistent with historical biblical teaching and Christian values. As a pastor, what is most concerning to me is that this cultural phenomenon seems to have invaded the church. There has been a dramatic increase in clergy identifying as lesbian or homosexual, these priests and pastors openly live these sexually immoral lifestyles, and some have even gone so far as to establish homosexual churches, claiming that God is fine with their homosexual practices, and that they ought to have their own church, which I believe it is crucial to clarify from a theological standpoint, these religious leaders are neither a Christian nor qualified lead Christ's Church and whatever the religious institutions they are leading are certainly not churches, having diverged significantly from what Scripture has historically defined as a true church, which emphasizes certain divine guidelines, the clear moral integrity and ethical standards that are integral to pastoral leadership. The clear departure from Scripture can best be seen by the profound impact it has had on the spiritual well-being of those who follow such morally questionable leaders, breading confusion and corruption among their congregations.
God loves these homosexuals, just as much as He loves anybody else, including heterosexual fornicators and adulterers, but unless they repent and abandon those deviant sexually immoral practices, according to Scripture they can be assured they will not enter the kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul warns the church at Corinth, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." And, in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."
When you consider the demons in the Bible, it becomes apparent they consistently engage in three things: They intentionally cause destructive behavior, that tends to manifest itself in behavior so destructive it leaves a person feeling powerless, unable to change their behavior which often causes interpersonal rift between themselves and others, consequently, isolating them from friends, family and community. That said, allow me to remind you that Jesus' ability to transform and renew even the most wretched sinner is stronger than any and all of the "demons" in our present world. 1 John 4:4-5, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them."
Verse 29, "For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert." We all recognize that people in this condition are extremely dangerous, and pose a threat to every one around them, necessitating their separation from society for the safety of all, including themselves. This verse shatters the claims by numerous self-proclaimed prophets today, who allege possessing the extraordinary power to cast out demons, in reality the only way we can handle such malevolent forces, is by putting on the full armor of God. It is essential to recognize that these spiritual battles require far more than human intervention, they demand God's divine intervention. I've often wondered just how much mercy, grace and compassion we've lost by succumbing to the temptation to blame those who are struggling with addictions and other self-destructive behaviors, frequently attributed to moral failings in a society quick to judge rather than acknowledging them as the profound the spiritual struggles they truly represent.
Verse 30, "And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him." This man infested with the overwhelming multitude of evil spirits that had invaded him, taking over his soul. He is absolutely out of control, his mind is in chaos, he's been deprived of his own will. He is, in every conceivable sense a madman by all traditional standards of mental stability, he's completely unable to think, speak or even act for himself, he has lost the ability to exercise autonomy over his own body. The name "Legion" is significant, as it represents the vast number of demons that have taken complete control of him. This man is not just merely possessed; he is by all accounts being utterly dominated by these malevolent evil forces!
Genesis 1:27, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." We are all image bearers of God, the distinctiveness of being male or female, our gender our maleness or femaleness is directly connected, intricately linked to precisely how we will glorify God, by the way we represent Him to the world, is tied to how we identify ourselves as the created children of God. I believe it is absolutely absurd, that in order to protect the delusion that has become prevalent in our society today, that gender is somehow fluid, this transgender madness that says that gender can be redefined or altered at will, claiming a man can really become a woman, and a woman can really become a man, based simply upon one's feelings about themselves.
The reality is that each person is inherently what they were created to be by the Divine Creator, long before one's personal feelings about who or what they think they are came into play. You are not who you are because you do what you do. You are who you are because your identity is deeply rooted in the inherent design bestowed upon you by God, the Creator, not merely a product of one's own feelings. Any attempt to uncreate oneself, dismantling one's existing identity, only to recreate oneself transgender, in the name of being true to his authentic, is essentially committing suicidal, and must be recognized as self-exaltation. In 1 Corinthians 6:15, the Apostle Paul writes "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!" In verse 19, he says "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" 2 Corinthians 13:8, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth." And, in Ephesians 4:15, he tells us we are to speak the truth in love, and rejoices in the truth; which must not be misunderstood as a blanket approval, the unconditional affirmation of fleshly desires, but genuinely seeks the objective good of the one we love, confronting the enemy's lies with honesty, integrity and compassion.
If you are struggling with your own "demon," I want to reassure you that only Jesus Christ can deliver sinners from the kingdom of darkness and the power of Satan! Take your struggle to Him, and lay it at the cross and be set free.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Copyright © 2019-2025 All Rights Reserved