Luke 8:26-39 tells us the story of the demon possessed maniac
of Gadara who found deliverance from his bondage by the power and authority of
Jesus Christ. Do you know anyone who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, prescription
drugs, sex or pornography? They are caught up into an addiction they cannot
break, they are enslaved in it, and it seems they have lost their minds, they
are making terrible decisions, and literally they are on a pathway to death.
Well, this passage gives us a vivid picture of such people.
When you read this story, we are the ones who must get in
the boat with Jesus to go and tell people all around us who are in bondage to
sin and Satan how they can be set free! And the only way they can be freed is
through the power and message of the cross of Jesus, His crucifixion, His
death, and His resurrection (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Luke 8:26-39, along with Matthew 8:28-34 and Mark 5:1-20
give us a pretty complete description of the effects of a person under the
demonic powers of addictions of any kind. This man was violent, he was naked,
he was homeless, he was cutting himself, he was “out of his mind”. He
lived in the tombs, the place of death. Think of the multitudes of countless
people who are living this way today all around us. We have the phenomenon of
young people afflicting themselves with physical pain by cutting themselves on
their arms to try to kill the emotional and mental pain and the sin pain they
feel on the inside of their soul.
“He lived in the tombs” (v. 27). The Bible
teaches us that a person without Christ is “dead in their trespasses and
sins” (Ephesians 2:1). In 1 Timothy 5:6, Paul described a person living in
pleasure as “dead while they live”. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us that, “There
is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
This man was under the power of Satan, in bondage, and
without any hope. “He was driven by demons into the wilderness”. A place of
violence, corruption, wickedness, darkness, and predators (v. 29). People in
this condition no doubt feel like the psalmist in Psalm 142:4 “I look for
someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will
help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.” They are in a deep dark
hole and there is no way out and they think that no one cares.
The world has no cure for his man. They tried to keep him
under guard, they bound him with chains and shackles. But with demonic supernatural
power he broke them and was driven into the wilderness and his last condition
was worse than his first. Usually that is what the cures of the world does for
these people.
“But when he saw Jesus, he fell down before Him…” (v. 28).
Mark’s Gospel says, “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him” (Mark
5:6). When you run to Jesus you are running to the right Person. “He worshipped”
which meant he acknowledge that only Jesus had the position, power, and
authority to set him free. But immediately the demonic power put up a fight to
keep residence in him. The demon then reveal his presence by speaking to Jesus
and telling Him not to torment him.
James 2:19 tells us that the demons believe in God and
tremble. When we accept the challenge and invitation of Jesus to get in the
boat and go to the other side to bring the message of deliverance and salvation
to the precious souls around us, we must realize that we will face demonic
opposition. The devil does not give up his captives very easily. Paul tells us
our task is: ”In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God
perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that
they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been
taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
We can’t give up on anyone who is under the power and addictions
of sin and Satan. We have the “Truth” and a greater power Who is on our side!
His name is Jesus!
God bless!
