Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, May 1, 2016
Today’s Scripture Focus: Mark 5:1-21
We are focusing on sin recovery principle number two of 12: “We believe that only God’s power can restore us to sanity. His power is infinitely greater than our own.”
When you have absolutely no power at all to effect change in your life, to whom do you turn? Whether you are completely out of your mind, or just feel that way, how can you be restored?
As Jesus came ashore into the country of the Gadarenes, He and His disciples encountered a man coming out of the tombs who was raging out of control. This man was possessed by about 6,700 devils and could not be controlled by men or chains. He was in such a bad state that he continued cutting himself with stones. Only the enemy of souls would cause someone to exhibit self-injurious behavior. The man cried aloud in indistinguishable tones both day and night. Can you imagine being in such a hopeless situation? He was completely under the control of Satan.
When Jesus came close, the man began to speak; yet the devils were clearly the ones communicating through him. “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” (Mark 5:7). The Lord did not waste any time. He immediately understood the man’s innermost need. He could immediately interpret the deep plea that was suppressed by the enemy. In answer to this man’s need, Jesus commanded the devils, all 6,700 of them, to come out of the man. Amazingly, the devils made haste and left the man, and went into the herd of pigs, driving them into the sea to be drowned.
Now the man was free from the control of the enemy. God in the flesh had commanded the devils to flee from Him, and they were compelled to obey. The man, now delivered and in his right mind, wanted to remain with Jesus wherever He went. “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:19-20).
After reading this account of Jesus’ power to vanquish the devil, is there anything you think He cannot deliver you from? Is there any habit or mood that He cannot master in your life? If we would simply fall at the Lord’s feet daily and cry out to Him concerning our afflictions, He will exert His power over the enemy as He did for this man 2,000 years ago. God’s word to us, after delivering us, is go and be witnesses of His goodness. As we are witnesses for Him, we not only lead others to the endless fountain of His mercy, but we ourselves remain delivered by faith.
