Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39 audio video notes. How do most people you know think about the devil, Satan, and demons? How do most educated world leaders think about those things? Do they think they are real or figments of uneducated people’s imagination? Others perhaps may think the devil’s real, but sort of a cosmic prankster not to be taken seriously. More importantly, how do you think about the devil, Satan, and demons? Could you have ever possibly been demonically influenced? Could your spouse, your children? The biblical position shows these as very real entities and serious problems to humanity.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 8
By Delbert Young
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly (Luke 8:26-39)
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Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39 audio video notes
Scriptures: Luke 8:26-27, Luke 8:27, 29, Luke 8:28-29, Luke 8:30-31, Matthew 8:29, Mark 5:10, Luke 8:32-33, Luke 8:34-36, Luke 8:37-39,
How do most people you know think about the devil, Satan, and demons? How do most educated world leaders think about those things? Do they think they are real or figments of uneducated people’s imagination? Others perhaps may think the devil’s real, but sort of a cosmic prankster not to be taken seriously. More importantly, how do you think about the devil, Satan, and demons? Could you have ever possibly been demonically influenced? Could your spouse, your children? The biblical position shows these as very real entities and serious problems for humanity. The Bible is filled with evil supernatural presence, yet we and our life leaders, even spiritual leaders, speak and think so little of it.
Recall, that Jesus instructed his disciples to cross over to the other side of the lake.” He took a nap in the boat. They were expecting a smooth restful sailboat ride. They were attacked by a squall. Jesus said, “the other side” and he meant “the other side” – of humanity into the dark supernatural.
Luke 8:26-27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was MET BY A DEMON-POSSESSED MAN from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
The region of the Gerasenes (KJV – Gadarenes) was a region considered by the Jews as evil and controlled by Satan. We see why. It was referenced as the “land of Satan.” The Jewish people of that day just didn’t visit that area. It was a gentile area and it truly was “THE other side,” THE dark side. Not far from this very location seems to be from where Mary Magdalene, who had seven demons, came.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
As soon as Jesus stepped ashore a monster man met Jesus. This is important. The man, although full of demons, came to meet Jesus. This monster man was legendary in the area. For a long time, he’d lived in tombs. Think about it. His hair would be all wild, eyes rolling, filthy dirty, and HE’S NAKED! That’s not a pleasant thought. No man wants a naked guy, much less a naked crazy guy, showing up on the beach. That’s the rule. It’s, “Get out of here.”
Imagine you’re following Jesus.
You nearly drowned just a few minutes ago, probably still wet and shaken from that experience. You step out of the boat and a naked homeless monster man jumps out screaming at you. What would you do? I know what I’d do. “Move on guys. Don’t make eye contact. Keep moving. Don’t encourage him. Ignore him.” I’d say get back in the boat. Seriously, what would you do were that to happen to you? Perhaps something similar has.
In churches today there are two primary trains of thought when dealing with demons and evil spirits. (1) Demons and evil spirits are only primitive explanations of mental dementia. They’re totally dismissed from any spiritual connection. Those believing this must believe there is then really no spiritual impact from the dark side upon this world. (2) People have an unhealthy fascination or obsession with demons and evil spirits. To these, everything is a demon. Where do you align and position yourself? Where did Jesus align?
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
Were demons nothing, or were they something?
Was Jesus pretending to cast out demons, but the entire time actually healing mental disorders?
“Delbert, why do you want to talk about demons?” I don’t. Jesus does. Father God and the Holy Spirit do. When we are doing a study like this, it’s unavoidable. One of my least favorite topics to discuss and talk about is this, but God wants you to know about this stuff. The truth of the matter is one day you will, if not already, step into a situation where a demon meets you. What will you do? Let’s learn from this lesson as this guy is sort of a demon-possessed template.
Luke 8:27, 29 …For a long time this man had NOT WORN CLOTHES or lived in a house, but had LIVED IN THE TOMBS. (29) Many times IT had seized him, and though he was CHAINED hand and foot and kept UNDER GUARD, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Mark’s gospel also tells how night and day he would cry out screaming and cut himself with stones (Mar 5:5). This demonized person shows us exactly what evil desires to do to any of us or our loved ones when given the opportunity. Lives are made monstrosities – monsters – because of evil. He’s an exhibitionist isolated from people. People didn’t want him around. Who would? He was cutting himself -an obvious sign of evil – living in a self-destructive manner. People attempted to chain and guard him, that day’s rehab, but he’d break the chains of rehab restrictions and go wild again. Man can only restrain. Only God can restore.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
Today, demons attempt to isolate us, cause us to self-destruct, and want us to break every chain of restriction. This happens even in religion. Religion will isolate. Instead of restoring people, religion’s answer is to chain people with legalism, commands, and man-made doctrines. It doesn’t restore, so people break the chains again and again. The solution is restoring, not restraining.
Luke 8:28-29 When he saw Jesus, HE CRIED OUT and fell at his feet, SHOUTING at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” FOR JESUS HAD COMMANDED THE EVIL SPIRIT TO COME OUT OF THE MAN.
There are a few points to make. Let’s see the picture. This monster man jumped out naked, and fell at Jesus’ feet, all the time shouting at the top of his voice. How unnerving is that! The way demons give themselves away is being verbal even if not naked and nasty. They’ve got to talk. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard a demon speak or shout. Judy and I were at a Life Group several years back. A young man began attending church and was at the house group. People desiring prayer sat in a chair as others prayed for them.
This young man sat in the chair as a demonic voice came out of him. This was a whiney, very distinct, obnoxious voice. Our host gave a strange look and said, “What was that?” I said, as I stood to deal with the demon, “We have a demon tonight.” We then helped the young man. Was I fearful? No! “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1Jo 4:4), but I always speak the name of Jesus Christ and plead his blood.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
I noticed something in this passage I never noticed before and never heard anyone speak of or teach. It says, “For Jesus HAD COMMANDED the evil spirit to come out of the man” meaning Jesus had commanded the thing to come out, but it had not. Instead, it began stating its case and begging. In every other demonic case, the demon immediately jumped out when Jesus commanded. What’s going on?
It asked an interesting, seemingly out-of-context, question.
“What do you want with me Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” It seems what Jesus wanted the demon to do was obvious, so why did it ask? It knew exactly who Jesus was (demon theology is often better than humans), but even knowing exactly who Jesus was, the thing argued and debated with Jesus. What’s that about?
Luke 8:30-31 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And THEY BEGGED HIM REPEATEDLY not to order them to go into the ABYSS.
Again, we see the repetition of Jesus commanding and the demon not obeying. Only this time did Jesus converse with a demon. Why?
There may be times we can’t get someone delivered and helped immediately. We don’t give up. We repeatedly battle. Also, there are times we, ourselves, are not immediately delivered. We struggle with the same issue cutting and destroying our lives. Don’t give up. Repeatedly fight until delivered.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
Jesus asked the thing its name. Jesus acquired some information as to what he was dealing with. The thing said its name was “Legion.” – legeon {leg-eh-ohn’} – a body of soldiers whose number differed – in the time of Augustus seems to have consisted of 6100 foot soldiers and 726 horsemen. This monster man was a “demon condominium.” There’s a bunch of fighting demons packed into this one guy. He’s a demon army base.
Finally, we get a little insight as to what’s happening.
The demons’ argument was going to the Abyss – abussos {ab’-us-sos} – bottomless, the pit, the immeasurable depth, the abode of demons. We find the Abyss several times in the Book of Revelation (9:1, 2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:3), not only once. God, through time, opened and closed the abussos releasing hell upon earth. God used/uses hell at his will. “It was from the abyss, or deep, the flood came to destroy the wicked in the days of Noah (Gen 7:11). The abyss (deep) can be opened (Gen 7:11) or closed (Gen 8:2) by the Lord. It was from the depths that Pharaoh’s army was destroyed (Exo 15:5, 8). The depth (abyss) is the boiling place of leviathan (Job 41:31), and from the Abyss, the beasts of Revelation 11:7 came!” Evidently, the demons’ argument was the Abyss had been opened and it was not time to be sent back.
Matthew 8:29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Mark 5:10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
Strange as it sounds, the demons won the argument. Why would the Abyss be opened? Soon, hell would be released upon that generation – Mat 12:45. It appears for that very reason Jesus allowed the demons to talk and did not send them back to the Abyss.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
Luke 8:32-33 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
Instead of the Abyss, Jesus gave permission to go into a herd of pigs. They were coming out of the man even if it meant “deviled ham.” The pigs ran down to the cliff doing “swine” dives into the lake. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. Actually, they committed “sooey-side.”
Why did Jesus allow this to happen? It was dramatic proof of deliverance. No one could doubt something happened. The pigs ran off a cliff drowning and showing the deadly intent of demons.
Luke 8:34-36 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and THEY WERE AFRAID. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had BEEN CURED.
Now they’re afraid? People couldn’t stop talking about it, reporting this in every town and countryside. We see a life restored, not restrained. Isn’t that what we each desire? I do. I want to be restored and freed from evil thoughts. Also, I want to sit at Jesus’ feet, clothed in my right mind – righteousness. That’s what Jesus does and desires to do for everyone who will receive him as Lord.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
It says he was cured (KJV – healed) – sozo {sode’-zo} – to save, to rescue from danger or destruction, to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance. He didn’t need restraining. He needed restoring salvation.
Jesus didn’t leave the poor man to Satan. Jesus went to battle for him. I don’t care how possessed you or I am, or what we’ve done, or will ever do. Jesus will never turn his back on us.
Luke 8:37-39 Then ALL THE PEOPLE of the region of the Gerasenes ASKED JESUS TO LEAVE THEM, because they were OVERCOME WITH FEAR. So he got into the boat and left.
It’s interesting the response of people. They were afraid, overcome with fear – phobeo {fob-eh’-o}– (we get our English word “phobia”) – to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm, of those startled by strange sights or occurrences. We see this throughout scripture. The presence of the power of God traumatizes. It’s a holy presence and we are sinful.
People have a phobia of Jesus. Lost people want Jesus to go away even though they know their lives will be delivered if Jesus stays. Jesus might deliver them from their “piggy banks.” I don’t mean only money. It’s whatever they hold precious – even the pigs in their lives.
There are countries today that continue to ask Jesus to leave. Some would rather have their monster maniac ways than have Jesus and he will not force his way in where not wanted. It said, “All the people.” People prefer a maniac rather than a Christian. They’d rather be terrified by Satan than terrified of God. They prefer demonic activity more than a God’s presence. People are more comfortable with pigs and monsters than with Jesus Christ. How about you? Can you not wait to get out of here today? Or, do you want Jesus to stay? Jesus will get in his boat and sail away never to return again.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
Luke 8:38-39 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “RETURN HOME and tell how much GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU.” So the man went away and told all over town how much JESUS HAD DONE FOR HIM.
Of course, the thought is that man knew Jesus was God – the center of the Trinity. The once naked cemetery guy, now delivered, didn’t want to stay. Who would? He wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him his place was there. Where’s your place? Jesus says, “Tell everyone you know how much God has done for you.”
From what has he delivered you? From what has he freed you? Our past is the platform to talk to people about Jesus. They sent Jesus away, but they couldn’t send this guy away and they can’t send you away. You are a reminder to everyone of how you used to be.
Do you remember the first person you told you became a Christian? I remember one of my first. He laughed and said, “That won’t last.” After about six months, his wife said, “Don’t forget about your friends.” I heard a few years back, that his daughter died. I called him. He was so broken. I got to pray for him. It frightens people when we come to God. They don’t know what to do with us. They even hope it won’t last so they won’t be constantly confronted with it.
You are a demonstration to many in your everyday life. Someone is watching you right now. They know you’ve gone to church. They remember those chains, and they remember those pigs. Tell them what God has done for you.
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39
You know people whose lives are monstrosities.
What can you do for them? Will you? Or, your life may be a monstrosity. Perhaps your life seems possessed and controlled by something. You feel nasty, and dirty, cutting your life to pieces and self-destructing. Could it be you need prayer? Does Jesus need to step into your life in a deeper way?
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39 audio video notes
Demons Begged Him Repeatedly Luke 8:26-39 audio video notes
Other Related Sermons:
Power of Testimonial Evangelism
Evil Spirits and Demons audio video notes
DEMONS AND DARKNESS sermon series
Also see:
The Stone Cometh, Delbert Young, Chapter 9