July 28, 2019

The Difference Jesus Makes

Preacher:
Passage: Mark 5:1-20
Service Type:

Bible Text: Mark 5:1-20 | Preacher: Mark Pickett | Series: Visiting Preachers | Introduction

Example of taxi driver
A story of a troubled man who has an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ

An extra dimension: he was filled with demons

How do we interpret this?

In a psychological way? – a wrong approach
Real spiritual beings that inform a simplistic evangelical approach – a wrong approach

Why did Mark include this story?

Marks is making a special case that Jesus is not just an ordinary man – He has authority

He has authority over evil spiritual beings
This point will help inform our Christian life and outworking

v15 – to see the three changes in his life as a result of his encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ

Challenge: have you had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ?
Three things that will happen if you do have an encounter with Jesus Christ

Turmoil into Tranquility

He is now sitting

Previously he was running around, he was expelled from the city

He is at peace:

With other people

No peace in yourself affects relationships with others

This has been the case from the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden

Gen 3:12

We blame other people

People are coming to this man (because he is at peace with God)

With himself

No longer tearing off his chains or cutting himself

Example
The Gadarene demoniac was in a similar state

With God

Ever since the fall people are enemies of God

There is no neutral position before God
We all need to be made right with God

We have peace through ‘justification’ – explanation

Disgrace into Dignity

He is dressed

Previously he was tearing around the tombs stark naked

People were naked in the Garden of Eden but a covering was given to them

Our society is becoming increasingly shame orientated

Not guilt orientated
Body shaming – especially on social media

Affecting a lot of young people today
People can feel like damaged goods
People can feel ‘de-personed’ – Quote from Monica Lewinsky

He felt shame

He was a blight on society
He may have been a foil for others

‘I’m not perfect, but I’m not like them’

Adam and Eve felt shame so covered themselves with fig leaves

God gave them animal skins
Some people feel our shame is self-imposed
We cannot go back to the fall but we can look forward to a day when we will be dressed by God himself

Rev 21:1-2

We can be given the righteousness of Christ for our covering 

We can all experience this in our lives
This is the only way to overcome this shame and guilt
This man had experienced a change in his heart

Confusion into Clarity

He is in his right mind

His thinking previously had been false, futile/fruitless, frustrating

False thinking:

Nothing that we think is not affected by sin

Everything we think is affected by sin

Example of Lord of the Rings
This is what it is like for every human being

We are irrational in our thinking – examples
Sin corrupts our thinking

Futile/fruitless thinking:

“As a man thinks, so he is”
Bad thinking leads to bad living
People became depraved

Example of Rome
Example of modern art

Our culture has become corrupted

Frustrating thinking:

Life doesn’t make sense

Personal example
It is often difficult to admit we are on the wrong path

This happens with sin

We have to admit we are on a wrong path and turn around
Example of well known author

Closing Remarks

Challenge: have you met the Lord Jesus Christ?
Example of taxi driver
You too can be changed by Jesus Christ