Scripture: Mark 5 v 15: "And they came to see Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind."
Wherever Jesus went He always had a purpose. Firstly, to heal the sick or deliver some from demonic bondage. Secondly, to teach His disciples the proper methods of continuing His ministry after He ascended to Heaven. This teaching was written down for disciples through the ages, and until the present day, to follow and perform.
Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee to Gadara just to set this maniac free. He was completely possessed by demons. The demon told Jesus, my name is Legion for we are many. A Roman legion consisted of 6000 soldiers and so the number of demons possessing him made him suicidal, destructive and dangerous.
There was one ruling spirit or strong man who controlled 6000 other lesser ranked demons. We are taught to bind the strong man before we can clean out his "house". Demons often refer to human body as their house.
I vividly remember the first time I heard a demon speak out of a seriously afflicted woman. He said his name was Charlie and this woman was his house from her birth. When we rebuked him he cried out that we must not as her father would lose his powers. We finally got Charlie bound and expelled, and were able to speak to the lady. She said her father's name was Charlie and she had never met him. The Lord revealed to us that this man was a Satanist who had sold his new born baby's soul to Satan in return for greater power.
While we were dealing with Charlie, I kept hearing another voice, screaming, high pitched, saying I am Gail over and over. Gail was the lady's name. I mentioned it to our pastor and he said let's get a confirmation. From across the room and out of earshot, Gail suddenly said I hate my name, my father gave it to me! At that moment the demon called Gail created such a frenzy it took five people to stop it from harming her. Eventually it left, and we were exhausted but victorious, and she was never called Gail again. Charlie was the ruler and Gail could only go after he was defeated. True Deliverance!
No matter how strongly the devil controlled him, when the demented Gadarene saw Jesus coming, he ran to Him and worshipped Him. No matter how strong the hold a demon has on its victim, if that person wants to follow Jesus he cannot be stopped by any demon, nor even Satan himself. So those who hide behind their demons and claim they were born that way, actually enjoy their bondage and don't want to be any different.
The demons begged to be allowed to stay in that place. There was a herd of 2000 pigs nearby and Jesus said to the Legion - Go into the pigs. The demons left the demented man and ran into the pigs, which all jumped off the cliff into the sea. Suicidal self-destruction manifested in them. And it left the victim completely and instantaneously healed.
It must have been mind boggling for the spectators when they saw the naked raving lunatic sitting quietly with Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. No more need to bind him with chains. He was set free by the love of Jesus. It is always mind-boggling to find out that demons exist and the only way to deal with them is the way Jesus taught us. Pills and therapy cannot set the captives free of demons who only respond to the name of Jesus. No wonder Satan turned that most powerful name into a curse word.
To have the authority of Jesus to heal and deliver from demons you must be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Demons recognize Jesus in us and want to get away from Him. In Acts 19 v 13 - 16: "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
These exorcists had seen Paul in action and tried this method without the presence of Jesus in their hearts. The evil spirit said Jesus and Paul I know, but who are you lot? And the demons inside the man tore them apart. They fled naked and wounded. Would have gone viral on Twitter! If we had not been covered by the Blood of Jesus, Charlie and Gail would have done the same to us! Very practical lesson.
In Britain they recently announced a breakthrough in the treatment of Dementia. The word dementia means possessed by demons. We had our breakthrough in the Gadarene demoniac 2000 years ago but we are now too sophisticated and intelligent to apply that ancient knowledge to the needs of today. Not all dementia cases behave dangerously but they can all be helped by deliverance.
We are being formed into the Body of Jesus and every part of Him - us - has the ability to be exactly like Him. To heal the sick and set the captives free. To multiply the loaves and fishes to feed the hungry. When will we become wise and believe it to achieve it?
Prayer: Father God, asylums, rehab centres, gangs, warlords, covens etc are filled with people under demonic bondage. In every street there are those who need a touch from You through our hands. There are trillions of demons affecting every strata of society and because we don't want to even believe they exist we are helpless to deal with them. Lord, You opened my eyes to the world of spirits that control mankind, please open everyone's eyes so we can overcome this evil corrupting people by our faith and love and ability and courage. In Your name, Jesus! Amen.