June 24, 2007 pm     Jesus versus the Legion    Luke 8:26-39

By Ronald E.  George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

When Church Is Miraculously Moved

The faith that moves mountains is borne out by the church that was moved by the Hand of God.

Such a church stands to this day in the village of Swan Quarter , North Carolina . Before it was built in 1874 the congregation eyed with longing a desirable plot of ground but was unable to purchase it for reasons deemed adequate by the owner of the land. The disappointed assemblage thereupon erected the structure on an alternative site—but could not forbear to cast longing glances at the original location.

Two years after the building was completed, on September 17, 1876, a storm of great violence struck the countryside. Pelting rain, a raging wind and roaring tide combined into a miraculous motive power. The edifice was lifted up by the elements as if it had been a scrap of paper. It was airborne a distance of 300 feet, and although its path was not straight, it found its mark with unerring accuracy.

The House of God came to rest upon the exact plot of ground which the worshippers had so ardently desired. The divine transfer awed and thrilled the village and even stilled the objections of the owners. The sacred edifice still stands on the plot ratified by the Hand of God. Its name has been changed from Methodist Protestant to the Church of Providence —and the site has long been acknowledged as Holy Ground. ^[1]

Scripture Text:  Luke 8:26 (NIV) They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee . 27 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. 28 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!" 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. 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. 30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 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. 33 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. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 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. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 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. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "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.

1.  What happens when Jesus comes to town?  Have you met the Lord?  He will change your life.

2.  Hope will be given.  The hopelessness of a man without God who has been overtaken by the devil.

A legion included four to six thousand troops. This man is therefore hosting a large number of demons. According to Jewish tradition, many demons were imprisoned in the atmosphere or, as here, under the earth (in the “abyss”).^[2]

3.  The Devils will tremble.  The cry of the world:  What do you want with me, Jesus? 

4.  Sin will be exposed.  The evil of the demon possessed man was brought to light as well as the evil in the town. 

5.  God’s word will prevail.  Jesus commanded the devil to leave the man.  Jesus defeated the devils long ago.  He is the King of kings. 

6.  Mercy will be shown.  Even the demons received a taste of the mercy.  Let the demons go to the pigs and into the ocean to be drowned. 

7.  Miracles will be seen.  The response of the world to the lose of the pigs.  Forget about the healing of the sick man. 

8.  Jesus will be despised.  What was the response of the world to the healed man?  The owners of the pigs  The people asked Jesus to leave them because they were overcome with fear. 

9.  The sick will be healed.  The news of the day.  The man has been healed. 

10.  The Good News will be made known.  The desires of the healed is to tell the story of the miracle they had experienced.  He told others the good news!   Jesus is God!   He has healed me. 

11.  Will Jesus be asked to leave again?   So, he left.