Sermons in Brief

"Tell How Much God Has Done for You" - Luke 8:26-39

Every one loves a story. Every one of us has a story. Everyone has a story to tell. We are the 'Fifth Gospel', Susan Piper,Christian singer/songwriter said: My personal mission statement is Luke 8:39: "Return home and tell how much God has done for you."

Imagine the story of this man--the demoniac of the Gerasenes:

I really wanted to go with Jesus, to get on the boat with the others and follow him . . . wherever. I begged him to go but he told me to go home and tell the folks at home how much God had done for me! I was devastated! I wanted to go with Him, be chained to him like I had been chained hand and foot when demonized. But my assignment was different, he said. His plan for my life was for me not to leave home but to go home and simply tell how much God had done for me. So that is what I have been doing: telling those I've embarrassed and shamed; Telling those I'd horrified and frightened ; Telling those who shunned me kept me at arms length, what Jesus has done for me. My mission has been to tell how one day. . .

1. LIGHT REVEALED MY DARKNESS

I saw him get off the boat that morning. His disciples looked a bit frazzled to me --I guess there had been a storm. But He looked calm, serene, composed, somehow filled with light. This just worsened my personal darkness, for I was overflowing with darkness. . . and death. I was swarming with demons. They say I looked like I came from the pit of hell and smelled like smoke! A mob of demons, unclean spirits, ruled my life.

How did I get them? One ugly decision at a time. I stepped into darkness and opened myself up. I made another shadowy choice and opened myself further. One step, one day, one choice at a time. A messenger of Satan got a foothold here, a foothold there, until they had built a stronghold in my life.

I was in torment. I roamed the mountains. I lived in the graveyards. I felt dead. I was out of control. . . no I was under the control of Forces so dark I tried to harm myself. . .cut myself. . .gash myself. When caring people tried to chain me so I wouldn't hurty myself or others the anger and the unclean spirits made me strong that I tore apart the chains. I ran and roamed the mountains, howling like a wild animal.

AND THEN LIGHT STEPPED OFF THE BOAT THAT MORNING AND REVEALED MY DARKNESS.

I was both drawn to him and repelled by him. I had to go to him. I had to get rid of him. I ran to him, and I fell down at his feet and I screamed:

"What business do you have messing with me? You're Jesus, Son of the Most High God, don't hurt me!"

But He didn't hurt me. The Light that revealed my darkness asked my name. He kindly and tenderly reached out to me. Of course the demons in me weren't about to accept love, compassion, or light. "Mob. My name is Mob," I said, because so many demons had mobbed me.

It is remarkable that when I share my story how many people can identify with me. So many understand darkness. So many have experienced allowing Enemy a foothold. So many admit that the Enemy has built strongholds of evil in their lives. So many are hungry for light to dispel their own darkness. And so when I tell them how much God has done for me I tell them LIGHT REVEALED MY DARKNESS. Then I tell them how:

2. LIGHT REBUKED MY DARKNESS

The demons that had controlled me so long knew the power and authority of this man from the boat. For some reason though they outnumbered Him they knew they did not outmatch Him. They begged not to to be sent to the Abyss--the place of the dead, the place of judgment. 0My demons knew the time of my torment was done. They begged instead to be sent into a herd of pigs on the hillside. (Not very discriminating demons. First me, then pigs.) This Light - this Jesus - dispelled my darkness. And the demons left me. They went into the pigs an the pigs went so crazy that rather than acting like pigs and scattering in all directions, they acted like lemmings and stampeded into the lake and drowned. (So much for the ham, bacon and pork chop business in that area.)

I have often thought of that day especially when telling my story. I would see some of my hearers feeling sorrier for the pigs than for me! I have often thought how valuable I felt in the presence of the Light who dispelled my darkness! And I was precious to Him. . .more valuable than a side of bacon.

Someone told me that He once taught: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." I guess I was worth more than many pigs!

LIGHT REBUKED MY DARKNESS! YOU CANNOT IMAGINE THE CHANGE I FELT INSIDE MY BEING WITH THE DARKNESS GONE. When I went home and told what God had done for me there was in the faces of those who knew me and knew where I had been a hungger, desire, yearning, and longing for a LIGHT OF THEIR OWN TO DISPEL OWN DARKNESS. It's the same desire and need as when walking into a dark room and longing for a candle. AND SO I NOW DIRECT THEM TO THE CANDLE.

3. LIGHT REDEEMED MY DARKNESS

When the demons left me there I stood: disheveled, dirty, naked as a Jay bird, but totally at peace. Jesus' disciples gathered around me and slapped me on my naked back. Then they began the cleaning up process. For me that meant taking a much needed bath in the cold lake. It meant borrowing some clothes fromHis men. It meant borrowing some sandals and placing them on my hardened feet. But mostly it meant sitting at Jesus' feet, staring into his face, listening to his voice and as my momma used to say "Just letting him love on me."

Jesus redeemed my darkness. He delivered me, set me free, rescued me. Then he said: "Go home and tell how much God has done for you" How much? Where do I begin? How can I fully tell story? That's my job . . . my mission . . . the burning desire of my heart. I stumble . . . bumble . . . falter . . . sometimes but it's my story . . . it's my privilege. . .to share the Light.

Every one loves a story. Every one of us has a story. Everyone has a story to tell. We are the "Fifth Gospel".