Sharing the Good News of Jesus (Part 3)

“And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.”  (Mark 5:17 NLT)

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Mark 5, when Jesus heals a demon-possessed man. The man lived in a cemetery and the demons had made him so powerful that even shackles couldn’t hold him. He would shriek and scream, terrifying anyone who would come near him. Oh, and did I mention he was naked. But he didn’t frighten Jesus!

It’s interesting to me that Jesus’ first words to this crazed lunatic were addressed to the demons: “What is your name?” (Mark 5:8a NLT) to which they responded: “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” Jesus then commands them to leave the man, and gave them permission to enter a nearby herd of pigs, which, as you can imagine, didn’t set well with the town’s people. When the word spread about what had happened, that’s when the crowd pleaded with Jesus to leave them alone. 

The healed man is now “sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.” (vs. 15). We don’t know how long he’d been possessed by demons, but in my minds eye, I can see family members and friends who, across the months or years, would try to reason with him, but to no avail.

Is there someone in your family or sphere of influence with whom you’ve sought repeatedly to share your faith, but they just want you to leave them alone]? Even the mention of Jesus’ Name sets them off? Please don’t hear what I’m not saying – I’m not saying they are demon possessed, but what I am saying is, there are times the work that needs to be done in a person’s life can only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit. Whatever satan is using to keep them away from the Lord, and antagonistic towards you, the Lord will know exactly what needs to be done and who is best suited to do it.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT): “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.”

There are people I love dearly who, from all outward appearances, are far from God. While they may not be “demon possessed,” they are surely under satanic influence to be so focused on gaining the things of the world, they have no time or interest in the things of God. What can we do?

We must hold them with open hands and heart. Extend your hands in front of you, palms up. Imagine you are holding that person in your hands, raising them up to God. “Giving them up to Him!” Relinquishing any hold on them, asking the Lord to do in and for them what only He can do. 

The former demon possessed man in Mark 5, begged Jesus to let him go with Him, but Jesus said to him: “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” (vs. 19) That’s the place to start, but if you’ve shared, or tried to share, what the Lord has done for you, but have been shut down, lift them up to God and let Him do what only He can do.

Pray often and specifically for those who need the Lord, by name. Pray, if you’re not the one to whom they’ll listen, that the Lord will send them someone to whom they will listen. Your prayers make a difference! Then be prepared to share if/when the Lord opens a door of opportunity. I feel your pain.

Blessings, Ed