The Spiritual Encounter

Text: Mark 5:1-13

Have you encountered a demon possessed person? A man so strong, with a different voice being under influence and control of an evile spirit?

In the Gospel of Mark alone, 3x Jesus dealt with a demon-possessed.

Mark 1:23 – a man in the synagogue.
Mark 5:2 – a man in the tomb.
Mark 7:25 – the daughter of a Greek woman.

But in every encounter, Jesus always is supperior and victorious over the evil spirit.

I. The Possessed
“a man with unclean spirit”
Possessed – being owned, occupied or held.
What occupies the life of this man is an “unclean spirit” a.k.a.
a. It occupies hos body, the strength is above normal (PS. 103:20)
b. It occupies the soul (intellect, emotion, will)
– The man had no control of his mind.
A. His Position “dwelling among the tombs”
– Tombs are not intended as dwelling place for the living, but it is intended for the dead.
1. Tombs mean human isolation.
c. His Persecution “cutting himself”
– The persecutor is within him.
– The pain inflicted is more than the physical – it’s also emotional, mental, social and spiritual.
– Demons desire man’s total destruction (body, soul, spirit) (John 10:10; 1 Pet. 5:8-9)
– Uses alchohol, drugs, etc. to keep people from the truth (2 Cor. 4:4)

II. The Profession
A. That Jesus is worthy of worship v.6
1. The magi worshipped Him (Mat. 2:11)
2. The leper worshipped Him (Mat. 8:2)
3. The ruler worshipped Him (Mat. 9:19)
4. The disciples worshipped Him (Mat. 14:33)
5. The woman of Canaan worshipped Him (Mat. 15:25)
God only must be worshipped (Rev. 19:19; Rev. 22:9)
B. That Jesus is the Son of the Most High God – v.7
– The devil recognized Jesus as the Son of the Supreme God, the creator of the universe.
C. That Jesus is capable to torment.
– Jesus is the creator of angels – (Col. 1:16-17)
– Jesus will judge demons and Satan – (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

Conclusion
Demons are real and are at work to steal, to kill and to destroy.
They are the ministers of Satan and they wreak havoc in the world.
Every man, woman and child is under their control because of sin.