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Thank you, Connie. We’ll meet that man in our Bible study today. First, some background on the creative, conquering power of God’s Word.

There is no comparable force in the universe. God through His Word created all things, not only planet earth but the sun, moon, stars and galaxies. Nothing can match, surpass, or overcome God’s Word. When Christ came to earth, He conquered the evil powers through His Word.

Come with me to the Jordan River. It’s not that big or beautiful compared with the Rhine or the Amazon or the Mississippi. But the Jordan River is special to Christians because Jesus was baptized there.

Afterward, Christ disappeared into the desert to pray. We talked yesterday about the prayer life of Jesus. For 40 days He prayed and meditated (we’ll talk about meditation tomorrow). So focused was Christ on His upcoming mission that He fasted all that time. Imagine—nearly six weeks without food. And just when Jesus is feeling His weakest, guess who shows up?

Why it’s the devil. Satan thinks he can stop Christ’s ministry before He gets started. So he attacks with three major temptations. Each time Jesus counters with one response: “It is written.” In other words, “Scripture says this.” Through the power of God’s Word, Christ overcomes the enemy.

The conquering Word of God is not just dried ink on a parchment scroll—or in our day, ink on paper in a black leather book or digitized data on your Bible software CD. The Holy Spirit activates the written Word and brings it to life. Think of what happens with your CD or DVD player. It takes in a round piece of plastic and from it produces colors, movement, sounds and words. Almost like it comes alive.

Remember, the CD itself—a piece of plastic—isn’t the music. Music is the product of activating the digitized data. So it is with God’s Word. Paper or plastic is not the Word in full reality until you read it and God’s Spirit reveals its mysteries to you. As you believe and receive God’s Word, spiritual life fills your soul like beautiful music.

Maybe you’re thinking, Pastor Lonnie, can you show from the Bible that the Word of God is more than ancient words?

I’m glad you asked! Hebrews 4:12 says: “The word of God is living and powerful.” [NKJ] Did you hear that—God’s Word is living! Powerful! It’s personal, too. We read in Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, … through whom also He made the worlds.”

So Jesus, the One through whom Father God created the world, also came here as God’s voice to us. God has spoken through teachers and prophets, but never so clearly as through His own Son. Ultimately, Jesus Himself is God’s Word to us. He silently speaks through His Spirit, activating within us the written Word—the Scriptures.

What difference does Jesus make in our lives through His Word? Well, let’s see that Word in action as we meet the man from hell we were talking about.

Upstream on the Jordan River is the Sea of Galilee. Actually, it’s more like a large lake, smaller even than California’s Lake Tahoe. Most of the towns by Galilee lie along its west coast—just like in Jesus’ day. The eastern shore is less populated, then and now.

Jesus appreciated its solitude when He needed a break from the demands of ministry. He went there to rest and recuperate sometimes alone and sometimes with His disciples. One morning He landed there and met the meanest man imaginable. Fasten your seatbelt, folks. I’m reading from the gospel of Mark chapter five, the first five verses:

“They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs. … He had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart. … No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.”

This man from hell needed more than anger management seminars. Good Christian counseling certainly has its place, but this man craved more than information. He needed life! Life from Jesus, and so do we. Maybe we’re not running around wild and naked, but our lives might be just as miserable, equally out of control.

Is your life like that? Maybe it’s too many lunches with Ronald MacDonald and the Big Macs. Maybe you’re riding into the sunset with the Marlboro Man. Or you are chugging beers after work instead of going home to your family. You know you shouldn’t be drinking but you can’t seem to stop. Maybe you’re having an affair with internet pornography—that’s adultery too, you know. Maybe you’re addicted to a person in a dysfunctional relationship. You’ve tried to break away but can’t seem to stay away long.

Pastor Lonnie, I feel hopeless. I’m doomed to a lifetime of failure and sin.

Listen, friend. Take courage! Number one: God loves you! Number two: there is hope and help in Jesus, the liberating Word of God. Let’s see what Christ did for the man from hell.

Down deep, this man has been hoping his life could somehow change. The moment Christ’s boat lands on the shore and He steps out, somehow the tormented man realizes that help has arrived. Even from a distance, the living Word communicates hope in his heart. We read in Mark 5:6:

“When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.”

Amazing! Here’s the last man we might expect to show spiritual interest. Yet he’s running down the hillside, stumbling over stones, determined to connect with the conquering Christ and worship Him. But when he gets near, another voice takes over. It’s that old tormenting voice from within—Satan, determined to keep a sinner from the life-giving Savior. Verse 7: “He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!’”

Jesus commands: "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Mark 5:8. The devil has no choice but to submit to God’s Word. But evil spirits don’t want to exit without doing some damage, even to some helpless farm animals—pigs grazing on the hillside.

Verse 12: “The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

I love the fact that the demons are reduced to begging. They are frightened of God’s Word. In fact, they would rather jump in the lake than do business with the conquering Christ. Mark 5:13:

He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

What a sight! I’ve stood there on that spot by the Sea of Galilee and tried to imagine what that was like. Two thousand squealing hogs possessed by demon spirits who are fleeing in terror from the Word of God.

Not everybody watching was happy. The Bible says: “Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” Mark 5:14-15.

You would think that the townspeople might be delighted that public enemy number one is now subdued. They can take his picture off the wall of their post office. The streets are safe again.

But notice verse 17: “Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.”

Don’t go away mad, just go away! Can you believe it?

Yes, it’s tragically true—now more than ever. Most people don’t want the power of God except on their own terms. Bless me! Heal me! Enrich me! Even save me—but don’t be my Lord! Don’t tell me what to do!

Can you relate, friend? Are you frightened to just let go and let God have His way with you. Are you like those Galilean townspeople begging Jesus to get in His boat and sail off so they can do their own thing?

Maybe that’s changing now for you. Otherwise I don’t think you would be listening to this broadcast. But at this point you have a decision to make, and please remember: God will honor your freedom of choice.

Back on that Galilee shore, Jesus sadly gets in the boat to leave. He doesn’t force Himself upon those who don’t want Him. But He doesn’t give up on them, either. He gives those who reject Him another chance to believe and receive God’s Word. How? He leaves behind a living testimony—the former man from hell. A life transformed from terror into testimony through the power of God’s living Word.

How about it, friend? It’s your move now. Would you too like to experience the conquering Christ in your life?