When Kingdoms Collide

Mt 8:28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.  29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"  30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.  31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."  32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.  33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (NIV)

I. This is a Collision between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness.

A. What we know about this passage

Place: Region of the Gadarenes (gadereens) (jereseens) (Country and state) but same region.

1. Located just east of sea of Galilee
2. Primarily a gentile area
3. Small village of Gergesa

Problem:    

1. People of this area were tormented by these two guys who were inhabited by demons.

Mt 8:28 …They were so violent that no one could pass that way

Mr 5:3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.  5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

Lu 8:27 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.

 
The Collision:

1. The kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness collide just outside of Gergesa

Mt 8:32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

The Result of the Collision between Light and Darkness:

Deliverance from the power of darkness

Mr 5:15 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;

Mr 5:18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."  20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

II. Observations About this Collision

Observation #1
A. The demons knew they were toast

29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" 

1. They know how the story ends
2. They submit to the authority of Jesus
3. They know the Great White Throne is coming  (Rev 20)

Observation#2
B. The demons preferred pigs to not having any physical body WHY?

1. Man is a unique creation  (Image and likeness of God)
2. Angels will never have the same relationship with God that man has

- People do not become angels when they die.
-  Angels do not earn their wings…..

Angels view of man:

Heb 2:6 …"What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor  8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.  9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

- Angels are not crowned with glory and honor
- Man is lower now in power - the angels know that man will be elevated

1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Heb 1:13 To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (NIV)

Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil--  15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.

 1Pe 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

 

3. Man is created for relationship
  
4. Angels are created for service

Demons are fallen angels
- They desire the abilities of man
- They desire the place of man

They hate man out of jealousy

Is it possible that jealousy contributed to the hostility of Satan towards God.

- Satan saw the place that man was to have with God and became bitter.

- And man became his chief target of hatred

THEREFORE:

Know that man is highly valued in heaven

- That's why murder is such a sin

Ge 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

- Even speaking a bad word against another human being

Jas 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

 HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE A MORE TREASURED PLACE WITH GOD THAN THE ANGELS AND ESPECIALLY MORE THAN SATAN EVER HAD

God is motivated to protect you from the kingdom of darkness because you are made in His likeness and are the object of His love

 Observation#3
C. Signs of Demonic Influence

1. Obsession with death and darkness
2. Reclusive
3. Violence and anger
4. Self destructive behavior (Suicidal thoughts)
5.  Bondage in anything, including, sex, and addictions
6.  Depression  (Could be medical - or could be spiritual)
7.  Sickness can be spiritual and require deliverance from demonic

III.  Applications of Matt 8:28-34

A. There is no need to fear the kingdom of darkness

1. Jesus has all authority
2. We are hidden in Jesus

Col 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

3. Therefore we walk in the same authority as Jesus over the kingdom of darkness

Lu 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

4.  You have value as the image of God.
      - What matters is who your father is
      -  You righteousness comes from Christ
     -   Your value comes from who you came from. IMAGE & LIKENESS

 B. Dramatic Collisions are not as effective as subtle collisions

1.  Dramatic Collisions
- Demon possession
- Demonic sickness
- Strongholds of the mind
- The Occult

2. Subtle Collisions
- Should I cheat just a little?
- Just a little porn
- Any violation of my conscience

We would never choose to not embrace the dramatic kingdom collisions like deliverance from demon possession.

- How about the subtle collisions?
- Do we let the kingdom of darkness win there?

Last application:
C. The kingdom of darkness is not where the danger is -  it is in sending Jesus away

- The people of Gergesa asked Jesus to leave.

Mt 8:31 The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."  32 He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.  33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.  34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region. (NIV)

- They had lost 2000 pigs
- Jesus had messed up the norm
- They thought it best to ask Jesus to leave.

They ignored the two guys who were delivered form demons
- One of them became a missionary

Mr 5:17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.  18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.  19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

The people ignored who Jesus was.

It was easier to ask Him to leave.

Some of us would have to admit there are times we ask Jesus to leave - just for a little while.

Result:
- The city of Geresa is a ruins today
-  But the tombs are still there

 ALTAR:

1. Embrace the kingdom of God
    - Confidence in Jesus righteousness
    - Confidence in your family heritage   IMAGE OF GOD, THEREFORE YOU ARE VALUABLE

2. If you are living below who you are in Christ - repent - be filled and glorify God

3. If you are bond in some way by the enemy