If you see me do you see HIM

Today Mark 5 will be our scripture. 

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 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. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.  He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”  He gave them permission, and the impure 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.

 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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 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.

So what's in this for us:

What has Jesus done for you? Has he taken away an addiction? Changed your attitude about yourself so you don't keep getting into abusive relationships? Or for right now in your walk with The Lord, all you can say is that He has entered your heart and you will spend eternity with Him because He died to take away your sin. 

Wherever you are in your walk....new or old.... What have you done with what He has done for you?

The man who HAD been demon-possessed wanted to go with Jesus....but what was Jesus's response: As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.

Jesus said "I need for you to go back to town and show and tell".  Why? The answer is a few verses back: Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

The townspeople were scared and didn't want Jesus in their town. But Jesus knew they needed what He had to offer, so he left a person who could testify as to what Jesus had done for him.

Do you testify?  Is your life a living,walking testimony or

1)    Are you hiding your faith because you are afraid what people will say?

2)    Are you walking around defeated because God answered part of your prayer but not all or not as you wanted it to be answered...so you are angry?

If God has done ANYTHING for you...just even one little thing....then you need to be like this man that Jesus left in his town to testify.