Celebrate Recovery!

Job 21; Mark 5; Mark 6

Scripture

The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man

Mark 5:1-20 "They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil[b] spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For 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. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He 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!" 8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"
9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He 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.
14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When 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. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus 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." 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[c]how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Observation

Our church has a ministry called “Celebrate Recovery”!

Every week I watch as people involved in that ministry grow in Christ! They have been set free! This demon-possessed man was helpless and on the road to complete self-destruction until Jesus came into his life! Jesus Christ set him free and we find the man sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind! As Jesus was getting into a boat to leave the area this man wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus said “No”. Then He said in my paraphrase, “Go home and celebrate your recovery.” “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you!” Every week as I hear testimonies in “Celebrate Recovery”, it is all about people sharing how much the Lord has done for them! What a great ministry!

Application

Go and tell how much the Lord has done for you!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, broken lives and folks on the road to self-destruction are all around me. Help me to involve them in our Celebrate Recovery ministry! Thank you for the leadership we have in this ministry. May they continue to grow stronger and may lives continue to be changed through this ministry!



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