Luke 8-7.11.22

Scripture‭‭

Luke‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭NLT

“The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.”

Observation-What does it say?

Jesus crosses the lake of Galilee and encounters a demon possessed man. This man was homeless (living in the tombs just outside the town), shackled, and possessed by many demons. Jesus then casts out the demons into a nearby herd of pigs. The entire herd then ran off a nearby steep cliff, where they fell into a lake and drowned. The once demon possessed man was now healed! The man begs to go with Jesus. But Jesus instead tells him to go back to his family and tell them everything God had done for him.

Understanding-What does it mean?

I still have work to do.

When I read this passage, I felt the Holy Spirit really point out something to me; this demon possessed man, who was homeless and in shackles. He could very well represent me, or anyone for that matter, before we met Jesus. You see, I too once was a man without a home. (In the sense that I had no real purpose or did not belong to the family of God yet). I too was once shackled and allowed my sinful nature to possess me the way this man was possessed by his many demons. But then I met Jesus. And I too was freed from the shackles of my sins. I was no longer a man without purpose, and a man without a home. But, instead I now belong to the family of God! And what was my response to that?..similar to the man in the story. He begged to go with Jesus. I too wanted to go with Jesus. I wanted to see Him in Heaven. I wanted the Rapture of The Church to come already. I was ready to go! But just like in this passage, it wasn’t time yet. Jesus told the man in this story to “go back to his family and tell them everything God has done for him.”  In the same way, once we are saved, we too should go and tell everyone what God has done for us. It is our mission as Christ Followers. If all God wanted for us in life was to know Him, and believe in His Son Jesus, then I think He would have just snatched us up into Heaven the moment we believed. But rather we are still here, amongst life’s struggles. We are to continue to live out our life in this world, build and strengthen our faith, and tell everyone we know all the wonderful things that God has done. It is our purpose. It is our mission. So until God calls me home, I still have some work to do. 😉

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭‬‬

“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”-‭‭Acts‬ ‭13:47

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Life Application

Share with someone today what God has done for you.

We are learning in our ITC Group about a Third Place. A Third Place is somewhere other than church or our small group where we can naturally hang out with non-believers to build relationships with, and possibly share the gospel with. It’s a great way to go out into the world and bring church to the people instead of waiting for the people to come to us. I like it! It’s about being proactive instead of reactive. You can find your Third Place and try it out together with your ITC Group. Or you can find your Third Place where you can do it individually. For our group, it is the park next to Canyon Country Community Center. For me individually, it’s my workplace. The point is to make sharing Jesus and the Good News with others a lifestyle. So, what are we waiting for? Where is your Third Place? Let’s go!!!

-Moses Gaddi