Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe

Main Scriptures: Mark 5, Matthew 13, Ephesians 6

Date of Teaching: December 4, 2022

1. Jesus is on a mission
   • Jesus told the disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, for that was His purpose – to go to Gadara
   • There was a storm
     • Matthew 13:24-30 – where there is a work of God, there is a work of the enemy
     • Mark 4:39 – Jesus rebuked the storm; He saw beyond this world and saw the enemy
   • The group crossed over to Decapolis, which were ten cities which were serving Greek gods
2. Jesus declares war
   • He marched into enemy territory – His mission was to destroy the work of the enemy
   • 1 John 3:8 – Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil
     • The greater the darkness, the brighter the light of the Gospel will shine
   • The enemy attacks after Jesus first stepped out of the boat
     • The enemy often attacks us right away before we get started
     • The enemy will use anything and anyone to stop you from doing God’s work
       1. Excuses, fear, sickness are all weapons the enemy will use to keep us from being obedient
       2. God has called us to be a witness
     • If you choose to witness, you are going to war
     • The enemy’s goal for every single believer is to destroy them because Jesus’ goal for every single believer is life
   • Man’s methods cannot solve spiritual problems – the people tried to control the demon-possessed man by physical chains
   • Jesus was in the graveyard with the man
     • Sometimes Jesus will allow us to get to the heights of a mountain or of the depths of a tomb so that we will realize that He’s the only answer
3. The weapon of war is the Word
   • Demon theology is spot on – the demons know for a matter of fact that Jesus is the Son of God – this is why they’re asking not to be tormented
     • They believe Jesus is the Son, but they don’t want us to know that He is
     • The demons didn’t care about the condition of the man, they just asked Jesus not to torment them
     • The enemy often lies to get me to focus on my own self
4. Watch out for the fire coming from your foe
   • Mark 5:14-17 
     • The demon possessed man had been healed and was clothed and in his right mind
     • If Jesus could rescue this man, He can help us
     • God can take care of my greatest problems because He is God
   • Luke 8:37 – many of those were seized with great fear
     • They had lost 2,000 pigs–which was a significant financial loss
     • Jesus came to change me from my sin so that I can sit at His feet and be in my right mind
   • Jesus left – God does not force Himself on anyone
5. Purpose to be on the Mission
   • The man asked to follow Jesus, but Jesus had a plan for him to be a witness in Decapolis
   • He told people what the Lord had done for him
   • All I need to do is tell people what the Lord has done for me

Selah Memory Verse: Mark 5:19 -Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.

Challenge to Change: Put Mark 5:19 to practice with the person you are praying for this holiday season.