The Gift of Freedom
The Gift of Freedom || Day 6
Luke 8:22-39 NKJV
"Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!” Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him."
Freedom is always the by product to the plan, not the end result.
We have spent the last few days talking about this one thought. Just as it was with the man from Gadarene, whom Jesus set free, our job is to proclaim to those who are around us what God has done for us!
Church, it’s time for us to begin to tell everyone what God has done for us. If you say, “God hasn’t done anything fresh in my life in years,” today you might want to humble yourself and rededicate your life to Him today. Because if Jesus hasn’t done anything in your life in years, I don’t think you have what you think you have.
God is constantly moving in the lives of people who will allow Him. And when He moves, when He provides, when He delivers, when He saves that prodigal, when He opens that door, when He fills you with His Spirit, when He heals your body, and restores your marriage, someone ought to hear about that! Go and tell the city what the Lord has done for you!
Further reading: Matthew 8:23-34, Mark 5:1-20, Jeremiah 20:9