"Go Home!"
(A Message to the Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ)
(Preached Saturday Afternoon, October 3, 2020)
“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”
(Mark 5:18-20)
Introduction: Mark 5:1-20
- Watch (or listen to): “Jesus Heals Demoniac – from the JESUS Film”
“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.” (Mark 5:1-5)
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.’ For he said unto him, ‘Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.’ And he asked him, ‘What is thy name?’ And he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion: for we are many.’ And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. (Mark 8:6-10)
“Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, ‘Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.’ And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.” (Mark 8:11-15)
“And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.” (Mark 5:16-17)
“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, ‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.’ And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:18-20)
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great,” (Luke 10:2a)
I. The Lord of the Harvest has a real pew dweller!
“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.” (Mark 5:18)
A. The Lord of the Harvest listens
“He [Jesus; the pastor] was come into the ship [the building structure – along with the assembly of called out ones].”
B. The prospective pew dweller
“He that had been possessed with the devil [he, the miraculously saved convert who was greatly impressed and extremely grateful for what Jesus had done for him] prayed [begged] him [Jesus, the pastor] that he might be with him [that he might attend his church, hear his sermons, hang with (a.k.a. fellowship with) the other church members – for the rest of his life].”
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:” (Luke 10:2a,b)
II. The Lord of the Harvest has a real prospect!
“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, ‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” (Mark 5:19)
A. The Lord of the Harvest
“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him.”
Translation: “Instead Jesus refused to let him join the church, and instead told him to go do something else.”
B. The potential prospect
“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”
Translation: “Don’t go to church: Go to work!! Go be my ambassador to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and tell them how he has had compassion on you (a.k.a. bring the facts and the pathos… to the people)!”
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
III. The Lord of the Harvest has a real plower… at last!
“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:20)
A. The Lord of the Harvest
B. The laborer in the harvest
Conclusion
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
OUTLINE:
“Go Home!”
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)
I. The Lord of the Harvest has a real pew dweller!
“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.” (Mark 5:18)
II. The Lord of the Harvest has a real prospect!
“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, ‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” (Mark 5:19)
III. The Lord of the Harvest has a real plower… at last!
“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:20)
“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
WORSHIP:
Life Aboard a Slave Ship | History
(See the above documentary before watching Wintley Phipps.)
Amazing Grace – sung by Wintley Phipps (Live)
Opening:
Message: