The demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes lived in utter hopelessness, devastation, and isolation due to his state. Then he met Jesus, and everything changed. The man became a new creation in Christ. 

What characterizes someone who is in Christ? 

The man from whom the demons had gone showed these three marks as a new creation in Jesus-

Love for Jesus.

Anyone who is in Christ loves Him and prioritizes Him above all else. Love for Jesus is the mainspring of spiritual life. Contrastingly, the absence of love for Jesus is evidence that you are not truly saved. The demon-possessed man knew the difference between being in and out of Christ. His love for Christ revealed a genuine salvation that was born of God, wrought by the Holy Spirit, and it compelled him to desire to be with Jesus. 

What causes love for Jesus?

It is only by the gospel that we could love Jesus because it is only in the gospel that we experience the love of God. In the gospel, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God and overcame death for us. The gospel is essential to remember every day. Our love for Jesus will be directly correlated to our comprehension of the gospel. 

Love for others.

The demon-possessed man loved Christ, and therefore loved others. As a new creation, he was commissioned by Jesus to share the gospel with the lost. Beware- any motivation to share the gospel apart from love for Christ is an act of legalism and self-righteousness. Only those who love Christ and are in Him understand and fulfill their purpose in life to make disciples.

What hinders us from sharing the gospel?

Without prayer, we will have no desire to share the gospel. With more prayer, you would have eyes to see the lost and passion for their souls and for God’s glory. 

Submission to Christ.

If you love Jesus, you love to obey Him. Anyone who is in Christ can obey because they have a new nature that is made in the likeness of Jesus. 

Before we met Christ, we were just like the demon-possessed man. We were in the bondage of sin.  But in Christ, we became a new creation. This is the gospel.  By the gospel, we can maximize our love for Jesus, love for our fellow man, and submission to Jesus. 

The worst sin the Bible speaks of is unbelief. Unbelief is the sin of sins and able to be practiced by anyone. It is a heinous offense to God. Unbelief denies God’s goodness, which is essential to God’s very being, and makes him out to be a liar. Moreover, it is the gateway to all other sins that ultimately lead to destruction.

In today’s passage, unbelief is in full display in the form of pragmatism. After the demons entered the pigs and drowned in the lake, the people from the city and country’s focus were not on Jesus as Lord and Savior. Rather, they became fearful of Christ and still hung onto their unbelief and love for the things of this world. In other words, their eyes could not see Christ’s lordship and their need for repentance and forgiveness as the highest priority. In the same manner, the demon-possessed was set free, they failed to realize their need to be set free from sin; most importantly, their sin of unbelief.

In Christ, our minds are set free as the demon-possessed man came to be in his right mind. Every Christian has been saved from their unbelief and made into a new creation in Christ through salvation, which includes the renewed spirit of their minds. But in the case of the people there, they did not respond in repentance and faith, but rather great fear. In their fear, they asked Jesus to leave (v 37). Even though Jesus brought safety to the region by setting the demon-possessed free, they see Jesus as a greater threat than the man.

What caused this great fear in the people of the territory of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region? They did not want to be near Jesus’ holiness. They would rather be in the presence of Satan than Christ; darkness rather than light. Their sins were exposed, and did they want deliverance? No, they wanted a reason to be as far away as possible from God’s holiness.

Scripture is clear that non-Christians live in unbelief. However, Christians must also be on the alert when they’re not growing in personal holiness. Christians can also practice unbelief in this manner. The only difference between Christians are unbelievers is they have a second chance because they are under grace. Other aspects of unbelief remain the same. Even though Christians possess the Spirit, and have the Word of God, they are still susceptible to taking advantage of the Lord’s grace by love sin rather than holiness. What secures the Christian is the love of Christ that is eternal and perfect.  

Loving Jesus is important in the face of unbelief because without it we distance ourselves from him. Do you love Jesus? If so, you are practicing saving faith. If not, you are living a life of unbelief resulting in unrighteousness.

How can unbelievers kill off unbelief? The only way to be saved from unbelief is to see the Bible as the actual word of God. Continuing to fight to see Jesus in the Word is the path that leads to salvation. Jesus is the Word (Jn. 1:1). As Christians, we must draw near and abide by God’s word to grow in our love for Christ as we wrestle with it. Christ will help us win over unbelief as well as all other fights as the omnipotent and omniscient Lord.

This is a wonderful portion of Scripture where Jesus shows not only His power over demons but also His loving heart for the chosen. 

Even in this modern and technological age, demons are real. Simply put, demons are fallen, angels. Satan, the first demon is very mighty and temporarily the king of this world (Rev 12:4,9). Demons are spirits, meaning they don’t have a material body. They are also personal with emotions, will and understanding. For example, they were able to converse with Jesus Christ and display various emotions and thoughts. In short, demons are powerful evil spirits with nothing good in them. 

Although demons are powerful and supernatural, they are limited in power. They cannot go against Jesus. In Luke 8:26-32 We see a person was possessed and imprisoned by these demons. We see the terrible and tragic effect they had on this man’s life. 

One question we might ask is: Can a Christian be demon possessed? The answer is ‘No’. But there have been many missionary reports of demon-possessed Christians. There is a debate in the Christian community about evidence of Christian demon-possessed. Biblically speaking, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 says we are the temple of the living God. If the Holy Spirit dwells within the believer, then how can it also be a place for demons?

While Christians cannot be demon possessed but they could be demon oppressed. There are many Christians that hold sinful worldviews. For example, if they are pro-choice or pro-gay marriage. They could be a genuine Christian but woefully wrong. This could be an indication that they are demon oppressed. The Israelites sinned and worshipped demons which were the idols (Deut 32:17) This is why John warns the believers to be on guard from idols because idols are a means of inviting demons (1 John 5:21). 

Christians can also invite demons when they wallow in sin without confessing, hold onto sin and grudges, or cling to emotions of bitterness, regret, or anger. This unconsciously makes the believer susceptible to demon influence. We must resist by repenting daily for our sins. This is why Christians must diligently meet the Lord in prayer and the word every day. 

The world is filled with heinous and perverse sins and immorality. Especially sexual sins are rampant everywhere and encouraged from the media to our schools. Sex before marriage, extramarital, homosexuality, and transgender are all horrible signs of sins and demonic oppression or possession. Occultism is also a sign of demon possession (Acts 16:16). There is a strong connection between sorcery, spiritual mediums, and demon possession. 

How does the demon-possessed behave?

It has been popular to diagnose the mentally ill as being demon-possessed. The demon possessed are not bipolar or schizophrenic. However, there are two persons in one body. In Biblical accounts, demons are able to communicate and have sense in their words and actions. They aren’t spouting gibberish. Their goal is simply death and destruction. Demons also have supernatural knowledge, such as being able to identify Jesus and godly Christians (Acts 16:17). There is a distinction between demon possession and mental illness.

In Luke 8:26 we see the solution to both demon-oppressed and demon-possessed. Jesus has a loving and sovereign plan for this demon-possessed man. First, Jesus went across the lake into a foreign land just to meet this man. It was not an accidental encounter. God is seeking to meet those oppressed and possessed. We all need Jesus because we all face demons who seek our downfall and ruin (1 John 1:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:11, 2 Peter 2:11). Thankfully Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8). We must have Jesus if we wish to overcome the enemy. 

There is no hope unless one is converted (Luke 8:28-29). No one was able to subdue these demons. Chains could not hold the demons, but The demons could not rebel against Jesus the Son of the Most High God. Jesus rescues us from darkness and bondage (Romans 10:9, Colossians 1:13-14). True conversion is a new life in which the old is gone and the new has come. (John 5:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17). The converted is a new creation that belongs to Christ and not the power of sin.

To avoid being demon oppressed you must then live a Christ-centered life, denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24). A Christ-centered life relies on the work of Jesus, yearning for holiness and desiring fellowship with Jesus when we stray.

Avoiding demon oppression is not everything. We must fight on. In Luke 8:30-32 Jesus demands the demon’s name. The name ‘Legion’ shows how dark and deceitful a man’s heart can be. It was a whole army of demons in this man. Jesus commands the legion to leave and they obeyed. He has ultimate power and complete victory over the demons. We too can have victory over the dangerous demons that constantly attack us through the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-19). Everything we need and more is in the inerrant and infallible Word of God. By a simple command, the demons were cast out and conquered, and it is still by His Word that we fight against the devil. In addition to the Bible, we pray (Ephesians 6:18). Your prayer life reflects your knowledge of God. The devil is not afraid of the prayerless but trembles at those who pray. Prayer is for God and your fellowship with Him. Do not resist the need for prayer but enjoy the richness of God in prayer. 

There are two dangers concerning the doctrine of demons. Disbelief and being too obsessed. Understand that demons are real and dangerous but instead of fearing them, we trust and fear Christ who is truly the mighty Savior and King (Ephesians 5:21). 

Luke’s account of Jesus calming the storm gives us insight into how to deal with suffering. Suffering is foreign to no one. In fact, as Christians, we are to expect suffering and persecution as we live a sanctified life in a world that hates Jesus. (2Tim 3:12) It is, therefore, essential to understand suffering biblically that it might be used for our spiritual benefit to bring glory to God. 

How do we go through suffering? 

We must be keenly aware of Jesus’ presence.

Even though Jesus was asleep, He was with His disciples in the boat. But in the face of the great storm, the disciples initially acted as though survival was up to them. Similarly, we often feel that God is distant from us during hardships. This is due to our sin and our lack of attention to His Word. In reality, a Christian never suffers alone. Jesus purchased us with His precious blood. He knows our name and is always near. We must stay humble to recognize God’s presence. When we are humble, we are able to have a right view of God in the midst of difficult circumstances. 

We must use the power of the gift of prayer. 

As the storm filled the boat with water, the disciples finally called out to Jesus in their distress. As we recognize that God is with us, we pray to Him. It is God’s command that we pray through suffering. (James 5:13) Prayer revitalizes us as we gain hope and peace from knowing Jesus is Lord of all. He is the God who hears and answers prayer in His infinite wisdom. 

Jesus suffered immeasurably more than anyone in the world, and He prayed without ceasing. Through prayer, He saw the joy before Him as He endured the cross. Even if circumstances do not improve, prayer can change our hearts and understanding as we understand who Jesus is. 

We must have faith.

After Jesus calmed the mighty storm by His word, He questioned His disciples on their faith. Faith is the only solution to suffering. It rises above circumstances and keeps us resting in the arms of Jesus. Faith involves an absolute trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, love for Him, and joyful obedience to Him. It has nothing to do with a person’s ability or skill but is a gift of God. 

God allows suffering to occur in our lives for a good purpose. Just as the disciples came to recognize Jesus’ deity as He calmed the storm, through suffering, Jesus becomes our only object of worship in all circumstances. The fire of suffering purifies us to see the biblical Jesus and to follow in His steps as He endured and overcame the greatest suffering for us.

In the midst of life’s storms, Christians put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the disciples learned that day facing a real storm in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus Christ who brought calmness amid a storm is the same Lord of the Old Testament. He gave up his glory in order to become man to fulfill the promise of the Father to bring salvation. Jesus was always the glorified God. How can we know that this Jesus is the same Lord written of in the Old Testament?

During the storm, when the disciples feared for their lives, “[Jesus] got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm” (v 25). As soon as there was a great calm, Jesus questioned the disciples, “Where is your faith”? This question, in essence, is more fearful than the raging sea the disciples experienced moments prior because only God is able to ask this sort of question that strikes the heart of man.

The disciples were amazed at Jesus because even the winds and the water obeyed His commands. After witnessing this wonder, the disciples were fearful and amazed because they recognized that Jesus is the Lord, whom the entire Scriptures wrote about.

There were many signs and wonders the disciples witnessed Jesus perform. However, seeing never resulted in faith. Rather, hearing Jesus’ words led them to have saving faith. Believing leads to seeing the God who is alive and continues to speak through the Word.

The only way to meet and experience Jesus is only through the Bible. Those that have faith in Jesus Christ do not wrestle between themselves and the Lord. Those that know and believe in God find delight in his Word and live according to it. And without the Bible, faith is impossible, and unable to meet him. Naturally, then, we must ask ourselves if we read the Bible.

As Jesus always depended on the written Word during his stay on earth, Christians must also read and put their faith in the Word of God. Jesus warned the Pharisees, who claimed to know the Scriptures, to seek understanding of the Scriptures through faith lest they crucify the Son of God. This warning is no different today than it was back then. Only the Bible can open the eyes of sinners to realize who they are and seek repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Neglecting the reading of Scripture is not a lack of time but not ridding of idols that cause us to be away from meeting the Lord through the Bible. When there are idols present, not only does one separate himself from the Bible, but the Bible also separates itself also.

Our sin prevents us from panting for the Word of God as the deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1).  Christians must remember that Jesus is near as long as the Bible is near their hearts. The unchanging and eternal Lord who calmed the raging sea can still be found in the pages of Scripture. Therefore, “there is no substitute for the discipline of Bible study and Scripture reading and meditation. We cannot bypass the handbook God has given to us and then expect that we can know Him in our own way. The only god we can know in our own way is a god that we make in our own image” (Sinclair Ferguson).

Who shapes you today? Is it the Word of God or something else? There is no other way to love the Lord and to be like him than through the Bible.

Throughout this aquatic journey in Luke 8, we learn who Jesus is. He is God who provides everything. By His providence, Jesus provides the plan, our purpose, and what we need. Jesus is also impassable which means He is not shaken or influenced by any circumstances. Though everyone else was at the mercy of the storm, Jesus slept peacefully in the tossing boat. It is when the disciples cry out to Him, that we see that Jesus is always near us and hears our prayers. 

Now we will see that Jesus is Almighty God. He is LORD, Yahweh, the Creator. He is mighty and no one can match his strength. His power is unique and divine  Even Satan had to ask permission before he could torment Job. His power does not wax or wane. Jesus simply got up, without having to warm up or stretch, He simply speaks and the storm is quiet. 

Jesus rebuked the wind. In other religions, they would pray or offer something for the sea to calm down because nature is treated as a god. Instead, Jesus rebukes the wind because it belongs to Him. Imagine the power of this raging storm and yet it cannot resist Jesus’ command in the slightest. The water stopped instantly and completely (Job 38:11, Jonah 1:15). Jesus’ power is absolute over all things.

Why can we not experience God’s power in our lives? Because we want to handle things our own way and not in God’s way. The prime example is the crucifixion where Jesus had to suffer and die. People wonder why didn’t Almighty God make another way. Like the Israelites, we think Jesus would have conquered His enemies through the military. Yet it is through the cross that Jesus has demonstrated His divine power by conquering the greatest power of sin and death. So when storms happen in your life, do you merely confess with your lips, do you wish Jesus would do things your way, or do you trust in Jesus who is Lord of All?

Jesus must be the sole object of your faith(Luke 8:25). There is no one else who has the power or worth. Jesus is God and Lord over Creation. After He calms the storm, Jesus asks the disciples, “Where is your faith?”. The storm is not the real issue but life is a matter of faith (Mark 4:40, Mt 8:26). It seems illogical and even foolish to tackle a storm with faith but this is how Jesus grew up and lived (Luke 2:52, Hebrews 2:13, Mark 10:33-34). Even until His dying breath, Jesus practiced faith (Luke 23:46). It was complete trust and love for the Father that allowed Jesus to endure the cross unto death and rise in victory. Jesus demonstrated faith in all things.  Therefore it is those who walk by faith that is Christian. A Christian without faith in Christ is a contradiction. Where is your faith? We all put faith in something but is it in Jesus the Lord? Our faith must be in Jesus and not in anything else (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)

Faith is trust and obedience to the will of God. It is placing our conviction in the person and words of Jesus Christ. Faith doesn’t depend on the sturdiness of the boat, on the sailing skills of a veteran fisherman, or anything else but on Jesus who is sleeping. Faith realizes Jesus is always near, ready to hear our cries for help (Matthew 28:20, John 14:8). Jerry Bridges said, Faith is “Obeying the revealed will of God and trusting Him for the results.” We must apply our faith in all circumstances (Romans 14:23). Only by faith can we please God and glorify Him. When we trust in God through faith, God gives us something better than what we asked for, something beyond what we deserve. For example, Apostle Paul was under great suffering and prayed three times to the Lord. God gave Paul something different in response to his faith (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).  God doesn’t waste any moment of faith but gives us something better. That is why Paul says he will praise God and boast about His weaknesses.

Conclusion

Faith is a work of the Holy Spirit. Desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit through God’s word (Psalm 42:1-2). Do not go through life with the same mundane patterns, coming to church as usual, reading the Bible as usual, or acting like a Christ as usual. John 5:5-9 shows a man who was ill for 38 years. He tried his best to heal himself according to the myths. After decades of doing the same thing, he meets Jesus and is able to walk. By trusting Jesus, his life was changed. Our lives will also be different if we have faith in Jesus Christ.

“Who then is this…?”

This question was the disciples’ response to Jesus calming the storm. It is a critical question that every person needs to ask, because the answer to this question determines to whom you surrender, whom you believe, and ultimately, your eternal fate. 

Jesus is the God who listens. Overwhelmed by the storm, the disciples prayed to Jesus to help them. Jesus- who slumbered through the storm- woke up hearing His disciples’ cries. 

Prayer is a significant gift of God. We are always under Jesus’ radar. Through prayer, we experience His presence. As we face many challenges in this perishing world- pride, pain, worries, death- we need to pray.

What hinders us from praying? Or in other words, why is prayer so hard, even when we know we must pray?

• Pride. Why didn’t the disciples pray earlier? Since most of them were experienced fishermen, they might have thought that they could handle the storm themselves. We must examine ourselves when we become prayerless. We overcome pride by trusting God through prayer.
• Entitlement. As Jesus’ followers, the disciples could have felt entitled to be helped by God even without praying. We must not overlook the fact that prayer is a personal expression of love. If we love someone, we always want to communicate with them. Feeling entitled to God’s help because of your background or because of another’s intercessory prayer hinders personal communion with God.
• Lack of knowledge of God. If the disciples knew Jesus and feared Him, they would have prayed earlier. Our prayer is a reflection of our knowledge of God. As you know God more, the nature, depth, and power of your prayers will grow. The best way to know God is to study and meditate on the Bible.
• Unanswered prayer. We must not forget that God has given us Jesus Christ, who is the source of everything. If you were to gain everything, but did not have Christ, what good is anything? Do not be swayed by unanswered prayer. If you have Jesus, He is everything you need. Just as the disciples needed Jesus alone in the boat, so do we. Our attitude must be- whatever happens, we will obey.

Do not take the work of Christ lightly. He died to have a deep relationship with us through prayer. Jesus wants every believer to be victorious to the end. We overcome by trusting God through prayer. 

Who then is this? Jesus is the God who hears prayer.

The title of today’s sermon comes from the disciples’ response when Jesus “got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm… But they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (v 24b-25). As Jesus calms the sea and demonstrates his supreme power as Creator God, Luke’s account will reveal more of who Jesus Christ is.

The setting takes place in the Sea of Galilee (today known as Lake Tiberias, Kinneret or Kinnereth). It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth located in Israel with mountains all around. The geology of the Sea of Galilee region is prone to sudden violent storms due to its low-lying position in the rift valley, surrounded by hills. As Jesus and his disciples are sailing across the sea to get to the other side, they find themselves in the midst of a storm. Jesus is asleep when the disciples wake him up as they surely thought they would perish. Even though most of the disciples were experienced fishermen familiar with the storms that often happen, they were fearful for their lives in this particular storm and cried out to Jesus.

In God’s sovereignty, Jesus demonstrates his divine providence as he wakes. Divine providence asserts that God is in control of all things and provided through Jesus Christ. The purpose of God’s providence is for the greater good of God’s glory and for the Christian’s benefit. The best way Jesus demonstrates his special providence is when he provides the gift of repentance and faith to the sinner. Christ’s gift of repenting grace rescues the sinner who is lost and promises to eternally provide through his interceding.

Christians are able to maximize and experience God’s daily provision through obedience and seeing everything through the eyes of God. Christians are able to entrust everything in the Creator because Jesus is impassible. Whatever the circumstances, Jesus is sovereign as he is God. And is it especially true in suffering when Christians might feel discouraged or even doubt their faith when Jesus, who is impassible, will rescue the perishing as he is near.

A Christian is a man of integrity. In all circumstances, he is like a lamp that is a light to the world.

What can hinder a Christian’s integrity?

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is a fake light. It makes us what we are not. It is a dangerous heart attitude that Jesus condemned. We avoid hypocrisy by living before God, being content and honest with our weaknesses because we have the grace of God.

Cowardice

We live in a world that is hostile against Christianity, but Christians are to be brave. Despite all risks, we are to evangelize and care for our fellow brethren. 

Doctrinal Deception

Tragically, the top 10 popular churches in the United States are not doctrinally sound. They promote a distorted gospel that promises the American Dream of health, wealth, and prosperity while leaving out any mention of sin, repentance, or the need for a Savior.

Jesus warns those who try to privatize their Christianity- nothing stays hidden. God will expose all things in judgment. We may deceive others when it comes to religion, but God knows all things. Christians are to be lamps that emit light into the world.

How can Christians live boldly and faithfully?

Jesus says that we must take care how we listen. Everything depends on how you listen. Do you want to be a more effective Christian? Listen carefully and remember God’s Word. We must be diligent to hear- it must be our daily habit to get close to the Bible every day. How you live today is a product of how you hear God’s Word. 

How must we hear God’s Word?

Listen with faith. Even if you meditate on God’s Word day and night, without faith, it will profit you nothing. (Heb 4:2) By faith, your knowledge becomes experiential. 

Listen with reverence. You must consider that the Bible is the Word of God and listen with reverence.

Listen with prayer. Praying for your preacher and for those who will hear before and after worship will bring God’s blessing. Successful worship depends on prayer. 

Listening carefully to God’s Word can determine your destiny. If you fail to listen biblically, self will continue to drive you. The Bible is the only source that can mortify self. In the Bible, we encounter Jesus, who is the source of light for Christians. We reflect Him by hearing biblically. 

A Christian is a man of integrity. In all circumstances, he is like a lamp that is a light to the world.

What can hinder a Christian’s integrity?

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is a fake light. It makes us what we are not. It is a dangerous heart attitude that Jesus condemned. We avoid hypocrisy by living before God, being content and honest with our weaknesses because we have the grace of God.

Cowardice

We live in a world that is hostile against Christianity, but Christians are to be brave. Despite all risks, we are to evangelize and care for our fellow brethren. 

Doctrinal Deception

Tragically, the top 10 popular churches in the United States are not doctrinally sound. They promote a distorted gospel that promises the American Dream of health, wealth, and prosperity while leaving out any mention of sin, repentance, or the need for a Savior.

Jesus warns those who try to privatize their Christianity- nothing stays hidden. God will expose all things in judgment. We may deceive others when it comes to religion, but God knows all things. Christians are to be lamps that emit light into the world.

How can Christians live boldly and faithfully?

Jesus says that we must take care how we listen. Everything depends on how you listen. Do you want to be a more effective Christian? Listen carefully and remember God’s Word. We must be diligent to hear- it must be our daily habit to get close to the Bible every day. How you live today is a product of how you hear God’s Word. 

How must we hear God’s Word?

Listen with faith. Even if you meditate on God’s Word day and night, without faith, it will profit you nothing. (Heb 4:2) By faith, your knowledge becomes experiential. 

Listen with reverence. You must consider that the Bible is the Word of God and listen with reverence.

Listen with prayer. Praying for your preacher and for those who will hear before and after worship will bring God’s blessing. Successful worship depends on prayer. 

Listening carefully to God’s Word can determine your destiny. If you fail to listen biblically, self will continue to drive you. The Bible is the only source that can mortify self. In the Bible, we encounter Jesus, who is the source of light for Christians. We reflect Him by hearing biblically.