Old Times At New Beginnings Church
Part 5 - A Photo Of That Crazy Gadarean
Mark 5:1-20; Eph. 2:1-10;
INTRO: Today, we finish the series I started four weeks ago for the month of October. On that day, we recognized our fantastic seniors that are part of our fellowship and affirmed the strength of time proven service of the Lord along the "Old Ways." We looked at why they are so special to us, both individually and corporately as a church or body of believers. I thank God for our "Old Timers." They truly are good timers not just old timers!
Three weeks ago was "Old Hat Day." I never want our worship of the Lord to be "old hat." I never want our service for Him to be "old hat." I never want our love for each other to be "old hat." I never want New Beginnings to be just "old hat." Our love for the Lord, His House, His People should always be special in our eyes. Last week, I used for a thought, "Hats Off At New Beginnings." My hat continues to be off to all that are a part of our great fellowship of believers.
Two weeks ago was "Old Fashioned Day," and I preached a message called, "Old Fashioned, True Blue, Honest To God, Without A Doubt… Believers." We truly need old-fashioned closeness to God through His Son Jesus.
Last week was Old Friends' Day. I looked at just how precious our long time friendships are at New Beginnings. Truly they are worth more than silver or gold. Remember our slogan or goal is for people to know that New Beginnings is a church where friendships can grow.
Today is Old Photo Day. I know all of you have enjoyed looking at are display table with a collage of old photographs laid out. I know I have. Isn't it funny how special old pictures are to us? We have to be honest, they are something we cannot replace. I know I would be devastated if I lost my collection. It is not that they contain something that is worth a great deal of money, it is the memories that are contained therein.
This is what I want us to understand today, just how important it is that we leave the right memories behind for our loved ones. That we live a life that is grounded in the Lord, displaying the Lord, and the kind of life that our children and grandchildren will look back and say, "I want to live like dad, or mother, grandma, or grandpa. That is what I want to look at today when I look at a Gadarean found in God's Word. I want o look at the photos he left behind.
I know, they did not have cameras and such in those days, but, he did leave behind a legacy for everyone to see.
Before I start, I want to mention, a camera only can shoot what is there. It cannot but capture what the lens will open and let fall upon the film. I guess in a way, years ago before the advent of modern photography, those who posed for pictures could be lucky. The artist could (probably for enough money) soften and alter their appearance for the better. But honestly today, when we leave a "photo" if you would, or a glimpse of our life for our loved ones to see, they are stuck with reality. I want to leave the right photo don't you?
Before I start, I want to also mention… We really do not have to be "stuck" with what we are today. God has the ability to help us change our "image" if you would, to one that is acceptable to Him. I am of course talking about salvation, becoming a new creature, conversion, being born again, becoming a Christian, etc. He can make a poor subject a marvelous one. He can make a hideous creature a beautiful one. He can bring to our lives a new outlook, not only for us but those that see us.
I want to get started. Today I will talk about a man that is familiar to many of you. He had his problems. But the "photo" left for us to see in the scripture is astounding.
Let's read from Mark 5:1-20…
Mark 5:1-20 1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2
And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,3
Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:4
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.5
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.6
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,7
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.8
For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.9
And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.10
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.11
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.12
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.13
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.14
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.15
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.16
And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.17
And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.18
And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.19
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.20
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
When we look at this man, we can see a "photograph" that is less than flattering. Here is a man that most of us would avoid. Most of us would be ashamed to call him a father, brother, son, friend or even an acquaintance. But the Lord saw a different individual. Sure, He saw a man that was hurting, a man that was hideous, a man that was offensive, a man that was coarse, a man that was a castaway. That is not where He stopped. He also saw a man that needed help, wanted help, and would use that help He could offer.
Have you ever seen before and after pictures? What a difference exists in them! That is what I want you to go away with today. I want you to see in your mind, not only the difference in the Gadarean (who I will call Ole Gary the Gad) before and after Christ became a part of his life, but I want you to see Brother Gary the Follower of Christ.
When we look at Ole Gary the Gad, we see a picture of an…
Unclean spirit - vs. 2
Living with the dead - 3
No doubt seen as…
Lawless - 3
Lost or simply out of reach of man - 3
And we can see at a glance, His
Life was a shambles - 4
Life was a struggle - 5
When we see that his life was a shambles and a struggle, we understand he was suffering with an…
Uncertain life
So he…
Ran to Jesus - 6
Recognized Jesus - 7a
Reached out to Jesus - 7b
If that was all that had happened, what a horrific picture we would have today. But, that is not all that happened -- PRAISE GOD. And it is NOT how our lives have to end either.
Next we see, he underwent a "make-over." Yes an makeover even better than Oprah and her people can give. More valuable than all the "Ugly Swans" underwent for the networks last fall. More usable than all those, he was a changed man.
As we look at this man, this Ole Gary the Gad we can see some thing different. His "photo" looks different. He is someone that has been…
Recovered by the Lord - 8
Yes, Brother Gary the Follower of Christ had a…
Changed life
Cured life
Corrected life
Connected life
Cheerful life
Not only did this man look different, he was different, for we find Brother Gary the Follower of Christ was…
Recommended by the Lord - 19
He now
Agreed with the Lord 18
He now was
Approved by the Lord - 19
Acclaimed by the Lord - 19
He happily
Acknowledged to others the Lord - 20a
He remarkably was
Accepted because of the Lord - 20b
Who are you today? Ole Gary the Gad or Brother Gary the Follower of Christ???
We can see what happened when we, like this man, are changed…
Eph 2:1-10 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
What kind of "photograph" are you leaving?
How did you look in your last "photograph?"
Is the life you are living now the life you want your loved ones to remember you by?
Is the "photo" you are presenting what you really want with your life?
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 103104am