Luke 8:39 (NIV) – “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus and His disciples sailed to the Gerasenes. They met a demon possessed man. Totally deranged. Naked, engaged in self harming activities. Jesus heals the man and orders the demons that were in him to go into the flock of pigs. The pigs rush over the cliff and drown in the lake.
When the people of Gerasenes saw the maniac healed and their pigs perished, they rejected Jesus. They begged Jesus to leave their territory. They refused to welcome the healer of madness.
Luke 8:37 (NIV) – Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
They were afraid because Jesus could solve problems that couldn’t be solved? The healed man was the shock they couldn’t handle. May be their best doctors and witches had failed to heal the man. They were now afraid that someone bigger and better than their best was around. May be they were afraid because of loss of pigs, even though that doesn’t seem to be the emphasis of the story.
They rejected Jesus. They asked Jesus to leave their territory. They did not allow Jesus to teach or preach. Jesus left them as they had requested.
As Jesus was leaving, the healed man begged to go with Jesus. He felt safe and in the right company with Jesus. But Jesus told him to go back to his home among his people (where Jesus had been rejected) and preach.
What can a brand new convert preach? What can a man who hasn’t spent a full day with Jesus preach? What can a man who hasn’t heard the teachings of Jesus preach?
Luke 8:39 (NIV) – “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus tells him to go home and tell people what God has done for him. Go tell your own story. Go tell people what you were before God and after God came into your life. Just tell your story!
People can argue against any doctrine and belief. But no one can argue against your own experience. You can properly teach a doctrine but fail to convince. But your own story is convincing. You can be uncertain if you are properly explaining a doctrine. But you know your story and there is no uncertainty in explaining it.
The God in a life touching story is more attractive than a God in a cold complicated doctrine. Your story makes God personal and relatable more than abstract explanations. Go tell your story with God!
Explanations about doctrines May make you seem knowledgeable. Explaining prophecies may leave the listeners with awe as they think of you as a genius and probably very holy. The listeners may never have the mastery of doctrine, prophecy, health messages that you have. They may never understand the Sanctuary message. But they can relate with your personal story and share the same experience! Your personal story has a great impact!
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) – 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Stories of how God has loved you. You loving others because God loves you. These are your own stories and have a greater impact than loveless pontification of doctrines. Go and tell your love story! How God has shown you love. Then love others genuinely!
Children quickly learn stories of God’s walk with people. Abraham, Noah, Joseph and even the suffering Job. It is easy and straightforward to understand this God. This is the sermon we must all preach. What God has done for you. The doctrine will come later once the people are persuaded about your good God!
Luke 8:39 (NIV) – “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Can’t you preach this sermon? Who can’t tell what God has done for them? Tell them how much God has done for you. Tell them how you survived without a job. Tell them how you recovered. Tell them how haters couldn’t harm you. Tell them how things changed for the better after you prayed. Tell how much God has done for you!
Parents should introduce children to God by telling them what God has done for them. Before they know the God of Adam, Daniel, etc., they should know the God of Dad and Mom. New converts should know the God of the evangelist before knowing the God of the doctrine. Tell them how much God has done for you!
Dear God, forgive us for desiring to look educated and knowledgeable to the extent of being ineffective evangelists. Forgive us for mesmerizing people with details they can’t absorb and getting satisfied with few converts of failed evangelism. Humble us and teach us to begin with telling how much you have done for us. In Jesus’s name, Amen!
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Amen
Amen!
I’ve Learnt something.Thanks.
Hallelujah! Spread the word
Amen
Amen
Amen🙏
Amen!