2026 Luke 8-3, From Demon Possessed to Gospel Preacher
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2026-06-21 16:22
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From Demon Possessed to Gospel Preacher
Luke 8:26-39
In this passage, we meet a demon-possessed man. Modern people do not like demon’s story. But there is devil and his agents, demons. If you deny the existence of the devil, you are destined to lose every battle. According to Isiah 14, among three chief angels (Gabriel; God’s messenger and Michael; the chief of the army of God) Lucifer was in charge of music. (Choir) With utmost beauty and glory, Lucifer became proud trying to make himself like God. God punished Lucifer and threw him out of heaven. At that time, Lucifer took a third of angels in heaven and came to the earth. Lucifer is Satan and his angels are demons.
I do not think any of us is demon-possessed. However, all of us are under the influence of demons.
First, the devil made the man naked.
Look at verse 27. “For a long time, this man had not worn clothes.” Nakedness is the symbol of shame and immorality. God made garments for Adam and Eve and clothed them. Satan tempts men to put off their clothes. In this adulterous and demonic generation, dress neatly and live a godly life. Don’t get involved in lustful feelings, lustful screens and lustful relationship. Or, you will lose your precious humanity and spirituality.
In Malaysia, there is a plant named, Nepenthes alata. Interestingly, this plant is carnivorous to eat insects, butterflies and even lizard. It uses its nectar fragrant to attract insects and butterflies. Once insects or butterflies approaches the plant and enter it, they are paralyzed by the toxin of fragrant nectar and can never get out of the plant and die.
They say, “Mine is love, my feeling is real.” But that is immoral, swallowing so many young people. Don’t be attracted by lustful culture and media. Or you will lose your life. Instead, hold on to the word of God. “I am holy, and you must holy too.”
Second, separation
He made the tombs as his home. Tombs are the place of the dead. Nobody and nothing was there and bothered him. There were no rules, no regulations, no competition, no responsibility, no burdens, and no homework. He seemed to have freedom there. But verse 29 says, “he had been driven by the demons.” Do you like or seek a solitary place? Be very careful. Without Jesus and godly fellowship, that is very dangerous that the demons would possess you.
We have to come out of such tombs (room, library, bar..) and make relationship with God, church and people. God made us to live together in a family, society and church.
The devil must have whispered the man to leave all laws, regulations and responsibilities. In the coursed of seeking freedom, he made a lot of troubles. He might be kicked out of his school or work and finally came to the tombs. There, day and night he cried, screamed and hurt himself. He became possessed by demons. The devil ruined him. Nobody and nothing could set him free from the hands of demon. The town’s people chained and shackled him and locked him with heavy dosage of medicine. But he became worse day and night.
There is a story “The Red Shoes” written by Hans Andersen. A girl heard that if she put on red shoes, she can dance well. But there is a condition. You cannot stop. However, the girl wants to be a Cinderella. She fell on the temptation and put it on. Then she danced so attractively that many handsome boys asked her out on a date. Finally, her dream came true. She became the dancing queen. But she could not stop dancing. Out of extreme exhaustion and despair, she begged with tears an executioner to cut her ankles. She repented her vanity and was rescued.
This girl is the representation of a demon-possessed man. There are satisfaction and excitement for a while when you seek unlimited human freedom or pleasures or mundane glory. But you cannot stop it. You cannot control it. The demon possessed man was like the girl in the Red Shoes. And he is like people who are addicted to alcohol, gambling, drug or lust or greed or selfishness or unforgiving spirit. Who could save him and set him free from the demons?
Look at verse 22. One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” Jesus knew that the demon-possessed man suffered unbearably. He only ministered in the land of Judea. But in order to rescue him from demons, he went to a foreign land. To save this one seemingly useless wretched person, in spite of his busy schedules, He took the twelve disciples and crossed the sea fighting against storm. Praise Jesus, the Savior! He sacrificed lots of time, energy and manpower for just one person.
We consider efficiency. This is the ratio of input and output. We pour or invest 5 expecting to gain 5 or more. Otherwise, we feel it is wasted.
When a woman poured expensive perfume all on Jesus, ($ 50,000 worth) people criticized her. “Why wasted it? It could have been used for many people.” However, Jesus praised her saying, “Leave her alone, she has done a beautiful thing for me.” She focused on one person, Jesus and fully devoted it to him.
Life is about effectiveness, not efficiency. How much money would you spend to save your dying child? One million or ten million? If you could save your children with money, wouldn't you spend even more? Would you say, “Gee, that is too much. Let him die. I will have a new baby.” Where would be such parents? Jesus sacrificed a lot for that one person.
Do not look at many people. Instead focus on one person. This is a ‘one-man vision.’ A single seed grows to form a forest. A single spark can become a great fire. History is summarized like this. The first man, Adam failed. The last man (Adam), Jesus has completed salvation. In between, there is Abraham. The history of salvation began through one person, Abraham. Abraham was a son of a medium. He was born in a spiritual wasteland. God called him and saved him. Through one person Abraham, God saw the salvation of the world. This is a ‘one man vision.’
God focuses on one person. It is you. Then salvation is spread to your family and more people. The Bible is not interested in the crowd but each person. Joseph, Moses, Samson, Elijah, the Twelve, Paul, Martin Luther and Billy Graham. And I want you to be that one person. This is how God works. One person is saved and transformed and through Diaspora, many more are saved.
Do not be weighed down by the complicated situations of the world. Instead, focus on one person with your prayer and Bible teaching. Jesus gave overwhelming grace to the demon-possessed person. Have you sacrificed for one person? Your devotion and sacrifice for one person can bring change and revival. I pray that you may have a ‘one man vision.’
ook at verse 28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” He recognized Jesus as the Son of God and fell at His feet. It seems that he worships Jesus. At the same time, he begs Jesus, “Don’t torture me.” He is split.
Jesus is the Savior, the Healer, the Giver of Life. However, demons deceived him to see Jesus as the one who torments him. This is shocking. The Son of God, Jesus is tormenting man….
Do not think of this as someone else's story. Students in their exams ask Jesus, “Ah, Jesus, why are you bothering me so much? Worship, prayer, mission... Ah, please stop tormenting me.” "I have to study. I have to go to camping with my friends. I have to prepare for a good career. Please, don’t torment me.” Folks, Is Jesus tormenting you? No. Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.”
How did Jesus heal and set him free? Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” Biblically one’s name represents one’s identity. Jesus asked his name to reveal his true identity. He replied, “I am Legion.”
Legion refers to a Roman army corps composed of around 6,000 soldiers. When he stood before Jesus, the demons’ identity was exposed. He said, “I am Legion, I am possessed by 6,000 demons and the names are anger, lust, rebellion, laziness, pride, hatred, fear, meaninglessness and sorrow….”
The Gerasene man might have thought he was a victim of people’s ill treatment or adverse environment he had experienced. But his real problem was that he had allowed something to control himself by living a pleasure-seeking or lawless or disobedient or unforgiving life in solitary places. Then demons possessed him. In a move, ‘exorcist’, the young girl let lust and resentment toward her parents’ divorce grow in her heart. Then she was possessed by demons.
Oh, don’t allow something possess you. Don’t let something grow in your heart. That could be your emotion or people or thought. If you continue to let it grow, you will be possessed by something, that could be demons.
Now the demons’ identity was exposed by the word of Jesus. Then the demons could not hide in him any longer. This is the beginning of healing and salvation.
Today many people have lost their original names and just live with false and fake name under the influence of demons. Jesus asks us, “What is your name?”
And he commanded, “Come out of the man!” Praise Jesus. Here is a true hope for man. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8) Jesus has power to rescue us from demons. Therefore, listen to him. Come to him. Have faith in him.
The demons knew they had to obey Jesus. But they pleaded with Jesus repeatedly not to send them to go into the Abyss. According to Mark, they pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of the area (Mk 5:10). Why? Because the region was like civilized modern society where secular humanism, materialism and immorality were rampant. Demons love to find dwellings in sinful minds and adulterous hearts. Next the demons pleaded with Jesus to let them go into pigs. This is demons’ challenge against Jesus. “Jesus, can you sacrifice such big money, $ 1 million for such useless nasty man? No, you would never.”
But to demon’s and everyone’s surprise, Jesus granted them permission. Why? Jesus challenged the town’s people’s crooked value system that one person is more valuable than 2,000 pigs, and even more than the whole world (Mk 8:36). Jesus wanted his disciples to learn this. Jesus challenged the selfishness and materialism of the people in the region.
By the permission of Jesus, the demon entered a large herd of pigs and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. Jesus saved a demon-possessed man by sacrificing 2,000 pigs.
How was response of the town’s people? Were they happy and give thanks to God? No. Look at verse 37. “Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear.” Because of one demon-possessed man, they suffered a great loss. They realized that they would lose more pigs and lucrative industry if Jesus were there. So, they asked Jesus to leave them. "Jesus, please leave us. Do not torment us." They are no different from the demon-possessed person who had said, “Don’t torment me.” They were possessed by the demon of materialism. When Jesus comes to us, there are things you are to lose, money, power and sex (Richard Foster)
Some do not know how to spend money for the Lord and mission of saving souls. They feel that they are wasting their money. Some feel that there will be no more pleasures when they follow Jesus. So, they beg, "Jesus, please leave me. Do not torment me."
How grateful should they be that the demon-possessed man is freed? Yet, they did not like it because it was detrimental to their own interests. If we love money more than Jesus, though we know that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, we can say, "Do not torment me."
Look at verse 35. “sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind.” When he was possessed by demons, he was disgraceful, aimless, restless and irritated. Now he found out rest and peace in Jesus Christ. He restored humanity and spirituality. He was restored. This is God’s grace. Jesus sacrificed huge materials to save him. And he shed his precious blood on the cross to pay the ransom to save us from Satan and curse. Praise Jesus! Thank you, Jesus! You are my Savior and King.
Look at verses 38-39. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” Jesus sent him back to his family and society where he had once been a failure and source of grief. Jesus sent him back there as a new creation to be a blessing. And Jesus gave him a mission. Go and tell the good news of salvation and freedom in Jesus Christ. So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him (39). He became an evangelist to the region of Decapolis. Not only was he saved but also he received from God a mission to preach the gospel. This is the fruit that will last.
Live like him. God’s grace and mission are like two sides of the same coin. Your salvation is not all. Absolutely not. After being freed from demons, immediate action for God’s kingdom is needed. That is mission and worship. (BMW) You are to be armed with the Holy Spirit and mission. Otherwise, more powerful demons will come to possess you and the situation will become worse than before. May God’s grace and mission be filled with you.
Luke 8:26-39
In this passage, we meet a demon-possessed man. Modern people do not like demon’s story. But there is devil and his agents, demons. If you deny the existence of the devil, you are destined to lose every battle. According to Isiah 14, among three chief angels (Gabriel; God’s messenger and Michael; the chief of the army of God) Lucifer was in charge of music. (Choir) With utmost beauty and glory, Lucifer became proud trying to make himself like God. God punished Lucifer and threw him out of heaven. At that time, Lucifer took a third of angels in heaven and came to the earth. Lucifer is Satan and his angels are demons.
I do not think any of us is demon-possessed. However, all of us are under the influence of demons.
First, the devil made the man naked.
Look at verse 27. “For a long time, this man had not worn clothes.” Nakedness is the symbol of shame and immorality. God made garments for Adam and Eve and clothed them. Satan tempts men to put off their clothes. In this adulterous and demonic generation, dress neatly and live a godly life. Don’t get involved in lustful feelings, lustful screens and lustful relationship. Or, you will lose your precious humanity and spirituality.
In Malaysia, there is a plant named, Nepenthes alata. Interestingly, this plant is carnivorous to eat insects, butterflies and even lizard. It uses its nectar fragrant to attract insects and butterflies. Once insects or butterflies approaches the plant and enter it, they are paralyzed by the toxin of fragrant nectar and can never get out of the plant and die.
They say, “Mine is love, my feeling is real.” But that is immoral, swallowing so many young people. Don’t be attracted by lustful culture and media. Or you will lose your life. Instead, hold on to the word of God. “I am holy, and you must holy too.”
Second, separation
He made the tombs as his home. Tombs are the place of the dead. Nobody and nothing was there and bothered him. There were no rules, no regulations, no competition, no responsibility, no burdens, and no homework. He seemed to have freedom there. But verse 29 says, “he had been driven by the demons.” Do you like or seek a solitary place? Be very careful. Without Jesus and godly fellowship, that is very dangerous that the demons would possess you.
We have to come out of such tombs (room, library, bar..) and make relationship with God, church and people. God made us to live together in a family, society and church.
The devil must have whispered the man to leave all laws, regulations and responsibilities. In the coursed of seeking freedom, he made a lot of troubles. He might be kicked out of his school or work and finally came to the tombs. There, day and night he cried, screamed and hurt himself. He became possessed by demons. The devil ruined him. Nobody and nothing could set him free from the hands of demon. The town’s people chained and shackled him and locked him with heavy dosage of medicine. But he became worse day and night.
There is a story “The Red Shoes” written by Hans Andersen. A girl heard that if she put on red shoes, she can dance well. But there is a condition. You cannot stop. However, the girl wants to be a Cinderella. She fell on the temptation and put it on. Then she danced so attractively that many handsome boys asked her out on a date. Finally, her dream came true. She became the dancing queen. But she could not stop dancing. Out of extreme exhaustion and despair, she begged with tears an executioner to cut her ankles. She repented her vanity and was rescued.
This girl is the representation of a demon-possessed man. There are satisfaction and excitement for a while when you seek unlimited human freedom or pleasures or mundane glory. But you cannot stop it. You cannot control it. The demon possessed man was like the girl in the Red Shoes. And he is like people who are addicted to alcohol, gambling, drug or lust or greed or selfishness or unforgiving spirit. Who could save him and set him free from the demons?
Look at verse 22. One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” Jesus knew that the demon-possessed man suffered unbearably. He only ministered in the land of Judea. But in order to rescue him from demons, he went to a foreign land. To save this one seemingly useless wretched person, in spite of his busy schedules, He took the twelve disciples and crossed the sea fighting against storm. Praise Jesus, the Savior! He sacrificed lots of time, energy and manpower for just one person.
We consider efficiency. This is the ratio of input and output. We pour or invest 5 expecting to gain 5 or more. Otherwise, we feel it is wasted.
When a woman poured expensive perfume all on Jesus, ($ 50,000 worth) people criticized her. “Why wasted it? It could have been used for many people.” However, Jesus praised her saying, “Leave her alone, she has done a beautiful thing for me.” She focused on one person, Jesus and fully devoted it to him.
Life is about effectiveness, not efficiency. How much money would you spend to save your dying child? One million or ten million? If you could save your children with money, wouldn't you spend even more? Would you say, “Gee, that is too much. Let him die. I will have a new baby.” Where would be such parents? Jesus sacrificed a lot for that one person.
Do not look at many people. Instead focus on one person. This is a ‘one-man vision.’ A single seed grows to form a forest. A single spark can become a great fire. History is summarized like this. The first man, Adam failed. The last man (Adam), Jesus has completed salvation. In between, there is Abraham. The history of salvation began through one person, Abraham. Abraham was a son of a medium. He was born in a spiritual wasteland. God called him and saved him. Through one person Abraham, God saw the salvation of the world. This is a ‘one man vision.’
God focuses on one person. It is you. Then salvation is spread to your family and more people. The Bible is not interested in the crowd but each person. Joseph, Moses, Samson, Elijah, the Twelve, Paul, Martin Luther and Billy Graham. And I want you to be that one person. This is how God works. One person is saved and transformed and through Diaspora, many more are saved.
Do not be weighed down by the complicated situations of the world. Instead, focus on one person with your prayer and Bible teaching. Jesus gave overwhelming grace to the demon-possessed person. Have you sacrificed for one person? Your devotion and sacrifice for one person can bring change and revival. I pray that you may have a ‘one man vision.’
ook at verse 28. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” He recognized Jesus as the Son of God and fell at His feet. It seems that he worships Jesus. At the same time, he begs Jesus, “Don’t torture me.” He is split.
Jesus is the Savior, the Healer, the Giver of Life. However, demons deceived him to see Jesus as the one who torments him. This is shocking. The Son of God, Jesus is tormenting man….
Do not think of this as someone else's story. Students in their exams ask Jesus, “Ah, Jesus, why are you bothering me so much? Worship, prayer, mission... Ah, please stop tormenting me.” "I have to study. I have to go to camping with my friends. I have to prepare for a good career. Please, don’t torment me.” Folks, Is Jesus tormenting you? No. Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.”
How did Jesus heal and set him free? Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” Biblically one’s name represents one’s identity. Jesus asked his name to reveal his true identity. He replied, “I am Legion.”
Legion refers to a Roman army corps composed of around 6,000 soldiers. When he stood before Jesus, the demons’ identity was exposed. He said, “I am Legion, I am possessed by 6,000 demons and the names are anger, lust, rebellion, laziness, pride, hatred, fear, meaninglessness and sorrow….”
The Gerasene man might have thought he was a victim of people’s ill treatment or adverse environment he had experienced. But his real problem was that he had allowed something to control himself by living a pleasure-seeking or lawless or disobedient or unforgiving life in solitary places. Then demons possessed him. In a move, ‘exorcist’, the young girl let lust and resentment toward her parents’ divorce grow in her heart. Then she was possessed by demons.
Oh, don’t allow something possess you. Don’t let something grow in your heart. That could be your emotion or people or thought. If you continue to let it grow, you will be possessed by something, that could be demons.
Now the demons’ identity was exposed by the word of Jesus. Then the demons could not hide in him any longer. This is the beginning of healing and salvation.
Today many people have lost their original names and just live with false and fake name under the influence of demons. Jesus asks us, “What is your name?”
And he commanded, “Come out of the man!” Praise Jesus. Here is a true hope for man. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8) Jesus has power to rescue us from demons. Therefore, listen to him. Come to him. Have faith in him.
The demons knew they had to obey Jesus. But they pleaded with Jesus repeatedly not to send them to go into the Abyss. According to Mark, they pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of the area (Mk 5:10). Why? Because the region was like civilized modern society where secular humanism, materialism and immorality were rampant. Demons love to find dwellings in sinful minds and adulterous hearts. Next the demons pleaded with Jesus to let them go into pigs. This is demons’ challenge against Jesus. “Jesus, can you sacrifice such big money, $ 1 million for such useless nasty man? No, you would never.”
But to demon’s and everyone’s surprise, Jesus granted them permission. Why? Jesus challenged the town’s people’s crooked value system that one person is more valuable than 2,000 pigs, and even more than the whole world (Mk 8:36). Jesus wanted his disciples to learn this. Jesus challenged the selfishness and materialism of the people in the region.
By the permission of Jesus, the demon entered a large herd of pigs and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. Jesus saved a demon-possessed man by sacrificing 2,000 pigs.
How was response of the town’s people? Were they happy and give thanks to God? No. Look at verse 37. “Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear.” Because of one demon-possessed man, they suffered a great loss. They realized that they would lose more pigs and lucrative industry if Jesus were there. So, they asked Jesus to leave them. "Jesus, please leave us. Do not torment us." They are no different from the demon-possessed person who had said, “Don’t torment me.” They were possessed by the demon of materialism. When Jesus comes to us, there are things you are to lose, money, power and sex (Richard Foster)
Some do not know how to spend money for the Lord and mission of saving souls. They feel that they are wasting their money. Some feel that there will be no more pleasures when they follow Jesus. So, they beg, "Jesus, please leave me. Do not torment me."
How grateful should they be that the demon-possessed man is freed? Yet, they did not like it because it was detrimental to their own interests. If we love money more than Jesus, though we know that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior, we can say, "Do not torment me."
Look at verse 35. “sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind.” When he was possessed by demons, he was disgraceful, aimless, restless and irritated. Now he found out rest and peace in Jesus Christ. He restored humanity and spirituality. He was restored. This is God’s grace. Jesus sacrificed huge materials to save him. And he shed his precious blood on the cross to pay the ransom to save us from Satan and curse. Praise Jesus! Thank you, Jesus! You are my Savior and King.
Look at verses 38-39. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” Jesus sent him back to his family and society where he had once been a failure and source of grief. Jesus sent him back there as a new creation to be a blessing. And Jesus gave him a mission. Go and tell the good news of salvation and freedom in Jesus Christ. So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him (39). He became an evangelist to the region of Decapolis. Not only was he saved but also he received from God a mission to preach the gospel. This is the fruit that will last.
Live like him. God’s grace and mission are like two sides of the same coin. Your salvation is not all. Absolutely not. After being freed from demons, immediate action for God’s kingdom is needed. That is mission and worship. (BMW) You are to be armed with the Holy Spirit and mission. Otherwise, more powerful demons will come to possess you and the situation will become worse than before. May God’s grace and mission be filled with you.