Friends dirty-hairy

Luke 8:26-39

Luke 8:26-39 (New Living Translation)

So they arrived in the land of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. [27] As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. Homeless and naked, he had lived in a cemetery for a long time. [28] As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, "Why are you bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don't torture me!”


[29] For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was shackled with chains, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon's power. [30] "What is your name?" Jesus asked. "Legion," he replied—for the man was filled with many demons. [31] The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the Bottomless Pit.


[32] A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons pleaded with him to let them enter into the pigs. Jesus gave them permission. [33] So the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake, where they drowned. [34] When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby city and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.


[35] A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, for they wanted to see for themselves what had happened. And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus' feet, clothed and sane. And the whole crowd was afraid. [36] Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. [37] And all the people in that region begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.


So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. [38] The man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too, but Jesus said, [39] "No, go back to your family and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you." So he went all through the city telling about the great thing Jesus had done for him.

● ● My story is found in the Bible. I’m the one who My story is found in the Bible. I’m the one who was in need, who took the wrong path and tried to was in need, who took the wrong path and tried to run my own life. The names are different…I’m there run my own life. The names are different…I’m there in many places.in many places.● ● Jesus wants to touch my life to give it healing, Jesus wants to touch my life to give it healing, forgiveness, direction and compassion. forgiveness, direction and compassion. Sometimes I resist his transforming power. Go Sometimes I resist his transforming power. Go figure!figure!● ● He is the kind of friend who seeks us in our He is the kind of friend who seeks us in our distress, even when we are try to carry our own distress, even when we are try to carry our own burden. Jesus invades our privacy to grant us burden. Jesus invades our privacy to grant us wonder, freedom and joy.wonder, freedom and joy.● ● When I wear the crown and command my own When I wear the crown and command my own little kingdom…life is full of stress, pain and little kingdom…life is full of stress, pain and disappointment. It’s about time for a new disappointment. It’s about time for a new administration. Here comes King Jesus, for administration. Here comes King Jesus, for heaven’s sake!heaven’s sake!

SIN IS NOBODY’S FRIEND SIN IS NOBODY’S FRIEND

JAMES TAUGHT US THE LSD FORMULAJAMES TAUGHT US THE LSD FORMULA

SIN IS NOBODY’S FRIEND SIN IS NOBODY’S FRIEND

BUT WAIT! BUT WAIT!

HERE COMES JESUSHERE COMES JESUS

……READY TO RESCUE READY TO RESCUE AND REDEEMAND REDEEM

He Meets Us At Our He Meets Us At Our Place of NeedPlace of Need

Remembering how the Remembering how the bread and wine represent bread and wine represent Jesus’ love and friendship Jesus’ love and friendship with each of us.with each of us.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

You don’t hear Jesus say:You don’t hear Jesus say:

Jesus is he pursuing FriendJesus is he pursuing Friend

Crosses the Sea of GalileeCrosses the Sea of Galilee

Sails to the area of the cemeterySails to the area of the cemetery

Approaches the poor man Approaches the poor man

Engages him in conversationEngages him in conversation

Embarks on a time of healing and demon-bashingEmbarks on a time of healing and demon-bashing

DEMONS ARE SENT FLEEING INTO A DEMONS ARE SENT FLEEING INTO A HERD OF HOGS, ULTIMATELY SENDING HERD OF HOGS, ULTIMATELY SENDING

PIGS TO THEIR DEATH…PIGS TO THEIR DEATH…

AND A MAN CONSIDERED AND A MAN CONSIDERED WORTHY OF JESUS’ LOVING WORTHY OF JESUS’ LOVING

TOUCH, IS REDEEMED. TOUCH, IS REDEEMED. HALLELUJA!HALLELUJA!

The Touch of the Master's HandThe Touch of the Master's Hand

HOW TO BE A FRIEND TO JESUSHOW TO BE A FRIEND TO JESUS

Accept his offer of friendship. “But as many as Accept his offer of friendship. “But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become received him, to them he gave the power to become Sons of God.” John 1:12Sons of God.” John 1:12

Give him full credit for your transformed life. “If any Give him full credit for your transformed life. “If any man is in Christ he is a new creation!” II Cor. 5:17man is in Christ he is a new creation!” II Cor. 5:17

Tell others of his love and healing touch. “The man Tell others of his love and healing touch. “The man whom the demons had gone out of begged to go with whom the demons had gone out of begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away saying, ‘Return home him, but Jesus sent him away saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8: 38-39 done for him.” Luke 8: 38-39

PRAYER & PRAISE

● ● Praise God! My story is found in the Bible. I’m Praise God! My story is found in the Bible. I’m the one in need, who took the wrong path and tried the one in need, who took the wrong path and tried to run my own life. The names are different… But to run my own life. The names are different… But Jesus has always been the same best friend.Jesus has always been the same best friend.

● ● Jesus touches my life with healing, forgiveness, Jesus touches my life with healing, forgiveness, direction and compassion. I welcome his direction and compassion. I welcome his transforming power. transforming power.

● ● He is the friend who is always there, even in He is the friend who is always there, even in times of distress. Jesus always surprises me with times of distress. Jesus always surprises me with wonder, freedom and joy.wonder, freedom and joy.

● ● When I wear the crown and command my own When I wear the crown and command my own little kingdom…life does not run smoothly. That is little kingdom…life does not run smoothly. That is why I want him to direct my life. He is my Lord and why I want him to direct my life. He is my Lord and trusted Savior!trusted Savior!

● ● My story is found in the Bible. I’m the one who My story is found in the Bible. I’m the one who was in need, who took the wrong path and tried to was in need, who took the wrong path and tried to run my own life. The names are different…I’m there run my own life. The names are different…I’m there in many places.in many places.● ● Jesus wants to touch my life to give it healing, Jesus wants to touch my life to give it healing, forgiveness, direction and compassion. forgiveness, direction and compassion. Sometimes I resist his transforming power. Go Sometimes I resist his transforming power. Go figure!figure!● ● He is the kind of friend who seeks us in our He is the kind of friend who seeks us in our distress, even when we are try to carry our own distress, even when we are try to carry our own burden. Jesus invades our privacy to grant us burden. Jesus invades our privacy to grant us wonder, freedom and joy.wonder, freedom and joy.● ● When I wear the crown and command my own When I wear the crown and command my own little kingdom…life is full of stress, pain and little kingdom…life is full of stress, pain and disappointment. It’s about time for a new disappointment. It’s about time for a new administration. Here comes King Jesus, for administration. Here comes King Jesus, for heaven’s sake!heaven’s sake!

GO AND BEGO AND BEThe Touch of the Master's HandThe Touch of the Master's Hand

TO OTHERSTO OTHERS

Spiritual

Friends dirty-hairy