Jesus casts Demons into a herd of pigs.

• Read Mark 5:1-20 5 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name don't torture me!" 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you impure spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. 18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

• Jesus planted a seed and the healed man obeyed. The Gentile Christian church in the Decapolis flourished.
• We are commanded to do exactly what this man did. Go and tell everyone that Jesus not only heals the storms in our lifes but he brings us out of the grave, forgiving our sins, and granting us eternal life.
• This week what decision will we make. Will we beg him to go away when things aren't easy, or will we beg to follow him and tell others of His amazing power to save.
• What an amazing story this is and it still applies to us today.
• Remember to Look to the Words in Red

• 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
• 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
• 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
• 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• Read Matthew 5:3-11 Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed are those who are persecuted, blessed are you when people insult you.
• Read Matthew 5:12 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• The Greek word for Blessed is "Makarios." Makarios means fortunate, blessed, or happy. But not happy through circumstances, it's joyful in all circumstances. Makarios is blessed because our lives are in the hands of our maker.
• The Greek word for trials and temptation is "Peirasmos."
• Read 1st Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
• The Imperishable Crown (The Crown of Victory): Given to believers who run the race to win. To those who press on steadfastly.
• Read 1st Corinthians 9:24-25 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
• The Crown of Rejoicing: Given to those who have witnessed to others and who have built up the church.
• Read 1st Thessalonians 2:19-20 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
• The Crown of Righteousness: Given to those who eagerly await on the Lord. This one should be all of us.
• Read 2nd Timothy 4:8 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
• The Crown of Glory: Given to pastors, shepherds, elders which God placed in authority in His church.
• Read 1st Peter 5:1-4 5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
• The Crown of Life: Given to those who suffer for His sake.
• Read Revelation 2:10 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.
• Verses 13-15 are the cycle of temptation that leads to death.
• Read Genesis 22:1-2 22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."
• Read Job 1:9-12 9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." 12 The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
• Read 1st Samuel 17:48-49 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
• Read 2nd Samuel 11:2-3 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite."
• When trials come, endure with faith.
• When temptations come, overcome with obedience.
• The result of trials and temptations is perseverance and blessings!
• Eternal blessings in the form of the crown of life.
• Remember... Look to the words in Red

• 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
• 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
• 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
• Read Acts 2:44-45 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
• Read Acts 4:34-35 34 For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
• Read 2nd Corinthians 8:1-2 8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
• Read Matthew 6:19-21 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• The Greek word for humble is "tapeinos." It literally means low lying or not rising far from the groung.
• Figuratively it means low socially/financially or low ethically or with humility.
• Read Matthew 6:24 24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
• Read Deuteronomy 8:18 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
• Read 3rd John 1:2 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
• Read Matthew 19:23-24 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
• Read Deuteronomy 15:7-8 7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
• Read Romans 8:17 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
• The Greek word for humble is "plousios." From the word plutos.
• What English word do we get from from Greek word plutos? Pluto. Pluto means "wealth giver."
• Read James 2:5 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
• Read Revelation 3:17 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
• The root word for Laodicea is lao. Lao means "ruled by the people."
• Read 1st Timothy 6:10 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
• Read James 4:14 4 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
• Read Psalm 103:15-16 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
• Read Psalm 90:12 12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
• Linda Poindexter said: "Neither a rich man nor a poor man gets to enjoy their money. One is too busy trying to hold on to it, and the other is too busy trying to get it."
• Look to the Words in Red

• Read John 13:34-35 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
• Read James 2:18 18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
• Charles Spurgeon said: "I have looked back to times of trial with a kind of longing, not to have them return, but to feel the strength of God as I have felt it then, to hang upon God's powerful arm as I hung upon it then, and to see God at work as I saw him then.
• Read James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
• Read James 1:6 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
• Read James 1:7 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

• Read James 1:8 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
• Read Proverbs 9:10 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

• John A Morrison said: "knowledge is the ability to take things apart, but wisdom is the ability to put things back together again."

• Ask in the Greek is the word "aiteo." It means to beg, to call for, to crave, to desire, or to require.

• Read Matthew 7:7-8 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

• Read 1st John 5:14 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

• Read James 4:3 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

• Read Luke 22:41-43 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

• Bible commentator Edmond Hiebert says: to be double minded is to have two-souls. And the man who has 2 souls, one for the earth and one for heaven, will end up with neither.

• Read Mark 9:17-24 17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." 19 "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

• Look to the Words in Red

• \ 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
• 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
• 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
• 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• Bondservant = in the Greek is the word "doulos." Doulos means slave or one who gives themselves up to another's will. One who is devoted to another permanently.

• John MacArthur says that Slavery, service, and manual labor was despised by ancient Greek culture. They thought that the better a man was, the less he should work. In contrast, God gave us a carpenter King, fisherman apostles, and tent-making missionaries.

• Lord = in the Greek is the word "kyrios." Kyrios means master. The master of a doulos, a slave.

• Read Galatians 3:26-28 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• 1 James, a (bond) servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

• This style of writing James uses is Hebrew is called "pearls on a string," or "stringing pearls." It's designed to be rapid fire truth statements but there's always a unified theme.
• James' theme is "the wisdom of God."

• 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

• Read Psalm 23:4 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Bible commentator William Moffit translates this "greet it all joy."

• Read 1st Corinthians 10:13 13 No temptation (no trial) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, (it will happen) he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

• Charles Spurgeon said it like this: God never puts heavy burdens on light shoulders.

• So, why should we consider it pure joy when trials come?
• 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (or patience).

• Read 1st Peter 1:7 7 These (trials) have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

• Perseverance = in the Greek is the word "hypomone." Hypomone means patience, steadfastly waiting, endurance.

• Read Romans 10:17 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

• 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• Read Hebrews 5:8 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

• Read John 16:33 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

• Look to the "Words in Red."

Read Mark 12:30 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

C.S. Lewis: Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.

Read Acts 17:11 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Read Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Read Jeremiah 29:18 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.

Read Isaiah 64:8 8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Read John 7:5 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Read 1st Corinthians 15:5-7 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, (That's Peter) and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Read Acts 15:13-20 13 When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

6 "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'— 18 things known from long ago.

9 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

Read Genesis 32:28 28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome."

Read Acts 8:1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God"

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above."

"Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only."

"Even the demons believe-and shudder.

"Faith apart from works is dead."

"Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Remember the Words In Red