GREAT EXPECTATIONS PASTOR BILL VASILAKIS 25 th February 2007

EXPECTING FREEDOM … From Christ the Deliverer LIFE OUTSIDE OF CHRIST Luke 8: When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon- possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 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!" For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

ABNORMALITY v27 ‘had not worn clothes’ LIVING DEATH v27 ‘lived in the tombs’ ISOLATION v29 ‘driven into solitary places’ VIOLENCE v29 ‘broken his chains’; ‘cut himself with stones’ Mark 5:5

Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” 2 Timothy 2:23,25-26 “Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

THE CHALLENGE OF THE MASTER ‘When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. Mark 5:6 Christ at A Distance Christ Close Up Christ in Control

LIFE WITH CHRIST Luke 8:35-39 “…and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon- possessed man had been cured. 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. 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." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”

BEING SUBMISSIVE AND TEACHABLE v35 ‘sitting at Jesus feet’. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 1 Peter 5:5-6 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

BECOMING NORMAL AND CONTROLLED V35 ‘Clothed and in his right mind’ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Hebrews 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”

GETTING RECONNECTED WITH PEOPLE v39 ‘return home’ EMBRACING THE LIFE OF A FULL ON DISCIPLE v38 ‘begged to go with Jesus’ A FIRED UP WITNESS v39 ‘tell how much God has done for you’ Mark 5:19 ‘and how God had mercy on you’

BEING SUBMISSIVE AND TEACHABLE BECOMING NORMAL AND CONTROLLED GETTING RECONNECTED WITH PEOPLE EMBRACING THE LIFE OF A FULL ON DISCIPLE A FIRED UP WITNESS