Just as these beautiful birds were all lined up, plumped under their feathers and soaking up the sun, even so we can be an authentic voice but not everyone may see us as that or even hear the true message spoken.

Jesus not only spoke the message of God’s deliverance but gave a visual aid when the man was delivered from a legion of demons. Those from the surrounding country came out and witnessed the miracle.

Instead of accepting Jesus for who He was (Son of the Most High God), the people cast him away by asking Him to leave. Why? Because they were filled with great fear.

Are we more fearful of a legion of demons or of the power of God to deliver us?

Truly, God is able to deliver us from the curse of sin through His Son, Christ Jesus the Lord.

The man who was delivered yearned to stay close to Jesus but Jesus sent him away, for a greater purpose. He was the messenger that the people could listen to and understand. For this powerful display was from a good God. The delivered man declared how much Jesus had done for him, throughout the city.

When we are sent away, it may not be easy. In fact, it may be downright lonely. However, the messenger sent to this hometown city may be you. Are you willing to declare how much God has done for you? -Teresa

Luke 8:33-39 (ESV)

³³ Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

³⁴ When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.³⁵ Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ³⁶ And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed^[c] man had been healed. ³⁷ Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. ³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,³⁹ “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Luke 8:26 Some manuscripts Gadarenes; others Gergesenes; also verse 37
2. Luke 8:27 Greek he; also verses 38, 42
3. Luke 8:36 Greek daimonizomai (demonized); elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons

P.S. it’s my 13th year anniversary on WordPress!!

Dear Lord, please help me to speak the message of your goodness for many more years. -Teresa