By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Monday, Jan 05, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
"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. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region." (Mark 5:15-17, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what happened after the demons went into the pigs and the pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned?

Today, I decided to look at points 3 & 4!

Interpretation:
I asked myself why the people of the region were afraid and pleaded with Jesus to leave the region?
Jesus had just healed a demon-possessed man and sent the demons into the pigs. The pigs had drowned but the man was saved sitting with Jesus, dressed in his right mind in the presence of Jesus. This should not have made the people afraid but rejoice. I believe what was happening is that they were living their lifestyle contrary to the Word of God.

First of all, Scripture was clear to the Jewish people not to eat porkand yet they were tending about 2000 pigs. I believe those pigs were for the people of the region to feast on whether they were planning to eat pork intestines with its blood, etc we do not know. Regardless of what they were planning to do with the pigs, Jesus’ actions changed that.

It seems they were so materialistic in nature that they could not rejoice for the man who was healed. They could have wondered what would happen next if Jesus continued to be there! So, they did not want to have anything to do with Jesus even though He healed a man.

Instead, they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region and became afraid of Jesus. This is sad when someone pleads for a righteous person to leave their region. This only happens when they are living in so much darkness that they are afraid of what the Light would expose.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. When we are afraid of Jesus, it is not because Jesus will do harm to us but because we are living a lifestyle contrary to the Word of God. The Light of Jesus exposes it in our lives. However, many times we want to continue to live in that path and do not want any interference. We act like, the last thing we want is the Creator telling the created how things should be done. So, we live our lives our own way fearing if we seek the Lord, He will make us do things we do not want to do.

I know because it happened to me in the past when I was afraid to seek Jesus because I felt if I sought Jesus then I would have to change my lifestyle. If I did not seek Jesus then I could live my own way. The problem was I was not happier living my own way instead I was leading a double life until I surrendered to Jesus Christ.

I ask you now dear friend, what makes you afraid of coming to Jesus this New Year of 2009?
Dear friend, those who are afraid of Jesus are afraid because when their lifestyle is seen through the eyes of Jesus, they feel guilty and ashamed. They know what they are doing is wrong and the Light of Jesus exposes it. So, it is easier not to think about Jesus or even to acknowledge the existence of Jesus or His resurrection. This way that person can go on living their lifestyle how they want to. That is exactly what the enemy wants. Satan wants you to be afraid of Jesus so you do not come into His presence. This way, Satan can have a hold on you just as he did on the demon-possessed man. The man had to run to Jesus and fall before Him to be rescued and healed. The man was not afraid of Jesus even in his terrible condition. Surrender will not be easy but the Lord will help you through it Friend.

Friend, through it all no matter what your life is looking like or what you have engaged in how terrible and guilty you may feel, you do not have to be afraid of Jesus to come to Him. You don't have to plead with Jesus to go away. Jesus loves you so much and died for your sin and came back to life on the third day to save. If you were the only one living, Jesus would have still died for you because that is how much you mean to Jesus. It is not worth living a life apart from Jesus. For the time being, the temporary pleasures may look great but in the long run it will only hurt us. The enemy will not tell you that though. Read John 15 for a detailed explanation.

Remember, whatever Jesus wants you to do and does not want you to do is for your own best interests.  Please do not be afraid of Jesus. Jesus wants to be there for you.

People have told me if they become a Christian, they will miss out on this and that so they are afraid to come to Jesus. You know what, what you are missing is nothing compared to what Jesus wants to bless you with in this life and the life to come. All you are missing out right now are the dangerousness of sinful living. You don't need that!

This however, does not mean a Christian’s life is peachy but he/she has the presence of Jesus with him/her to help him/her through. Do not tell Jesus to stay away from you please.  People do that when they are afraid of someone or do not want to deal with them. The decision to seek Jesus and keep Him near  will be the best decision you will make as you seek Jesus!

This reminds me of the sermon Pastor Hugo preached yesterday at church from the Book of Joshua based on Joshua 24.

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15, NIV)

Friend, we have a choice whether we are going to serve idols in our lives or whether we will forsake them all to serve Jesus. Anything that takes place of our devotion to Jesus and His ways can become an idol in our lives. For the herdsmen the pigs became an idol that they were afraid to serve Jesus.

Even this day many people are afraid to let go of their idols especially in worship because they fear something will happen to them if they don't serve them diligently so they keep away from serving Jesus. But, Jesus is the One that should be served for He alone can deliver us from the sin that captivates and the idols we have made in our lives.

Won't you turn your hearts towards Jesus if you have never come to know Jesus?

If you know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior, won't you share this message with someone you know who needs to read it?

Now is the time of Salvation friend. Do not wait to come to Jesus some other time. If you do not know Him or if you want to rededicate your life to Him, you can do it right now. You do not have to wait. Yes, you may still have questions and doubts but Jesus will answer them in His wonderful timing. If we wait till we get all the answers that time may never come and it could be too late. Jesus healed the demon-possessed man and changed Him. He wants to change you too. You are never out of His love and never out of His reach. He loves you as you are and you can come to Him as you are, asking Him to work in you. May you take the words of this poem to heart and give your life to Jesus who wants to be your Lord and Personal Savior! Amen!

Love that broke the mask!
By Ramesh C. Reddy

When you are struggling with a sin?
When you cannot seem to win?
When the scars still hurt like mace?
When the tears run down your face?
When you are overwhelmed with pain?
When your life seems to be in vain?
When you can never do right?
When guilt eats you with a stinging bite?
When sorrows fill the day or night?
You can still win the fight!
With Jesus, your Bright Light!
It is never too late!
Upon Him you can wait!
Having trust and faith!
Though so much guilt you feel
Your sins and scars, Christ will heal!
He loves you more and more!
To Him, all your worries you can pour!
No matter where you have been
No matter what you have seen
Upon your Savior, you can lean
Come and find rest
From every test
In Him who knows you best!
Him you need not negatively fear
To Him you are so dear
From you, He waits to hear
And wipe every tear
So come as you are with your sin
And ask Jesus to make you win
He alone can cover you in His precious Blood
Absorbing all of sin's flood
He will give you a clean slate
Come before it is too late!
Amen!!!

“Afraid? Forever Redeemer Always Is Delivering!” (A.F.R.A.I.D.)/”What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I have heard that I do not have to be afraid of you. Jesus, I have also heard that you love me and you can help me. Jesus, you know where I have been and what I have done and yet you love me. I am sorry when I have been afraid of you because of my own sin. You do not want me to be afraid of you in that way but have a reverent fear of you which is good fear. Thank you Jesus you can help me. You healed the demon-possessed man completely. I am a sinner Lord. I confess to you all my sins. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to please forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again. Wash me Jesus and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me please Jesus and help me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for living in me and I will live for you Lord. Thank you Jesus I am never out of your love and never out of your reach. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be my Lord and Personal Savior and change me. Thank you we can come to you without fear for you tell us “fear not for I am with you; do not be dismayed, I am your God, for I will uphold you with my victorious right Hand." Thank you Jesus!  Thank you so much for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thanks you have heard my prayers and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!