Distinguishing the Difference Between Oppression, Obsession,
and Possessionwho willingly yields himself to Satan again and again
and does not want to be free from Satan's dominion.
I know from experience that it is relatively easy to
get those delivered who desire to be free; folks who
want to be delivered can be. But very seldom are you
ever able to help those people who continually and
willingly yield to satanic power and do not want to be
set free.
The Lord met this madman of Gadara with great
compassion (Mark 5:19). By His word of command,
Jesus set the man free (Mark 5:13; Luke 8:32).
Immediately the man's entire appearance was changed.
Before he'd been a wild maniac who tore his clothes off
and cut himself with stones, but after Jesus' command,
the man was normal: "And they come to Jesus, and see
him that was possessed with the devil, and had the
legion, sitting, and clothed, and IN HIS RIGHT MIND:
and they were afraid" (Mark 5:15).
When the man was set free, he clung to Jesus, his
Deliverer. He wanted to go with Jesus (Luke 8:38). But
Jesus immediately sent this man out to tell his friends
what Jesus had done for him (Luke 8:39).
Jesus knew that for the man's own benefit, he
needed to begin serving the Lord. Jesus knew the man
needed this discipline of confession and witnessing to
grow in his new-found faith, so He sent the man to
spread the glad tidings of the gospel in his own
hometown: “... Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy
friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath
done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee" (Mark
5:19). Jesus knew that every new advance in walking
toward the light would give this man assurance and
strength in his new-found walk with the Lord.