He couldn’t quite remember when it had taken such complete hold. What he did remember was that he had grown up a happy child in a loving family. Sure, his family’s business of raising pigs made things difficult now and then with the local priests at the synagogue, but his parents dealt with that. He was pretty much oblivious to it all.
He also remembered when his happy childhood began to change. As a teenager he, along with his best friend, began to wonder what made the pagans pagan. His father had always taught him to stay away from the pagan families at the edge of town. His father had said they were dangerous. But he had seen the families walking in the city where they lived, and those families didn’t look much different than his own.
He remembered the day that he and his friend ventured to the pagan side of town just to see what was really true. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened until the old lady had grabbed them and dragged them into her shop. She offered to tell the boys their future. “What harm would that be?” he had thought. He quickly agreed while his friend sat there nervously watching. The moment the old lady held his hand, he felt different.
The fortune was nothing more than long life, a beautiful wife, beautiful children, and other things that could happen to anyone and everyone. But a change had happened in him.
Over the years he found himself more and more on the pagan side of town until he pretty much lived there. He became so consumed with the religious practices that seemed to fill his soul so much more than the weekly synagogue services of his childhood. Then one day, just like that, he was totally consumed. He wasn’t himself anymore. Another entity owned him.
That entity gave him extraordinary strength and made him do horrible things. It was as though he was watching someone else’s life. His voice was not his own. His actions were not his own. His thoughts were a jumble of his thoughts and the entity’s thoughts. He wanted out. The entity told him he would never be free.
He became a danger to himself and society. He “had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” (Mark 5:3-5)
One day, in a moment of internal silence, he cried out to the God of his father begging for help. He didn’t get to think much more than that because the entity retaliated with such pain in his head all he could do was fall to the ground and groan. It wasn’t much of a cry, but he hoped it was enough.
It wasn’t long before he sensed a different power had entered the area – a kind power, a strong power. Maybe God had heard and answered his cry after all.
He did his best to leave tombs and head to the beach. The entity was fighting him. But the kind, strong power was drawing him. He almost laughed to himself as he thought just how ridiculous he looked jerkily running in the sand.
And then he saw the man at the center of the kind, strong power. He looked into the man’s eyes and saw nothing but love. No recrimination, no judgment, no hatred. Nothing like the people of his city.
“When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.” (Mark 5:6)
He was on his knees, face buried in the sand by the mans’ feet, begging in his mind with all he was worth for freedom. But the entity would have none of it.
“And he cried out with a loud voice and said, 'What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.'” (Mark 5:7)
So that was the man’s name. Jesus. That was fitting. He hoped that Jesus would indeed be his salvation this day.
Jesus looked at him squarely in the eye and said, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” (Mark 5:8)
At the words of Jesus, he felt a shift in the entity. The entity was scared. This was the first time the entity had shown any fear. Jesus must really be the Son of the Most High God for His words to have such power. Hope rose in him.
Jesus and the entity talked a bit more, and Jesus gave permission for the entity to enter the herd of pigs nearby. And they left immediately. (Mark 5:13)
Silence. For the first time in years he was alone in his mind. Peace. He had forgotten what that was like. Forgiveness. A cool, refreshing breeze flooded his soul. He clung to the feet of Jesus. He never wanted to let Jesus out of his sight. He begged Jesus to let him stay by His side.
“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” (Mark 5:19-20)
He didn’t just tell his friends. He went all over the Decapolis area in each of the 10 cities. All he could talk about was the freedom, forgiveness, and love he had experienced because of Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-5)
What about you? Do you have strongholds in your life that are keeping you from giving 100% of your heart to Jesus? Are there long-held sins that you need freedom from? The Word of God is powerful for the pulling down of strongholds. Cling to the Word and do not let go.
“Thus says God the Lord, . . . I will . . . bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:5-7)
This is why Binding Broken Hearts is passionate about getting God’s Word into prisons and into the hands of inmates who so desperately need to freedom from the long-held strongholds controlling their lives. Because these are men and women who need Jesus most.
Perhaps you want to help spread the power of His Word to an inmate who desperately needs its power. If so, please consider becoming a financial partner with us. Click here to see how you can help.