“Go Home To Your People”

July 21, 2017

“Go Home To Your People”

Blessings folk!

The man that had been set free of demons now wanted to go with Jesus.
Understandable.
He implored Jesus.
He desired to be with Jesus.

What was the Lord’s response?

Mar 5:18-20
As He was getting into the boat,
the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.

And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

Surprisingly, at least in our expectation, Jesus did not allow the man to accompany Him.

Why?

Jesus had a larger view and calling for the man.

Jesus told him to…

  • go home to your people
  • report to your people the great things the Lord has done for you
  • report to your people the mercy that the Lord had on you

This is the heart of “evangelism”.

Too often we seek to “share the gospel” in a manner that comes across as a “amway” presentation.

We quote verses.
We go through precise strategies and presentations.
We ask hypothetical questions that speak more to the soulish than to the Spirit.
We then seek to get folk to repeat some magical mantra whereby we will declare them to be “saved”.

We do not see such in the Scripture.

What we see are moments like this.

Jesus told him to go and tell what the Lord had done for him.

It is that simple.
The most powerful thing you can tell someone is what the Lord has done for you, what He is doing, and what He will do.

Now, do not hear me wrong.
Tools are good.
Plans and strategies are useful.
But, when we depend upon such rather than the testimony of a changed heart and the power of God…then we err.

I remember years ago I was training for an evangelism program that was in vogue at the time. My “trainer”, a good personal friend and leader in the local body, and I were discussing such. I was realizing that most people were giving greater heed to the tool than to the Lord.

Then, I noticed this.

We were training folk to communicate and share something - the true gospel - which they themselves had not experienced.

Oh, they were religious.
They were faithful.
They had said all the “right” things.
And yet, the power of God was not with them.

Let us not make the same error.

Tell what the Lord has done for you.
Start at home.
Start with your people.

If you find yourself silent, then repent, confess and be saved.

The Word Podcast - Today’s Episode…
https://dalemoore.podbean.com/