<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Untitled Document • “We Want Our Hogs”
• God offers blessings, but people want what will bring them a curse.
• This is hard to comprehend, or is it?

• Introduction
• Our story is found in Mark 5:1-20
• We will read several verses and make some observations.
• These things written are for our benefit and are given as instruction, and tools for learning (Romans 15:4).
• This story takes place after the “Peace, Be Still” story.

• Mark 5:1-20
• They crossed the sea and came to the land of the Gerasenes.
• This area was predominantly Gentile.
• They arrived and immediately we meet Legion.
• This creature with the demon saw Jesus and came and bowed down before Him.
• Legion recognized that Jesus was the Son of the Most High.
• Remember the disciples marveled: “what sort of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” just the night before.
• They did not know Jesus was the Son of God, but this demon did.
• Jesus had commanded, but Legion resisted.
• The demons requested that Jesus allow them to continue to exist, and Jesus gave them permission.
• But then the herd of swine ran into the sea and drowned.
• This caused a stir in the country and people came to see what was happening.
• They came and observed this man who had been demon possessed.
• Everyone knew him.
• They all inquired: How is this possible?
• Some had seen the event and declared that Jesus did this.
• Then they asked Jesus to leave.
• Now why would they ask Jesus to leave?
• There are many reasons for asking Jesus to leave.
• Someone lost a lot of wealth when the 2000 pigs died.
• Perhaps others were afraid that Jesus would destroy more hogs.
• They were Gentiles and were not prepared for a Messiah, and this Man must have been a troublemaker.
• Even today, Jesus is asked to leave our schools; work-places; recreational activities; government buildings; entertainment; and society at large.
• So, Jesus gathered His group and went to the boat to leave, as requested.
• The man formerly with the demon asked to go with Him.
• But Jesus refused his request.
• Why would Jesus refuse anyone to follow Him?
• The text tells us that this man went throughout his country and declared what Jesus had done for him.

• Lessons Learned
• There should have been rejoicing that a man was healed.
• But that was ignored totally.
• The people were selfish and were afraid of losing money (we see what their god was).
• This shows the extreme to which worldly interests will excite men.
• Worldly gain is valued above the blessings
of Jesus.
• This is very foolish!
• Yet it is not uncommon for men today to value the material wealth of this world over the spiritual blessings that are found in Christ Jesus.
• The cry still goes up in every place:
• "We Want Our Hogs“.
• Jesus offers salvation.
• It requires commitment and obedience.
• But the people exclaim: “we want our hogs”
• As the word “Legion” meant many, so…
• These hogs are legion today as they were then.
• The hog of dishonesty.
• The hog of popularity.
• The hog of entertainment, pleasures and worldly lusts.
• The hog of sensual desires and pride.
• The hog of big I and little you.
• The hog of riches and covetousness.
• The hog of opinions of men.
• These things, they are not willing to give up so they can be blessed by God.
• Many other hogs are out there.
• Any thing that keeps our attention away from Jesus becomes our hogs and pigs.
• Maybe we need a BBQ and an old-fashioned Hog killing.
• They still do it out on the ranches and farms.
• We all need to remove the hogs that keep us out of heaven.

• Conclusion
• Do You Want Your Hogs?
• Or will You accept Jesus Christ and do His will as is found in the New Testament?
• The choice is yours to make.

By Carey Scott based on a sermon by Larry Bunch

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