Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/2005 Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
Committed To His Perfecting Process
Lesson Text: Luke
8:26-35
And
they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27
And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man,
which had devils long time, and ware no clothes,
neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud
voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I
beseech thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to
come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound
with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil
into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he
said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought
him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32 And there was
there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that
he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the
devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently
down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. 34 When they that fed them
saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the
country. 35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and
found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting
at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were
afraid.
The descriptive imagery and story between Christ, the male Gadarene, and demonic forces, paints a vivid picture of the perfecting process of Christ in the life of a mortal. Prior to the Gadaren’s encounter with Christ, he was under the control of demonic forces. His life was in subjection to the wiles of the devil. The Bible illustrates that for a long time he wore no clothes (lacked protection), lived in the cemetery (resided in unnatural places), and was shackled in chains for his own protection and that of others (was incapable of controlling himself).
Despite the condition, the Gadarene was aware of his deplorable circumstance and unacceptable public presentation. He knew he was in need of a perfecting process that only Jesus could provide. Because of that “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not (v. 28). When Jesus finished His initial work with the man, he was sitting at the feet of Jesus and in his right mind. For the perfecting process of Christ to account for something of substance, there must be commitment by the believer.
The Gadarene had to reach a level of maturity, a plataue where he could be responsible for his own actions. Under his restored condition the statement, “I could not help it” would not suffice. From a critically conscious viewpoint and not that of assumption and generality, it is not life itself or longevity of life that brings about maturity, it is the experiencing of events in life, grappling, responding, and reacting to them, that maturity is born or enhanced. A sheltered life, a life without event, a life without struggle, a life without trial or tribulation is one that cannot mature. Therefore, God’s perfecting process of His children comes at the expense of a multiplicity of experiences. Maturity in Christ is always being refined, therefore to ask for strength means God must deliver a breaking blow, to ask for faith means one must be exposed to a situation that relentlessly pulls at the spirit and flesh, to ask for a longsuffering attitude means someone must continually work your nerve. In Christ it is the dealing with such issues that moves a person into Christian maturity and beyond the minutia and frivolous things of life.
A Few Passages:
- “And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And
patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).
- “For he that soweth to his flesh shall
of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of
the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of
the household of faith” (Galatians 6:8-10).
- “For we hear that there are some which
walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now
them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that
with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be
not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this
epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be
ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-14).
In dealing with Romans 5:3-5; Galatians 6:8-10; and 2
Thessalonians 3:11-14 the Christian is to remain committed through tribulation
because it is the partial perfecting tool of Christ. Not being weary in well
doing presuppose the fact that while you are doing good evil, tribulation, and
inconveniences will appear. Remember the circumstances of Joseph, Moses, Job,
Daniel, Stephen, and Christ. The commitment to Christ must remain through
struggle because it is part of His perfecting process. To be perfected in
Christ means to be complete in the salvation position and matured in Him. “For
we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even
your perfection” (2 Corinthians 13:9).
Do not be found in reverse perfection. “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have
heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this
life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14). Because of their lack of perfection they were told, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect
before God” (Revelation 3:2).
Christ wants His children to continually grow in maturity. “Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews
6:1). One day we will all stand before God and we hope to stand before Him
in all maturity and wellness. “Epaphras,
who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring
fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God” (Colossians 4:12). “Whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working,
which worketh in me mightily”( Colossians 1:28-29).
On one level we are already complete in terms of salvation, but in reference to growth in Christ we continually strive together for maturity.“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
During the process of Christian maturity and dispositional perfection, the road will continue to be rough, but God is with His children striving for perfection. Paul said, “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
·
“ Now the God of
peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of
the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in
every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in
his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
(Hebrews 13:20-21)