From Brokenness to Wholeness: The Power of Surrender

Today’s passage from Mark 5 draws us into the story of the man possessed by a legion of demons—a man whose life was marked by brokenness, rebellion, and self-destruction. Yet, in this encounter, we see the relentless pursuit of Jesus, who crosses the sea not just to perform a miracle, but to reveal the depth of His love and the reality of spiritual warfare. The world is filled with confusion and darkness, but Scripture reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. The enemy’s goal is always to kill, steal, and destroy, but Christ’s purpose is to bring life, transformation, and truth.

Reflecting on my own journey, I see how easy it is to live among the spiritually dead, to be restless, rebellious, and to seek satisfaction in all the wrong places. Like the man in the tombs, many of us have tried to bind our pain with chains of our own making, only to find ourselves more enslaved. True change did not come through religion, good works, or even church attendance, but through a moment of honest surrender—telling the truth about who I was and who I needed. The story of the demoniac is not just about demonic possession, but about the power of Jesus to bring wholeness where there was only brokenness.

Worship is not merely an outward act, but a response to the greatness of God. The man ran to Jesus, fell at His feet, and acknowledged Him for who He truly is. Even the demons recognized Christ’s authority, but transformation comes when we move from mere acknowledgment to surrender. The question Jesus asked—“What is your name?”—is a call to honesty. It is only when we are willing to tell the truth about ourselves that we can experience the freedom and new life that Christ offers.

Conversion is not about cleaning up our lives, but about giving up our lives so that Christ can make us new. When Jesus enters in, everything changes: our appearance, our attitude, our appetites, and our activity. The evidence of salvation is not just a past decision, but a present transformation. God’s grace is so powerful that it not only changes individuals, but ripples out to families, communities, and beyond. The invitation remains: Will you tell the truth? Will you surrender all of you to all of God? When God moves, we move.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Relentless Pursuit of God God always takes the initiative in reconciliation. Throughout Scripture, when humanity fails, it is God who seeks us out—whether Adam in the garden, Elijah in despair, or the demoniac among the tombs. This relentless pursuit is not based on our worthiness, but on His passionate love for us, even when we are at our lowest. [06:35]
• 2. The Reality and Subtlety of Spiritual Warfare Satan’s strategies are not always overt; often, they manifest in restlessness, rebellion, and self-destruction. The enemy’s goal is to distort our identity, isolate us, and keep us living among the spiritually dead. Recognizing the spiritual battle is essential, but even more vital is knowing that Christ’s authority is greater than any force of darkness. [04:09]
• 3. The Power of Honest Surrender Transformation begins when we are willing to tell the truth about ourselves. Jesus’ question, “What is your name?” is an invitation to drop our masks and admit our need. It is not enough to believe intellectually or to participate in religious activity; true freedom comes when we surrender all of ourselves to Christ and allow Him to do what only He can do. [22:29]
• 4. Worship as a Response to God’s Greatness Worship is not confined to music or ritual, but is our whole-hearted response to who God is and what He has done. The man in Mark 5 models postures of worship: seeing Jesus, running to Him, falling at His feet, and confessing the truth. Genuine worship flows from a heart that has encountered grace and cannot help but respond with surrender and praise. [21:03]
• 5. Evidence of New Life: Changed Affections and Actions When Christ enters a life, the change is unmistakable. The demoniac was found clothed, in his right mind, and longing to be with Jesus. True conversion is marked by a shift in our desires, our relationships, and our purpose. The ripple effect of one transformed life can lead to the salvation and renewal of many others. [28:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:44] - Reading Mark 5: Encounter with the Demoniac
• [01:02] - Jesus Reveals the Spiritual Battle
• [03:38] - The Reality of Satan and Spiritual Warfare
• [06:02] - The Passionate Pursuit of Jesus
• [07:27] - Portrait of Demonic Activity
• [09:32] - Rebellion and Restlessness Without Christ
• [12:32] - The Futility of Religion Without Surrender
• [13:55] - Self-Destruction and the Search for Identity
• [16:14] - Postures of Worship: Seeing and Running to Jesus
• [17:35] - The Truth About Belief and Surrender
• [21:03] - Worship as Response to God’s Greatness
• [22:29] - The Power of Honest Confession
• [27:55] - The Evidence of True Conversion
• [33:58] - The Ripple Effect of a Changed Life
• [37:35] - The Invitation: Who Are You Really?
• [41:39] - Prayer of Surrender and Invitation to Respond

Bible Reading

Mark 5:1-20 (ESV) — They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Observation Questions

1. Where was the man living when Jesus met him, and what does this say about his condition? (Mark 5:2-3; [01:21])
2. What are some of the ways the man’s brokenness and self-destruction were described in the passage? (Mark 5:4-5; [01:21])
3. How did the man respond when he saw Jesus from afar, and what is surprising about this response? (Mark 5:6; [02:03])
4. What question did Jesus ask the man, and why is this question significant in the story? (Mark 5:9; [02:50])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon described Jesus’ journey across the sea as an act of “relentless pursuit.” What does this reveal about God’s character and His approach to people who are far from Him? ([06:35])
2. The man’s life was marked by restlessness, rebellion, and self-destruction. In what ways does the sermon suggest these are signs of spiritual warfare, not just personal problems? ([04:09])
3. The question “What is your name?” was highlighted as a call to honesty. Why is honest confession so important for transformation, according to the sermon? ([22:29])
4. After his encounter with Jesus, the man’s appearance, attitude, and desires changed. What does this suggest about the nature of true conversion? ([28:22])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about how easy it is to “live among the spiritually dead” and seek satisfaction in the wrong places. Are there areas in your life where you feel you are seeking life or comfort in “dead places”? What would it look like to move toward Jesus in those areas? ([08:36])
2. The enemy’s goal is to “kill, steal, and destroy,” often through subtle means like restlessness or isolation. Can you identify any patterns of restlessness, rebellion, or self-destructive habits in your own life? How might these be connected to spiritual warfare? ([04:09])
3. The sermon emphasized that true change comes not from religion or good works, but from honest surrender. Is there something in your life you need to be honest about with God or with others? What is holding you back from telling the truth? ([22:29])
4. The man in Mark 5 ran to Jesus and fell at His feet, modeling a posture of worship. What does it look like for you to respond to God’s greatness in your daily life—not just in church, but at home, work, or school? ([21:03])
5. After being set free, the man wanted to be with Jesus, but Jesus sent him to share his story. Who in your life needs to hear what God has done for you? What is one step you can take this week to share your testimony? ([29:38])
6. The sermon said, “When God moves, we move.” Is there an area where you sense God prompting you to take a step of faith or obedience? What would it look like to respond? ([43:27])
7. The evidence of new life is not just a past decision but a present transformation. Looking at your own life, where do you see evidence of God’s transforming grace? Where do you long to see more? ([28:22])