TRANSFORMATION IS OUR MISSION
Everyone wants change—but not everyone finds true transformation.
- In Mark 5, we meet a man chained by demons, rejected by people, and left to
suffer alone. No one could help him—until Jesus came.
This story reminds us:
● No one is too broken for Jesus.
● No chain is too strong for His power.
And once Jesus transforms a life, He gives it a mission.
POINT 1: From Possession to Freedom
Mark 5:1-14 NIV
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. [2] When Jesus got out of the boat, a
man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. [3] This man lived in the tombs,
and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. [4] For he had often been chained
hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong
enough to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and
cut himself with stones. [6] When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in
front of him. [7] He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of
the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” [8] For Jesus had said to him, “Come out
of this man, you impure spirit!” [9] Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is
Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” [10] And he begged Jesus again and again not to send
them out of the area. [11] A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. [12] The
demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” [13] He gave them
permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two
thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. [14] Those
tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out
to see what had happened.
1.1 Jesus continues to heal even beyond boundaries.
● He travels to the Gentile region of the Gerasenes—Jesus goes where others won’t.
● A man possessed by demons meets him—living among tombs and hills.
Tombs = normally for remembering loved ones
For this man = place of torment
Hills = usually for hiking/relaxing
For him = place of pain and self-harm
1.2 His torment was terrifying
● No one could bind him—he broke chains (v.3-4)
● Night and day he cried out, cutting himself with stones (v.5)
● This is a picture of a soul tormented by sin.
1.3 The man SHRIEKED at Jesus (v.7)
● “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”
● Shriek = a loud cry of fear, defense, and rebellion
● Many today “shriek” at God—rejecting His authority
● Are we possessed by anything that dishonors God?
Romans 1:25 NIV
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather
than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
● We exchange truth for lies
● Worship created things instead of the Creator
Ephesians 4:22-27 NIV
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to
put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. [25] Therefore
each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members
of one body. [26] “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
[27] and do not give the devil a foothold.
● Ongoing sin can give demons a foothold
● Bitterness, anger, immorality, idolatry open doors to the enemy
Example: Confession breaks chains. Married’s Retreat moment—rewriting vows,
confessing sin = freedom.
● Even demons submitted to Jesus’ authority.
● He permits them to enter pigs (v.13)—valuing the man over material wealth.
- 2,000 pigs × ₱12,000 (average pig price) = ₱24 million
The value Jesus placed on one soul was priceless.
POINT 2: Transformed to Transform
Mark 5:15-17 NIV
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of
demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. [16] Those who had
seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the
pigs as well. [17] Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
2.1 A Complete Change
● People saw the man sitting, dressed, and in his right mind—and were afraid.
● Transformation was OBVIOUS and undeniable.
True transformation = recognizable urgency, clarity, and peace.
Examples
● Cyonell – once uncommitted, now faithful to all meetings
● Allan – came from Cebu, now consistently increasing his giving without being told
Question: After our confessions… Are we refreshed? Or still chained?
Meetings of the body
● Midweeks, Bible talks, campus and Sunday services—these aren’t optional, they’re
lifelines
● Mindset of “ok lang, bawi na lang ako sa Sunday” = spiritual complacency
People Asked Jesus to Leave (v.17)
● Instead of celebrating the miracle, they feared losing their pigs.
● Sometimes, people are more afraid of losing comfort than they are excited about gaining
Christ.
● People often fear what they’ll lose, rather than rejoice in what they’ll gain.
Example: Kevin
● Preached powerfully on Saturday
● Encouraged a brother on Friday during his day off
● I’m preaching to myself.” — That’s spiritual transformation!
“The most powerful sermon is not what you preach—it’s how you live.”
POINT 3: From Slave to Saved… to Sent
Mark 5:18-20 NIV
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with
him. [19] Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much
the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” [20] So the man went away and
began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were
amazed.
3.1 The man wanted to follow Jesus physically
● Jesus instead sends him on a mission: “Go home and tell.”
● Obedience to mission > comfort with Jesus
The man shared his testimony across the Decapolis—ten cities!
● Have you told your “own people”—family, classmates, co-workers—what the Lord
has done for you?
● Would you rather stay comfortable or go courageously?
Prayer for everyone!
Philippians 1:9-11 NIV
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of
insight, [10] so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for
the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to
the glory and praise of God.
● Paul prayed for insight, purity, discernment
● He wasn’t just filling roles—he was shaping hearts.
● When was the last time you prayed deeply for someone—by name, by need, by heart?
Conclusion
Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
● Gratitude fuels the mission
● Not guilt, not pressure—gratitude.
● The demon-possessed man didn’t need a push—he was so grateful, he went.
● Gratefulness doesn’t sit still. It tells. It shares. It risks.
“If a man once possessed by demons could reach 10 cities…
Then we—transformed by grace, filled with the Spirit, and free—can evangelize the East
Region!”
● Stop asking: “Can I?”
● Start saying: “Lord, I will—because You already did everything for me.”
