Encountering God through Spiritual Gifts

"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." - Mark 5:15

In the region of the Gerasenes, a desperate man lived among the tombs. Day and night he
would cry out and cut himself with stones. Chains couldn't hold him; people couldn't tame
him. Possessed by a "legion" of demons, he existed in a state of perpetual torment—
isolated, violent, and beyond human help.

This man's story takes a dramatic turn when Jesus steps off a boat onto the shore. The
demons recognize Jesus immediately and plead not to be tormented. With a word, Jesus
casts out the legion of demons, sending them into a herd of pigs that rush down a steep
bank into the sea.

Then comes our verse: "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."

This powerful transformation illustrates how encountering God through spiritual gifts—in
this case, Jesus' gift of deliverance—can completely restore a person's identity and dignity.
The man who was once naked is now clothed. The man who was once out of his mind is
now in his right mind. The man who was once isolated among the tombs is now sitting in
community with Jesus and others.

Throughout Scripture, we see how God often uses spiritual gifts as channels for divine
encounter. The gift of healing brings people face-to-face with God's compassion and
power as the great physician. The gift of prophecy reveals God's intimate knowledge of
hearts and circumstances and divine plan for our lives. The gift of teaching illuminates
God's truth in ways that transform understanding. The gift of deliverance, as in this story,
demonstrates God's authority over evil and His desire to set captives free.

What makes this encounter particularly striking is the reaction of the witnesses: "they were
afraid." Their fear wasn't at the sight of demon possession—they were already familiar with
that. Their fear came from witnessing the dramatic transformation that God's power had
brought about. They were confronted with divine authority that defied their understanding
and challenged their comfortable distance from the supernatural.

This story reminds us that spiritual gifts are not merely skills or talents but manifestations
of God's presence and power. When these gifts operate in love and truth, they create
opportunities for life-changing divine encounters—not just for the immediate recipient, but
also for those who witness their effects.

How This Story Shows We Encounter God Through Spiritual Gifts:

1. God’s Power Overcomes Darkness.
a. Jesus operated in the gift of discerning spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10),
recognizing the demonic influence.
b. When spiritual gifts are used, God’s authority is revealed, and the kingdom
of darkness is pushed back.

2. Healing and Deliverance Reveal God’s Presence.
a. The gift of miracles and healing set the man free.
b. When God’s gifts are active, people experience His power in a real, life-changing way.

3. Transformed Lives Are a Testimony.
a. The man begged to stay with Jesus, but Jesus told him:
"Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for
you." (Mark 5:19)
b. His story became a witness, and through him, many others encountered
God.