Jesus show us how to expand the Kingdom of GOD on the earth!
Jesus demonstrated the importance of walking in the power and authority of The Holy Spirit that would ultimately result in the expansion of The Kingdom of GOD on earth. This includes casting out demons, no matter how many are before you. There is an immediate reaction in the geographic region and later a long-term reaction that expands and encompasses more real estate.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 8:
26-29 As soon as they stepped ashore on the eastern side of the lake in the land of the Gerasenes, the disciples were confronted by a demon-possessed madman from a nearby town. Many times he had been put under guard and bound with chains, but the many demons inside him had repeatedly thrown him into convulsions, breaking his shackles and driving him out of the town into the countryside.
The land of the Gerasenes is located in the area of Decapolis, a region of ten cities in Roman Syria and Judea.
He had been demonized for a long time and was living naked in a cemetery among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and screamed out, “What are you doing here? You are Jesus, the Son of the Most High God!” Jesus commanded the demons to come out of him, and they shouted, “We beg you, don’t torture us!”
33 So Jesus ordered all the “mob” (a legion) of demons to come out of the man and enter the pigs. The crazed herd of swine stampeded over the cliff into the lake and all of them drowned.
34 When the herders tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off in fear and reported it to the nearby town and throughout the countryside.
35 Then the people of the region came out to see for themselves what had happened. When they came to where Jesus was, they discovered the notorious madman totally set free. He was clothed, speaking intelligently, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. They were shocked!
36 Then eyewitnesses to the miracle reported all that they had seen and how Jesus completely delivered the demonized man from his torment. After hearing about such amazing power, the townspeople became frightened.
First, the townspeople were afraid of the demon-possessed madman, not they are afraid of Jesus Who delivered the man of his demons.
37 Soon all the people of the region of the Gerasenes and the surrounding country pleaded with Jesus to leave them, for they were gripped with fear. So Jesus got into the boat, intending to return to Galilee.
The delivered man became a follower of Christ. In an instant, he was a new man.
38 But the man who had been set free begged Jesus over and over not to leave, saying, “Let me be with you!” Jesus sent him away with these instructions:
39 “Return to your home and your family, and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” So the man went back and preached to everyone who would listen about the amazing miracle Jesus had worked in his life.
There is nothing like a verified testimony of the miraculous to force people to deal with the ministry of Christ. Their mindset goes from considering a theology to a reality and this is what causes the Kingdom to grow.
What was the result of this miracle? Jesus returned to the area and Mark recorded in Mark chapter 7:
31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.
32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His Hand on him.
33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.
34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Fear left the region after Jesus healed another person brought to Him by the people. What happens next?
Chapter 8:1 In those days, the multitude (four thousand men +) being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them…
The fame of the demon-possessed man’s deliverance ultimately produced 4,000 men plus women and children wanting to hear the message of The Gospel. You and I have been given the template of how to expand the Kingdom of GOD on earth.