Sorry I'm late friends, but the A21 is closed. I had to come via Wadhurst. Let us commence our service this afternoon by singing hymn 445. I'm sorry, it's 448.

When Jesus undertook to rescue ruined man, the rounds of bliss forsook and to relieve us ran. He spared no pains, declined no load, resolved to buy us with his blood. In 448.

? Jesus Christ, Lord of all ?
? Son of God, Lord of all ?

O come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

? Whose broad stripes and bright stars ?
? Through the perilous fight ?
? O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? ?
? From vicious foes ?
? He came to keep us safe ?
? And pardoned every foe ?
? Old and famous ever ?

In this world, they know that he no longer lives anymore. In the spirit of sound, He sheds the gravest loss. His love is soft and mild. Your love is holding us. In and from him be as we see, and can be no second to him. It's worth every day Living an awesome way The clock is ticking away These seconds of his life It seems to say all this to do Remember him

Let us read together from the holy word of God in the gospel according to Luke and chapter 8 and we'll commence our reading at verse 22.

Luke's Gospel chapter 8 commencing at verse 22.

Now it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples and he said unto them let us go over unto the other side of the lake and they launched forth and as they sailed he fell asleep.

And there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. And they came to him and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they, being afraid, wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the wind and water, and they obey him.

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, they met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and wear no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 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.

For he had commanded the unclean spirits to come out of the man, for oftentimes it had caught him. And he was kept bound with chains and fetters, and he break the bands and was driven of the devil into the wilderness. And Jesus asked him saying, what is thy name? And he said, Legion, because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountains. And they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 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. And when they that fed them saw what was done, they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country.

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. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devil was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear. And he went up into the ship and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, return to thine own house and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus has done unto him.

And it came to pass that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him. for they were all waiting for him. And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and besought him that he would come into his house. For he had one only daughter, about 12 years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went, the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood, 12 years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border of his garment and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, The multitude thronged thee, and pressed thee, and saith, Thou who touch'd me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touch'd me, for I perceive that virtue has gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people, for what cause she had touch'd him. and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house saying to him, thy daughter is dead, trouble not the master. But when Jesus heard it, He answered and said, saying, fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.

And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter and James and John, and the father of the mother of the maiden. And all wept and bewailed her. But he said, weep not, she is not dead, but sleeping. and they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway, and he commanded to give her meat, and her parents were astonished. But he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real prayer. Gracious and merciful and almighty God of heaven, thou of whom we read that the Lord God, the omnipotent reigneth, we pray that thou wouldst help us now to approach thy great and heavenly majesty and to call upon thy great and holy name. And we pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father and the wonderful communion of the Holy Ghost may rest and abide upon us as we gather around thy word. May it please thee, most blessed spirit, to take of the things of Jesus and reveal them unto us. And may it please thee to convict and convince of sin, for it is only by thy sovereign power that anything can be done. It is only by thy sovereign power that there can be any power in the ministry. It is only through thy sovereign power that a poor sinner can be brought from death into life.

Oh, we do pray that it may be so here this afternoon that thy word may enter into our hearts, not in word only, but in power in the Holy Ghost and with much assurance. For we do pray that thou wouldst graciously guide and direct us into the truth as it is in Jesus. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. May we have that evidence in our hearts that we are indeed the sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. Lord guide us into thy truth, open thy precious word to our heart and to our understanding. Grant that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened, that we might understand what that good and perfect and acceptable will of the Lord is, Lord, we pray that thy word may be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. May we be favoured to feel those divine drawings of our Heavenly Father, drawing us unto the Lord Jesus Christ. May it please thee to fulfil that precious word. I will draw them with the cords of a man, with the bands of love, We pray that that may be so here this afternoon, that drawing power of our heavenly Father to draw sinners unto Christ. And may it please the Lord Jesus to walk up and down among us here as a congregation and to breathe thy word into our hearts.

Oh, we do pray most gracious Lord that we may behold thy glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously reveal thyself unto us, that we may indeed behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

We pray that thou wouldst bless us as a church and as a congregation, that thou wouldst work mightily, powerfully and effectually among us to the great glory of thy name. And we pray thy blessing upon our brethren, the deacons, that thou wouldst bless them indeed and graciously undertake for them.

We pray for the whole of our congregation that thou wouldst work mightily, powerfully and effectually among us. That poor sinners may come and tell to sinners round what a dear saviour they have found, and point to thy redeeming blood, and say, behold the way to God.

Lord, so bless us, we humbly pray thee, and work mightily among us. And graciously remember each one, remember those in affliction, and if it is thy heavenly mind, grant thy healing hand, and thy supporting mercies day by day. Be with those in trouble and trial and perplexity, and that thou hast promised to make the crooked things straight and the rough places plain.

And thou hast promised in thy word, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. We pray, most gracious Lord, that we may feel thy presence and that we may feel thy guiding hand, and that we may feel that thou art indeed directing us, O do direct our hearts into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ Jesus.

For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.



Lord, remember this village. Work mightily, powerfully, effectually by thy blessed spirit in this village, in the surrounding villages and hamlets and bring our sons from far and our daughters from the ends of the earth. And gracious God, thou hast said they shall come from the north and from the south and from the east and from the west. Lord, we wait for thy appearing. We wait for that day of power. We wait for that fulfilling of that wonderful word until the spirit be poured upon us from on high. Oh, we pray that thou wouldst hasten that day. And thou hast said in thy word, if the vision tarry, wait for it. It is yet for an appointed time, but it shall speak. So we pray that we may see thy work, thy power, and thy glory. We pray for the prodigals that have wandered away, that thou would stretch out thy almighty arm, that thou would cause them to be in want, that thou would cause them to return. For Lord, there is nothing too hard for thee. And we pray that we may see thy wonderful works. May the power that brings salvation be exerted in the world. We do humbly beseech of thee, may that which is sown in weakness be raised in strength. For we prove, O Lord, that the Lord hath chosen the weak things of this world, and the things that are not, to bring to naught the things that are. And we pray that we may see that wonderful, powerful work of thy Spirit In our midst we do beseech Thee.

Lord, we do thank Thee for all Thy tender mercies. We thank Thee for all Thy goodness that has passed before us in the way. We thank Thee that Thy mercies to us are new every morning and great is Thy faithfulness. We thank Thee for that wonderful, loving kindness, for God so love the world he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall be saved.

Lord, we thank thee for that wonderful gift. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. And we pray that we may behold your lovely man today. We thank thee for the holy life that he lived as a man here upon earth, and the holy law he fulfilled in that holy life. We thank thee that there has been through that holy life the bringing in of everlasting righteousness for thy people. And we do bless thee for that glorious everlasting robe.

We thank thee for Calvary where the lamb was slain, where sin was put away, where divine justice was satisfied, where God and sinners are reconciled, where peace is made between God and man. O Lord, we do thank Thee for Thy, that sacred, wonderful glory in that Saviour that died for our sins and rose again for our justification. We thank Thee for that precious sin-atoning blood that cleanses from all sin. And we thank Thee that He as ascended upon high, that we indeed have a great high priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God.

O most gracious God, do then incline thine ear, do come and touch one's lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar, come and open thy word, come and open our eyes and our ears and our hearts, that we may receive the word of the Lord. We read of those in Holy Scripture that receive the word of the Lord gladly. Lord may it be so here among us this afternoon to make up in giving where we do so fail in asking as we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Let us now sing together hymn 132. The tune is Lloyd 172. A friend there is, your voices join, ye saints to praise his name, whose truth and kindness are divine, whose love's a constant flame, hymn 132 TUNE LLOYD 172 ?

Through the perilous fight ?
? O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming ?
? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air ?
? A thousand frozen lands ?
? When I see thee ?
? It shall bring back to me ?
? He will make earth and Heavens all around us ?
? He breaks still the silence of the night ?
? Peace from the heav'n ?
? Glory to the Lord ?
? Glory to the Lord ?
? Glory to the Lord ?
? Glory to the Lord ?
? Glory to the Lord ?
? From my eternal soul ?
? Lift them to Thee ?
? Jail they shall be ?
? And then shall all be true ?
? Be as the world has always been ?
? To make it eternal ?
? And if I give the rest of my soul ?
? Give courage to brethren ?
? Give them a taste of heaven above ?
? This shall be their last supper ?
? That shall be praised ?
? Evermore shall praise ?
? Evermore shall praise ?

Greatly filling to need the Lord's gracious help, direct your attention to the chapter that we read, the gospel according to Luke and chapter 8, And we will read part of verse 25.

Luke's Gospel, chapter 8, verse 25. What manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. The whole verse reads, And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they, being afraid, wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

What manner of man is this? This is the holy God-man, the man Christ Jesus. The hymn writer says, with heaven and earth at his command, he waits to answer prayer.

And there is nothing too hard the Lord. We see that here in the context of this chapter and the things that we read in it, how there is nothing too hard, there is nothing too difficult, there is nothing impossible with God and Jesus is God. Jesus is the eternal Son of God.

but we read on a number of occasions in the epistle to the Hebrews, but this man, but this man, the glorious holy God man, the man Christ Jesus, that David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, he prays in Psalm 80, let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of man, whom thou made is strong. for thyself, so will not we go back from thee? Let thy hand, he's praying to our heavenly father, let thy hand be upon the band of the right hand.

When Jesus ascended up on high, we read in so many places in Holy Scripture that he now sits at the right hand of the majesty And we read in Psalm 110, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. That's the words of the eternal father unto his only begotten son.

When he suffered, when he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, when he was tempted of the devil, when he was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin this glorious holy God man the man Christ Jesus when he had died for our sins and rose again for our justification the import of those words rose again for our justification that we should be declared to be without sin justified Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God.

What does it mean? What is the import of those words? Rose again for our justification. He left our sins in the grave. Why? Because he's atoned for them. He redeemed his people. He paid the redemption price. He gave his life for ransom for all to be testified in due time.

But this man, this holy, God-man, the man Christ Jesus, who offered himself a perfect, holy sacrifice. He offered himself. It's a wonderful, precious truth of our most holy faith. It's central to all that we believe, that Jesus suffered, bled and died for our sins. For our sins. It's that lovely word which I often direct you to in Hebrews chapter 9.

But Christ being come and high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle. That's his holy human nature. It means the Son of God assumed a holy human nature not made with hands. That is to say not of this building. neither by the blood of goats and of calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit that is His Divine Nature, who through His Eternal Spirit, the Eternal Spirit offered Himself a complete sacrifice. The Son of God offered His own perfect humanity on the altar of His Divinity, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself, without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God, this man, this glorious, holy God man, the man Christ Jesus.

What manner of man is this? For he commanded even the winds and water, and they obeyed him. See, in this narrative that we have before us, It says from verse 22, now it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples and he said unto them let us go over unto the other side of the lake and they launched forth. So Jesus was with them, Jesus had directed them

What we have to prove, my beloved friends, is that words of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is through much tribulation that you shall enter the kingdom. And the Lord directed them into the ship. The Lord was with them in the ship. And he said to them, let us go over onto the other side of the lake. and they launched forth and as they sailed he fell asleep.

You know we have a wonderful display here in these verses of both the humanity and the divinity of Christ. He was a real man and he used to spend whole nights in prayer But that had an effect on his human nature, because it made him very tired, very weary. We read of places in Holy Scripture, for instance in John chapter 4, when he met the woman of Samaria by the well, by Jacob's well. And then it said he'd been wearied in his journey.

You see my beloved friends, Jesus Christ was holy and pure, and righteous, and his human nature was. But it was a real human nature, it wasn't some phantom. So he knew what tiredness was, he knew what weariness was, he knew what hunger was, he knew what thirst was, he knew all those sinless infirmities of our nature. He fell asleep, he was tired, he was weary,

But then we read, and there came down a storm of wind on the lake. And it was so great, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, this is the disciples, and awoke him saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased and there was a calm and he said unto them where is your faith and they being afraid wondered saying one to another what manner of man is this for he commandeth even the winds and the water and they obey him

Jesus does. He has everything in his hand. All events that his command. As the hymn writer says, sovereign ruler of the skies, ever gracious, ever wise, all my times are in thy hand. You know that's something that we need to remember. It's something that we need to consider all my time. are in thy hand, all events at thy command. Nothing comes by chance. There is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven. As we read in Ecclesiastes chapter three, a time to be born, a time to die. And the whole list of things there, all in the hands of the eternal God, all in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ. They're in good hands. They're in good hands.

And he reproves the disciples here. He says, where is your faith? Where is your faith? They lost sight of who he was. We do sometimes, you know, when we come into difficulties, troubles, trials, afflictions, we lose sight who Jesus is. We lose sight of what he can do.

What manner of man is this? For he commanded, even the winds and water, and they obey him. We read in the Ecclesiastes again, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. And as rivers of water, he turneth it, whithersoever he will. You see what manner of man is this? He knows all things. He sees all things. He understands all things. You know, in the 8th chapter of the proverb, and the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking, and he doesn't say, I have understanding. He says, I am understanding. I am understanding. But what does that mean? It means he understands everything. There's nothing that he doesn't understand. He understands all things. He has a complete and perfect understanding. It says in Psalm 145, his understanding is infinite. Infinite. What does the word infinite mean? It means without boundaries. Infinite. He knows. He understands everything. There's nothing that he doesn't understand. There's nothing that confuses him. He knows the end from the beginning. He is called in the word of God, I am the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. I am he that is and which was and which is and is to come.

Who is Jesus? He's eternally the same. I am Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, that's yesterday eternal, and today, and forever. You see, he's the creator. You know, the disciples said, what manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him. He made them. Jesus created. the heavens and the earth that they were created for him and by him and we read in Colossians chapter 1 verse 16 for by him were all things created that are in heaven and are in earth visible and invisible is things that are material that can be seen and things that are spiritual which cannot be seen. Whether they be thrones, kingdoms, dominions, principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him, all things. And he is before all things and by him all things consist.

In the prophecy of Isaiah, he speaks of the universe, of the stars, of the moon, the sun, the stars, the planets, there's millions of them. And it says he called them all by names. And not one of them faileth. Not one of them fails. Why? Because he put them there. Because he sustains the universe. Everything, my beloved friends, is in the hands of our gracious Redeemer. And it's there for his people. It is. What manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

You see, he arose and rebuked the winds. So on the one hand, we read in verse 23, how that he went to sleep, he fell asleep. And then in verse 24, then he arose and rebuked the wind. and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there was a great calm. And these disciples, my beloved friends, were astonished. They were astonished at the wonderful power of Jesus Christ. And they, being afraid, wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this? For he commanded even the winds and water and they obey Him. They obey Him.

And as we read on and I purposely read this chapter because it's it speaks of the wonderful power of Christ. So when they crossed over the sea and it says in verse 26 and they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes which is over against Galilee And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and wear no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. And 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, our son of God, most high, I beseech thee, torment me not.

We see the wonderful power of Jesus Christ here with this man is commonly known as the Mad Gadarene. But we see the wonderful power of Jesus over evil spirits, over Satan's power. And it's the devils really speaking in the man. In the epistle of James we read the devils believe and tremble. They don't believe in any saving sense of the word. They believe, that means they know exactly who Jesus is. That he's the son of God most high.

What have I to do with thee? Jesus thou son of God most high I beseech thee torment me not for he had commanded the unclean spirits to come out of the man for oftentimes times it had caught him and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters and he'd break the bands and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.

You see what manner of man is this? You know we have here what you might say is a dialogue between the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the devil. It's a little window, as it were, that is given us in Holy Scripture to see into the wonderful power.

And verse 30, and Jesus asked him saying, what is thy name? he said legion because many devils were entered into him and they besought him that is the devils besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. Now look at this my beloved friends and remember this the sovereign ruler of the skies what manner of man is this? The devils were absolutely subject unto Christ. They could not do anything but what he allowed them to do. And it says here, and they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there a herd of many swine. In Mark's gospel we're told there were 2,000 swine. It was a huge herd of swine. There was there a 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. Then the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake and were choked.

You know, a name given to a polion So the devil is Apollyon and the name Apollyon means the destroyer. What is so wonderful in this narrative is that they were absolutely at the command of Jesus Christ.

There are often times when we come into times of great temptation and great trials. And we think things in our view, they're all wrong. And everything seems to be going wrong. But, never forget that Jesus is in control. He knows all things. He sees all things. He understands all things. and the devil would try to tempt you that he is in control. That he is in control.

We read in Holy Scripture that the devil sought to usurp the power and authority of God. We read in Isaiah chapter 14 and that was why he was cast out of heaven. He rebelled against the governance of the eternal God in heaven. We read in the revelation that there was war in heaven. And the great thing that the devil tried to do, it says he tried to sit where he ought not to sit. In other words, he tried to sit on the throne of God.

Now, a throne in scripture represents a seat of power and authority. And so what the devil tried to do was to take the power and authority of God and there was war in heaven and the devil and his angels there were many angels that fell with satan satan was an angel an archangel his name was lucifer which means the son of the morning but he fell and he was cast out of heaven He was cast out of heaven by the God of heaven. And we're warned in the book of the Revelation that the devil has come down onto you having great power and you knoweth that his time is short.

It's a solemn warning given to us here on earth. The devil has come down onto you. And he will try to tempt you by their very nature The temptations of Satan are spiritual. Satan is a spirit and the temptations are spiritual temptations. And what he will try to do, especially if you come into trouble and trial and perplexity and everything seems to go wrong, everything seems too difficult, he will try to convince you that he's in power. That he's in control. But he's not. He's not. The devil is not in control. The Lord is in control. The Lord Jesus Christ is in control.

And these things are recorded in several places in Holy Scripture. It says in the 12th chapter of the book of the revelation It says in verse 7 and there was war in heaven Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and dragon fought against his angels and prevailed not what a wonderful truth that is He prevailed not Neither was their place found anymore in heaven and the great dragon was cast out that old serpent called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world, he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

And now we see how it was done. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night and they, that is the saints of God here on earth, they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. When the dragon saw that he was cast onto the earth, he persecuted the woman, that's the church, which brought forth the man-child, that's Christ. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time from the face of the serpent.

and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman as the church that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood and the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth and the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

You see, we are given an insight there into this battle, this spiritual battle between God and Satan. And the Lord's people overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. There's that lovely word, when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against them. That standard is Christ. That standard is Christ.

You might say, why is it called a standard? Well, it used to be that when armies went forward to battle, they have what's called a regimental standard. They still have them, but they used to take them in the front of the army and the soldiers rallied to the flag or to the standard. Now, the standard of the people of God is Christ. The Lord has given a banner to them that fear Him. He's given a banner to them that fear Him. And when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard as Christ against Him.

What manner of man is this for he commanded even the winds and water and they obey him. And here in the following narrative he commands Satan. 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. What Satan had been trying to do to that poor man was to destroy him. But he couldn't. You might say why couldn't he? He destroys many people you know friends. They're driven to such desperate circumstances they take their own lives. That's Satan's power. And that is what he was trying to do to this man called Legion. He was trying to destroy him but he couldn't. Why couldn't he? Because he was a chosen vessel. And one, he was chosen by the Father, he was redeemed by the Son, and now he was to be sanctified by the Spirit. And the devils were cast out of him, and he was given new life.

And when they that fed them saw what was done, they fled. and went and told it in the city and in the country. 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 his right mind. And they were afraid, they were afraid. This wonderful act of divine grace, what manner of man is this? even these spirits are completely subject unto him. And then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them for they were taken with great fear and he went up into the ship and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him. Now we can understand that. But Jesus sent him away, saying, return to thine own house and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. You see, he went and testified. I believe what it means he went and preached. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

says in another place, go home to thy friends. You see and then we have this instance of the ruler of the synagogue and his daughter lay sick, lay dying and he came to Jesus and besought him that he would come into his house for he had one only daughter about twelve years of age and she lay a dying But as he went, the people thronged him. But then it goes on, while he yet spake, in verse 49, while he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house saying, thy daughter is dead, trouble not the master. And when Jesus heard it, he answered, fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole. See, what manner of man is this? And she died.

When he came into the house, he suffered no man to go save Peter, James, and John, and the father of the mother of the maiden. All wept and bewailed her. He said, weep not, she's not dead, but sleeping. They laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. He put them all out, took her by the hand, and called, saying, maid, arise. And her spirit came again. and she arose straightway, and he commanded to give her meat. Her parents were astonished. But he charged them that she should tell no man what was done. What manner of man is this, that he rises, a little maid, from the dead? You see the wonderful power and grace and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And in the meantime, there was this woman had an issue of blood, 12 years, spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border of his garment and immediately her issue of blood stanched. What manner of man is this? Touched the hem of his garment and she was immediately healed.

And Jesus said, who touched me? Even the disciples said, Master, the multitude thronged thee and pressed thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me. For I perceived that virtue is gone out of me.

And then she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him, before all the people what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, Be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Faith in Jesus Christ, faith in his precious blood, faith in his glorious righteousness, faith in his almighty power, faith in his ability and his willingness to save, to heal, to restore, to strengthen. What manner of man is this? For he commanded even the winds and water, and they obey him.

May the Lord add his blessing. Let us now sing together hymn number 94. The tune is St. Magnus, 224.

Arise, my soul, my joyful powers, and triumph in thy God. Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim his glorious grace abroad.

Hymn 94, tune St. Magnus, 224.

? Christ, my soul, the joy of God's birth ?
? Shepherds, I love thee, I love thee ?
? Heaven and earth shall ever praise thee ?

He raised me from the depths of sin
Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God,
He loves for everlasting,
Beneath thy soul he waits,
And from that rock of pagan sin
Thy cheap recourse has won.

? The city of holiness and love ?
? Is born around her in praise ?
? Sanctation, hope, and grace ?
God's hands to shield the sacred place.

Satan, every man, is a messiah,
? And for his agents call ?
? All mighty mercy ?
? God's one life ?
? And bounty trade him now ?

Arise my soul,
Awake my voice,
And tunes of pleasure sing.

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God the Father, the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us each, both now and for evermore. Amen.