"Managed or Solved?"

"For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit." Mark 5:8

Yesterday we talked about the story of the demoniac of Gadara; this morning I'd like to look at this story again. We discussed that the people tried to tame him with chains and fetters but were unable to do so because the root of his problem was spiritual not physical, and physical means won't solve spiritual problems.

In this story there were two groups of people who tried to "solve" the problem- the people and Jesus. Let's compare the way they each handled it. The people tried to tame him, they tried to bind him up, they tried of confine him. When we try to take care of our own problems, especially through physical means, all we are doing is attempting to make it manageable, easier to handle, under control- in essence, we are just "putting a band aide" on it but haven't solved it. It's still there.

When Jesus was faced with the problem, He didn't just fix it enough where it could be lived with, where it was a little calmer and easier to deal with... no, He completely solved it. He cast the devils- the root cause- out of the man. The man was not just under control, he was set free- every demon was gone, not one remained, he was a free person!!!

Yesterday we said you have to use the right weapons in the right battle- physical weapons in physical battles, spiritual weapons in spiritual battles. Using physical means on spiritual problems doesn't solve the problem they just help you cope with it for the moment. Using the right weapons will bring about the desired results. Jesus knew the right one to use. This is why we not only have to get to the root cause but we have to come to Jesus with the problem. Once He takes hold of it, it's solved.... completely!

Have a great day. Do you want the problem manageable or solved?