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Editors note: This is part of the devotional I had with the Lord this morning of June 29, 05 that I wanted to share with you all! If these can be used as Bible study guides, feel free to use them.

Quiet Times (Psalm 29, Proverbs 29, and Mark 5:18-20)

“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 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. (Mark 5:18-20, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what the actions of the demon-possessed man were.

The man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Jesus.
The man went away.
The man began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.

Interpretations:

Why did the man beg to go with Jesus?
The man was demon-possessed! He used to be shackled in tombs and wander the tombs. He was not properly dressed, could not be in one place in peace, was mutilating himself, and not in his right mind. After seeing Jesus, running to Jesus, and falling in front of Jesus to be healed, he was healed. His gratitude is so much that he wants to leave his former life behind and not to have anything to do with it.

Observations/Interpretations:

I asked myself what happened next.
The demon-possessed man who was healed did not go with Jesus but went away.

I asked myself why he went away.
He wanted to go so much with Jesus but went away not because he changed his mind but because Jesus changed his mind. Jesus wanted him to share with others how much the Lord did for him and showed him mercy, so in obedience he went away.

I asked myself why it is significant the man began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.

This is so significant because what Jesus told him was to "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Without saying Lord, the man tells them how much Jesus had done for him. Here we see that Jesus is acknowledged as Lord by the man who was healed, so Jesus is given the credit. The man did not limit himself to just one town but ten towns. He was so fired up about Jesus being his Lord who had healed him that he went all out. It is very well possible that his family was scattered through out the ten towns. Here Jesus was alluding to the healed man that He was Lord including those around him.

I asked myself why Jesus wanted him to share with others what Jesus did for him in his life.

Jesus wanted them to know that what Jesus did for the man he could also do for the people of the town when they seek the Lord. How true that is because Scripture states to seek the Lord and He shall be found. Jesus was interested in the people of the town and cared for them.

Observations:

I asked myself what the cause-effect relationship was because of the man’s actions.

Because the man began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, all the people were amazed.

I asked myself why that is significant.

The people had a first hand account of how a demon-possessed man who was losing it was delivered by the power of the Lord because the Lord chose to save him and have mercy on him. That is so exciting to know! The man did not keep the transformation in his life secret but proclaimed it to the Ten Towns of the region to share his testimony so others could come to know about Jesus and acknowledge Jesus’ presence in their lives.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life here. I need to share with others my testimony of what Jesus did in my life so others can come to know of Jesus! Just as the people of the Decapolis were amazed, I know my testimony can amaze people too because it shows how much the Lord has done for me and how much He had mercy on me.

I realized my testimony can be very powerful when shared with unbelievers just as the man’s testimony was when he shared it in the Decapolis. It is not because I share it but because of the power of the Lord working through the testimony to show others His love, mercy, and grace.

This just happened the other day. I was waiting for my bus outside the William Pitt Union, where they sell sports items, with couple of my friends. One of my friends came to me and told me that the person they were talking to was a Hindu and that I should speak to him because I was from a Hindu background. I was taken back because it was all of a sudden my friend came to me and told me to evangelize to this person who had just received a tract and was interested to know about Jesus.

First, I started telling him that in all the religions people try to reach God but in Christianity, God reached out to us by sending Jesus to us. Then, I told him if God were to ask you why He should let you into Heaven, what would your response be? Then, I proceeded to tell him that we can do 99.9% good things and even 0.01% bad things and we cannot get into Heaven because God in His Holiness cannot allow sin into his presence. I wanted him to see that Jesus alone could give us access to Heaven as we seek Jesus who God sent for us to reach us. I saw him feel uneasy and felt I was not getting anywhere with him and making him confused.

So, I finally shared with him my testimony of what Jesus did in my life. I told him, "I was a Hindu too from a Hindu background and had severe asthma. I said to myself if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow as the Bible says He is then what Jesus did then, He could do now too. So, I gave my life to Jesus and asked Jesus to heal me of my asthma. Jesus did heal me of my asthma!"

When I shared my testimony with him about what Jesus did in my life, he was so amazed. He was supposed to leave but stayed there and listened to another person share with him the Gospel now. He had to later leave but wanted to find a forum where he could come and discuss the Bible with us. We gave him the Gospel of John and wanted him to read it and also told him where we could meet again. He took our numbers and gave me his cell number. He is so excited to meet with me in a church this week to learn more about Jesus and Christianity. We are supposed to meet today, June 29,05 at 7:00 p.m EST time. It is sharing my testimony just as the demon-possessed man shared his testimony after his healing experience that amazed the crowds and also amazed those around me who I shared with. It is the not words that I shared but the power of the Lord working through those words that drew their amazement as they saw the Lord’s work in my own life. This was only part of the testimony that I shared with him and he was amazed that he wanted to know more about Jesus. My entire testimony through the years of how the Lord has been working in my life is way too long but so exciting too!

I ask you now dear friend, what do you do with your testimony?

Dear friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you have come to know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior, you have a testimony to share. Yes, you do friend! Just as Jesus told the man to share what Jesus had done for him and the mercy Jesus had on him, Jesus wants you to share your testimony too! Oh, yes He does friend! He loves you so much friend and decided to work in your life for a reason. You know, each of our testimony is unique and will not be the same but how Jesus has worked in your life can be as powerful as how Jesus worked in another person’s life. So, do not feel like your testimony is dull and does not have monumental events to share. I say that because some students have told me that their testimony does not have exciting events happening to share. I tell them that's ok! They do not have to be. Just seeing how you came to Jesus and how Christ has been working in your life can be powerful enough. The key to remember friend is BC and AD. Share with people how you were ‘Before Christ’ and what has happened ‘After Decision’ for Christ.

You have a testimony friend and I know you do because when Jesus touches a life and they belong to Him, He lets you have a testimony so you can share it with others so they can see the love of Jesus in their lives through your testimony.

If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior, you can come to know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. Yes, you can friend! Now is the time of Salvation! The man who was healed came to acknowledge Jesus as His Lord and shared Jesus in Decapolis [Ten Towns]. He came to know Jesus because he saw Jesus, ran to Jesus, and fell in front of Jesus in his sickness and sin. Jesus had mercy on him and healed him. After being healed, the man still sat with Jesus, became dressed, and in his right mind and wanted to go with Jesus.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow forever more. Yes, He is friend and wants you to come to know Him.

Won’t you do that friend? You should come to Him because He is Lord and wants to work in your life.

This however this does not mean a person who comes to know Jesus as their Lord and Personal Savior has a life that is always peachy but you know what?

Jesus will be with you, never leave you nor forsake you. He will be your refuge and strength giving you the strength to endure through life’s hardships. I know He will because I have seen it in my own life. Jesus not only healed me but saved me and brought me into His Kingdom and He wants to do that for you too. Remember, He died for you too and shed His blood on the cross to deliver you too! If you were the only one I know Jesus would have still gone to the cross to save you so you can spend with Him in Eternity. That is so exciting to know friend! I know it is exciting for me and I want that for you too. I am so overwhelmed that my eyes becomes watery with joy. Jesus is always thinking about you and is Lord of all. However, He will not force himself to be part of your life. If Jesus wanted people to come to Him that way, He could have come off the cross after being crucified but He did not. He does not want people to believe in Him out of fear but out of love.

So you can come to Him as you are and let Him fill you with His loving presence. No matter where you have been or what you have done, His love is for you, His blood is for you, to clean you and make you white as freshly fallen snow. So come as you are! Come to the cross and receive Jesus! Let Him be the Lord of your life. I have and so can you!

I gotta tell somebody what Jesus did for me! I want to tell everyone searching that indeed Messiah’s our nurturing Yeshua!

May you be so excited with your testimony that you praise the Lord and want to share with others as Jesus gives you the opportunities. Let the Lord work in you and don't force yourself and feel condemnation. Satan loves to condemn but our Lord loves to convict our spirit in His loving way!

“Tell Everyone Searching That Indeed Messiah’s Our Nurturing Yeshua!”(T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y)/”What do you do with your testimony?”

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I heard what you do in other people’s lives. Thank you so much for loving me and caring for me that you sent people into my life to share your love. Help me Lord now to do that for others. Thank you Jesus for the power of your love! Help me to give my testimony to reach others. Thank you so much Jesus. And Lord, I pray right now for the one that does not know you. I pray that they would come to know you Lord as their Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you we can share your love with others and that you have given me a mission of counseling broken hearts with your love Oh Lord. We love you and thank you again for everything you do for us. Thank you for healing the demon-possessed man and setting him free. We believe you can do the same now for those who need all kinds of healing and set people free for your Word Oh Lord says, that we will know the Truth and the Truth shall set us free! Thank you so much Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Pray this prayer if you want to come to Jesus Christ and let Him work in your life.

Dear Jesus, I do not know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions but I heard how you heal people. I need your spiritual healing and need you to transplant yourself into my life. I am so sorry for my sin. My sin has separated me from you. There is nothing I can do on my own to earn your forgiveness but you give it to me in your grace. Thank you so much Jesus. I now come and say, I am so sorry for my all sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. Help me please Jesus and transform my life in your timing. Please forgive me of my sin and cleanse me with your cleansing blood. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart Jesus and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thank you Jesus for living in me and helping me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life! Thank you for your forgiveness and grace. I gotta tell somebody what you did for me Jesus. Before I even do that, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

P.S.. If you need someone to talk to, pray with, or have a Bible study, you can email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com and we can set up a time that is convenient for you! You can also call me at 412-720-4579