Sermon Summary I http://www.livingourbible.com I Tuesday 21st October 2025
Introduction
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Christ Temple East, General Overseer Pastor Mensa Otabil delivered another deeply insightful message in his ongoing teaching series, Transformed by Jesus.
In this sixth installment, he unpacked one of Scripture’s most dramatic stories — the deliverance of the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1–20; Luke 8:26–39). The message, titled “His Presence and His Word — That’s All You Need,” illuminated how the transforming power of Christ’s presence and word can silence both the outer storms around us and the inner storms within us.
“The same Jesus who calmed the storm at sea also calmed the storm raging in a man’s soul,” Pastor Otabil said. “There were two storms — the outer storm He stilled, and the inner storm He was able to still as well.”
The Storm Without and the Storm Within
Before introducing the main character, Pastor Otabil drew from Mark 4 to show how Jesus first calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee before confronting another storm — this time inside a man. “The night before, Jesus stilled the wind and waves,” he said. “Now He would confront a storm raging in a man’s mind.”
That man, the demoniac of Gadara, lived among tombs, tormented by unclean spirits. His life was both tragic and terrifying — strong yet broken, powerful yet powerless, screaming yet helpless.
Three Portraits of a Tormented Soul
Pastor Otabil painted three vivid pictures of the man’s torment:
- Separated.
“He lived among the tombs,” he said. “Separated from the living, surrounded by the dead. Separation always leads to isolation — he was among the dead, though alive.” - Savage.
“They tried to bind him with chains,” he explained, “but he broke them. He was wild and untamed — like the human nature enslaved by sin. Nothing could control him.” - Self-Destructive.
“He cut himself with stones,” Pastor Otabil noted. “He was bleeding but couldn’t stop. Many today aren’t possessed by demons, but they’re trapped in cycles that destroy them — crying but unable to stop.”
The Moment Jesus Appears
When the man saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him, yet cried out in resistance: “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”
“This shows the conflict within the human soul,” Pastor Otabil said. “People seek God but also fear what surrender means. They want deliverance, but they don’t fully trust Him.”
Yet even in torment, the man still recognized the Savior — proof that the image of God remains in every person. “Even under severe oppression,” Pastor Otabil emphasized, “our minds can still turn toward God.”
The Nature of Evil and the Power of Christ
From Jesus’ dialogue with the demons, Pastor Otabil drew three vital lessons:
- The Nature of Evil Spirits.
“‘My name is Legion, for we are many,’” Jesus revealed. “Evil often multiplies,” he explained. “One open door allows many. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Do not give place to the devil.’” - The Authority of Jesus.
“How did He cast them out? By His presence and His word,” Pastor Otabil said.
“Don’t underestimate the presence of God. Sometimes, just sitting under His word is enough. Jesus didn’t use oil or handkerchiefs — only His presence and His word.” - The Capacity of the Human Soul.
When the demons entered 2,000 pigs, the animals drowned, but one man endured. “What destroyed 2,000 pigs couldn’t destroy one man,” Pastor Otabil declared. “You are created in God’s image — your capacity is greater than your conflict.”
Transformed and Restored
Luke 8:35 records the man “sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind.” Pastor Otabil highlighted three beautiful results:
- Submitted: “The man who couldn’t be chained is now sitting freely at Jesus’ feet. What the chains couldn’t do, the presence of Jesus did.”
- Serene: “He is calm and clothed. The same Jesus who calmed the sea has calmed his soul.”
- Sound: “He now has a sound mind. Fear once ruled him, but now peace reigns. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
The Power of His Presence and His Word
To illustrate, Pastor Otabil recalled a testimony from over forty years ago. A young man had lost his mind, and instead of rituals, he simply read 2 Timothy 1:7 aloud every day — “God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Within days, the man was fully restored and remains well decades later.
“Forty-five years later, he’s still of a sound mind,” Pastor Otabil said. “That’s the power of His word.”
He then led the congregation to declare together:
“God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Conclusion — From Torment to Transformation
Pastor Otabil’s message echoed with timeless relevance: no matter how bound, fearful, or tormented anyone may feel, Jesus still restores. The one who lived among tombs became a testimony among the living — proof that His presence and His word are all we need.
Call to Action — Stay Rooted in His Word
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