And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God?

I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 5:1-20

The study of the madman of Gadara is the study of the pathology of demon activity. You will learn many things about Satan and demons by just studying this case. Many people wonder what pathology is all about. We often wonder why somebody will spend his time studying dead bodies. I did not understand as a medical student, how important it was for a doctor to spend time dissecting dead people. I thought, “Once they are dead, they are dead, just leave them alone!”

However, I came to understand that pathology is the study of the effect of various diseases on the human body. It is the study of the ultimate effect of disease. In other words, to understand what will happen if a disease is allowed to run its course, you must study pathology. Often, it is only in a dead body, that you will see the ultimate effect that diseases have.

For instance, if you dissect the dead body of a man who died from long-standing hypertension, you will notice changes in his heart, his blood vessels and his kidneys. These changes will help you to understand what hypertension is currently doing to people living with the disease.

By studying the dead body, which has experienced a full-blown manifestation of a particular disease, doctors understand much more about diseases. Similarly, by studying the madman of Gadara, you will understand the ultimate effect of demon activity in a human being.

The story of the madman of Gadara, is a study of the highest kind of demon infiltration. It is a revelation of what Satan would like to do to you if he had the chance. Every feature of the madman’s existence reveals a demonic trait. His condition shows different aspects of Satan’s vision for you and I. If Satan had his way, you and I would end up in the same condition.

Even though most people will not become full blown “madmen of Gadara”, most of us will experience to a lesser extent the same demonic trends that are demonstrated in this madman.

The testimony of the madman of Gadara shows us three things:

1. What demons would like to do to you if they had the chance.

2. What demons are doing to people, albeit in a gradual way.

3. The final state of a person in whom demons have had full expression.

As you read this book, God will reveal many things to you about the activities of demons, and how they affect you. You will be delivered from demon activity by the time you finish this book.

Many think that the testimony of the madman of Gadara is the story of a lunatic who belongs to a mental institution. They think to themselves, “Since I am not a madman, this story does not concern me.” On the contrary, this testimony concerns all of us.

Understanding the activities and intentions of your enemy are vital to winning any war. If you want to win the fight against evil spirits, you must know how and where your enemy operates. You must know what the enemy is planning against you.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES.

2 Corinthians 2:11

Furthermore, by these few pages, my son, be admonished because of making many books there is no end.

 by Dag Heward-Mills