各位弟兄姊妹，平安。
我們的故事是耶穌趕鬼。這段故事記載在馬可福音的第五章。這個鬼很厲害，叫做群。他不是一個，而是一大群的鬼。這段故事特別的精彩，對我們日常生有很重要的啟發，讓我們一同來聽聽看這個故事。
耶穌和門徒到了格拉森人的地方，這是個什麼地方呢？我們來稍微了解一下背景。他們剛剛度過了加利利海的風浪，來到了湖的另外一邊。這個地方其實是墳墓區，有許多埋葬死人的洞穴。白天這裡都是很偏僻的地方，到了晚上，這裡也更令人毛骨悚然了。耶穌和門徒上傳的時候是黃昏，所以他們渡湖後已經是晚上，到了這邊的時候可能是半夜，也可能是隔天非常早的清晨。所以這個時候呢，也就是很深夜的時候，他們要走過這一群墳墓區。你可以想像一下這種感覺嗎？
俗話說說夜路走多了會碰到鬼，那這個時候他們就碰到鬼了，而且不是一個，是一大群。有一個人被很多的鬼附身，他的力氣非常的大，抓不住也管不著。一個人在山裡面大叫，用石頭砍自己。這是一個被鬼附身的人的樣子。這個鬼看到耶穌的時候，他就跑過去跟他求「至高神的兒子，我與你有什麼相干？求你不要叫我受苦。」
人看見耶穌，沒有認出他是至高神的兒子，但是鬼一看到他都知道，並且都知道他的權柄。在雅各書2:19寫著，你信神只有一位，你信的不錯，鬼魔也信，卻是戰兢。我們人跟鬼都知道神只有一位，而鬼是恐懼戰兢的知道這個事實，但在耶穌裡的人，能夠平安喜樂的站在神的面前。這是很大的恩典！
這個鬼自稱 “群”，英文叫做 Legion，翻譯是軍團，是羅馬帝國的一個軍事單位，大約六千人左右。你可以想像一下這個鬼有多大的力量了。耶穌命令這些鬼進到豬群中，就有兩千隻左右的豬跳進海裡淹死了。如果你親眼所見這個事情，一定也會被這個事件給嚇壞的。當時的放豬的人和當地的居民都是這樣被嚇壞了，所以他們都跑到這裡來，求耶穌離開他們的境界。
非常諷刺的是鬼一看到耶穌，馬上就認出他是至高神的兒子。他們恐懼戰兢。人看見了至高神的兒子，居然不是得平安，竟然也恐懼戰兢。
耶穌改變了他們原有的生活方式，不論他們原本的生活方式是好是壞。明明是一個醫治的神蹟，是一個趕鬼讓這地平安的神蹟，但這些親眼見證的人，這個時候卻沒有來靠近耶穌，反而要求耶穌離開他們的境地，離開他們的生活。因為耶穌的行為要他們做出改變。
當我們在信仰的道路之上，其實最大的困難就是我們的老我不願意改變，哪怕是往更好的方向改變，要暫時的忍受一些痛苦，但是很多時候，人寧願活在比較不好的現況，也不願意忍受暫時的不舒服，付出改變的行動。
可能我們大家都知道運動有好處，但是我們就是無法忍受肌肉酸痛，覺得去運動麻煩，弄得全身髒兮兮。我們可能都知道讀經有好處，卻不願意每天付出一點時間，好好的坐在上帝的話語面前，來學習這些真理。我們都知道很多事情對我們有益處，但是我們卻不願意付上那個暫時不舒服的代價，去換取更好更美好的一個生活方式。
這裡真的是一個警告。對我們來說。我們讀了耶穌趕鬼的故事，我們知道耶穌有這個權柄。同樣的，我們也有這個權柄。而這些鬼不一定是真的存在的鬼，而是我們行動的這些壞習慣。我們身上可能有各種各樣的小鬼，讓我們沒有辦法活出我們想要的那個人生。可能有懶惰鬼（想做事情卻懶得動），可能有好吃鬼（想減肥減不掉）。因為你要付上代價，你要做出改變。當耶穌要進入你的生命之中，他就要你做出實際的改變。
基督教如果只是講講勸人為善的道理、講講令人感動的故事，跟所有其他教訓都類似的話，基督教也不會被人討厭了。基督教被人討厭的最主要原因，是聖經指出我們的過錯，指出我們有罪，指出我們有毛病，並且要求我們改變。當你要求別人改變的時候，不論有多正確，有多少道理，人都是不喜歡聽的。這就是基督教最令人討厭的原因。但這也是它真正能夠造成改變的原因。
雖然改變不容易，雖然改變不舒服，但是當你看見了改變才是真正讓我們過好地上生活，並且為永恆生命做預備的重點。我們今天一起來學習趕鬼，我們來把自己身上的這些懶惰鬼、好吃鬼、小鬼一個一個趕走。即使你會面對不舒服的事情，但是在這個過程之中你會越來越有力量，越來越健康，然後你會感謝上帝，感謝你自己。
感謝各位的聆聽，明天我們再講下一個很精彩的故事，耶穌醫治死掉的女孩，並且醫治血漏的婦人。
Dear brothers and sisters,
Our story today is about Jesus casting out demons. This story is recorded in the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Mark. The demon in this story is very powerful, called Legion. It's not just one demon, but a whole legion of them. This story is particularly fascinating and holds important insights for our daily lives. Let's listen together to this story.
Jesus and his disciples went to the region of the Gadarenes. What kind of place was this? Let's take a moment to understand the background. They had just crossed the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee and arrived on the other side of the lake. This place was actually a graveyard, with many caves where dead people were buried. During the day, it was already a remote place, and at night, it became even more eerie. Jesus and his disciples arrived around dusk, so by the time they crossed the lake, it was already night, possibly midnight or very early in the morning of the next day. So, at this late hour, they had to pass through this group of tombs. Can you imagine the feeling?
There's a saying that if you walk on a dark road long enough, you'll encounter ghosts. Well, at this moment, they encountered not just one ghost, but a whole legion of them. There was a man possessed by many demons, and he was incredibly strong, unable to be controlled. He was living among the tombs and would cry out and cut himself with stones. This was the state of a man possessed by demons. When the demons saw Jesus, they ran to him and begged, "Son of the Most High God, what do you want with us? Don't torture us!"
People didn't recognize Jesus as the Son of God, but the demons did, and they knew his authority. As it's written in James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." Both humans and demons know that there is only one God, and the demons tremble at this fact. But those in Jesus can stand before God with peace and joy. This is a great grace!
The demon called itself "Legion," which means a military unit in the Roman Empire, comprising about six thousand soldiers. Can you imagine the strength of this demon? Jesus commanded these demons to enter a herd of pigs, and about two thousand of them rushed into the sea and drowned. If you witnessed this event with your own eyes, you would surely be terrified. The people who tended the pigs and the local residents were all terrified, so they came and begged Jesus to leave their territory.
It's highly ironic that the demons immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God and were terrified. Yet, when people saw the same Jesus, instead of finding peace, they were also filled with fear and trembling. Jesus changed their way of life, whether it was good or bad. Despite witnessing a miracle of healing and peace brought by casting out demons, these eyewitnesses at that moment didn't come closer to Jesus. Instead, they asked Jesus to leave their lives. Because Jesus' actions required them to change.
The greatest challenge we face on the path of faith is our reluctance to change, even if it's for the better. Many times, people would rather live in an undesirable situation than endure temporary discomfort and make changes. We all know the benefits of exercise, but we can't stand the muscle soreness and the hassle of getting sweaty. We may all know the benefits of reading the Bible, yet we're unwilling to spend a little time each day sitting before God's Word to learn these truths. We all know many things are beneficial to us, but we're unwilling to pay the temporary discomfort to exchange for a better and more beautiful way of life.
This is truly a warning for us. We've read the story of Jesus casting out demons, and we know that Jesus has this authority. Similarly, we also have this authority. And these "demons" may not necessarily be real demons but our bad habits in action. We may have various "little demons" on us that prevent us from living the life we desire. There may be lazy demons (wanting to do things but too lazy to act), there may be gluttony demons (wanting to lose weight but can't), and many other kinds of little demons. Because change requires a price, and Jesus entering our lives demands actual change.
If Christianity only preaches persuasive moral truths and touching stories, similar to all other teachings, it wouldn't be hated. The main reason why Christianity is hated is that the Bible points out our faults, our sins, our flaws, and requires us to change. When you demand others to change, no matter how correct and reasonable it is, people don't like to hear it. This is the main reason why Christianity is so hated. But this is also the reason why it can truly bring about change.
Although change is not easy, although change is uncomfortable, when you see that change is what truly allows us to live a good life on earth and prepares us for eternal life, that's the focus. Let's learn together today to cast out the demons. Let's drive away the lazy demons, gluttony demons, and all the little demons from ourselves one by one. Even if you will face uncomfortable things, but in this process, you will become stronger and healthier, and then you will thank God, and thank yourself.
Thank you all for listening. Tomorrow, we'll talk about another exciting story: Jesus healing the dead girl and the woman with bleeding.
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