The Testimony of a Changed Life
The wild man in the Gadarenes had the testimony of a changed life. With him there was a noticeable difference in three areas of his life. He experienced:
A change in his actions. He was sitting (at the feet of Jesus, Lk 8:35) whereas before he had been doing the crazy things in v.3-5. Perhaps the changes in your life aren’t as shocking as his were, but still people know there’s something different about you because you’re doing things now that you didn’t do before and you’re not doing things that you did before. Some of us changed churches so we could “sit at the feet of Jesus” and learn from him.
A change in his appearance. He was clothed whereas before he had been unclothed (ware no clothes, Lk 8:27). That was very obvious. Some of you wore less clothes than you’re wearing now. Some have different hair. Rosaria Butterfield let her hair grow long. Cade cut his long hair. Some have removed the bling. Etc.
We don’t want to adorn ourselves like the Pharisees. We want to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness that becomes apparent in the changes he makes in our appearance.
A change in his attitude. He was in his right mind whereas before he had been crazy, crying and cutting himself with stones. Some of you had a very rebellious attitude and that changed. Some were very proud and arrogant and now you are humble. Some were hopeless and now you are hopeful. Some were worldly and now you are heavenly. Some believed all of the philosophies and vain deceits of the world and now you believe the words of God.
Therefore, the Lord told this man to:
Go home to thy friends. They are the ones who knew him. They know you and need to know what’s happened to you. They are the ones who will recognize the changes even if the changes are not as profound as this guy’s.
Tell your friends (two things):
How great things the Lord hath done for thee. Tell of the changes he made in your life. Tell of the divine peace of God you now have. Tell then that you’re no longer drinking. Tell them you have a completely different attitude toward your parents. Let them know that you no longer follow cultural customs, and that you are now reading your Bible and making Biblical decisions,.
How the Lord hath had compassion on thee. Tell them of the mercy of God. I used to consider “Better than I deserve” cliche, but, in fact, we don’t deserve God’s great mercy. We’re now loved by the Lord. We love him because he first loved us. The compassion of the Lord comes through us to them, Rom 5:5. The love of Christ constraineth us. “And of some have compassion, making a difference”, Jude 22.
Result:
Because he published the word… He was like the old-time newsboy who hawked newspapers. Lk 8:39, he didn’t stop spreading the word until he had gone throughout the whole city. Ps 68:11 “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it”. Are you among this great company? You should be and you can be with the testimony of a changed life.
All men did marvel. To marvel is to be filled with wonder and amazed curiosity. Obviously the townsfolk were truly amazed at his changed life. A woman’s husband was saved on my recent trip. He had seen the changes in her life. The woman marveled when her husband was saved. She called and said my husband is sleeping more peacefully than he ever has. A man’s separated wife was saved, as well. She saw God’s peace in her husband; he was completely different, and she wanted what he had.
Conclusion: you don’t need much training in “soul winning” to tell others about Jesus Christ. Just go and tell them “how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee”. That’s the testimony of a changed life.