Scripture
So he went through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

Observation
Following the great storm on the lake, which in itself is a power encounter with satan, Jesus arrives with his disciples to the region of the Gerasenes. A demonised man meets him as he steps off the boat. This man had been so badly afflicted that guards and chains were unable to control him.

The man screams at Jesus because of the demons. The demons request that rather than being sent to the pit, they should be sent into a herd of pigs feeding nearby. So Jesus agrees to this and the demons enter the pigs, causing them to plunge over a hillside and into the lake.

The people of the town gather to observe what has happened. They see the man now clothed and in his right mind and some dead pigs . The people are afraid and beg Jesus to leave them.

Jesus sends the formerly demonised man home and he goes through the town proclaiming what Jesus has done for him.

Application
Demons are real and are still afflicting people in every nation and every culture. Many people are in bondage through the works of satan.

The man in this story knew that Jesus had set him free, and he was ecstatic. But other people were afraid of the consequences of Jesus' authority. It's much better to hide from the facts than to submit to the power and authority of God.

We have authority to cast out demons from people and to overcome every kind of evil. Many people are afraid of the implications of this and still plead with Jesus to stay away from them.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I praise you for the great authority you have over every kind of evil and all the works of the devil. Please help me to walk in that authority in all that I do. Amen.