Tell Them What the Lord Has Done

Tell Them What the Lord Has Done  

Scripture Foundation:

Mark 5:19 (NKJV)

"However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.'"

The Sermon (What does it mean?)

This verse is part of one of the most dramatic encounters in the Gospels. Jesus has crossed the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gadarenes, and He is met by a man possessed by a legion of demons—a man so violent and uncontrollable that he lived among the tombs, cutting himself with stones, and breaking every chain used to restrain him. The whole region feared him. He was the outcast of outcasts, the hopeless case, the one everyone had given up on.

Then Jesus speaks. The demons flee into a herd of pigs, and the man is found sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind. The transformation is instantaneous, undeniable, and complete. The man who was a terror is now at peace. The man who was naked is now clothed. The man who was isolated is now restored.

Naturally, this man wants to follow Jesus. He wants to climb into the boat with the One who set him free. He wants to be a disciple, to travel with Jesus, to learn from Him, and to be part of His inner circle. It seems like the perfect response. But Jesus says something surprising: "However, Jesus did not permit him." Instead, He gives him a different assignment: "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

Jesus is not rejecting this man's desire to follow Him. He is redirecting it. The man's witness is not to be in a foreign land, but in his own home. His mission is not to travel with Jesus, but to testify about Jesus. His ministry is not to the crowds, but to his friends. The greatest miracle is not just the transformation; it is the testimony. The man is sent to be a witness to the very people who knew him in his brokenness—the family who had given up on him, the friends who had feared him, the community that had shunned him.

The Twist

The twist is hidden in the nature of the "home." We naturally assume that following Jesus means leaving everything behind—our homes, our families, our familiar surroundings, and our old lives. We imagine that true discipleship requires radical departure. We think that the greatest calling is to go to the ends of the earth, to foreign lands, and to distant mission fields. We overlook the mission field that is right in front of us.

Here is the shocking reversal: Your mission field is not always somewhere else; sometimes it is right where you are. The twist is that the greatest testimony you can have is not to strangers, but to those who know you best. The man was not sent to the Gentiles; he was sent home. He was not called to the synagogue; he was called to his own community. The people who needed to hear his story were the ones who had seen him at his worst. They were the ones who would recognize the change. They were the ones who would know the difference between the old and the new. The twist is that your home is your first mission field. Your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your community are the ones who need to hear what the Lord has done for you. They are the ones who will be most impacted by your transformation.

The second twist is the nature of the "testimony." We often think that testimony is about theological arguments, doctrinal statements, or complex explanations of salvation. We imagine that we need to be prepared with the perfect presentation, the right verses, and the compelling defense. But Jesus gives the man a simple instruction: "Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." The twist is that your testimony is not about theology; it is about transformation. It is not about explaining the gospel; it is about declaring what God has done in your life. The most powerful witness is not a lecture; it is a story. Your story. Your transformation. Your experience of His compassion. You do not need to have all the answers; you just need to be able to say, "I was blind, but now I see."

The third twist is the nature of the "compassion." The man was not just healed; he was loved. Jesus says, "How He has had compassion on you." The Greek word for "compassion" is eleeō, meaning to show mercy, to pity, or to feel deep sympathy. The man was not just a project; he was a person. Jesus did not just see a demoniac; He saw a sufferer. He did not just perform a miracle; He extended a heart. The twist is that your testimony is not just about what God did; it is about how He felt. The compassion of Jesus is the heart of the gospel. When you tell your story, you are not just reporting a fact; you are revealing a heart. You are showing people that God is not a distant judge, but a compassionate Father. The compassion of Christ is the good news.

The Principle

The core principle is the Law of Local Witness. Your mission field begins at home. The principle is that you do not have to go far to share the gospel; you just have to open your mouth where you are. Your family, your friends, and your neighbors are your first assignment. Your transformation is their invitation.

The second principle is the Law of Testimony as Transformation. Your story is your witness. The principle is that the most powerful proof of the gospel is a changed life. You can argue theology, but you cannot argue a transformation. When people see the difference in you, they are forced to reckon with the reality of Christ. Your story is the evidence.

The third principle is the Law of Compassionate Witness. The heart of your testimony is not just what God did, but how He felt. The principle is that the compassion of Christ is the message. You are not just telling people about a miracle; you are telling them about a merciful God who sees, loves, and saves. The compassion of Jesus is what draws people to Him.

How does it apply to me?

It applies by confronting the common tendency to overlook your own mission field. You may be looking for a global platform, a distant mission, or a dramatic calling, while ignoring the people right in front of you. Your family does not know what the Lord has done for you. Your friends have not heard your story. Your neighbors have not seen your transformation. Today, you are invited to start where you are.

Practically:

Go home. Your home is your first mission field. Who in your family does not know Christ? Who in your circle of friends has not heard your testimony? Start with them. Do not wait for a more convenient time or a more dramatic platform. The mission begins at home.

Tell your story. You do not need to be a theologian to be a witness. Just tell them what the Lord has done for you. How He saved you. How He healed you. How He has had compassion on you. Write down your testimony in simple, clear terms—what your life was like before Christ, how you encountered Him, and how He has changed you.

Let your life be the evidence. Your testimony is not just your words; it is your life. Your transformation is the proof. Let your family see the difference. Let your friends witness the change. Your life is the sermon they are watching.

Never underestimate the power of your story. You may think your story is not dramatic enough, not exciting enough, or not impressive enough. But your story is unique. No one else has your life, your struggles, your encounters, or your transformation. Your story is the one God has given you to tell. Tell it.

One Truth to Carry

You do not need to go to the ends of the earth to be a witness. You just need to go home. Your family, your friends, and your neighbors need to hear what the Lord has done for you. Your story is the mission. Your home is the field.

Final Reflections

Think about the man who was delivered from the legion of demons. He had been a terror to his community—naked, violent, and uncontrollable. Everyone knew him. Everyone feared him. Everyone had given up on him. And then Jesus changed him. He did not just change his condition; He changed his identity. And Jesus sent him back to the very people who knew him best. He did not send him to a seminary; He sent him home. He did not send him to the synagogue; He sent him to his friends. His testimony was not a lecture; it was a life.

You have been delivered. You have been transformed. You have been set free. And you have been sent. Not to a distant land, but to your home. Not to strangers, but to friends. Your testimony is not a theory; it is a story. Your life is not a mystery; it is a message. You are not just a disciple; you are a witness. You are sent to tell them what the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you.

Do not neglect your home. Do not overlook your friends. Do not dismiss your story. It is the very thing God has given you to share. Go home. Tell them. Let your life be the testimony. And watch what God will do.

Prayer

Father, I confess that I have often overlooked my own mission field. I have been looking for a platform, a stage, or a distant opportunity, while ignoring the people right in front of me. Forgive me for my neglect. Today, I receive Your assignment. I will go home. I will tell my family and friends what great things You have done for me. I will tell them how You have had compassion on me. I will not need to be eloquent or impressive; I will just tell my story. Let my testimony be a witness to Your grace. Let my life be evidence of Your power. Use my words and my transformation to draw others to You. In the name of Jesus, who had compassion on me, Amen.

Personal Application Prompts

The Home Mission Audit: Write down the names of your family members, close friends, and neighbors who do not know Christ. Be specific. Commit to praying for each person by name daily this week. Then, write down one practical step you can take this week to share your testimony with one of them.

The Testimony Clarity: Write down your testimony in simple, clear, and personal terms—what your life was like before Christ, how you encountered Him, and how He has changed you. Include the compassion He has shown you. Practice saying it aloud until it feels natural. This week, share it with someone.

The Life Evidence Check: Your life is part of your testimony. This week, examine one area of your life—a relationship, a habit, an attitude, or a reaction—where your transformation should be visible. Is the change evident? If not, ask the Spirit for help. Write down one step you can take to let your life align with your testimony.

The Story Stewardship: Your story is a gift. This week, look for an opportunity to share it—in a conversation, over a meal, or in a letter. Write down who you will share with and what you will say. After you share, reflect on how it felt to be a witness and what God did through your words. At the end of the week, celebrate any response or encouragement you saw.