Telling Our Friends
By Senior Pastor Dr. Bill Rains | August 3, 2025
Open your Bibles to Mark 5:1-20, focusing on verses 19-20. 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. Let’s pray: Father, thank You for this Friends Day, Your anointing, and Your Word. Thank You for the story of a man delivered from demons. Save those without assurance of heaven. Help them claim Jesus as Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
On August 3, 2025, Senior Pastor Bill Rains preaches on Friends Day at Mission Baptist Church, using Mark 5:1-20 to urge believers to share Jesus with others. He recounts the story of a demon-possessed man in Gadera, tormented by up to 2,000 demons, living among tombs, cutting himself, and running naked with supernatural strength. Jesus cast out the demons, restoring the man’s mind and dignity. Though he wanted to follow Jesus, the Lord instructed, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. The man obeyed, proclaiming Jesus’ compassion in Decapolis. Pastor Rains shares his own salvation at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, where he and his wife found Christ through a preacher’s call and a Sunday school teacher’s guidance. Inspired by the song “You Never Mentioned Him to Me,” he challenges believers to witness, warning of the regret if friends face eternity unsaved. He outlines three lessons: Satan’s destructive power, Jesus’ transformative presence, and the privilege of proclaiming God’s Word.
The Power of Satan
The demoniac’s life illustrates Satan’s great power, often underestimated. Pastor Rains describes the man’s torment—living in graveyards, cutting himself, running naked, and breaking chains with supernatural strength (Mark 5:3-5, No man could bind him, no, not with chains). He thought Jesus came to torment him, a lie Satan plants, making people fear Jesus takes away joy. Pastor Rains recalls witnessing to a man who denied the devil’s existence despite evident evil—self-harm, immodesty, and societal chaos. He sees these as demonic influences, like the trend of cutting among youth or immodest dress, urging believers to recognize Satan’s destructive hold and warn others before it’s too late.
The Presence of Jesus Changes Things
Jesus’ presence transformed the demoniac, as seen in Mark 5:15: sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind. Casting out the demons, Jesus restored his sanity, modesty, and fellowship with God’s people. Pastor Rains emphasizes that Jesus brings common sense and cleanliness, countering the devil’s chaos. He humorously notes the man’s newfound modesty, contrasting it with modern immodesty, and stresses that the Holy Spirit guides believers to live rightly (John 16:13, He will guide you into all truth). Pastor Rains shares his salvation story, where he responded to a preacher’s call, unashamed, and found peace. Jesus’ presence changes lives, offering hope and restoration to all who turn to Him.
The Privilege of Proclaiming God’s Word
Jesus commanded the healed man, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. He obeyed, publishing Jesus’ works in Decapolis, causing all to marvel. Pastor Rains calls it a privilege to share the gospel, as he did after his salvation, urging his wife and friends to know Christ. Quoting “You Never Mentioned Him to Me,” he warns of the regret if we fail to witness, leaving friends to cry in eternity, “You never mentioned Him to me.” He challenges believers to tell others of Jesus’ compassion, which reaches even the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief). Pastor Rains pleads for the unsaved to pray a sinner’s prayer and for believers to boldly share their faith.