THE LEGION OF GADARA IN CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH (CAC) NIGERIA AND OVERSEAS

THE LEGION OF GADARA IN CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH (CAC) NIGERIA AND OVERSEAS

By Ojo Emmanuel Ademola, General Evangelist, CAC Nigeria and Overseas

The story of the Legion of Gadara, recorded in Mark 5:1–20 and Luke 8:26–39, is one of the most dramatic encounters between the Kingdom of God and the forces of darkness. It is a narrative that reveals the authority of Christ, the bondage of humanity, the strategy of the Enemy, and the transformative power of deliverance. It is a story of a man, a community, a confrontation, and a revival. It is a story that speaks prophetically to Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Nigeria and Overseas at this critical moment in our history.

The man of Gadara was not merely an individual; he was a symbol. He represented a generation bound by forces beyond human control. He represented a community that had normalised dysfunction. He represented a spiritual atmosphere where darkness had taken residence. He represented a Church that had lost its voice, its unity, and its authority. And he represented a mission field waiting for a visitation of Christ.

READ ALSO:When Security Becomes Everyone’s Business: Exploring Mandatory Military Service in Nigeria

Today, the Spirit of God is calling CAC to revisit this story—not as a historical memory but as a prophetic mirror. For within our assemblies, our structures, our generations, and our global mission, we see the signs of a Legion that must be confronted, a Man that must be restored, and a Church that must be revived.

THE MAN OF GADARA: A PORTRAIT OF A GENERATION IN BONDAGE

The Scripture describes the man of Gadara as one who “had an unclean spirit” (Mark 5:2). He lived among the tombs. He was uncontrollable. He was self‑destructive. He was isolated. He was tormented. He was naked. He was restless. He was bound by chains that could not hold him. He was a prisoner of forces that had invaded his soul.

This man is a prophetic picture of many within the Church today. He represents the believer who is present but not free. He represents the minister who is gifted but tormented. He represents the youth who is talented but directionless. He represents the assembly that is active but spiritually oppressed. He represents the Church that is visible but not victorious.

The man of Gadara is not outside the Church; he is within it. He is in our pews. He is in our choirs. He is in our leadership. He is in our families. He is in our communities. He is in our nations. He is in our diaspora. He is in CAC Nigeria and Overseas.

The tragedy is not that the man was possessed; the tragedy is that the community had accepted his condition as normal. They had grown accustomed to his bondage. They had adjusted to his dysfunction. They had surrendered to his oppression. They had no expectation of his deliverance.

This is the danger confronting the Church today: the danger of normalising spiritual bondage, the danger of accepting dysfunction as destiny, the danger of adjusting to the presence of Legion.

THE LEGION: A SYMBOL OF MULTIPLIED OPPRESSION IN THE CHURCH

When Jesus asked the man his name, he replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” (Mark 5:9). A Legion in Roman military terms consisted of thousands. It was a symbol of organised, structured, strategic, and overwhelming force.

The Legion represents the multiplied pressures confronting the Church today. It represents the spiritual, moral, doctrinal, generational, and institutional forces that seek to fragment the Body of Christ. It represents the internal and external battles that threaten the unity, purity, and mission of CAC Nigeria and Overseas.

The Legion manifests in many forms.

It manifests as doctrinal confusion, where strange teachings infiltrate the Church and dilute the Gospel. It manifests as moral compromise, where holiness is replaced by convenience and righteousness by relevance. It manifests as generational conflict, where elders and youths struggle to understand one another. It manifests as leadership fragmentation, where unity is sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition. It manifests as spiritual apathy, where prayer altars grow cold and revival fire dims. It manifests as internal rivalry, where assemblies compete instead of collaborate. It manifests as prophetic counterfeits, where untested voices mislead the innocent. It manifests as administrative disorder, where structures meant to protect the Church become sources of conflict.

This Legion is not one spirit; it is many. It is not one challenge; it is multiple. It is not one problem; it is layered. It is not one attack; it is coordinated.

The Enemy’s strategy is not chaos; it is coordination. The Enemy’s intention is not disturbance; it is domination. The Enemy’s goal is not distraction; it is destruction.

But the good news is this: No Legion is greater than the Lord. No bondage is stronger than the Blood. No oppression is deeper than the authority of Christ. No darkness is thicker than the Light of the Gospel.

THE CONFRONTATION: WHEN CHRIST ENTERS THE TERRITORY

The turning point in the story was not the man’s cry; it was Christ’s arrival. The Scripture says, “When He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him a man with an unclean spirit.” (Mark 5:2). Revival begins when Christ enters the territory. Deliverance begins when Christ steps into the environment. Transformation begins when Christ confronts the Legion.

The man ran to Jesus and worshipped Him (Mark 5:6). Even Legion could not resist the authority of Christ. Even darkness must bow before the Light. Even oppression must submit to the presence of the Saviour.

This is the hope of CAC Nigeria and Overseas: Christ is still entering territories. Christ is still confronting Legions. Christ is still restoring men. Christ is still reviving Churches. Christ is still uniting His Body.

The confrontation between Christ and Legion was not a negotiation; it was a declaration. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit, “Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.” (Mark 5:8). Revival begins with a command. Unity begins with a command. Deliverance begins with a command. Transformation begins with a command.

The Church must rediscover the authority of the Word. We must rediscover the power of the Name of Jesus. We must rediscover the ministry of deliverance. We must rediscover the Fire of the Holy Spirit. We must rediscover the Apostolic mandate to cast out devils (Mark 16:17).

A Church that cannot confront Legion cannot transform Gadara. A Church that cannot cast out devils cannot heal nations. A Church that cannot break chains cannot build unity. A Church that cannot restore the man cannot revive the community.

THE DELIVERANCE: THE MAN RESTORED, THE CHURCH REVIVED

After the confrontation came the deliverance. The Scripture says the man was found “sitting, clothed, and in his right mind.” (Mark 5:15). This is the picture of true revival. Revival restores order. Revival restores dignity. Revival restores identity. Revival restores sanity. Revival restores purpose. Revival restores unity.

The man who once lived among the tombs became a witness of the Gospel. The man who once broke chains became a carrier of the Good News. The man who once terrorised the community became a testimony of Christ’s power. The man who once embodied darkness became a vessel of Light.

This is what CAC needs today: a restoration of the man. A restoration of the minister. A restoration of the youth. A restoration of the family. A restoration of the assembly. A restoration of the Church.

When the man was restored, the community was transformed. When the man was delivered, the region was evangelised. When the man was healed, the Gospel spread.

The Scripture says, “He departed and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him.” (Mark 5:20). Decapolis was a region of ten cities. One restored man became a regional evangelist. One delivered soul became a revivalist. One transformed life became a missionary.

This is the power of deliverance. This is the power of restoration. This is the power of revival.

THE COMMUNITY: FEAR, RESISTANCE, AND THE NEED FOR UNITY

The community reacted with fear. They begged Jesus to leave their region (Mark 5:17). They preferred the familiar bondage to unfamiliar freedom. They preferred the predictable dysfunction to unpredictable transformation. They preferred the presence of Legion to the presence of Christ.

This is the tragedy of many Churches today. We resist the move of God because it disrupts our comfort. We resist revival because it challenges our structures. We resist unity because it confronts our pride. We resist deliverance because it exposes our weakness.

But the Spirit is calling CAC to a different response. We must not ask Christ to leave; we must invite Him to stay. We must not fear revival; we must embrace it. We must not resist unity; we must pursue it. We must not protect Legion; we must confront it.

The unity of the Church is not optional; it is essential. Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one.” (John 17:21). Unity is not a suggestion; it is a command. Unity is not a strategy; it is a spiritual necessity. Unity is not a convenience; it is a covenant.

The Legion divides; Christ unites. The Legion fragments; Christ restores. The Legion isolates; Christ gathers. The Legion destroys; Christ rebuilds.

CAC Nigeria and Overseas must rise above internal divisions, generational tensions, administrative conflicts, and spiritual rivalries. We must unite around the Gospel, the Mission, the Mandate, and the Name of Jesus.

THE CALL: A PROPHETIC MANDATE FOR CAC NIGERIA AND OVERSEAS

The story of the Legion of Gadara is not merely a narrative; it is a prophetic call. It is a call to confront the Legion. It is a call to restore the man. It is a call to revive the Church. It is a call to unite the Body. It is a call to reclaim our Apostolic identity. It is a call to awaken our Revival heritage. It is a call to strengthen our Generational bridges. It is a call to rebuild our Prayer Altars. It is a call to re‑ignite our Prophetic Fire. It is a call to re‑establish our Apostolic Order.

This is the moment for CAC to rise. This is the moment to confront the Legion. This is the moment to restore the man. This is the moment to revive the Church. This is the moment to unite the Body. This is the moment to reclaim our destiny.

For Christ is still entering territories. Christ is still confronting Legions. Christ is still restoring men. Christ is still reviving Churches. Christ is still uniting His Body.

And the Field is His.