From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Al Thomas has a way with words. His words are both prophetic and entertaining, as you'll have just read in the title. In fact, we had to run this first through our spam checkers to make sure it would clear before sending it out to our readers. This is a great word to be praying over any lost family and loved ones.
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Al Thomas:
Deliverance For a Nude Dude In a Rude Mood
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [and he wore no clothes], who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him... When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him... For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"... Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting [at the feet of Jesus] and clothed and in his right mind... Mark 5:1-4, 6, 8, 15; Luke 8:27
This is an amazing story recounted in the Gospels. It's about a nude man so full of devils that no chains can hold him. He's a madman. No one can or wants to get near him. People are afraid of him. He lives in a graveyard. Suddenly he meets Jesus. Now he is delivered, clothed, and in his right mind. This is much more than a story about deliverance!
Don't Be Nude
Have you ever had one of those crazy dreams where you are in public and don't have any clothes on? Everyone is looking at you, but you have no clue that you are nude? Since the time that God clothed Adam and Eve (see Genesis 3:21), we have worn clothes in public. And, if we are converted and have God's Holy Spirit, we are meant to be clothed spiritually, too. Christ gives a warning about "walking naked": "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Revelation 16:15).
We are not to lose our spiritual garments. Jesus (talking to Believers) said, "Because thou sayest, 'I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing'; and knowest not that thou art...naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear..." (Revelation 3:17-18). Jesus was talking to people who thought they were clothed but were not. They were trusting in themselves and not in the Blood of Christ. We used to have garments that were filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6), but Christ has clothed us with the garment of righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
In the world, many manufacturers offer bargain prices on "seconds." Clothes that are irregular, not perfect. They are fine to wear and most could not tell the difference between a perfect garment and an irregular garment. But you would know and the manufacturer would know. However, there are no "seconds" in the Kingdom of God. In Scripture, clothing signifies righteousness (see Revelation 16:15) or unrighteousness (see Jude 23). When you count on your own righteousness, you are a nude dude, not a clothed saint. We who are made righteous must walk in righteousness (see Colossians 2:6).
I sense that many who previously walked in condemnation will receive a revelation of the free gift of grace whereby they know they are clothed with the garment of righteousness and acceptance, of eternal and abundant life (see Ephesians 2:8-9 and John 10:10). They will walk in "in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8). Put your robe of righteousness on (see Isaiah 61:10). You are accepted. You are loved. Don't be nude...
Don't Be a Dude
The word "dude" is a word that some use to address each other. It used to be used particularly by hippies and surfers. It also refers to a city dweller vacationing out West, like an urban Easterner who vacations on a dude ranch in the West. Lastly, it can mean a flashy dressed man trying to get attention. Either way, it speaks of pretending. Sometimes Christians pretend they are walking in righteousness when they are not. Yet, the demon possessed man Jesus ran into was not a pretender. Jesus told the Laodicean Church that they were neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm (see Revelation 3:15-16). Lukewarm means you are pretending, either one way or another. The nude dude knew he was cold, not faking, and even ran up to Jesus and worshipped Him (see Mark 5:6). The demons in him knew who Jesus was (verse 7) and declared it. The devils believe and they tremble (see James 2:19).
If a Believer chooses to walk in darkness after they have surrendered to the Light of the world they are a pretender. Jesus said, "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23b). There is no more miserable person than the one who used to walk with Christ and then has fallen away back into the world. The joy, peace, and intimacy with God are lost! There is only one answer: Like the nude dude, they must run toward the Son of God and cry out to Him (see Mark 5:6). In the same way that Jesus delivered this man of his torment and bondage, Jesus can deliver anyone and put them back in their right mind. He will clothe them (make them righteous) and give them great peace. I believe that many who are lukewarm and in the bondage of condemnation will run to Jesus to be delivered. Let no one be so proud that they won't come back to Jesus. He is the God of second, third, and one-hundredth chances. Don't be a nude dude...
Don't Be Rude
When someone is in bondage they can't help but be rude, because they are unhappy. No one wants to go near them: "So that no man might pass by that way..." (Matthew 8:28). No one could pass by where this rude dude lived because he was so angry, unpredictable, and violent. He lived where the tombs are (with the dead). He was dead spiritually and rude. When you are spiritually dead you have little to rejoice about.
Imagine asking someone, "Hey fellow, where do you live?" and he answers, "Oh, I live at the cemetery with the dead people, what's it to you?" People in bondage are usually rude, indifferent, and want to be alone like the nude dude. People in bondage don't want to fellowship, because where God's people are, then conviction is often manifested. Not in a judgmental way, but in a merciful come-back-to-the-love-of-God way.
Those who are walking with Christ need to be loving and kind to those who are in bondage and overlook the fleshly attitudes of even the hardest heart that's held in bondage by the devil. Love the nude, rude dude back into the arms of Jesus. Don't judge them (see Matthew 7:1-5). Jesus could have said to the man in bondage, "What's your problem? How'd you get into this mess? See what you did to yourself?" No, Jesus loved him. In like manner (see John 20:21), we must reach out and love the nude, rude dude. I see the Body of Christ demonstrating a fresh love for those in bondage, disarming many who were formally resistant to the Gospel. Many in bondage will sense the sincerity of God's agape love through His people and chains will drop off.
Don't Be In a Bad Mood
Jesus took this man's insane mind and gave him peace (see Luke 8:35). Nothing can cheer you up like an encounter with the Master. He took a madman and made him a glad man. He's about to do the same for many. This man was in such bondage he was in a bad mood 24 hours a day. He was always in a bad mood because the devil had him in his clutches. But Jesus can give great peace in the mind (see Isaiah 26:3).
This nude dude had a good excuse for being in a bad mood. The devil possessed him. Jesus gave you power over the devil and He lives in you (see Luke 10:19 and 1 John 4:4). Jesus is about to deliver some from the severest bondage. Jesus is our peace (see Ephesians 2:14). Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and peace (see 2 Corinthians 3:17 and 2 Thessalonians 3:16). Jesus came to give liberty to all. I see many who people call "moody" or "Oh, he's always been that way" having a "personality transformation." They will no longer be withdrawn but eager to be with God's people. They will sit down at the feet of Jesus and once again be in their right mind (see Luke 8:35).
Let Jesus set you free.
Many nude dudes in rude moods are about to be clothed, made righteous, sane and joyful.
Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Luke 8:35
Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life
Email: a.thomas@myactv.net
Al and Sherry Thomas travel extensively in America and Southeast Asia. Al and Sherry have a prophetic and healing anointing and have seen many miracles. They founded Celebrating His Life Ministries in 1997 and are gifted teachers of the Word. Prior to that date they served at Mount Hope Prison Ministry for three years. Al has pastored in Wisconsin and California and was associated with evangelist Jim Spillman, a great man of God who was known for miracles happening in his meetings. Al has walked in the healing anointing since 1997. They have seen blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened and many other healings. They minister gently and practically, with no fanfare or dramatics. They currently minister in approximately sixty churches a year.
