These signs should follow all who believe, not just the apostles or disciples

  • Amber Rice Miller
  • November 10, 2014
  • 407
                        
Summary: Amber shares from the Bible the signs that should be following us as believers. And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” – Mark 16:15-18 A few years ago I was reading this and wondered why we hear Matthew’s version of the great commission often quoted but seldom do we hear this version as recorded in Mark. Could it be because we are not seeing these signs following us as believers? Perhaps we just want to skip over these verses so we don’t feel uncomfortable or have to be reminded that we aren’t fulfilling what Jesus said we should be doing. Now don’t get condemned, I am not condemning myself or anyone else, but I would like to raise some questions in the hearts and minds of those reading this. I want the Bible, rather than traditions, to drive peoples’ thinking. I would like a passion to ignite inside hearts for the “more” that Jesus wants us to be doing. For the sake of space, I am just going to go over the signs that are to follow us as believers. Once again, this applies to all believers, not just the apostles and disciples. All means all. Remember, I am not making this up, I am quoting scripture. It says we should cast out demons. We should know the power that we have been given as believers and use that power to cast out demons. Don’t be scared, but we do need to recognize that there are demonic things happening all around us. (Now please don’t get demon obsessed! Be Jesus obsessed!) The next attribute that should follow believers is one that I am sure will shock many people. It says we should speak in new tongues. What is this referring to? Speaking in tongues, which accompanies receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Tongues is truly a blessing and gift that God has given to us. It is weird only to those who don’t know about it. Like I said before, the apostle Paul spoke with tongues more than anyone (1 Corinthians 14:18). He said he wished we all spoke with tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5) and also that we should not forbid speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39). Paul was a powerful man of God and full of revelation, but I believe he wouldn’t have been so without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. So this verse, by saying we should all speak in tongues, is emphasizing the importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in living out what Jesus said we should be doing. Next it says we will pick up serpents and if we drink anything deadly it will not hurt us. Like I said in my last article, do not go around picking up snakes and drinking poison. I think this is saying that come across a snake or if we accidentally have something poisonous get into our body we have a scripture to stand on against it. Remember Paul being bit by a poisonous viper and it not hurting him in Acts 28:4-6? I believe it is that type of application. Now for the last attribute. “They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Jesus is saying when someone is sick we are to pray for them and heal them. This is one of the many verifications that healing is still for today and we as the body of Christ should not only be believing in healing but also praying for others to be healed. We first need to understand and preach the true gospel that Jesus mentioned, that He has forgiven all our sins and healed all our diseases (Psalms 103:3), and by His stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2:24). That message is the essential, unmovable foundation, but I believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit is also important because we need the fullness of His power to fulfill this command. It’s no small task what Jesus wants us to be doing. But we need to believe in it before we will see it come to pass. Dare to dream big! Believe in and hunger for the supernatural power of God. When we do that we are opening up a door for miracles to take place. Now that is exciting stuff that I am hungry for. Are you? (If you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit or have a healing story to share Amber can be reached at amberdeemiller32@gmail.com)


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