Mark 16:17-18 (KJV)
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
WHAT IS A SIGN???
When I am driving down the road, I look for signs to point me in the direction I need to go as well as guide me to safety.
Are we seeing these SIGNS in the church today? OR are we witnessing a drawing near to the man of God/ woman of God rather than to Jesus, with a "wishin' and a hopin'" rather than praying and fasting? We don't believe because we see, we see because we believe...according to the Scripture.
The authority comes from Him. We are given the privilege of using His Name and we have full access and privileges to withdraw from His accounts. Everything that He has done, we will do and more. But we cannot represent God if we are not SUBMITTED and OBEDIENT. There is no way in heaven that you would give a disobedient and rebellious child access to your ATM card, credit card, or bank account. You would in no way give an inconsistent, late, and absent employee the privilege of speaking on your behalf and using your name to secure new prospects. You would never in a millenium offer a thief, a liar, or a murderer access to your home and children. Yet, we see these errs all over...there is no mention of sin, only "issues"; no call for repentance, only "counseling"; and no accountability, only "fellowship"...wanting authority with no accountability, wanting privileges with no obedience, wanting power with no connection. If the sign does not point to Jesus then it is not a sign from God. If we believe that a person who is gifted in deliverance is someone to be praised, then we are missing it. If we come to see the man heal, but disregard the Healer, then we are idolators. All glory and honor and praise goes to the Lord!
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16:17-18 (AMP)
17 And
these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they
will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
18 They
will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it
will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will
get well.
Mark 16:17-18 (DARBY)
17 And these signs shall follow those that have believed: in my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 they
shall take up serpents; and if they should drink any deadly thing it
shall not injure them; they shall lay hands upon the infirm, and they
shall be well.
WHAT IS A SIGN???
When I am driving down the road, I look for signs to point me in the direction I need to go as well as guide me to safety.
The authority comes from Him. We are given the privilege of using His Name and we have full access and privileges to withdraw from His accounts. Everything that He has done, we will do and more. But we cannot represent God if we are not SUBMITTED and OBEDIENT. There is no way in heaven that you would give a disobedient and rebellious child access to your ATM card, credit card, or bank account. You would in no way give an inconsistent, late, and absent employee the privilege of speaking on your behalf and using your name to secure new prospects. You would never in a millenium offer a thief, a liar, or a murderer access to your home and children. Yet, we see these errs all over...there is no mention of sin, only "issues"; no call for repentance, only "counseling"; and no accountability, only "fellowship"...wanting authority with no accountability, wanting privileges with no obedience, wanting power with no connection. If the sign does not point to Jesus then it is not a sign from God. If we believe that a person who is gifted in deliverance is someone to be praised, then we are missing it. If we come to see the man heal, but disregard the Healer, then we are idolators. All glory and honor and praise goes to the Lord!
The Scripture says these signs shall follow them that believe...
1. Cast out devils [Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 17:20-21; John 14:12]
2. Speak with new tongues [Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Isaiah 28:11]
3. Take up serpents [Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19; Psalm 91; Acts 28:1-5]
4. Be immune from poisons [Mark 16:18; Psalm 91; Luke 10:18; 2 Kings 4:41]
5. Heal the sick [Mark 16:18; Matthew 10:1-8; Luke 24:49; John 14:12; Acts 1:8]
Christ did it. The disciples did it. All disciples are commanded to do it and believers are promised the POWER to do it. These signs will NOT follow the doubter and unbeliever.
FEAR NOT...
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I pray for signs, miracles and wonders. But I do not celebrate the miracle, I worship the LORD and give glory to Him who is worthy of all honor and praise! Too many services and gatherings are focused on the sign [i.e. healing, deliverance, etc.] rather than on the person of Jesus Christ. And still others are focused on "helping" the Christian rather than calling on the Helper and honoring the Helper [the Holy Spirit] that He would manifest.
ALL OF THIS is predicated by this one VERY important command:
Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)
I pray for signs, miracles and wonders. But I do not celebrate the miracle, I worship the LORD and give glory to Him who is worthy of all honor and praise! Too many services and gatherings are focused on the sign [i.e. healing, deliverance, etc.] rather than on the person of Jesus Christ. And still others are focused on "helping" the Christian rather than calling on the Helper and honoring the Helper [the Holy Spirit] that He would manifest. ALL OF THIS is predicated by this one VERY important command:
Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
The command was followed by this:
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:4-8
So the disciples were not sent out [whereby signs, miracles and wonders would follow] UNTIL they were baptized in the Holy Ghost [the POWER].
I propose this:
What many are "believing" today is NOT the Gospel. Yes, they believe He came. Yes, they believe He died. BUT, many do not believe in the resurrection and the work of the Holy Ghost. The purpose of His death was the resurrection: Love lives in us in the Holy Ghost! Without His death, there could be no authority on the earth. Flesh had to die so that the Spirit can live on!
See, if our authority comes from God, then revelation will be the proof...revelation of who He is and not who I am! We make assumptions about the "qualifying factors" of those in authority: strong will and determination, clever ideas and eloquent speeches; none of these stand for authority but they stand for the flesh. A gift from God will not be received properly through a wounded vessel. Many of us are wounded, but not dead. We are still fighting to hold on. Only those who have passed through death and been resurrected are recognized by God and given authority.
Chew on this:
The command was followed by this:
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:4-8
So the disciples were not sent out [whereby signs, miracles and wonders would follow] UNTIL they were baptized in the Holy Ghost [the POWER].
I propose this:
What many are "believing" today is NOT the Gospel. Yes, they believe He came. Yes, they believe He died. BUT, many do not believe in the resurrection and the work of the Holy Ghost. The purpose of His death was the resurrection: Love lives in us in the Holy Ghost! Without His death, there could be no authority on the earth. Flesh had to die so that the Spirit can live on!See, if our authority comes from God, then revelation will be the proof...revelation of who He is and not who I am! We make assumptions about the "qualifying factors" of those in authority: strong will and determination, clever ideas and eloquent speeches; none of these stand for authority but they stand for the flesh. A gift from God will not be received properly through a wounded vessel. Many of us are wounded, but not dead. We are still fighting to hold on. Only those who have passed through death and been resurrected are recognized by God and given authority.
Chew on this:
Hebrews 9:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
Pamela
pam@jordanranch.org
Pamela
pam@jordanranch.org
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