SCRIPTURE
Mark 16:15-20
15: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
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.
19: So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20: And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Introduction
Are you a true born again believer ? Are you saved? How can you be sure? Are there signs? The signs were Given by Jesus before he rose to heaven to the right hand of GOD. Most christians deny these things and speak evil of those that show these signs. The signs we will learn in this sermon are not only truth but if you dont show this evidence then your not even a true believer. If this offends you good. Its what the gospel is intended to do. To offend you and bring you to repent and know the truth. Some will deny the truth. But these are Jesus's very words.
Sermon
Some deny the signs of a true believer. Jesus didn't come down from heaven to say a bunch of stuff he didn't mean. What then are these signs and what do they mean?
1- Casting out demons
2-Speaking with new tongues
3-Taking up serpents
4-Being unharmed by anything deadly
5-Laying hands on the sick who recover
1- Casting out demons.
This is when someone needing deliverence Has an evil spirit and act in strange ways. In the bible those that had epilepsy were among these people. Matthew 8:16: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Matthew 9:33: And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
Jesus Gives us the power to do this in his name.
2-Speaking with new tongues.
Some denominations deny this and say such blasphemies as its of the devil. This is exactly what the religious leaders of Jesus's day did and Jesus called their words blaspemies of the HOLY GHOST which he also said was unforgivable. Anything the Holy Ghost does through us that someone calls devilish is unforgivable Blaspemies. Those that are not babtized with the Holy Ghost are the ones that speak against the works of God. Paul said in 1Corinthians 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all. This scripture is for the ones that say Speaking in tongues isnt for today.
There are two different kinds of tongues. There is the tongues spoke of in acts 2:4: And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, And there are the tongues of angels as Paul says in 1Corinthians13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
3- Taking up serpents
In the great book of acts this was demonstrated. Ac:28:3: And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Ac:28:5: And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Let us keep in mind that this does no by any means, mean to run up and grab a snake!!! There is also a commandment to be mindful of Deuteronomy 6:16: Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God. We are not to tempt the Lord in any way. But if a serpent sneaks up and bites you it will not harm a true believer.
4- Being unharmed by anything deadly.
If we drink or eat anything deadly or poison filled unknowingly we as true believers will not be harmed. Once again this does not mean to grap a bottle of bleach and start chugging. We can not disobey the Words already spoken to not tempt the Lord thy God. But if someone feeds us poison we will not be harmed. We are to Live Holy and pure as well. We dont do good to be saved, We do good because we are saved.
5- Laying hands on the sick who recover.
All through Jesus's ministrty he healed the sick. And the disciples were also given this authority. Some examples of these wonders are as follows
M't:4:23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people
Ac:5:15: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Ac:5:16: There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
Ac:9:33: And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
Most people today dont have these Gifts because they reject them. But those who reject them are not true believers as Jesus said. “These signs shall follow them that believe”. Do you believe? Jesus called us to The Great commission. Its not called the Great suggestion, or the Great only if you feel like it. We as True believers are COMMANDED to show these signs and wonders to edify the church and to make the ungodly marvel and give Glory to God. Why dont we see these things in the church anymore?
These things are a hinderance to Gods Wonders
Sin
Anyone living in sin does not have God dwelling in them and we know God does not fellowship with those walkin in darkness 1John 1:6: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
We are to Live Holy and Pure. Without holiness that only comes to the true believer through Jesus These things are impossible.
Unbelief
If we count how many times Jesus says o ye of little faith we see that lack of strong faith is a reality and sadly if darkens the Churches today.But you have people getting angry because you tell them about their lack of faith. This is what Jesus said: M't:17:19: Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
M't:17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
M't:17:21: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Satan
Satan also hinders these things. Not because he has any power but because he convinces some that they are not special enough or that they are not anointed enough.
Conclusion
Let us Get ourselves under subjection and pray that we and the entire church stand in one accord and Show the unbelievers how the Body of Christ really Operates. In Peters day they were completely one with Jesus and They blew the minds of the world. These wonders That Jesus used them to do changed the World forever. Let us do the same.
