Keep looking for the signs
Mark 16:17-18 says, “These signs shall follow them that believe.” This lets us know that what we believe will ultimately materialize. I know bible teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight and to look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen, but you should never stop looking for the unseen to become seen. If we are to look at those things which are not seen, that means the unseen must be real. As a matter of fact, the unseen is more real than the seen. The seen is temporal and the unseen is eternal. Physical facts can change, while spiritual truth does not change. The spiritual truth of God’s word will change the physical facts of our situation. There are signs that will follow them that believe. As a pastor, I am to keep looking for the signs because the signs will show me who the believers are, as well as show me what they believe. The signs also act as advertisements. They are bill boards that promote and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. Also, like road direction signs above the highway, the signs that follow them that believe will direct people to a church where Jesus lives. Were not looking for signs for the sake of seeing signs. We are looking for signs in our church that promote and point people to Jesus. These are the signs that will follow them that believe:
1. They shall cast out devils.
I believe Jesus was so deep and profound that His teachings had both literal and implied meaning. I believe when Jesus we shall cast out devils, that is exactly what he meant. Here and now, in the 21st century, there is still a devil on the loose and we still have the
power to cast him out. The bible doesn’t say council him out or medicate him to sedate him. The bible says these signs shall follow them that believe, they shall cast out devils. I believe that literally! I believe that implies the fact that we will overthrow and overcome the power of the wicked one. In other words, the first person you should want to cast the devil out of is YOU! These signs shall follow them that believe: they shall give the devil his eviction notice. No longer is he your god, so no longer do you govern yourself by the world’s way of doing things. He has no part in you. He has no place in you. Cast him out of your finances by giving to God first and not last. He will make your last, last, last, and last. Cast the devil out of your finances by giving God what is right, not what is left. It’s called the tithe. It’s ten percent of your gross income. Trust God to do more with nine tenths than you can with ten tenths. The tithe recognizes God as the Most High God. If we don’t cast the devil out of our finances by giving God the tithe, then God is not the Most High God. He is the almost High God. He is almost as high a priority as our money. If we don’t tithe from our gross, God is still the almost High God. He almost as high a priority as the government and taxes. Cast the devil out of you finances! Cast the devil out of your wardrobe! Sisters, if your blouse is so tight or so low cut that people can see your heart beating, you need to cast the devil out of your wardrobe. Brothers, if you are wearing pants that allow people to see what you are thinking, you need to cast the devil out of your wardrobe. It’s not a fashion issue, but it is a motive of the heart issue. Who are you trying to impress? Who are you trying to seduce? It is evidence of the world’s way of thinking invading the church. The saying is “Come as you are.” That does not mean stay like you were when you came as you were. Cast the devil out of your clothes and give no place to the devil in your church! Renew your mind to reject the devils system of doing things. The reason you keep attracting the same kind of men even in the church is because you are still using the same bait you used when you were in the world. If you believe God’s word is true, you’ll believe a meek and quiet spirit is enough to attract the right man. These signs shall follow them that believe, they shall cast out devils. Cast the devil out of your finances. Cast the devil out of your clothes. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. Cast the devil out of every area of your life and believe the word works.
2. They shall speak with new tongues.
I believe this literally! I believe the only people who cannot speak in a divine prayer language or unknown tongue are people who don’t believe. All 120 people in the upper room did it. All twelve of the people Paul laid his hands on in Acts 19:1-7 did it. The only people that cannot speak in tongues are those who do not believe. I also believe this to be true. If we truly believe, we will function and flow under the anointing of the Holy Ghost to say and pray whatever He tells us to say and pray in English as well as in an unknown tongue. The same principle applies. Say what God says, even if you don’t understand it. I believe it is easier to say what the Holy Ghost says when you can’t understand it than it is to say what the Holy Ghost says when you can understand it but can’t understand why it isn’t coming to pass. These signs shall follow them that believe, they shall speak with new tongues. They will stop saying what they see and start saying what they believe. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. In other words, it you won’t say it, you really don’t believe it. These signs shall follow them that believe, they shall call those things that be not (yet) as though they were (already). It’s called confession. This is a new tongue for most of us because we grew up speaking complaints. Our native tongue consisted of complaining about every thing that was wrong. Our new tongue should give voice to the fact that we believe everything is going to work out right. I am the head and not the tail. I am above only and not beneath. I am the lender and not the borrower. I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field. Even if I’m going through hard times right now, I’m blessed. Even if I can’t rub two nickels together, I’m blessed. Even if my body is aching and my bones are popping every time a move, I’m blessed, I’m blessed, I’m blessed. Theses signs shall follow them that believe, they will say what God says.
3. They will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means
hurt them.
I believe this literally! I believe it is with us just as it was when the serpent bit Paul. The serpent’s venom did not kill Paul. I don’t believe “it will by no means hurt” means we will not feel the sting of the bite. I believe it means, in spite of the sting, the venom will not cause our destruction and the poison will not cause our down fall. I also do not believe we need to pick up snakes or drink poison to show our faith. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. That’s not faith. That’s foolishness! The devil will bring enough tests and trials our way to give us ample opportunity to put our faith to work. Many are the afflictions of the righteous BUT the Lord will deliver us out of them all. No weapon formed against you can stop you. I didn’t say no weapon would be formed. I said no weapon formed against you can stop you. I didn’t say the snake bite would not cause you pain. I said it will not stop you. These signs shall follow them that believe, nothing can stop them from believing. No matter what the venom, you can’t stop a believer from the believing. No matter what the poison, you can’t stop a believer from believing. No matter what the test, trial, or tribulation that come your way, you can’t stop a believer from believing. These signs shall follow them that believe, nothing can stop a believer from believing.
4. They will lay hands on the sick and the sick will recover.
I believe this literally! I believe in the laying on of hands for the healing power of God to flow through a believer for the manifestation of the miraculous. I also believe this implies that those who believe will move believe they are more than just members. They are ministers. You don’t have to be the pastor to pray for someone. You don’t have to be a preacher to tell what you learned on Sunday morning. These signs shall follow them than believe, ministry will not just flow to them. Ministry will flow through them! The church will begin to grow out when ministry begins to flow out from members who recognize and realize they are ministers. As a pastor, I’m looking for the signs because I’m looking for believers. I’m looking for believers who are promoting and proclaiming Jesus. I’m looking for believers who are leading people to Jesus. I’m looking for believers because the proof of a pastor is have people in the ministry who believe. As a pastor, I’m looking for the signs.
