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8. The Signs of the Power of God in Those Who Follow Christ (Mark 16:17-18)
MARK 16:17-18
17 “These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
As the power of growth after winter, brings buds, leaves, and flowers until the fruits ripen, so the new creation, in spiritual significance, brings buds, leaves, and flowers. Christ is the vine, and believers are the branches. They do not develop or produce anything by themselves, but all the power and growth come from the Lord, who is the origin.
First, you may see the victory of the divine world over the powers of evil, for Jesus had overcome the tempter, and now he is pulling out his secrets from him. Evil spirits have to withdraw where the gospel of the living Christ is preached completely and purely, and demons must leave the individuals. The gospel uncovers the untruths in philosophies. It also condemns the false godliness in the worship of the law, for Christ shows us that no one can satisfy the Holy One. The blood of Christ alone justifies us. The evil one has no power over him who puts himself under the sprinkling of the blood of the Lamb of God. Christ will take everyone who dares to grasp at his stretched hands away from the bonds of hell. Wherever believers pray together, Jesus delivers personally. He drives away the enemy of good, delivers his bound armies, and releases the prisoners. We confess the work of the power of Christ today which is evident in deliverance from the power of sinful involvements, and bonds of demon possession, for Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Man without God speaks wickedly and dissolutely. He curses, bears false witness, magnifies himself, and joins the mainstream, to hide his complexes and wishes.
Yet Christ delivers man and consecrates him to the praise of God, and to an effective testimony of his spiritual power. When man holds fast to Jesus he receives a new tongue. He does not lie or blaspheme any longer, but feels disgust at nasty jokes. He does not curse, but speaks words of love and truthfulness. Some brothers and sisters received, in addition to the faculty of constructive, rightful speech, the gift of speaking in other tongues, when not the speaker, but the Spirit himself glorifies God. Yet, they would not speak or show themselves if the Lord did not bring a translator, that they might not come under the temptation of self-glorification, for every gift of God is a favor from God, and may be improved for his glory. Therefore, my tongue is not mine. It is God’s. He puts his words in my mouth that my lips may utter praise.
The Lord protects his witnesses whom he commissioned to carry his testimony. Jesus passed in the midst of his enemies who took up stones to stone him. His hour had not yet come. Hell had no power over him. The Lord protected some of his saints time after time, during the history of the church, with evident wonders, while he let others glorify him through their death as martyrs. Some trod, without their knowledge, on poisonous spiders and painful scorpions, which their enemies had put under their feet. He also kept some from deadly car accidents, and heavy gunfire.
Others praised God before their execution, as the bishop who said to the soldiers before they shot him: “Goodbye Dead! I am going to the living.”
We see Christ’s compassion towards all those who suffer. He helps them, and does not only speak to them. His word drove away every disease. Multitudes of sick people came to him from everywhere, and he healed the blind, touched lepers, and raised the dead. His love echoed deeply in Christianity. Christians serve hundreds of thousands of houses, hospitals, orphanages, and infirmaries, showing the love of him who was raised from the dead, and the Lord, secretly, heals many patients as a result of faithful prayers and sincere faith, for the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
The power of Christ brings good news of a new age. Through faith, repentance, confession, and trust in Christ signs and miracles are wrought today, which do not magnify the believers themselves, but honor Christ alone.
These signs do not happen for the sake of glorifying the church, but for glorifying the slain Lamb of God who is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing. (Revelation 5:12).
PRAYER: O Lord, you live and love all men as you did when on earth. You are merciful to the demon-possessed, the sick, and the afflicted. You heal them through their faith in you, and protect those who trust you. Your miracles are new every morning. Make me increase and abound in love and faith that your power may be glorified in my weakness, and I may be changed to a servant to all, that everyone may be saved and may glorify you at all times. Amen.
QUESTION:
- How do the works of the love of Christ appear today through believers?