With Signs Following

With Signs Following

Mark 16:15-20KJV

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: In our time there are many people who “jump” from church to church revival to revival seeking “signs and wonders” however the bible doesn’t say that believers will follow signs but that signs will follow believers!

Message:

1.    “Go ye into all the world” (v. 15) Our task is to go into all the world and win the lost

a.       The church has a vital message to deliver. Our job is to spread the good news of salvation to “all the world”.

b.      The church needs to go out and heal others. Wherever Jesus went in his ministry he healed the sick. People didn’t just hear his sermons the saw his work we must be like Jesus, we need to minister to the people but there should be things happening in our ministry healings, miracles.

c.       The church has a source of power to use

Acts 1:8KJV

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2.    “He that Believeth” and “He that Believeth not” (V 16)

1. There is no “in Between” although there are many that want to think so. Either you are a Christian or not. It is either Heaven or Hell. If you know someone who isn’t saved you need to start winning them now! Time is running out!! .

b.      Jesus *upbraided (scolded) His own disciples for not believieng the testimony from other believers. Do we believe?

*up•braid \ˌəp-ˈbrād\ transitive verb

1 : to criticize severely : find fault with 2 : to reproach severely : scold vehemently

synonym scold

c.       He upbraided them for not believing in the promises of the Lord. Do we really believe His promises?

Mark 16:14NASB95

14  Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

d.      We have a clear choice before us. We must choose.

1)      ”He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”

2)      “He that believeth not shall be damned”

3.    These signs shall follow them (verse 17) according to the word of God there is no doubt. Is there any doubt in your mind?

a.       “in my name signs shall follow”

1)      They will cast out devils

Acts 5:16NASB95

16     Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

2)      Speak with new tongues

1 Corinthians 12:8-10NASB95

8     For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9     to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10     and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

     Pick up serpents, Drink deadly poisons

Taking up serpents does not mean handling snakes in religious ceremonies, but casting them away without being harmed (see Acts 28:3-6). The Greek verb air&om, “take up,” can also mean “remove,” “take away,” “cast away.”

Luke 10:18-20NASB95

18     And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19     “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20     “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

     Conclusion: Signs weren’t to end with Christ going to heaven as many wish to believe. (v 20) the signs were only to continue. They should be active in the church, they should be active in all of us, and they should be active in you! Are they active? Why not? Think about it!

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