And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:18, NIV)
Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world and to preach the gospel to all creation, and that he who believes will be saved.
What he tells them next is really striking.
The Power of God in Our Lives
These wondrous signs were given to those tasked with undertaking the Great Commission as authenticating signs for those who believed. The power of God in our lives.
The specific signs that Jesus mentioned were relevant to the specific events that the first believers in Jesus would face under persecution. You can read about some of them in the book of Acts.
Jesus isn’t telling you to go and grab a poisonous snake. The point he’s making is that the preaching of the Gospel will always be accompanied by the power of God.
We shouldn’t limit the power of God or the signs that he chooses to perform in our own day. Many of them may indeed be supernaturally miraculous.
But think about it. Isn’t the most wonderful sign of all the power of the Gospel a life transformed from darkness to light, from sadness to joy, and from weakness to power?
Is your witness for the Good News about Jesus Christ powerful or weak?
Reflection: The core question is when others look at your life, do they see the power of God at work? The power of the Holy Spirit at work in you is your powerful and effective witness for Jesus Christ. Be confident in HIS power as you share Jesus with others!
Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.
About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.
Feature image: Photo by Raychel Sanner on Unsplash