These Signs Follow Them...do they follow us?

[whirlwind]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."

16:19-20 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.


The signs given above confirmed His Word. It should also confirm His Word as we teach. No signs, no confirmation that the Lord is working with us, in us, through us.

• 11 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
  
  John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
  
  1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

So, what is meant by the signs? In this post we'll discuss the first sign....

1. Cast out devils.

Funny, but the word devil first appears in the New Testament! Casting out could be an exorcism against a demon but to most of us it is dealing with people....

• John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
  
  1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

So, casting out devils could mean changing, through His Word and in His name, the spirits of people. By teaching they may hear or see and it causes the devil to be...cast out, his works destroyed.

 

[whirlwind]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."


2. Speak with new tongues.

I don't understand the "speaking in tongues" thing. When I see it on television it looks ridiculous to me but, because I haven't experienced it doesn't mean it isn't real. However, here I will say that what I believe it means is two things. The first is simply different languages....

• Genesis 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

The second is still different languages but given as a gift through the Holy Spirit. The ability to speak in other languages, those that are understood by man......

• 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.
  
  Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
  
  1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

The gift is to speak other languages, not their native tongue, but also to speak, prophesy, what the Spirit tells them.

• 1 Corinthians 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Paul spoke many tongues, languages, but simply being able to speak their language wouldn't profit anyone. Rather it is speaking their language while teaching God's Word through....revelation, knowledge, prophesying or doctrine that will profit another.

 

[follower of Christ]

These Signs Follow Them...do they follow us?

Does the text say that these things are evident in ALL of us ?
Paul shows that Tongues werent, so its easily concluded that the rest arent either.

And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Are all workers of power?
Do all have gifts of healings?
Do all speak languages?
Do all interpret?

But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.
(1Co 12:28-31 MKJV)

 

[whirlwind]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."


3. Take up serpents.

The serpent of course is Satan. The tail of the serpent are his workers, false prophets. We are to take the serpent by the tail, by his false prophets.....

• Exodus 4:3-4 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
  
  Isaiah 9:15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

Moses, our example of a man child, fled from the serpent but God instructed him, and us, on how to handle Satan's false prophets. "Take it by the tail," take his false prophets to task. Prove their deception with His Word. Paul also led by example....

• Acts 28:3-6 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. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

The serpent is the BEAST and that poisonous beast may bite us but through God's Word we are able to shake it off and put it where it belongs....in the fire. It will not harm us.

• Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

 

[whirlwind]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."


4. Drink any deadly thing.

This is much as the serpent biting us. We can be and are bitten by false prophets and those that are misled...those that have no spiritual discernment but we are not harmed if we are protected by His Word. The poison of the serpent, the "deadly thing" is his false teaching.

We should be mature enough in the Word to be able to refute deception. If not, then it is indeed deadly. If we have on the armor of God we can withstand his fiery darts of poisoned teaching.

• Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

[follower of Christ]

oh my goodness. All over the board, WW :crazy

You asked a question and we have a CLEAR answer in one little passage...

These Signs Follow Them...do they follow us?

Does the text say that these things are evident in ALL of us ?
Paul shows that Tongues werent, so its easily concluded that the rest arent either.

And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
Are all apostles?
Are all prophets?
Are all teachers?
Are all workers of power?
Do all have gifts of healings?
Do all speak languages?
Do all interpret?

But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.
(1Co 12:28-31 MKJV)

 

[researcher]

Some signs will follow Christians. It's a little more rare today I believe though.


1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

 

[whirlwind]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."

5. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

From the definition given of "sick" it has to do with health. That could be spiritual, mental or physical I suppose. Body, mind and soul.

There are healers with the God given ability to literally...heal the physically sick, or infirm. There are also those with the God given ability to spiritually heal. Both, I believe, are what is written of in Mark.

The signs of "those that believe," are evident in those He sends forth for they follow them and confirm the Word.

 

[mondar]

This might be a different issue, but Mark 16:9-16 is not found in the Vaticanus, Siniaticus, and other of the older MSS.

 

[whirlwind]

This might be a different issue, but Mark 16:9-16 is not found in the Vaticanus, Siniaticus, and other of the older MSS.

Bullinger, in the appendix of the Companion Bible, has a lengthy report on the twelve verses. From it....

"The oldest two are without those twelve verses. Of all the others (consisting of some eighteen uncials and some six hundred cursive MSS, which contain the Gospel of Mark) there is not one which leaves out these twelve verses."

 

[researcher]

This teacher came to the church I was going to in the mid '90's in Santa Rosa.

His name is Bradley Stuart. He has cerebral palsy, but he was a pretty powerful teacher on prayer/intercession etc. I believe he goes into some of the gifts as well. Pretty amazing testimony also.

http://www.yadainternational.com/

Lessons on Mp3
http://yadainternational.com/mp3/index.htm

I haven't kept up with him, but a lot of his stuff is pretty invaluable.

 

[JudaicChristian]

This might be a different issue, but Mark 16:9-16 is not found in the Vaticanus, Siniaticus, and other of the older MSS.

Thats because it is a late addition to the scriptures. Perhaps 3rd or 5th century AD.

 

[mondar]

This might be a different issue, but Mark 16:9-16 is not found in the Vaticanus, Siniaticus, and other of the older MSS.

Bullinger, in the appendix of the Companion Bible, has a lengthy report on the twelve verses. From it....

"The oldest two are without those twelve verses. Of all the others (consisting of some eighteen uncials and some six hundred cursive MSS, which contain the Gospel of Mark) there is not one which leaves out these twelve verses."

I dont know Bullinger, but I am aware that it is absent from more then a mere two manuscripts. It is not only Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, but also the Chester Beatty Papyri (P45). When he uses the term "oldest two," he is probably referring to the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. Yet they are not the oldest witnesses to Mark. I believe P45 predates the codei. I do not know your Mr. Bullinger, possibly he did not have access to the more modern finds of papyri and other older MSS.

 

[follower of Christ]

I dont know Bullinger, but I am aware that it is absent from more then a mere two manuscripts. It is not only Sinaiticus and Vaticanus,

This is pretty good.
Two manuscripts that, if memory serves, disagree more among themselves than the broad range of Majority/Byzantine texts.
Tell ya what, mondar...YOU keep your precious manuscripts hidden in caves and trash bins away from the church for so long and WE will keep the texts that were out there IN the hands of the church...right where GODS word belongs

 

[follower of Christ]

Thats because it is a late addition to the scriptures. Perhaps 3rd or 5th century AD.

No, that is an ASSUMPTION made by some.
YOU werent there, were you, M ?
So please dont make claims you cannot verify.
YOu BELIEVE they may have been added later based on YOUR observations of facts you werent around to confirm

 

[whirlwind]

Thats because it is a late addition to the scriptures. Perhaps 3rd or 5th century AD.

No, that is an ASSUMPTION made by some.
YOU werent there, were you, M ?
So please dont make claims you cannot verify.
YOu BELIEVE they may have been added later based on YOUR observations of facts you werent around to confirm

Dearest Duck,

May I ask that you take this subject to another thread in which you can accuse anyone you wish of whatever you wish in whatever tone you wish to use. Then you could return and the conversation on the subject of the OP might resume. That is, if you have anything else to add. If the present tone continues I'm sure this thread will be locked as many others have been. I'm sure you don't want that.

 

[Ret]

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."

16:19-20 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

The signs given above confirmed His Word. It should also confirm His Word as we teach. No signs, no confirmation that the Lord is working with us, in us, through us.

WW...Signs are a STUMBLINGBLOCK to the Jewish way of understanding God, because they consider the signs as EVIDENCE that they are in the favor of God.

• 1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
  
  23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; KJV

In Mark 16:16-18 the 'signs' FOLLOW them, they don't go AHEAD of them to PROVE or use as EVIDENCE that they are in the favor of God.

The devil also has many 'signs and false wanders', and uses 'signs' as EVIDENCE of the so-called favor of God...he comes first, running ahead, attempting to PROVE his way is chosen of God.

 

[follower of Christ]

Dearest Duck,

May I ask that you take this subject to another thread in which you can accuse anyone you wish of whatever you wish in whatever tone you wish to use. Then you could return and the conversation on the subject of the OP might resume. That is, if you have anything else to add. If the present tone continues I'm sure this thread will be locked as many others have been. I'm sure you don't want that.

Hi.
Im not the one who brought it up, WW ;)
You might want to go directly to the source of the off topic point that I only responded to ;)

 

[whirlwind]

Dearest Duck,

May I ask that you take this subject to another thread in which you can accuse anyone you wish of whatever you wish in whatever tone you wish to use. Then you could return and the conversation on the subject of the OP might resume. That is, if you have anything else to add. If the present tone continues I'm sure this thread will be locked as many others have been. I'm sure you don't want that.

Hi.
Im not the one who brought it up, WW ;)
You might want to go directly to the source of the off topic point that I only responded to ;)

I didn't accuse you of "bringing it up" but I am asking you not to respond in the manner in which you are. That acerbic tone usually results in one thing only. I don't mind off topic points...actually, I think they accomplish a lot but...not when they end up stopping the flow of all thought.

 

[Ret]

Hi Ret,

I see that "signs of evidence" on many Christian television programs. The point of this thread was to show that the "signs" they are using, the miraculous displays, are not what are written of in Mark, they not the signs that follow "them that believe." Rather the signs, or many of them, are spiritual. More of this type.....

1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Thanks ww...it's good to clarify. In this area of thought most people do the 'automatic' response to the 'many Christian television programs', and it's good to define that this is what you are NOT talking about on this thread.

So, will start with...

Re: These Signs Follow Them...do they follow us?

The disciples experienced both .... DID 'follow' and when the sign DID NOT 'follow' them.
Likewise we, as sincere believers, will experience both!