I’d say that . . .
Given Mark 16:16-18 . . .
That if some of those signs don’t follow a man or woman of God EVER . . . then they are either not in right standing with God or are living far below their inheritance and calling in God . . . and thereby achieving far less for The Kingdom than they might otherwise be accomplishing by His Grace and giftings.
. . . or perhaps God has them in a long dark night of the soul . . .
or . . . a desert experience . . . or some sort of mysterious period of being on a sabbatical or “on the shelf” for whatever reason.
OK, let's start with verse 16.
Mark 16:15-18 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Starting with verse 16, do you believe you have to be baptized to be saved. It DOES say that. And while most of pentecostal theology likes to quote verse 17 about speaking in tongues and healing, they also tend to ignore verse 18. Isn't that kind of cherry picking what other denominations are criticized for when they do it to support their doctrines?
If we're going to take parts of it literally, then in proper interpretation, the whole PASSAGE needs to be interpreted in a consistent manner.
So where is the charismatic movement on drinking deadly poison and handling snakes? Why don't we see them advocating THAT? Why is it that when you think that some of those signs should follow, why is it that people always mean tongues and healings?
Or is it only the safe signs and wonders they prefer?
You want demonstrations of faith? Does it take more faith to lay hands on someone and pray for them or drink deadly poison and believe it won't harm you?
Where are all the people lining up to do THAT?
Correct me if I’m wrong, QUix, but didn’t you say on another post here that that would be “tempting God” to drink deadly poison or handle snakes? Even though you referred to some people you knew, or heard about, who had done both?
Perhaps when I see evidence of
&/or feel
heard much at all (NOT necessarily AGREED WITH—HEARD)—
I’ll have more confidence about trying to carry forth a more genuine dialogue.
In reference to Mark 16:17-18,.....“these signs shall follow them that believe”?
These signs were ....’fulfilled by the apostles ....’and it was ....’to the Apostles’.... that the Lord gave special gifts.......(2 Cor. 12:12; Acts 2:43; 4:33; 5:12, 15; 19:12)
- The Apostles cast out devils...(Acts 2: 1-4)
- The Apostles spoke in new tongues, the languages of the hearer.... (Acts 2:1-4)
- The Apostles laid hands on the sick and they recovered....without fail!..... (Acts 3:6-8; 9:40-41; 28:7-9)
Further, the gift of tongues was ‘a sign to the nation Israel’ that God was doing a new thing by extending the gospel to ALL people and creating His church composed of both Jews and Gentiles..... (1 Cor. 14:20-22; Isa. 28:11-13)
- It was a temporary sign..... (1 Cor. 13:8)
- It ceased when the nation Israel rejected it and was judged...... (Isa. 28:13)........(Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. and the Jews were scattered to the nations. )
- No one can do the specific apostolic signs today, and I believe those who claim to do them do not do in the manner that we see recorded in the book of acts because:
..... No ones raising the dead like Peter did in Acts 9.
..... No one is healing after the fashion of Acts 3:6-8.
......There are no “healing services” or “signs and wonders crusades” in the book of Acts.
......There were no spirit slayings or spiritual drunkenness.
...... The apostles did not have signs of healing such as fire or vibrations or electricity in their hands.
.......Not once did the apostles attempt to heal someone and fail.
The miracles recorded in the book of Acts are simply not being reproduced in churches today as was done by the Apostles.
However, though the apostolic sign gifts ceased the Lord has continued to do miraclulous things throughout the church age:
- He has saved countless souls from the power of Satan.
- He has supernaturally answered countless prayers.
- He has supernaturally supplied countless needs.
- He has given supernatural strength and encouragement and wisdom to countless men and women in every conceivable situation and difficulty.
- He has healed countless people in answer to prayer in accordance with James 5.
- He has miraculously established countless churches in the devil’s own territory!.......... and many other things!
Though I’m fully convinced of where I stand I do believe we are seeing and will see more of counterfeiting all these gifts...just as it was written would be and is today...but it will esculate and many will be deceived by those who teach and preach it.