And These Signs Shall Follow . . .

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. 

(Mark 16:17-18)

In all areas of ministry the name of Jesus is to be used.

As believers and followers of Christ, we go forth in the name of, strength and power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is so important to know that we are not to follow signs and wonders, but they are to follow us as we do the thing that Jesus commissioned us to do.  

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

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.   (Mark 16:17-18)

According to these verses, the following ministries are to be done in the name of Jesus:

→   Signs And Wonders:  

All powerful signs and wonders are to be done in the name of Jesus. The disciples prayed:  

And Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word.  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that SIGNS AND WONDERS may be done IN THE NAME of thy holy child Jesus.  (Acts 4:29-30)

→   Preaching And Teaching:  

Jesus said all power and authority was given to Him and through this power commissioned preaching and teaching of the Gospel in His name:    

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. . . (Matthew 28:19-20)

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47)

Because they recognized the power in the name of Jesus, enemies of the Gospel message warned the disciples that:  

. . . they speak henceforth to no man IN THIS NAME. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach IN THE NAME OF JESUS.   (Acts 4:17-18)

But Peter answered:

. . . We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  (Acts 4:20)

The disciples witnessed the power of God. The things they had seen and heard in the name of Jesus were a powerful force driving them to fulfill their ministries.

We are not only to teach IN the name of Jesus, we are to teach ABOUT that name:

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)

→   Baptism:  

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (Acts 19:5)

On the basis of that name, believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit:  

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift (baptism) of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

→   Casting Out Devils: 

Demons are the angels of Satan. They were formerly the angels of God who joined Satan in rebellion against God. They are now part of the forces of Satan active on earth in many evil ways.

Demons can enter unbelievers and actually possess them. Demonic powers can oppress believers, but not possess them. Their Satanic powers are to be broken in the name of Jesus:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils. . .  (Mark 16:17)

When Paul was confronted with a demon possessed woman, He said to the spirit:

. . . I command thee IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (Acts 16:18)

Absolutely everything we do from the least to the greatest should have Jesus at the core of it!

(Biblical Studies)


10/25/15
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05/30/19