Continue His work
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18
Today I want to talk about the authority Jesus gave right before He ascended into heaven. Most of us have heard these words and know them as the “great commission”. Jesus said in the book of Matthew that all authority had been given to Him, but then He turned around and delegated that authority to the disciples who were there with Him by telling them to go and take His message to the world. However, here in Mark’s account of the “great commission” the authority is given to not only the disciples that were with Him that day but also to all those who believe.
Notice that the verse for today says: Theses signs will follow the ones that believe and are saved. This part of the great commission is usually not the focus, but I believe it is important none the less. The signs that follow those who believe are for helping lost people to see and believe there is hope and to bring them to God’s saving love and grace. These signs are: The power to cast out demons. The gift to speak with a new heavenly language to connect with His Spirit and the ability to lay hands on the sick so they recover. It does not say there will be instant healing, but that could happen. He told them when we lay hands on the sick they will get better in time.
This is very interesting to me, because I thought that the signs that Jesus did had passed away with His disciples. But this passage says these signs would follow all those who believe. I am so thankful that Jesus wants His work to continue here on earth, which is one of the reasons He taught us to pray “God’s will be done on earth just like it is in heaven”. (Matt.6:10) No sickness, no disease, no demons but full of God’s love language.
Today I encourage you to take time to read about some of the work Jesus did and then ask Him for opportunities to continue that work. Become a true New Testament believer by continuing the works of Jesus. Follow the example He gave us and be bold about praying with others who are suffering at the hand of the enemy. Believe that when you were saved and then baptized that you were given authority to impact the world around you with His signs and wonder. You are not the one doing the signs, but you can be the conduit through which He flows. Ask Him to move through your hands and feet today and be the answer that someone is praying for.
Today’s scripture reading: Mark 16:12-20
12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
The Daily Dose 