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Re: Gleanings from the "Gospels" [message #12164 is a reply to message #12153]

Sat, 17 December 2016 13:47

Gary
Messages: 1025
Registered: August 2008
Location: Indiana

Senior Member

Mark 16:17 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.”

I ran across an interesting statement in Luke's gospel, it made me think maybe there is more here then what anyone has realized.

In Luke's gospel we find Jesus telling us:

Luke 10:18-20

18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

This verse sheds a little light concerning having authority to trample on serpents and scorpions. He is referring to the comment made by the disciples returning from going out into the world around them to minister:

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Jesus is clearly tying in deliverance to this statement; I give you authority to trample on serpents. In Mark's gospel were told they will take up serpents, but it does say before this that they will cast out demons. Somehow I believe taking up serpents and casting out demons are tied together.

The people in this world are bound with sin, involved in the occult and because of this have open doors to the powers of darkness. All mankind is plagued with the demonic realm working against them. In Christ we are delivered from sin by the shedding of His Blood at Calvary and we have been given authority over the demonic realm, but there is still a war going on in the heavenlies.

In this modern world of technology in which we find ourselves we must not forget that there are entities trying to destroy what God has done. There is a war being waged in the spirit realm.

Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It says; the rulers of the "darkness" of this age, against spiritual "hosts" of wickedness etc.

I'm not ruling out anything anyone shared here concerning this subject, but trying to make some clear sense of the statement given in Mark's gospel. In other words; taking up serpents may be dealing with deliverance and the demonic realm. I also think that the drinking any deadly thing in Mark and the reference in Luke concerning with "nothing shall by any means hurt you", has something to do with this same line of thinking.

I realize DawgDriver mentions this is all yet future to be fulfilled and I believe what he said, is possible. But this verse, in the context it was written, says; 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: Believers in our present time are told this will follow their ministries.

In order to come to some conclusion with being able to witness to believers, who do not have the Baptism with speaking with tongues, I don't know if we tell them that this verse is for the future, will win them over to wanting to receive this experience. This would be the perfect division of interpretation (for them), tongues is for the past, taking up serpents is for the future.

I'm sure all scripture was given so those who have eyes to see and hears to hear can understand what the Lord intended for His people. There may be hidden mysteries in scriptures that will be revealed as the end times unfolds, concerning Revelations, some prophecies and parables. But God has told us that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth.

While Jesus walked on the earth, in a number of places in scripture we see where, He is talking with His disciples and it says; they did not understand, it wasn't till the Lord opened their understanding was they able to perceive what He meant.

Luke 24:45
And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

John 14:22-24

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Proverbs 7:1
My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.

So we find that in Mark's gospel the statement:

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.”

What a wonderful treasure, we have in Gods Word.

Gary

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