SERPENTS AND DEADLY THINGS
Friday – July 14, 2017
LITTLE BROWN CHURCH READFIELD DEPOT, MAINE
Welcome back to our Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. God is so good brother and sister. It is Friday and the day on which I remind us all to pray as the Holy Spirit leads for believers across this land. Pray for those in your immediate circle, your Church, and your town or city. We are not praying for denominations or Church buildings, we are praying (decreeing the will of God) for people. Let’s turn our attention to the study at hand and our primary text in Hebrews.
Hebrews 2:4 (KJV)
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
When we speak according to the will of God, the Word of God, that Anointing will bring about signs and wonders, miracles, and the manifestations of the various gifts of the Spirit. The key is to speak according to the will of God, and when we do God will Himself bear witness of our obedience. In the following passage we find that believing (faith) is crucial to the manifestations of God through us. So, let’s review our secondary text.
Mark 16:15-20 (KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 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.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
I left off yesterday talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the speaking in tongues. Tongues is a language unknown to the speaker and known perhaps to others (people and/or angels) but always known to God. The speaking of tongues in the Church is a sign for the unbeliever.
1 Corinthians 14:22 (KJV)
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Whenever tongues are spoken an interpreter must be present and if none is present the potential speaker is to remain quiet.
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 (KJV)
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Before I move on let me make a differentiation between the speaking of tongues as the first evidence and a continuing evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. The speaking of tongues which is first evidenced with the filling of the Holy Spirit is also called our prayer language and can be used by any believer with the gift of the Holy Spirit at any time. It is an invaluable tool for prayer when we do not know how to pray. Then there is the gift of tongues which means that God will speak through the person generally to a congregation via tongues and interpretation. That tongue or language may or may not be the same as that person’s prayer language. There are those who believe that speaking in tongues is of the devil. I find it interesting that the speaking in tongues is not rampant in bars and other secular festivities. Then of course on the other side of the coin there are those who look down their nose at persons who do not speak in tongues. Those persons are at a distinct disadvantage for sure and are unable to accomplish the will of God in their lives but will go to Heaven. The will of God is for us to be endued with Power from on High, when we are then it is possible to have the signs and wonders, the miracles, and other manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit in our lives. As I finish out he week what is this business about serpents and drinking deadly things?
Mark 16:18 (KJV)
18 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.
The first part of this verse is perplexing and seemingly out of place. As you may know there is a sect (probably a cult) that makes a point of handling snakes. To handle snakes on purpose is to tempt God which is strictly forbidden. Listen to Jesus.
Luke 4:9-12 (KJV)
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 6:16-17 (KJV)
16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.
It seems to me that this reference to snakes has a wider application than to natural snakes and being protected from snake bites as the Apostle Paul on the island called Melita. For perhaps a better context let’s take a look at the following verse.
Luke 10:19 (KJV)
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Our texts from Mark 16:18 and its companion Luke 10:19 are referencing the spiritual entities like the serpent in the garden that attack us principally in our minds and by producing (through others) various adverse appearing circumstances. From time to time our spiritual enemies may get in a bite or two but when we awaken we can simply cast them off. We may take in, at least temporarily, something that seems to be water (Word of God) but then when we see it does not fit (a demonic deception) we are able to discard it without harm. There is mercy and a space of time for repentance for those who are diligent and acting in good faith before God. Well, it has been a good week, walk this out, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom of God.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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