And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
Mark 16:15-18 NLT
A lack of faith is contagious. People who don’t believe tend to hang out with others who don’t believe. Even the disciples who learned directly from Jesus were often reprimanded for their lack of faith.
Faith is also contagious. Where you find one believer with great faith, it will build up the faith of others. Jesus is the embodiment of faithfulness.
Those of us who believe in Jesus belong to the Body of Christ. Jesus is the Head of the Body. He has all the authority and He directs the Body. The Holy Spirit is the One who speaks to us what Jesus is saying. If you don’t have a relationship with God, you won’t recognize God’s voice. God is always speaking. He never changes. We do. We go from glory to glory.
Those who believe will walk in miracle working power. This is for all believers, not just the paid professionals. True believers can hear God’s voice (how else can they obey Him?) and they can cast out demons and heal the sick. This should be taught in Discipleship 101 classes. Powerless religion isn’t going to attract people to following Jesus.
There is a great separation coming of the Body of Christ from false religion. If you read the Bible and believe what it says, then if you have any faith in God, you will do what it says. If you don’t do what God commands it proves you don’t actually believe that Jesus is Lord. Actions speak louder than words.
A true follower of Jesus obeys their Father in Heaven. They have a living, breathing, heart to heart speaking relationship with God. You cannot be in relationship with God and not be transformed. It’s impossible. His kindness leads us to repentance. We change from self-focused, narcissistic lovers of worldly pleasures to self-sacrificing, servants of God who love our neighbors and build up others in the faith unselfishly.
When the Gospel is preached by those who believe, the Lord will confirm His Word by working miracles, signs and wonders that prove the message is true and reliable. People get saved out of a lifestyle of sin. People get healed physically, emotionally and in all other ways. People get set free from demonic possession and oppression. If our God isn’t all-powerful then why would we preach a message that says turn from your disobedience and follow Him?
It’s going to get dark. It’s going to get ugly. People who you thought were standing firm will be exposed as hypocrites. The love of many will grow cold. People will argue and quarrel over things that bear no eternal significance. But the True Light will keep on shining and grow brighter and brighter as the world goes dim.
The world will end suddenly. We don’t know when, but we know it will happen when we least expect it. Therefore, always be ready to answer to God for every word you speak and every thing you did with the time you were given here on Earth to serve Him and only Him.
Don’t waste another minute on disobedience.
Go and make disciples.
And teach them to make disciples.
That is how we win the world to Christ.
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
Mark 16:19-20 NLT