No Signs–No Faith

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Do we really have the faith and signs to be called believers?

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Mark 16: 17-18

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

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In the scriptures, faith was more than passive belief.

It was more than repentance.

It was more than baptism.

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It was action.

Scripture says faith without works is dead.

The apostles walked in signs and wonders, and the church grew.

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So what has happened to the power to do great acts in the name of Jesus?

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The passage from Mark indicates that, if we really have faith, if we really believe, then:

Devils will flee from us

We will speak with new tongues

Serpents will not harm us – that means physical ones, as well as spiritual ones

Poisons will not harm us.

And we will be laying hands on the sick, with them recovering.

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So where are the miracles?

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The passage indicates a direct relationship between miracles and faith in general.

It did NOT say miracles were related to only GREAT faith in special people.

It just said “those that believe.”

So if there are no signs, then it implies “those” people are not believers.

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If this definition is correct, then very few people really “believe.”

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Scripture asks also, when Christ returns, will he find faith on the earth?

Luke 18:8

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

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Jesus is looking for faith, those that believe.

Maybe, because the” signs and belief” have been missing, this is the reason why He has not returned yet.

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Believers are identified by the signs that follow them.

So this is a serious question to all “believers:”

Are we really believers?

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Or are we fooling ourselves with a more comfortable, powerless version of mental agreement to packaged dogma, that makes us less useful to God?

We may be doing good works, but without the complete change in our surroundings that God wants.

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If we feed the poor, or preach the gospel, that is positive.

But if we neglect to bring the power of God to the world, we have somehow still not done all that is required of us.

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I feel convicted.

I want the rest of my life to be clearly defined by what signs follow me, all to His glory, not mine.

I want the excitement of the power of God.

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I want the exhilaration that comes from seeing healing and deliverance in those who feel the fire and presence of the Lord.

I want signs to convince the unsaved that God is among them.

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I want to be a true believer, not just someone who gives lip service to the name of Jesus, and then does nothing!

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I pray that 2012 and beyond be a time of great signs and wonders, to the glory of God, to be an open door for the salvation of many in this world!