True believers with the Holy Spirit naturally experience supernatural signs: casting out demons, speaking in tongues, handling serpents, protection from poison, and healing the sick. These powers come from Jesus and should be exercised responsibly, not recklessly. The speaker urges regular practice of laying hands on the sick.
When you truly have the Holy Spirit, you don't have to follow signs. Signs follow you. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall 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. In my name they shall cast out devils. As believers, we've been given delegated authority to cast out demonic beings from the demonized or the demon possessed. They shall They shall speak with new tongues, not just earthly languages, heavenly ones. They shall take up serpents. Here, Jesus is referring to the dominion given to the believer to subdue the powers of hell. Cross-reference here. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. So, in my name they shall cast out devils refers to the casting out of demons And they shall take up serpents is a reference to the general authority the believer has over the forces of darkness. And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. We know that Jesus is not encouraging his followers to intentionally put themselves in harm's way for demonstration alone. For when tempted by the devil to do the same, Jesus responded, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:7. So this is simply speaking of divine protection. We know, of course, what the Lord Jesus meant when he said, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Though we do not wield any of these abilities according to our own whims, even supernatural abilities are subject to God's sovereignty, we can take him at his word. Every believer should make a practice of laying hands upon the sick and believing for their healing. Who do these signs follow? Them that believe. Believe what? In him. The gospel of Jesus Christ. If you believe on him, then Jesus is talking about you. As sons of God, we are given the high privilege of otherworldly living. United with the Holy Spirit and living within this earthly realm, we become touchpoints of the heavenly. To learn more about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, get Holy Spirit: God Within You at encounterthespirit.com.
