WHY?
Mark 16:15 -18 (KJV) 15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They 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.
Mary had a troubled woman write her the other day saying she was a great Spiritual healer and had healed many people but we just would not understand. Sadly, this woman is more troubled than a healer. But, I would venture to say that at least 90% of the professing Christians today either have never experienced what Jesus was speaking of in Mark 16: 15-18 or do not believe it. As a young Christian I was a member of a fundamental Bible thumping, hell and damnation breathing Christian church. Yet they followed the rest of the Christian world believing that the above was not for today. Forgive me Lord, but I even taught it. Why? Have you ever ask yourself why our Lord would change the game plan on us?
I have heard every excuse from these died off with the Apostles to we do not need these now because we have the written word. But, again I ask you why? I can tell you what I believe is the reason we have been told the gifts of the Spirit are not for today. The old devil himself! Think about it. If you hated Christians and wanted to subvert them, what would you do. If you were smart you would attack their power base. That my friends is what this old pastor sees.
The devil himself has conducted a fantastic campaign to convince Christians these are not for today. Part of his campaign is so crafty. He has even used those who continue to believe in powers of the Holy Spirit. How you ask. Well I will just give you two recent examples of how some of the Charisma-maniacs have been deceived. The holy gold dust that was from God that was appearing everywhere. It was in Bibles, it fell from the sky, it appeared from nowhere. The worse I ever saw was a television pastor who had it pouring from his mouth. Now, my thoughts were if this was truly gold dust from the Lord then that ministry would not need to ask for money anymore! Right? Wrong, they still begged for funds. Even Mary and I were subject to the gold dust. But, praise the Lord we test everything by the word. We were in Grand Junction Colorado parked at a computer store. As I walked out to the car both Mary and I noticed the gold dust (true story) falling from the sky upon myself and the vehicle. At that time everyone to whom it happened was supposed to be some special messenger or blessed by God. Old Slue foot almost had me! But, being a geologist and upon close examination of the "gold dust" it was nothing but plastic gold dust. The interesting thing is that when the "gold dust" from the television preachers was tested. Yep! plastic gold dust. But the old devil made them all look like nuts and of course drove home the thought that miracles just do not happen anymore.
The second occurrence I would like to show you is the "heavenly Orbs" that are appearing everywhere. If you do a Google search for heavenly orbs you will find another group of Charisma-maniacs that believe these heavenly orbs are appearing before them at all kinds of meetings. The funny thing is that they are never seen in person. They are only in photo's of the meeting. Yet these people declare that this is a genuine out pouring of the Spirit of God. Some go so far as to claim they are Angels at their meetings. I have been a professional and semi professional photographer for 30 years. Guess what? I can pull out many, many photos of these heavenly orbs. This is a very common effect of light on a multi-element lens on a camera. See, the old devil again is making these men and women of God look like fools. He again wins and drives one more nail into the gifts are not for today crowd. But, worse than that he convinces people that even when they see a real miracle it is fake.
We read the Acts of the Apostles and we see "signs and wonders followed them"! What did the signs and wonders prove? That they were from Christ! God has used signs and wonders all through the Bible to show the world who HE is. Why, OH Why? would he change His mind for us? On the day of Pentecost when Peter preached under the power of the Spirit he had the word. He did not need the Bible in written form. He had it in living form. But was it the word that pierced the 3000's hearts? Was it that Peter was such a dynamic speaker they just could not resist? What was it.
John 14:26 (NLT) 26But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative-and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you. So if you believe the words of Christ then it had nothing to do with Peter except he was a worthy vessel. After the baptism of the Holy Spirit Peter remembered all that Jesus had said and done and more! Continuing with Jesus words John 16:7-8(NLT 7But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. We see that it was not Peter that convinced that crowd of their sin and need of a personal Savior it was the Holy Spirit.
Now pay special attention here friend. What does the word say? "And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment." What is missing in today's Gospel message? All of the above! Why, because we have taken the power of the Spirit of God and put Him on the back burner. We have said that is not for today! We can handle it by ourselves, we have the written word of God. Excuse me! but look around we are doing a pretty lousy job! Fewer and fewer people are being convinced of their sin, fewer and fewer people know or believe in God' righteousness and almost no one believes in the coming judgment. I venture to say if you did a survey in your church many people would not really believe in Hell.
Do you see that you cannot say we do not believe in one of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit of God without causing repercussions in another. Our religious institutions preach that the gifts died with the Apostles. They preach that they were only to "jump" start the church. Then they wonder why their churches are empty. They wonder why the doors are revolving. People come in and leave. The same old group stays at the churches but they just don't grow. The only way they grow is with all the new ways of reaching people. Let's not bring them down by preaching sin. Let's give them live vibrant singing and worship. Let's accept them in their sin and love them into repentance. It don't work, it is all or nothing!
Trust me the Holy Spirit of God is just the same today and on the day of Pentecost. This old pastor knows, I have experienced all the gifts of the Spirit. I have laid hands on people and they have been healed. I have had the hand of God upon my shoulder and heard His voice. But, now get this it is important! But, are you listening? But, I am like Peter a willing vessel that believes. I am like Peter no one special just someone who is willing to be used. I am like Peter, human with many faults and weaknesses. But, most of all I am like Peter. God said it, therefore it is true period!
You want Mark 16:17 & 18 in your life? It is for today. It is real, as real as my hand upon my wife's hand. All it takes is faith. If you do not have it then go to the source. Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
If you do not have the faith take it to Jesus. He has enough faith for everyone who will trust Him. Will you? Or will you stay locked into your religious dogma that tell you otherwise. I personally praise the Lord the He dragged me kicking and screaming out of man's doctrines and religious dogma, into the only place to find true faith, HIS WORD, God's Doctrine. The doctrine of a life full of miracles and wonders.
Saddle up my friends and join me if you are ready for a great adventure.
