According to Mark 16:15-18 NIV, these are the characteristics of a true believer, some of these things I do not know if we are doing them, which means I may not be a true believer.
Mark 16:15-18 NIV – 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Has anyone truly seen a believer drive out demons from a person, I personally have not seen anyone drive out demons from a person. According to Mark 16:17, they will drive out demons, I am assuming this means driving demons out of humans.
Does anyone truly know if there are believers performing such acts as Mark 16 states they will? I have heard people speak in different tongues (languages), at least I thought they were, they may be saying a bunch of gibberish since there was no one there to explain what was said. I may be wrong, but I was told whenever anyone spoke in a new tongue, there should be someone there to explain what was said, according to 1 Corinthians 14:27 but so far, I have not heard anyone explain what was said.
I have seen people pick up venomous snakes with their bare hands, but it was by the tip of the tail and the snake could not bring its head back around fast enough to bite. I have also seen people pick up snakes directly behind the snake’s head, but that was after they used some type of device to hold the snake down, so they could grab the back of the snake’s head, But I believe this verse is referring to something different than that.
I have seen people laying their hands on a supposedly sick person, but I do not know if that sick person was healed or not. I did not know the sick person or anything about that person, other than some members saying that person had been sick for a while. Such things can happen, but do not just take anyone’s word for it.
I personally do not know of anyone who drank a deadly poison and lived, but I assume if the Bible states that it can happen, it can be done. But if someone tells you they have seen a person drink drank deadly poison and lived, do not believe any of it until you have done some serious investigation,
I have seen people laying their hands on a supposedly sick person, but I do not know if that sick person was healed or not. I did not know the sick person or anything about that person, other than some members saying that person had been sick for a while. Such things can happen, but do not just take anyone’s word for it.
For the past few years, I have considered myself a true believer, but after reading Mark 16:15-18, a little doubt has crept into my soul. Because I cannot do any of the things Mark 16:15-18, says I am supposed to be doing, is there anyone else out there like me.
What do I have to do to start performing these miracles, because I truly want to be a true believer? So, for us who cannot perform these miracles, let’s start praying so Jesus will give us the ability to perform all that we are supposed to be performing.