This Package of Signs

# 773- Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." This is not an exhaustive list of the signs that would follow those who believe in Jesus. Read the Book of Acts! People were raised from the dead, Paul and Silas released from their chains in prison, the mere shadows of the apostles bringing healings and deliverance! And the list could go on. All of these signs listed in Mark and the other signs as well are all meant to indicate that Jesus is alive and well in His church and He has power over everything! It seems a special emphasis is placed here in Mark, on His power over that murderer and liar, the devil. And so we read here of demons, and snakes, and sicknesses, and poison, and tongues. Think about that last one. In James 3:6, we read that the tongue is set on fire by hell.” But when God controls the tongue, (which is what happens when one speaks in tongues) God is lifted up no matter what the language! On that first Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and they spoke in different languages, this is what the people said, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." (Acts 2:11) This “package of signs” listed here in Mark simply validated the truth that Jesus has defeated Satan on Calvary and forevermore.