To make Jesus famous!!
God is so amazing!! Incredible, indiscrabable!!!
I just read the following passage again last night and it’s Jesus’ last words before he ascends to heaven.
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16
That’s the great commision right there. The base of ministry and evangilization, a promise of salvation to anyone who believes. But what follows are something that we so often seem leave out:
“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:17-18
This is how he empowers those that believe… Not only casting out demons and speaking new languages (not necessarily tongues), but also to be unharmed by snakes (not just the animal ones, but snaky people and situations) and unharmed also by poison (I believe he’s referring to “the poison of the tongue”, the enemy’s poison to harm us). Then he says that they will heal the sick by placing their hands on them. Notice that Jesus doesn’t tell them they have to perform some ritual to do these things, he doesn’t even tell them to pray to God and ask for protection, healing, etc. He just tells them they will do it, therefore, they can do it. Anyone who believes has this power. He doesn’t say that anyone who asks for those things will be able to do them. He says believers have it. If you believe, you have that power to heal the sick and cast out demons in his name! Isn’t that so cool??!!!
The really amazing thing is that God’s grace to us through the sacrifice of Jesus does not only allow us to become his children and receive the baptism of his Holy Spirit, but that it’s the same grace that conquered sin that lives in us. It empowers us with the ability to do miracles, with the will to follow God and and sin no more…
All it takes is courage the size of a miniscule tiny mustard seed to step out, covered in His grace and spirit, and proclaim and preach the good news and heal the sick and cast out demons and speak in languages we don’t even know and be shielded from snakes and poison!! So amazing!!! Now, I want to do that, not to perform for God, not for fame, not for personal gain, but to make Jesus’ name famous over all the earth, because He is coming back!! Oh yeah, baby!!
