”And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Mark 16:17New International Version (NIV)
Mark 16:17 Devotional
Signs will accompany those who believe
Mark 16:17 states that there are certain signs that will accompany believers. Therefore, shortly before ascending into heaven, Jesus revealed that the following signs would accompany believers (Mark 16:17-18). That is: (1) Casting out demons, (2) Speaking in tongues, (3) Picking up snakes, (4) Not being hurt by poison, and (5) Laying hands on the sick so they get well.
These signs are proof of being Christ’s disciples. In addition, they are also the expectations of disciples as they fulfill the Great Commission.
Consequently, many have claimed that this verse proves that speaking in tongues is a necessary sign of salvation. Therefore, some gatherings also include “snake handling” as part of regular worship. This is because picking up snakes is something that this verse says that believers will do.
But note that the verse is not saying, “these signs will accompany him who has believed,” as would be expected. It changes to, “these signs will accompany those who have believed.”
The grammar shifts from talking about an individual believer to talking about a group of all believers. Meaning that the listed signs would accompany believers as a whole (Acts 2:4, 5:16, 8:7, 12:28, 10:46, 16:16-18, 19:11-12, 19:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, Acts 9:17, 28:8, 28:3-5).
The gifts of the Spirit are operated by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ in different ways as the Holy Spirit wills. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:6, clearly stated that there are different types of operations. But the same God works through all those different ways in all believers.
Speaking in tongues
The diversities of operations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit imply that a particular gift of the Holy Spirit can operate in different ways in the church. About the gift of tongues, scriptures show that there are two obvious operations of this gift in the body of Christ. That is, ‘the gift of unknown tongues’ (1 Corinthians 14:2) and ‘the gift of diverse or various types of tongues’ (1 Corinthians 12:10).
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for the call into ministry. Help me operate in Your full authority in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Blessing
May you start to manifest the signs that accompany believers.
Daily Bible Reading
Judges 6-7 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
