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Daily eMail Devotional
Monday, March 01, 2010
Mark 16:14-18 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They 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.Anthony King is a former member who is now on staff at West Coast Baptist College. When he and his wife came to Hawaii with the Navy they were just nominal Christians, but they knew that they needed to go to church. Angela wanted to try Ohana, but Anthony said no. He was from down South and all of the Fundamental Baptist churches down South that he knew were “snake-handling churches”.
For those of you who do not know, there are some churches that take these verses literally and handle snakes or drink poison as a part of their worship services. These verses were fulfilled in the life of Paul, but he did not go seeking to do these things, they happened to him and God protected him. We also know from Scripture that these were specifically for the Apostles during the early years of the church and are not specific promises for us today.
There are many Christians today that read this passage and think how awesome it would be to be able to do things like drink poison or handle snacks and not die and to be able to speak in tongues or cast out devils, but they miss the point of what Jesus is saying. The real blessing is that we have the awesome privilege to go “into all the world and, preach the Gospel” ! We have been “allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” (emphasis mine).
Anthony & Angela King finally did visit Ohana and found out we do not handle snakes but we do preach the Gospel. They ended up dedicating their lives to the Lord and became great soul-winners themselves. Now they are at West Coast Baptist College helping to train young men and women to go into all the world. This month’s emphasis is on the privilege you and I have to be involved in reaching the world for Christ through Missions. God has called us to this great task!
Aloha in Christ,
Pastor Wayne
Don't Forget -
