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Post by crystalc on May 14, 2014 12:25:10 GMT
Good morning loves! Make it a great day!!
Here is what stood out to me... 17-18 “These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.” 20 And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.]
The devil wants to make God a liar and convince us that we are without power but this passage proves otherwise. The disciples had a difficult time believing in the resurrection of Christ. Just like them, we've witnessed the signs and wonders, the miracles God has performed in our own lives but at times we still fail to trust Him. Jesus goes on to say if you believe, this what you get...POWER! Verse 17 states plainly, these signs will accompany believers. The Power that Jesus walked in while He was on earth is the same power we have access to, if we only believe. Healing the sick, casting out demons, speaking in new tongues are mind-blowing individually but the part that caught my eye: they will drink poison and not be hurt. The tactics that were designed to kill and destroy us have no potency because we believe in Christ Jesus. So many times we are afraid to walk in this power. Prime example, some of you have heard me joke about, not doing any laying of the hands because honestly I thought I didn't have that type of power. God is saying I have given you everything you need to accomplish these things.
Verse 20 explains how all of this possible, first obedience and secondly, the Master is working within us to validate His word. God will prove His word through us if we are obedient to His voice. Don't be concerned or consumed with what you can do in your own strength, that is nothing compared to the power of God. The power to carry out your assignment isn't hidden in some anointed box behind a veil in some far-away fantasy land. No, the power is in you now to do what God said do, but first we must be believers of that word. It doesn't matter how under-qualified for the job you think you are God has a Message to share and we are challenged to be His mouthpiece.
Peace & Love Crys
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Post by rickeyd on May 14, 2014 14:16:53 GMT
YES!! That's good Crys!! "The tactics that were designed to kill and destroy us have no potency" - that part definitely stood out to me as well. Nothing and no one is more powerful than God. If we are being obedient to his word, we cannot fail. Amen!
Okay! So here are the verses that stood out to me in Mark 16 (KJV)...
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Mark 10 (KJV)...
33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
I decided to include Mark 10:33-34 in my post today because there we see Jesus telling the disciples what will happen to him in the near future. He is very specific in telling them that he will be handed over to the chief priests, mocked, and killed. In the very last part of verse 34 he says "and the third day he shall rise again". Now we fast forward to Mark 16 and in verses 10-13 you have individuals who are coming back to tell the disciples that they had an encounter with Jesus BUT they do not believe them. This just baffles me! I mean first of all ya'll are up here mourning and weeping when Jesus already told you that he would rise on the third day. So not only did they not believe what Mary and the other two disciples were telling them but they also did not believe what Jesus himself told them. Why are you crying over something when you have already been told that you have the victory?? Instead of crying, the disciples should have been rejoicing and praising God over the fact that despite all that was done to Jesus he was still going to rise again! Next, you have not one but THREE people come to you telling you that Jesus had appeared to them. WHY? would you not believe them after he already told you that he would rise again. If anything, simple math from the day he died until 3 days later would have told you that these people were probably telling the truth. Thank God for his GRACE and MERCY because the disciples unbelief did not disqualify their call. God still used them even after this.
How many times has God shown us something, given us a vision, made us a promise yet we still don't trust him. It doesn't look like what you said is going to happen because this, that, and the third...blah! blah! blah! We have to trust God ya'll and know that his word is still applicable to our lives despite what it currently looks like. His word does not return unto him void so if he spoke it you bests bahlee dat!!! Don't get discouraged by what it looks like. TRUST HIM!!
Love ya'll,
Rickey Danielle
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Mark 16
May 14, 2014 15:21:25 GMT
via mobile
Post by R .Parker on May 14, 2014 15:21:25 GMT
Hey Guys... Greats points!!!Pray that everyone is doing okay this morning!!! Please excuse me for my absence. I will be going back and reading all the Scriptures that i didn't get too.
Well here i have an question? Does 16:17-18 mean that Christians should handle deadly snakes to demonstrate their real faith as believers? Sounds ridiculous to me!
Mark 16:17-18 Says,Whoever believes and is baptize will be saved,but whoever does not believe will be condemned.There are the miraculous signs that will accompany believers:They will use the power and authority in my name to force demons out of people.They will pick up snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them.They will place there hands on the sick and cure them
However Jesus followers are expected to handle deadly snakes to prove to unbelievers that they are christians.So that if a true christian accidentally picks up a poisonous snake and is even bitten by the snake, God will miraculously spare our life's? Y'all help me out here lol
But i know that can't stand for us as christians today...Because i believe that God does not want us to handle poisonous snakes today to prove we are Christians. I am assured that God continue to perform miracles in healing and protecting those who trust and believe in him.
Have a wonderful day!!!
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Post by rickeyd on May 14, 2014 16:21:20 GMT
Hey! This might help you out Ron.
Apostle Lindsay always tells us not to read the bible like a library book. In other words he means dig deeper than what you see on the pages. We have to be careful not to dial into the word in such a literal sense but rather understand that everthing has a deeper meaning and that sometimes if we read it a couple more times and we are really sensitive to what the holy spirit wants to communicate to us then we will be able to get revelatory understanding from our reading of the word. I would also suggest reading a few different versions of the same text because that too will help you get a better understanding.
The serpent is associated with the enemy/evil things so I believe that what the Lord was communicating here is that those who believe will have the power to take up evil things and cast them out in Jesus name. So here we are looking at what the snake represents and how the power within us correlates to that. I hope I made this somewhat clear. Maybe someone else will be able to clarify it a little better.
Rickey Danielle
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Post by Quia on May 14, 2014 16:45:14 GMT
Hey guys!
Boy Ron and Crys yall better be mentioning them snakes lls!! I do think that in this particular passage he is actually talking about snakes, but the more figurative translation (kinda like what Crystal is talking about) is the fact that there are things that are meant to kill us (just like we would most likely die or be seriously injured if we were to be bitten by a snake and injected with their poisonous venom) that WON'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO when we are true believers and followers of Christ. So if you think of snakes as any misfortune or a trap that the devil tries to set to knock us off course or steal our lives/joy, it will not work. These "snakes" (in my opinion) could be ANYTHING. They could be a bad relationship, a messed up childhood, a car accident, a death, a disease/illness, a job layoff etc. These are all things that have the potential to harm us in some way, but these things will have no effect on us if we are true believers!
Now, what stood out to me today was this:
1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, “Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?”
4-5 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in...
Man, as soon as I read this, it jumped out at me. I know yall are probably like what? There's not really anything there, but when I read it I immediately thought about the word PROVISION! We know that God is a God of provision. Provision is the act or process of supplying or providing something. : something that is done in advance to prepare for something else. Got to' mighty!!! I love the fact that these women set out to do something good for Jesus, yet on their way became discouraged. They began to think about how something along the road would prove to be a hindrance; a roadblock..but lo and behold God had already worked that thang out!!! They didn't have to do ANYTHING when they got to the tomb except WALK RIGHT IN!!! See, God will make PROVISION for you!! All the worrying we do along the way is for NOTHING, because that thing that we become discouraged about isn't even a factor!! He will take you into the tomb...the place where things are dead and you are discouraged and he will bring LIFE! Not only this, he will send you on your way being encouraged and with a mission to fulfill. Just like the definition says "something done in ADVANCE to PREPARE for something else." So let's try to remember this when we want to do something for God whatever it may be. Let us know that whatever it is that we are set to do, God has already removed the roadblocks!
Also, I did have a quick question:
Was Peter not a disciple? When the angel sends the women to go tell the good news he says go tell the disciples...AND PETER...any thoughts?
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Post by Quia on May 14, 2014 16:53:17 GMT
Hey guys so I found this interesting. Lemme know what you think:
I really feel some type of way about this video. I don't know about ya'll but this speaks to Rickey's point of not taking things in the bible EXACTLY as they are written. They usually have a deeper meaning. I'm quite sure that God didn't intend for us to be bringing poisonous snakes into the church to prove his power. I mean think about it, it says that those who BELIEVE are the ones that would be able to be bitten or drink the poison and not be harmed, but because the church is a place for both BELIEVERS AND NONBELIEVERS, it wouldn't be fair to put those who are trying to become more aware of the things of God in danger of being harmed. Therefore, this type of stuff is CRAZY, DANGEROUS AND NOT NECESSARY TO PROVE GOD'S POWER.
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Post by crystalc on May 14, 2014 19:07:54 GMT
Quia after further research this is what I found from Barnes Notes Commentary... It was proof of the kindness and mercy of the Lord Jesus. Peter, just before the death of Jesus, had denied him. He had brought dishonor on his profession of attachment to him. It would have been right if the Lord Jesus had from that moment cast him off and noticed him no more. But he loved him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the end,John 13:1. As a proof that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him this "special" message - the assurance that though he had denied him, and had done much to aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his Lord and Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, "Tell his disciples and Peter," that Peter was not still a disciple.The meaning is, "Tell his disciples, and especially Peter," sending to him a particular message. Peter was still a disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith should not fail Luke 22:32; and as the prayer of Jesus was "always" heard John 11:42, so it follows that Peter still retained faith sufficient to be a disciple, though he was suffered to fall into sin. <---- this will PREACH LOL
And that video seems very demonic. By Greek translation, serpents represent evil, motivated by Satan, etc. These people look as if they're worshiping or idolizing the actual creature well we already know that ain't Jesus. How is God glorified by this? Doesn't look like it would persuade anyone to salvation.
R .Parker I usually use this website bible.cc when I'm reading for more clarity. There's a tool called Strong's concordance. It breaks down scripture word for word in Greek/Hebrew translation. This will help you understand because the bible wasn't originally written in English. Therefore, some words are lost in translation and don't translate to a word found in the English language. So you gotta dig deeper for the other meanings. Like Rickey said everything isn't meant for literal interpretation. Take what you can from it, apply it to your life, take the meat and spit out the bones if you feel me... Hope that helps Peace & Love
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Mark 16
May 15, 2014 1:14:05 GMT
via mobile
Post by R .Parker on May 15, 2014 1:14:05 GMT
Thanks Ricky,Kia,and Crystal for you guys help..I appreciate y'all!!!
@ Kia...After doing some research myself.I discover that three days before the resurrection, Peter committed a great sin, a sin that would cause the Lord not to confess him before the Father's angels.Peter not only denied the Lord before men, he even denied the lord before a maid who was despised by others at that time.But the lord wanted the women to tell the disciples and Peter about his resurrection.Hopefully this answer your question!?
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donp
New Member
Posts: 44
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Post by donp on May 15, 2014 15:16:26 GMT
What stood out to me in Mark 16 were the events following the resurrection. Now resurrection itself is is spectacular thing ... it's defined simply as a rising from the dead ... it's almost hard to wrap your mind around, because when you think about something that dead, it's usually expired to the point of no return. Jesus, did the impossible-He conquered the grave, and came back to life ... that just amazes me .. but anyway, after this starting (in verse 9) Jesus appears unto Mary .. He instructs her to go tell everyone that I'm alive, I'm back with all power .. later (in verse 12) Jesus appears unto "two of them" - i'm assuming disciples, and tells them to let everyone know that I'm here, just as I said I'd be ... in both cases, NO ONE believed them ... this speaks to the miraculousness of the resurrection, but also to the state of our being in as rickeyd said because they should have KNOWN after all of the signs .. from here, I asked God why is this significant .. I believe that it is not uncommon to have doubts about things or find yourself in situations where you are consumed by how the situation looks ... I know I've found myself in plenty of those situations ... which speaks to my lack of faith ... Jesus' goal in appearing to people and having them share was to build faith ... He could have easily appeared to everyone Himself, one-by-one, or even at the same time, but He didn't ... He was showing us or highlighting a NECESSARY component if we were to make it in this life ... in order to please Him. we need FAITH (Hebrews 11:6). We have to know how to trust Him for the things that haven't manifested themselves yet in our lives ... to the masses this seems crazy .. it's almost unnaturally difficult, but if you get it ... that's how we obtain the power that He talks about in the closing verses of the passage ... if we commit to any work without FAITH, we fail automatically ... so it's imperative that we exercise our faith consistently so that when it comes to those things dire ... praying deliverance for a brother or sister, recognizing and defeating the enemy's tactics, declaring victory over various situations - in verse 17 it says that these shall be signs of believers ... the evidence of things we can't even see yet .. we have power to resurrect those "dead" places for His glory ...
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