The Signs Following by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2015, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 In Mark chapter 16, Jesus is talking: 15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that doesn't believe shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow those who believe, in my name they'll cast out devils, they'll speak with new languages, 18 They shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it won't hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they'll recover." 19 So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Notice in verse 17 and 18 that there are signs that should be following the believers (the Christians). And there are five of them: 1) The casting out of devils (or, demons). 2) The speaking in new languages. 3) Picking up serpents. 4) Drinking deadly beverages won't hurt them. 5) They'll lay hands on the sick, and the sick recover. The very first sign in this passage is the casting out of demons. There are multitudes of people with demons that need to be cast out of them. Most of your mental diseases are caused by demons. Psychiatrists and Psychologists are generally ill-equipped to deal with crazy people because the training for those professionals didn't include the casting out of demons. Also, to cast out demons, you must first be a Christian. It is to Christians that the Lord Jesus gave authority over demons. Unbelievers don't have the authority to cast out demons. (Luke 10:19) So, if you're an unbeliever, don't even try to cast out demons. You could get hurt, like the seven sons of Sceva did in Acts chapt 19. And I believe that most cancers have demons causing them, and many of the other diseases. More on how to become a Christian at the end of chapter 2 in this book. For more on casting out demons, please see my book, "How to Cast Out Demons." The second sign listed is "the speaking in new languages." This is not talking about going back to college to learn a new language. No, it's talking about the speaking in unknown tongues (languages). It's called an unknown tongue because the person speaking doesn't understand the words that he is speaking. How can someone speak in a language that they've never learned? Because, after Jesus baptizes you with the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost will give you the words to speak, and then you add your voice and speak those word out. So, if you're a Christian, ask the Lord to baptize you with the Holy Ghost (also called the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and The Spirit of Truth). Jesus said, "Ask, and you'll receive." (Matt 7:7) And Jesus said that if you'll believe that you receive when you pray, you'll have what you're asking for. 23 "For truly I say to you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and be thrown into the sea, and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that the things that he says shall happen, he shall have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." (Mark 11:23,24) But Jesus won't baptize you with the Holy Ghost until you are first a Christian. Please see my book, "How to Receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost." To become a Christian, see the end of chapter 2 in this book. Chapter 2 The third sign listed is picking up serpents. But there's also a scripture, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." Jesus quoted that to Satan when Satan was tempting Jesus after Jesus' fasting forty days and forty nights. (Matt chapt 4) I believe that to deliberately pick up a poisonous snake is to tempt God. How then should we pick up serpents? By accident, the same way that the Apostle Paul did after the shipwreck in the book of Acts chapt 27 and chapt 28. ___Acts chapter 28 1 And when they had escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire, and received all of us because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, a snake came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice doesn't allow him to live." 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 But they watched when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly, but after they had watched a long time, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, and a poisonous snake bit him. The local people thought he was probably a murderer who was getting the death he deserved. But when Paul didn't drop dead, they said he was a god. None of the above. Paul was neither a murderer nor was he a god, Paul was a Christian, so the deadly snake didn't hurt him. Now like I said about poisonous snakes, you don't intentionally drink a deadly beverage. That would be tempting God. But if you accidentally drink a deadly beverage, or someone tries to poison you, it won't hurt you. But try to be strong in your faith. Romans 10:17 says that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Every day, in the morning, I listen to the Bible being read on compact disks. And Jude vs. 20 says that we build up ourselves on our most holy faith when we pray in the Holy Ghost (pray in the unknown tongues). The fifth sign listed is "They'll lay hands on the sick, and the sick recover." Are you a Christian? Do you have hands? If you're a Christian with hands, Jesus wants you to lay those hands on sick people and to pray for their recovery. If you're a Christian without hands, ask the Lord for hands. When you pray, believe that you receive, as above. (Mark 11:24) If you're not a Christian, we all need Jesus so that we will go to heaven and not hell, where there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and the fire is never quenched (says Jesus.) So then, let's not be seeking signs number 3 and 4, but we should have signs number 1, 2, and 5. I grew up at an Assembly of God church. And in my travels, I've been to quite a few Assembly of God churches. Unfortunately, I've never seen a demon cast out at an Assembly of God church. The Foursquare churches are also supposed to be full-gospel, Pentecostal churches, but I've never seen a demon cast out at a Foursquare church. When I lived in Houston, I attended Lakewood Church, but I never saw a demon cast out there. I think it's fair to say that in the United States, it's difficult to find a church that casts out demons. And yet there are multitudes of people with demons that need to be cast out of them. I believe it was Kenneth E. Hagin who was having one of his visions from the Lord. (See the book "I Believe in Visions" by K. E. Hagin) As the Lord was talking to Hagin, a demon came between them to interfere with the vision. The demon was saying "Yakity yakity yak." So Hagin couldn't hear was Jesus was saying. Hagin thought, "Doesn't Jesus know what this demon is doing? Why doesn't Jesus do something about it?" Finally, Hagin got fed up and commanded the demon to go, and it went. Then the Lord said, "If you hadn't done that, I couldn't have." That surprised Hagin. Jesus referred to the scripture that says, 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, "All power has been given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 20 Teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you, and see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen." (Matt chapt 28) Jesus explained to Hagin that in verse 18 He said that all power has been given to Him. And that in verse 19, Jesus is delegating his power to us Christians. And Jesus said, "And if you (us Christians) don't do it (the casting out of demons, and so forth), the job won't get done." Unbelievers don't have the authority to cast out demons. And so, if we Christians won't cast out demons, the job won't get done. And a lot of people that might have gone to heaven will instead go to hell. If we don't do what we can to minister to people, God may require their blood at our hands on Judgment Day, as in the early chapters of the Book of the prophet Ezekiel. But ask the Lord for guidance as you cast out demons. Kenneth E. Hagin was called by the Lord to be a Teacher, and the Lord also gave him the ministry of a Prophet. His books are available at Amazon.com and at Rhema.org Another rather good Bible Teacher is Dr. Norvel Hayes. Hayes said the Lord told him, "Now these are the most important words that ever came out of my mouth." And he meant the words found in Mark 16:17,18 above. Jesus wants us Christians to have those signs following us of Mark chapt 16. Hayes has books available at Amazon.com, and at his website, nhm.cc (Norvel Hayes Ministries). And both of those teachers have compact disks available. So it's a serious disappointment to me that there are so few churches casting out demons, and especially in view of the fact that there are so many people who need to have demons cast out of them. Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapter 3) To become a born again Christian, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.