Last time we talked about how so many people who call themselves Christians have been fleeced. The wool has been pulled over their eyes when it comes to the power that was given to the church at Pentecost as most have accepted the powerless church as normal Christianity. One of the greatest deceptions in the church has to do with the power of the gospel. Most think the power is about being saved but what have they been saved into? 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” The gospel that is being spread is a powerless gospel that lacks healing power. That gospel is not the powerful gospel we read about in the Gospels and Acts. Since the gospel being preached is void of power, this powerless gospel is another gospel, which means a different jesus has been followed that most have been deceived into accepting as their savior. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
The question that has to be answered is whether or not you believe Jesus rose from the dead. Sadly, there are those who call themselves Christians who do not believe this to be true, but most will say yes and celebrate Easter year after year, but when it comes to the power made available to the church such as healing and casting out demons, it is a different story and they fail to believe. Paul said Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Because eyes are closed Hosea 4:6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” The power available to the church is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, yet most do not believe that same power is available to the church when it comes to healing and casting out demons. They will say the gospel has been preach but the gospel preached looks nothing like the Gospels.
Sometimes the fleecing is simple and other times complicated doctrines and theology are used to fleece people and turn them from the truth. This has been happening since Paul said they followed a different jesus and said Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” One example of a simple persuasion is in the bible itself. You have to be careful with study bibles as the words at the bottom are not the words of God. For example, if you followed Schofield’s reference bible you would have been deceived by false theology added as if it too was the word of God. Or if you use a study bible from the false teacher John MacArthur, you get his notes. But you can also have something like you see in Mark 16. In some bibles like the NIV, these words are found before the verses start; (The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.) Others will have it as a foot note. It is okay to redact those words. So people will read this and think this should not be in scripture and ignore the power that is talked about.
That would be a mistake, as there is nothing said that is any different than other places. Most people have accepted Matthew 28 as the Great Commission, but it is saying the same as Mark 16, just not as specifically. Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus commissioned the disciples and gave them power and authority. The other way, doctrines and theology, that people are fleeced are with doctrines of demons like cessationism (promoted heavily by the false teacher John MacArthur along with others), that says God no longer does what we read about in the gospels. Disciples no longer have the power to heal. That is a flat out lie from satan. 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” Most, even if they do not call themselves cessationists, have come to believe that the powerless church is the true church and the lack of healing and casting out demons is just normal. This normal Christianity is not the gospel we read about in scripture. With regards to healing and casting out demons, there is a massive amount of unbelief in Christians who say they believe Jesus rose from the dead.
It is interesting that this powerful passage, Mark 16, includes the unbelief of the disciples. They did not believe the women and then they did not believe the two who were on their way filled with unbelief to Emmaus, that is until their eyes were opened and they met their risen Savior who had told them He would rise. Luke 24:25 “(Jesus) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” On a sidenote, if communion wasn’t such a ritual and about a different jesus, more people would have their eyes open and not be asleep. Then Jesus appears to the disciples and they were also rebuked. Mark 16:9 “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. (This is also the Great Commission) 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”
They were told to preach the gospel and signs would follow and signs did follow as we see in Acts. We also saw it in the Gospels, but this was before Pentecost. John 7:37 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” What we see in the Gospels was a prelude to what the church was supposed to continue to do. Sadly, the church responded like Israel and Judah. Jeremiah 18:11 “‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’” Jesus and His disciples showed us what the church was supposed to look like. If God as many people believe was the only one to heal, then Jesus would not have sent out disciples to do as He was doing. People in the church want God to heal but they refuse to believe 1 Corinthians 12:9 “to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers.”
Here we see the power given when Jesus called and sent the disciples, Luke 9:1 “Jesus gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Jesus then sent out seventy-two. Luke 10:8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Mark 6:7 “Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Then after Pentecost, Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” Acts 8:6 “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Acts 28:3 “Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.” The church looks nothing like this.
So Mark 16 is there and should not be ignored. The problem is satan is very good at deception and has deceived many by what the charismatics are doing in the name of God (not God). Not even in charismatic circles is there the power and authority as seen in the Gospels and Acts. Covid exposed the powerless church, both Charismatic and non-charismatic. You even have “snake-handling churches” who try to force the issue. One writer said that over ninety have died. What you read above with Paul is what the passage meant. This other nonsense is deception brought on by a snake. Many have rejected what scripture says very clearly about the power the church was given because of what they have seen or heard in charismatic circles. The power has also been rejected by false teachers in non-charismatic circles who teach those who listen to them not to expect the power and authority of the gospels. The wool has been pulled over the eyes of millions of Christians and they have been literally bitten by a snake, satan. Speaking of snakes, if you are into Kundalini yoga, you have also been bitten. They call it serpent power coiled up at the base of your spine. If you are a Christian and are involved in yoga, run away!
We are told that when the true gospel is preached, signs will follow but they are not the manifestations seen in charismatic circles. They will be what we read about in scripture. Here is what happens when the good news about Jesus is preached as shown to us by Jesus Himself. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” The good news was proclaimed, the Messiah was here to save the world – John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” But the good news also involved healing and casting out demons. Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Hebrews 2:3 “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” If you have been taught, and many teach this that this was only done at the beginning, you have been lied to.
If you answered the question and said yes Jesus is alive, then you must believe this. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” This was not a one and done event because the disciples continued to heal and cast out demons in Acts. Yes, this was fulfilled, but that same power and authority was also given to the church to do as Jesus did as seen in the gospels. Since Jesus is alive, that means that same power and authority is still available but as we have seen, rebellion causes God to turn His face from His people and power is removed. This power will only return when the church turns from its wicked ways. We then see that workers are needed to do as Jesus did. Again, Jesus did not do this by Himself. Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” The response should be, Luke 10:17 “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” There we see it again; good news is preached, diseases and sickness are healed but that is not happening in the church and most have accepted this lie to be truth. Do you really believe the society we live in does not need this healing power? Because there are so many false teachers leading sheep astray, there are many harassed and helpless people who believe the lies that have been told. Jeremiah 12:10 “Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. 11 It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.” The problem is Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”
Take the time to read the Gospels and Acts, but not from your denominational perspective. Just read and look at all the examples of power and authority throughout those five books. Mark 1:27 “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” Zechariah 1:2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
