Sign and Wonders

And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:17-18

Francine Rivers is one of my favorite authors. Mark of the Lion series is my all-time favorite. There are 3 books in the series and no matter how many times I have read the 3 different books, I can’t put them down. I will go right from the first to the second to the third. When I done, I could always start over.

This series of books is about a young Jewish girl that lived shortly after Jesus’ resurrection at the time Jerusalem fell. All 3 books tell about the people whose lives she touched. Her name was Hadassah. Her mother, father, brother and sister were all killed. She was taken as a slave to Rome. She was only fifteen. What captivates me about these books is the life she lived in captivity and servitude. Her life was such a light that her masters, a gladiator and most anyone around her came to know Christ.

I realize these books are fiction, but the example displayed in them through this young girl’s life never ceases to make me stop and evaluate the way I live mine. She prays without ceasing, she is humble in attitude and serves with love. Miracles are noted in these books. Her living through the arena being fed to the lions, a baby breech turned before the mother dies, someone raised from the dead etc.

I noticed this time I had a stray thought. Well, this is fiction. If the arrow pierced her heart she couldn’t have lived but the story wouldn’t have been as good. Then the Holy Spirit quietly spoke to me, “Yes she could!”

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12

The Bible tells us that these “signs” and wonders are not special gifts for a few. They are to follow anyone who believes. As the Life in the Spirit Study Bible puts it, “the failures of these ‘signs’ to occur in the church today is not Christ’s failure to keep His promises. Failure, Jesus states, lies within the hearts of His followers.”

We must present the Gospel so others can be saved. We must live righteous lives through Jesus Christ and we must ask God for miraculous signs and wonders through the power of the Spirit.

Lord, I believe!