Signs and works:

            Signs will follow:

Mark 16:17-18

17     “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;

     18     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.”

     

            What a superb thing to happen! These miraculous signs are going to accompany us who have believed. They include things to protect us from the attacks of the forces of the enemy, as well as to bring healing to those around us. Wherever we go, they go with us. We need to believe His Word that they will happen. We’ve heard for too long that we are defenseless against the devil and his allies; and that we are supposed to be sick. Some even say it’s to teach us something. We’ve heard for too long that these signs are not for today. This verse says they follow those of us who have believed. That’s what God has waiting for us who believe – now believe!

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My desire for My people is that they walk in the power of My Spirit; that they lay hands on the sick and see them healed. That will bring people to Me as they see that I only want the best for My children. It also helps you to know that I love you dearly as a child. I want you to see that I have intended good, and not evil for you. As you trust in Me, you shall see greater signs following you wherever you go. I want My children to be safe from all harm in every area of their lives. I want you to know that I am with you wherever you go to guide and protect you and to bring you safely to the place where I have sent you.”

           

            79. Wherever I go, the signs of a believer will follow me. I can even lay hands on the sick, especially those in my household, and they will recover. 

Freedom:

            No longer slaves to sin:

           

Romans 8:1-2

1     Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

     2     For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 6:3-8

3     Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

     4     Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

     5     For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

     6     knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

     7     for he who has died is freed from sin.

     8     Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

     

            Many Christians walk under a heavy burden of condemnation. Some of it comes from other Christians, some of it from the devil, and some of it from their very own selves. Actually, the devil doesn’t need to do a whole lot of condemning because of all his little helpers who are members of the Church. They are quick to point out the faults and mistakes of others, but even quicker to defend their own words and actions. Just like a child who grows up hearing nothing but negative comments about himself or herself, when a Christian (especially a new one) hears nothing but negative comments, that Christian will grow up believing that he/she deserves the condemnation. Jesus set us free! That doesn’t mean we can do whatever thing we want, but that we can receive forgiveness whenever we ask. We don’t have to walk under a load of guilt.

            When we were baptized into Jesus, we were baptized into His death; thus, we are dead to sin’s domination. Dead men/women don’t sin. We are to walk in newness of life, not in oldness of death which we did before accepting Jesus as Savior. We are free from sin. We can choose daily to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked when He was on the earth.  

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are no longer under obligation to live your life according to the ways of the world. You are no longer under the control of the flesh. The things that used to rule over you no longer have power over you. You are under the control of My Spirit, not the things of the world. You will never be condemned by Me. I will show you when you do wrong, but I will not condemn you. You are free to choose to serve Me or the things of the world. But you will be much happier if you choose to follow Me. I will show you the way to walk in true holiness if you let Me. If you feel condemnation, it does not come from Me. I do not try to bring you down, but rather up. I want to build you up, not tear you down. I will always try to bring you into My ways, and to turn your back on the ways of the world.”

           

            78. How exciting! I do not have to fear condemnation. I have been set free from the law of sin and death. I am able to walk in newness of life through Him. One day I will become the likeness of His resurrection. Since He did all this for me, I will no longer be a slave to sin. I choose to walk in righteousness just like He did.

Created in the likeness of God:

Ephesians 4:24

24     and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Colossians 3:10

10     and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

     

            Here’s something further about that new you. It’s been created in the image and likeness of God. Remember that Adam was created in the image and likeness of God. So inwardly, we are like Adam was before he fell. We can have that same intimate day-to-day relationship with God that he had. This new self was created in righteousness and holiness just like He is. So, if something tries to get us to do wrong, we know it’s not the new you. It’s the old mind and will behaving like it used to.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are created in My image. You were not created in the image of some mortal who is under the power of sin, but in My image … One that does not bow the knee to things of this world. You were created unto righteousness and true holiness … that which is of the Spirit, not the letter. You were made in My image. What I do is what you should be doing. How I act is how you should be acting. I am your Father, and I created you to be like Me, not like the world. You do not have to do the things that you use to do without thinking. You can walk in My holiness because I am in you to perform the task. Don’t settle for something less than you were created to be.”

            77. My new self has been created in the likeness of God, its Maker. This new me is righteous and holy. It is coming closer and closer to the image of God, the one who created it. How more perfect can it get?

All Things New:

            A new creature – old things passed away:

2 Corinthians 5:17

17     Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

     

            Since we are in Christ, we are new creatures. Not just renovated … we’re completely brand spanking new creations. The things we loved to do in the past (the old things) are passed away. Our old man is dead. He can’t do the old things any more. We do the new things that come with being a Christian. Of course, putting this into practice takes a while. The old man may be dead, but our flesh still remembers the things we used to like to do. It’s too easy to revert back to thinking and doing the things we used to think and do. We have to develop our new man to think and do as it should.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are not the same as when you came unto Me, so don’t keep behaving as if you were. I have changed you from within. You are now more than a conqueror in My Son. You are an over-comer. So, act like one! Your old man is dead. He can’t rule you any longer unless you let him. You sometimes act as if he were still in control, but he’s not. My Spirit is the One that who is in control. You are completely made new. You are not just remodeled … you are a brand new creation in Me. So, act like it! Don’t let your old thought life dominate you. You do not have to give in to the temptations that come upon you. I have made provision for you. Trust in Me to take care of the temptations as you allow Me to.”

            76. I am a new creature in Christ - not just painted over to look new - brand spanking new. The things I used to do before I became a Christian have passed away when I died to sin through Him. The old me did them … the new me doesn’t have to do them anymore. The things I now do are new and fresh. The new me desires to do them.

Peace – not as the world gives:

John 14:27

27     “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

     

            The peace of the world is that which comes from everything being fine. There are no problems; no worries. The peace of God is that which does not depend upon the situation. You are at peace in spite of the storms of life; in spite of dire circumstances. This is the kind of peace Jesus gives us. This is the peace He had with the cross looming in the background … and even while He hung from it. He tells us in this Scripture to not let our hearts be troubled nor fearful. When our heart tries to become troubled or fearful, we are to not permit it. Put a clamp on it. Smack it down. How can we do that? The key is in our mind. We must fill our minds with His Word and with His thoughts. When our minds are full of those things, there is no room for trouble or fear in our hearts. We keep seeking the things above; we let our minds dwell on the things of Philippians 4. Then we can say with the youth of today … No Fear!

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "My children shall have peace, even in the midst of a storm. It is not the peace of the world which says, ‘As long as everything is fine, I’m at peace.’ It’s the peace that excels in the midst of a storm. It grows stronger as the storms rages. It is a conquering peace. It is not one that denies the troubles, nor evades them. It is a peace that comes against the storm victoriously. It grows stronger and stronger as you trust more and more in Me. My Word brings peace. My Spirit brings peace. Your trust brings peace. It is an all-conquering peace that wins in all situations. There is nothing that can overpower it. So relax in My peace, and trust Me to take care of the situation.”

            75. When Jesus left the earth, He left me His peace. This peace is the kind I can have even when peace seems a universe away. I will not let my heart will be troubled nor will I let it be fearful. I will live in peace always.