“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
— Mark 16:17-18, NKJV
Jesus does not say, “these signs will be the reason you believe,” but rather, “these signs will follow those who believe.” This distinction is fundamental. Power does not replace faith; it is faith that opens the heart to the work of God's power.
The Greek word translated as “signs” is sēmeion (σημεῖον), which means a sign that points to, demonstrates, or reveals something beyond the sign itself. A miracle must not draw attention to man, but direct eyes toward Christ.
🔥 “IN MY NAME”
This is the key to the entire passage.
Jesus does not say: “by your authority,” “by your ability,” or “by your experience.” He says: “in My name.”
The name of Jesus represents His person, His authority, and His dominion. The Church does not possess autonomous power; it operates in total dependence on the risen Lord.
When a believer proclaims the name of Jesus in faith, they are not using a magic formula. They are declaring that Jesus is Lord and that every spiritual power must submit to His authority.
🔥 “THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS”
The Gospel does not present a Church that is powerless before darkness.
Christ has triumphed and has given authority to His disciples. Deliverance is not a spectacle, nor does it serve to exalt the minister. It is the manifestation of Christ's dominion over the powers of darkness.
The Pentecostal Church must remember that spiritual warfare is real, but also that the victory belongs to Jesus.
We do not need to fear the dark when we walk in the light of Christ.
🔥 “THEY WILL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES”
Here we see a deeply Pentecostal dimension.
God does not only want to change what we do; He also wants to fill our mouths with what comes from His Spirit.
Tongues are one of the manifestations associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. They are not merely an emotional phenomenon, but a reminder that the Holy Spirit takes possession even of our ability to speak and pray.
A mouth consecrated to God becomes an instrument in His hands.
🔥 “THEY WILL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY WILL RECOVER”
These words remind us that Jesus is still the Healer.
The believer's hand is not the source of healing. The hand is an instrument; the power belongs to Christ.
This is why the Church must not stop praying for the sick. It must lay hands with faith, pray in the name of Jesus, and leave the manifestation of His will to God.
Faith does not manipulate God. Faith surrenders to God.
⚠️ AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION
The reference to serpents and poison does not mean that believers should deliberately seek out dangerous situations to prove their faith.
Biblical faith does not put God to the test.
Jesus Himself, during His temptation in the wilderness, refused to turn a presumptuous test into a demonstration of divine protection.
Therefore, the principle is this: when danger comes while we are walking in God's path, we can trust in His protection; we must not create danger to prove that we believe.
🔥 THE SECRET IS NOT THE SIGN: IT IS FAITH
The verse does not say that signs will follow the most famous, the most educated, or the most charismatic.
It says:
“Those who believe.”
The starting point is faith.
Authentic faith does not seek miracles to glorify man. It seeks Christ. And when Christ is exalted, the Holy Spirit works as He wills.
The question for us today is not merely:
“Can God still perform miracles?”
The answer is yes.
The deeper question is:
“Am I living a faith that completely surrenders to the authority of Jesus?”
