IN HIS NAME

Mark 16:15-20

"These signs will accompany those who believe : in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages.  They will pickup serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.  They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Wow!

"But they went forth and preached everywhere and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs."

When was the last time we picked up serpents?  Now notice Jesus doesn't say the serpents are alive when you pick them up.  Just pointing out the obvious.

But what's the deal are we empowered to do such things are not?  Do these signs still accompany those who believe?

Rather than focus on driven our demons, picking up serpents, drinking deadly things without being harmed, healing the sick, speaking new languages, we should on the essential.

Too often we get distracted by the details and lose sight of what matters most.

The essential ingredient in all of this is the phrase "in my name…"

It is in the name of Jesus we find our ability to let the grace of faith to transform us and reveal the signs of Jesus' action in our world through us.

How do we live "in his name"?  That is the most essential question for us as believers.

Too often we live in and act on our own behalf.  We do not truly let the power of His name guide and direct our steps.  We are hesitant; we are scared; we are luke warm in our faith.

What would happen if we truly let the central motivation of our life revolve around His Name rather than our own personal gain or ideas or desires?

A boldness of faith would begin to spread throughout the world.  Signs of the living presence of Jesus would be seen and experienced as it was in the days of the apostles.