p. 180 | THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1901

“THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE”

By David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

DAVID PAULSON AND W. S. SADLER

“IN MY NAME SHALL THEY CAST OUT DEVILS”

To just the extent that the character of Christ is formed within the individual, to that extent will he be able to resist and control the spirit of impurity, jealousy, faultfinding, drunkenness, or any other bondage the devil inflicts upon the human soul. The reason that more of these evil spirits are not cast out is that it can not be done by simply using the name of Christ as a charm. At one time certain misguided persons tried to do this, and the result has been left on record as a warning to all who may be tempted to repeat the same experience. Acts 19:13–16 tells about certain Jews who attempted to cast out evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the result clearly showed that the mere name of Christ, apart from the character of Christ, had no potent power; for the man with the evil spirit leaped upon the exorcist Jews, overcame them, and they had to flee from the house naked and wounded. How many professed Christian workers have labored hard to cast out of human hearts some of the various forms of the enemy’s workings, and have come out of the conflict, not only conscious of their utter failure, but morally naked and wounded, and in a far worse condition than before they entered the struggle; while if they had possessed the character of Christ, the evil spirits would have fled before them.

“THEY SHALL SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES”

There are many who are neglecting to use the gift of speech which they already have, in imparting to others some of the grand principles of truth that have been intrusted to them; yet they are looking forward to a time when they will be miraculously endowed with several additional languages. The tongue of him whose lips have been touched with a live coal from off the altar is already a tree of life. Prov. 15:4. He presents fresh truth in a new setting, like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Prov. 25:11. The professed Christian worker must have a new tongue in his own language, before he can expect God to give him the same in any other language.

“THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS”

Satan is the old serpent. Rev. 12:9. The snares and traps of the devil are spread about us on every hand, but one of the signs that are to follow those who believe is this: Instead of being taken up—ensnared—by the devices of the devil, they will have that spirit of discernment that not only enables them to recognize the deceptions of the enemy and put them out of the way, but also qualifies them to teach God’s principles to others so thoroughly that they likewise “will be able to discern the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6. When a man has acquired an absolute immunity against the sting of the serpent of sin, he will have also experienced such a physical regeneration as will enable him to resist the effects of the serpent’s sting as readily as Paul could shake off the deadly viper. Acts 28:3–9.

“IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING, IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM”

There are those who desire to drink from the cup of salvation (Ps. 116:13); but at the same time they are fascinated with the golden cup of worldly pleasure. Day by day they persist in drinking tea and coffee, and other harmful fluids that contain poison; and their dingy eyes, and more or less benumbed brain, clearly reveal the harmfulness of these habits. And the time will never come when the drinking of such things, as well as the eating of improper and unnatural foods, will not be hurtful; for the use of these things is a violation of the physical laws which God himself has established. But if we will in faith acquire a relish for the pure water of life as well as for water free from all physical contamination, God will so increase our spiritual and physical vitality that if our enemies force us to drink “any deadly thing,” it will produce no harmful effects upon us.

“THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER”

God is always the healer. And we may be sure that if we are to-day neglecting to train our hands to prepare healthful foods, or to use them in active service, or if we are unwilling to educate our hands intelligently to administer simple treatment to the sick and needy,—hands that are not utilizing such opportunities to-day, are not the hands that God will lay on the sick to-morrow for their recovery. The blessings that God will give us to-morrow are measured by the use we make of the opportunities He has given us to-day.

THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES

The miracle God works in transforming the hearts of sinners, in enlightening and renewing their minds, in bringing them out of darkness into His marvelous light,—the setting at liberty of habit-bound captives of the arch-deceiver,—this great miracle of saving grace seems to be little recognized and appreciated; while all the world wonders at the deceptions and errors of the last-day miracle-working power. “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:5, 6.

The confession of truth by its manifestation in the life is the great and supreme test. If the lives and teachings of the wonder-workers are not flavored with divine truth, or are not in harmony with divine law; if Jesus has not come into their flesh, be not deceived by the miracles they have power to perform. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” 1 John 4:1, 2. Of all these deceivers the Lord says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”