Question about Spiritual Warfare

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Quote:rancherforchrist>... I believe the following scripture clearly shows spiritual warfare (the driving out of demons), as one of the signs that Jesus said would accompany those who believe.

Mark 16:15-18
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

If these signs that Jesus spoke of don't accompany a person that says they are a believer, then are they really a believer? For me to say yes, wouldn't that be like me calling Jesus a liar? Obviously Jesus named 5 things as indicators we could look for in the lives of other believers. Now, there is obviously a fine line here that I believe we should not cross. Just because a brother or sister in Christ has not manifested all those signs in their life yet, does not mean that they are not a believer. On the other side of that coin though, if a person tells you that they are a believer, and then tells you that spiritual warfare and healing aren't for today, then that should be a clear indicator as to whether or not you really want to call them brother or sister. I believe God is so shrewd and so awesome. He gave us some very subtle guidelines to
use, guidelines that we can neither recognize or accept unless the Holy Spirit reveals them to us.

Sorry for not getting this in my original response to you, but I just couldn't leave it out after I realized it.

Love ya,
Chris

Chris, the reality is that signs and wonders and "driving out demons' are not the basis of recognising who a believer is. As stated previously:

Matthew 7:19-23 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Notice, that those who prophesy and cast out demons in His name, and have done "many wonderful works"---are rejected by Christ and told they work iniquity. The fruit of the Spirit, is not in those things, but in doing the Will of Him and that means abiding the Word of God, given to us as the Sword of the Spirit.

As stated previously, the preaching of the Gospel is the beginning of knowing the fruit of someone. And the fruit of the Spirit does not include those five indicators you mention.

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians 5:8-11 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10. Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Further, as stated previously, what Jesus said to the apostles--chosen by God to be eyewitnesses of the Truth of Christ is far different than what He calls us to. He calls us to obedience to His Word, because that is the standard of our walk with Him. It becomes alive to those who Know Jesus Christ because it is God breathed. It is the Holy Spirit speaking through the Scriptures that gives us the understanding. Those who don't know Christ cannot understand the Word. It's that simple.

There were no further statements from the apostles or Christ concerning the parameters you state. No instructions to demonstrate signs and wonders and casting our demons as the litmus test of knowing Christ. Instead we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, living righteously, being holy,....

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

It's interesting that Paul prayed for us to have wisdom and knowledge of God and to know His love - that was his focus. Eph 1, Eph 3, Phil 1 and Col 1. Did Paul or the other apostles mess up when writing their epistles, on what our focus should be? And what the test of a true believer is? Just some thoughts...

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

God does miracles every day. He heals and delivers according to His will, because of Christ. He doesn't need a anyone to do it for Him. Healing is at His discretion and often people are left in an illness or trouble because He will be glorified by their trusting in Him no matter what. You mistake not making a show of it, as someone not understanding God's power at work in individual lives.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he said, I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored you: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.