Sunday, 23rd August 2015
Rev. Daniel Poon
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they 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.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:14-20)
1. Believe:
“Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” (Mark 16:14)
We will not receive life if we only follow other people’s ways and patterns of living. Only Jesus can change people’s hearts, not us. When we wait on the Holy Spirit, we will learn Kingdom living but when we don’t believe, slowly we will forget what God has done for us and drift away from Him. Rev. Daniel encouraged us to be simple, otherwise we will always want more and our lives will never be fulfilled by all the earthly desires.
2. Cross Over
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
God wants us to go into the world, which can be our workplace, our family or our community. We need to cross over the boundaries of this world and go to the places where God want us to go.
3. Take Action
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they 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.” (Mark 16:17-18)