The title of this teaching gives us all something to seriously....and I mean seriously consider. We need to ask ourselves, reaching into the very depth of our soul, if we really are a believer. But... we first need to find out the true definition of  the word "believer"...

If we look in the dictionary, we find that a "believer" is defined as:

Be*liev"er.., n. 1. One who believes; one who is persuaded of the truth or reality of some doctrine, person, or thing

Notice that this says, "of some doctrine, person, or thing."   The word "some" could mean anything! A "believer" can "believe" in UFO's, in Buddha, in talking animals, or just about any thing you can think of!  So when we, as Christians, ask other people if they are "believers", we need to follow up and ask them, "What is it that you believe?"

The dictionary definiton is not sufficient for us to understand what being a "believer" really means. We must turn to the Word to find the accurate meaning...

If you turn to Mark 16:14-18, let's look at what the Word has to say...

14-16 Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.

 17-18"These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."

 

Wow! Here we have a Bible definition of  the word, "believer"! This is telling us that IF we are a believer, THEN we will have five (5) signs that follow us.  We need to look at this closely because God is speaking something very profound to us...

The five signs of a believer are:

1. They will throw (cast) out demons in My name.  When you minister to people...supposing that you do minister to people....do you cast out demons? When you are dealing with your own personal attacks from the enemy, do you cast out demons (resist satan)?  

 If not, then God says you are not a believer...

2.  They will speak with new tongues.  Oh, boy, isn't this a hot topic! Most denominational churches do not believe in speaking on tongues. Yet, what did Paul say, "Do not forbid speaking in tongues" and that he "prays in tongues more than all of you"? Tongues is still for today. It is used in the church as a ministry gift (1 Cor. 12). It is used in personal prayer time for edification. There are a half a billion people in the world today who speak in tongues. It's a very powerful gift and that's why satan has done his best to mock it, to copy it, to discredit it, and to scare people away from it. Do you speak in tongues?

If not, then God says you are not a believer....

3. They will take snakes in their hands (take up serpents). Now, this DOES NOT mean handling snakes for the fun of it. Some of these churches in the back hills have a practice of snake handling to try to prove this scripture and it is wise to remember that we are not to tempt God. Many of those church members have died because of stupidity.   The verse DOES MEAN that when we are out and about and we happen to run across a snake and are bitten, as what happened to Paul, we will not be affected because our faith in God's power to protect us is strong. This scripture also has another meaning....and that is we are to take a stand against satan....the serpent. We are to do spiritual wafare daily against the enemy of our soul...    Do you take up serpents? 

 If not, then God says you are not a believer...

4. They will  [drink ]poison and will not be hurt.  If we have true faith in God, then if we come across something in the air, or water, on our skin, or ingest something inside of us, we will not be affected by it.    Do you walk in this kind of faith and see its fruit?

 If not, then God says you are not a believer...

5. They will lay hands on the sick and they will be well.  Many Christians I know are too scared to lay hands on someone to command healing. Mostly, they just don't understand how to do it.  Do you lay hands on the sick and see them get well? 

 If not, then God says you are not a believer...

These are eye opening passages that we need to read over and over again until we get it down into our spirit.  We may consider ourselves to be a "Christian" and are 100% saved from condemnation.  A Christian is not always a believer, but a believer is always a Christian...

I think we need to take the Words of the Lord to heart and start agreeing with His Word and then acting upon it. We cannot call ourselves "believers" if we do not see signs and  wonders following us.

So take a close look at yourself  right now and ask the questions, "Do I have those five signs following me ? Am I really a believer, according to the Word of God?  Or am I just playing church?"   

I pray that the Lord will show you His truth today...

copyright. 2008. Words To Heart Ministries. Pastor Kimberly Lemler.

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