Mar 16:18 KJV They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;

People have taken Jesus’ words to mean that we should take up serpents and drink deadly things. They believe that we should do these things in order to prove that we have faith. This, however, is a misinterpretation of Jesus’ words.

Jesus did not tell us to handle snakes. This situation would be similar to when Satan told Jesus to cast himself down to prove he was the son of God. Jesus told Satan not to tempt God.

Mat 4:6-7 KJV ⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. ⁷ Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

In a similar manner, people have understood Jesus’ words to mean “if you have faith, then take up serpents”. Jesus wasn’t telling us to prove our faith by handling snakes. He was referring to His miracle-power in having the ability to heal in times of need. These times of need would be an accidental snake bite or accidently drinking something harmful- not purposely tempting God by purposely handling deadly snakes and drinking poison. It is no different than playing Russian Roulette.

The only place in Scripture where this promise was fulfilled was when Paul was throwing sticks into the fire.

Act 28:3-6 KJV ³ And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. ⁴ And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. ⁵ And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. ⁶ Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Paul did not purposely handle snakes. He did not pick up the snake and dance around with it, tempting God, while proving that he had faith for his healing or faith that he wouldn’t get bit. Paul was bit accidently. He did not know that snake was there. He simply shook the snake off of his hand and went about his business. He knew God would heal him because he had faith.

Jesus took those stripes so that we could have our healing.

Isa 53:5 KJV But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Mat 8:16-17 KJV ¹⁶ When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: ¹⁷ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Jesus wants us to be healed. God can heal anything, but that doesn’t mean we should tempt Him. Handling serpents and drinking deadly things are not part of God’s will. Having faith in God for deliverance is. We do not build faith through tempting God. Many lives have been destroyed by tempting God through snake handling. It serves no purpose in the Church or in the home. It actually harms families and Church attendance. We should not allow our Churches, Christianity, and faith to be ridiculed by doing something that is so obviously against God’s Word and will. And we should never give our children a reason to be afraid to go to Church.

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God promised healing.

Exodus 15:26  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psalm 103:3  …who healeth all thy diseases;

Isaiah 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Matthew 8:16-17  ⁶ When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:  ¹⁷ That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Mark 16:17-18  ¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  ¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

1 Corinthians 12:9  …to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

James 5:14-15  ¹⁴ Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Jesus not only bought our salvation (the gospel of Jesus Christ- death, burial, and resurrection, which we apply through repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost- Acts 2:38), but He also bought our healing through His wounds, bruises, chastisement, and stripes. Jesus took those stripes so that we can have healing. He promised healing to each of us. Jesus performed many healings.

Matthew 4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 8:3  And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:16  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Matthew 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 12:13  Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Matthew 12:22  Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Matthew 14:36  And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Matthew 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

Matthew 17:18  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 19:2  And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

Matthew 21:14  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

Mark 1:31  And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Mark 10:52  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Luke 7:21  And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luke 17:14  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Luke 22:51  And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

John 4:50  Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

John 5:9  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

John 9:6-7  ⁶ When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,  ⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

There are many examples of the Apostles performing healings.

Acts 3:7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 5:16  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Acts 9:34  And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Acts 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts 16:18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Acts 19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 28:8-9  ⁸ And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.  ⁹ So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

The Gifts of Healing was given to the Church and is for everyone everywhere. Healing does not stop with the first century Church. Healing is still for us today.

1 Corinthians 12:9  …to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

There is nothing that God can’t heal. God created all things by speaking the universe into existence. It stands to reason that God can heal anything. As long as we believe that God can heal and have faith that He will, just as it says in His Word, God will heal. It takes faith on our part.

Matthew 9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matthew 9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Mark 5:34  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Mark 5:36  …Be not afraid, only believe.

Mark 9:23-24  ²³ Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  ²⁴ And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 10:52  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Acts 3:16  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 14:9-10  ⁹ The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,  ¹⁰ Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

2 Chronicles speaks of God healing our land.

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This includes everything that affects us. Healing can refer to physical, mental, or spiritual restoration (Bernard, p. 135). We all receive spiritual healing, including forgiveness of sins, at conversion (Bernard, p. 137). Sometimes healing is instant, other times healing is progressive (Bernard, p. 143). Jesus expects us to have faith that He is willing and will heal. As we see in this verse He also expects us to obey His Word. We should always pray for healing and have faith that God will heal. Jesus said that healing is according to our faith.

Matthew 9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Jesus also told us to ask and that if we believe we can have what we ask for.

Matthew 7:7-11  ⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  ⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  ⁹ Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  ¹⁰ Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  ¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

There are too many cases in scripture, and too many testimonies, to think that God is not willing to heal today. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. He does not wish us to suffer in any way. He wants us to obey Him, ask what we need of Him, and have faith that He will answer our prayers. God wants to heal us. Jesus paid too big of a price for us to not except His healing. Ask in prayer, believe He will heal, and obey His Word.

References

Bernard, David K., (1997). Spiritual Gifts

            Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

David Bernard Spiritual Gifts

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