And These Signs Shall Follow Them!

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

 (Mark 16:17-18)

As I awakened today moving toward meditation, fasting with prayer, I heard the Holy Ghost speak to me from St. Mark 16: 17-18 saying with all clarity:  If then this Word is true - where are the signs, wonders, and miracles that follow the believer?"

On Sunday while attending a phenomenal celebration of the Feast of Purim hosted by a dynamic ministry of God moving across the landscape known as International Healing Cathedral under the leadership of Apostle Phillips Banini and Pastor Debra Banini both anointed preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there was such an outpouring of God's power, revelation and Word it left most of us slain.

A true apostle,Pastor Mike Petro from Victorville, CA was the main speaker brought in to minister in the celebration. The power of God that flowed that day was amazing to say the least. The healing (me being one of the healed) that we encountered (even now it is still so overwhelmingly difficult to discuss without falling out again under the power of the Holy Ghost) was nothing short of miraculous. The deliverance that swept through that place setting the minds of believers free!!! Signs, miracles and wonders took place.

So with the Holy Ghost's unction to meditate here on the scripture Mark 16:17-18, it was clear, that the question was brought to me after this experience was to observe my own life. If my testimony is one where I profess the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal saviour, that I have been baptized with the precious Holy Ghost and that with burning fire, and do speak in tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance - then why is it that no signs, miracles or wonders are following me? Uh-oh...I just lost about 200 of y'all.

So the next question, one that I believe will sum this all up: What was actually taking place prior to the Feast of Purim that lead up to this enlightened moment? Four very close and dear friends of mine (one individual is actually my 5 month old granddaughter) were hit with serious illnesses one right after the other. From cancer to neuropathy sciatica and one prognosis quite grave. And somewhere in me I kept feeling indignant and I couldn't explain it. Why? Why was I so infuriated? Yes, my heart went out to my friends and my little granddaughter but I was more than sympathetic - I was pissed (forgive me)! But why?

The answer came during the Feast of Purim celebration when Apostle Mike Petro began to talk about a good friend of his being diagnosed with cancer and the indignation that hit him because as he said, "If I had been in the place I should have been - the enemy would never have hit my friend with cancer and gotten away with it. I would never have been blind-sided like that." He went on to discuss the signs and miracles that follow the believer and through fasting and prayer these signs should follow: "...Lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Apostle Petro stated that he asked his friend when was he scheduled for chemo (two weeks from now) and he said alright, I'll see you before then. He discussed how he went into complete prayer and fasting and meditation and at the end of the two weeks he went to his friend and prayed. He told him to have the medical team re-examine him before the treatment began and...No Cancer!!!

So Counselor, what about you? How much more suffering will friends and family encounter before you....

I started that Sunday night. I went straight in and sat at His feet and wept. I prayed and cried, I read the Word and talked with Dad (God). I went to sleep in His presence, I listened only to spiritual songs (Anthony Hamilton and Bounce couldn't do nothing for me nor my friends)...I need to hear from God! It's funny that when we are in serious need to hear a Word how easily and quickly we can change the radio station. And believe you me, Kirk Franklin can get somewhere and sit down - can someone bring me some Walter Hawkins (I'm Not The Same), James Cleveland (Lord Do It), or Tessie Hill (I Must Tell Jesus). I need my soul soothed. My thoughts both conscious and subconscious minds need to be so deeply embedded in the Word and movement of God that nothing outside of spiritual things dare exist or compete for your attention.

And when I came through that last day of fasting - I went on a missionary's journey. I went to my friends as humbly as I knew how, I asked if I could pray. I took another evangelist (fellow-labourer) with me and we ministered from one end of the city to the other. These signs shall follow them that believe!!!

Saints of God, yes signs, miracles and wonders are to follow us! Yes, we are to lay hands on the sick and they are to recover! Yes, we are to speak in 'new' tongues! Yes, it is true that if we drink any deadly thing it will not kill us! And for God's sake, please cast out devils! Yes, it's all true! It's the unadulterated Word of God....everything He says is true!

If there are NO signs....something is WRONG!!! Check yourself. Not because you want to - because you have to!