So, does anyone on this forum believe that Jesus was instructing His disciples to willingly take up serpents, and willingly drink poison?
My interpretation is that if these things happened to them by accident, i.e., Paul's experience with a viper while picking up wood, THEN the protection was there.
Is there any scriptural evidence of the apostles handling snakes as part of their daily worship?
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
So, does anyone on this forum believe that Jesus was instructing His disciples to willingly take up serpents, and willingly drink poison?
My interpretation is that if these things happened to them by accident, i.e., Paul's experience with a viper while picking up wood, THEN the protection was there.
Is there any scriptural evidence of the apostles handling snakes as part of their daily worship?
I totally agree that your interpretation is the accurate one of the Scriptures. But where others want to malign these folks and make them out to be heretics, I can't go that far. Do I believe they are in error, yes. Do I believe they are in error to the degree that it's a salvation issue, or they are some type of anti-Christ or false prophets, not at all.
Michael I would agree with you there,but also one could read into that portion of scripture and say hey Paul was a believer in Jesus and he protected him against the snake so one could say I am a believer and have the same thing to happen and die from it, so why would Jesus protect Paul and not others that believe?
Michael I would agree with you there,but also one could read into that portion of scripture and say hey Paul was a believer in Jesus and he protected him against the snake so one could say I am a believer and have the same thing to happen and die from it, so why would Jesus protect Paul and not others that believe?
Does this apply?
Matt 4: 5-7 (NIV)
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
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Matt 4: 5-7 (NIV)
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
I am not saying test God I am saying as a believer as Paul was and you are walking through the woods and get struck by a cotton mouth or rattlesnake or mabey a black mamba...
I am not saying test God I am saying as a believer as Paul was and you are walking through the woods and get struck by a cotton mouth or rattlesnake or mabey a black mamba...
Good point. Kind of goes back to the "why don't we see miracles like the apostles did" conversation.
__________________ "Many people view their relationship with God like a "color by number" picture. It's easier to let someone else define the boundaries, tell them which blanks to fill in, and what color to use than it is for them to take a blank canvas and seek inspiration from the Source in order to paint their own masterpiece"
When jesus was in the wilderness he was hungry and Satan appeared unto him and said, If you are the son of God then turn these stones into bread."
Great approach, because he knew Jesus could, by and through the power of God. However Jesus makes an interesting statement,
He turns to Satan and says,' It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
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.
Here are a few definition of the phrase take up as found in my Strong's Concordance.
Quote:
a primary verb; to lift; by implication to take up or away; figurative to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specially to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebrew [compare <H5375> (nasa')] to expiate sin :- away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up). —Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
A few quick things to point out.
1. Speaking in tongues, casting out devils, laying hands on sick to recover are physical manifestations of a believer.
2. Picking up snakes seems to be the only sign many believers explain away.
3. Strong's definition implies a deliberate attempt by someone to pick up the reptile with the belief it will not harm them...
By correctly interpreting scripture, those people are not doing anything wrong.
If a person wants to take the logic of tempting God to the fullest degree, a person tempts God when praying for healing.
There aren't any scriptures to support our prejudices against what they are doing.
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Here are a few definition of the phrase take up as found in my Strong's Concordance.
A few quick things to point out.
1. Speaking in tongues, casting out devils, laying hands on sick to recover are physical manifestations of a believer.
2. Picking up snakes seems to be the only sign many believers explain away.
3. Strong's definition implies a deliberate attempt by someone to pick up the reptile with the belief it will not harm them...
By correctly interpreting scripture, those people are not doing anything wrong.
If a person wants to take the logic of tempting God to the fullest degree, a person tempts God when praying for healing.
There aren't any scriptures to support our prejudices against what they are doing.
Nice. So not only can we speak in tongues and lay hands and heal at will, we can also drink poison and handle snakes at will?
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
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