What Time Is It?
March 13, 2005
Introduction
What time is it? I often answer that question with the statement: “It’s time to go,” but the fact is, there are countless correct answers to the question, “What Time Is It?” If it’ 11:00 p.m., the evening news and the rerun on channel 68 are over. You have missed the news unless you have cable, which we don’t, so I don’t know about that.
Right now, we are living in a time of unrest. We speak of economic times. We speak of the days of the early church. I believe it was Charles Dickens who said, “It was the best of times, It was the worst of times.” And so, the answers to the question are many.
This morning, we wish to focus on one period of time: The time of miracles for the early church. We read of numerous great miracles that were performed by Christ and His apostles and those on whom they laid their hands.
What brings up this study this morning? It was a simple request on a small piece of paper. Written on the paper was this: “Mark 16:18.” The one who handed the paper to me then explained that he had seen some on television who were handling snakes, and quoting this scripture. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; {18} "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV)
How does this scripture and “What time is it?” have anything to do with each other?
Body
I. How do you Read?
- Jesus asked the question.
(Luke 10:25-28 NKJV) And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" {26} He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" {27} So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" {28} And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” (29) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
1. Notice his approach to life – he was “testing” Jesus rather than trying to find the truth.
2. When the truth hurt, he tried to escape.
Mark 10:29 “But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
- The Bible is written so that we can read it and miss the meaning unless we read with right motives.
1. Jesus taught the multitudes in parables.
2. The disciples did not understand why.
(Mat 13:10-13 NKJV) And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" {11} He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. {12} "For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. {13} "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
3. For whatever reason, Jesus taught in such a way that we could fail to understand if we didn’t want to know in the first place.
II. How do we read the passage under consideration this morning?
(Mark 16:15-20 NKJV) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. {17} "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; {18} "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." {19} So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. {20} And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
A. Notice the command to preach the gospel:
Mark 16:15) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature
- Notice the message:
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
- Notice the verses that follow:
Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; {18} "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
- Notice what time it is:
Mark 16:19 “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”
1. Jesus returned to heaven.
2. It is the end of His earthly ministry.
- Notice the conclusion:
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
- Miracles worked for Paul in his ministry as well.
(Acts 28:3-6 NKJV) But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. {4} So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." {5} But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. {6} However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
III. How did men get this special power.
- God, through His Holy Spirit, gave it directly to some in the early history of the church.
1. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles.
(Acts 2:1-4 NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. {3} Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2. In the case of Cornelius.
(Acts 10:44-48 NKJV) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. {45} And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. {46} For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, {47} "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" {48} And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
- It was imparted by the laying on of the apostles’ hands.
1. We have a clear case in case of the Christians of Samaria.
(Acts 8:14-17 NKJV) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, {15} who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. {16} For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. {17} Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
2. Phillip had the ability to perform miracles, but he could not pass it on to others.
(Acts 8:5-8 NKJV) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. {6} And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. {7} For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. {8} And there was great joy in that city.
IV. What time is it?
- A time when the word has been confirmed.
1. Miracles are no longer needed to establish the Word of God as being just that.
(Heb 2:3-4 NKJV) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, {4} God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
- It’s a time when all apostles have died, and all those upon whom they had laid their hands.
- God directly gave the gift of the Holy Spirit on two occasions:
1. The beginning of the church for Jewish Christians on Pentacost.
2. The beginning of Christians among the Gentiles with Cornelius.
3. Everyone is a Jew or Gentile.
4. There is no more need for miracles to confirm the word.
5. We, in an even greater sense, walk by faith and not by sight. II Cor 5:7
Conclusion
I. What time is it?
- It should be the day of salvation if you haven’t been saved.
(Heb 4:6-7 NKJV) Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, {7} again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts."
- Is this the day you will confess your Lord, and put Him on in baptism?
Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.