Signs Following the Gospel
Focus Scripture:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.”
— Mark 16:17–18
What You Will Walk Away With
- Signs accompany the proclamation of the gospel as confirmation of God’s power.
- The purpose of signs is to point people to Christ and confirm His message.
- Believers should expect God to work supernaturally while keeping the gospel as the primary message.
The Promise of Signs
Jesus’ commission to His disciples includes a remarkable promise: certain signs will accompany those who believe. These include casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, protection from harm, and healing the sick.
This promise is not a guarantee of constant spectacle, but an assurance that God will confirm His Word with supernatural power. Throughout the book of Acts, we see this promise fulfilled as the apostles preached the gospel and God worked signs and wonders through them.
The signs were not the message—they were the confirmation of the message. They demonstrated that the gospel was not merely human words but the power of God.
The Purpose of Signs
Why does God work signs and wonders?
- To confirm the message — Signs demonstrate that the gospel is from God (Hebrews 2:3–4).
- To demonstrate compassion — Healings reveal God’s heart for the suffering.
- To confront spiritual darkness — Deliverance shows the authority of Christ over evil.
- To draw attention to the gospel — Signs create opportunities to proclaim Christ.
The signs serve the gospel. They are not an end in themselves.
The miracle opens the door; the gospel brings salvation.
The Scope of the Signs
The signs described in Mark 16 include:
- Casting out demons — Demonstrating Christ’s authority over the powers of darkness.
- Speaking in new tongues — A sign of the Spirit’s outpouring and the global scope of the gospel.
- Protection from harm — God’s care for His servants as they fulfill His mission.
- Healing the sick — Demonstrating God’s compassion and power to restore.
These signs are varied, but they all serve the same purpose: to confirm the gospel and demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom.
The Gospel Remains Primary
The signs follow the gospel—they do not lead it.
Jesus did not say, “Perform signs and the gospel will follow.” He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”—and signs will accompany that preaching.
The priority is the message. The signs are the confirmation.
This means:
- We should not build our ministry around signs; we should build it around the gospel.
- We should not measure success by signs; we should measure it by faithfulness to the message.
- We should not become dependent on signs; we should depend on Christ and His Word.
When signs happen, we give thanks and point people to Jesus.
When signs are not happening, we continue to proclaim the gospel faithfully.
The gospel is always sufficient.
A Balanced Expectation
How do we maintain a balanced expectation?
- Believe that God still works supernaturally — The same God who worked in Acts works today.
- Keep the gospel central — Signs serve the message; they do not replace it.
- Don’t make signs the measure of faith — Faith is not proved by the frequency of signs.
- Remain grounded in Scripture — The Word of God is the foundation of our faith.
- Trust God’s sovereignty — He works when, where, and how He chooses.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the promise of signs that accompany the gospel. Help me to keep the gospel central in my life and ministry. When You work supernaturally through me, let the signs point people to You. When I do not see signs, help me to continue faithfully proclaiming Your Word. Amen.
Declaration
I DECLARE:
- Signs follow the gospel—they do not replace it.
- My priority is to proclaim Christ.
- I believe God still works supernaturally.
- I will remain faithful to the gospel in every season.
Action Points
- Read Mark 16:15–20 and observe the relationship between preaching the gospel and the accompanying signs.
- Examine your ministry priorities—is the gospel central, or are signs the focus?
- Pray for boldness to proclaim the gospel and for God to confirm His Word with signs as He chooses.
Memory Verse (Optional)
“And these signs shall follow them that believe… they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
— Mark 16:17–18
Written by: Dr. Abraham Peter
