2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
The apostle Paul had the signs of an apostle.
Some men believe they have the signs of an apostle today and they think they can handle snakes. The Bible teaches that the apostles could take up serpents as a sign to confirm what they preached.
Look at..
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 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.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The apostles didn’t just have the ability to take up serpents. They could also drink poison, speak with tongues, cast out devils. and heal the sick.
I suppose modern day snake handlers are doing this to show their faith but the purpose of picking up a snake was to confirm the word with signs following as it says in Mark 16.
These were signs to unbelieving Jews. 1 cor 1:22 says the Jews require a sign. After the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, the LORD started dealing with the gentiles and the sign gifts ceased. I believe they will come back in the time of Jacobs trouble and you will see the signs again with the 144,000, Moses, and Elijah.
There’s some creatures in revelation chapter 9 and their tails are like unto serpents. Most likely men in the time of Jacob’s trouble who have the sign gifts will be able to be bitten by these creatures and not be wounded. These sign gifts will finally cease when “that which is perfect is come” which is the Lord Jesus Christ. For now these sign gifts have stopped because God isn’t dealing with the Jews.
Many of the plagues in the “time of Jacob’s trouble” will effect the water. They will be made bitter, turned to blood, and everything else. The saints with sign gifts during that time will be able to “drink any deadly thing”.
The apostle Paul ,who had the gifts of the apostles , was bitten by a venoumous snake and felt no harm. He wasn’t dancing with the snake and he wasn’t seeking out the snake. He just got bit by a snake and felt no harm and that is an illustration of one of the gifts of the apostles. And it confirmed he was really who he said he was.
Act 28:3 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.
Act 28:4 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.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Today we don’t handle snakes. I doubt the disciples ever danced with snakes. It wasn’t meant to be some kind of show to prove how spiritual you are. It was just a sign for unbelievers. God had Moses drop his rod and the rod turned into a snake. God had Moses pick up the snake as a sign to Moses that he was giving him power.
But since we got that out of the way, the bible shows us how to really “handle a serpent.”
First I’d like to point out that the serpent is subtil.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
The serpent is subtil and easily deceived a perfect woman in the garden. He changed the words of God. He tricked her into eating the fruit.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It is very possible that “the serpent” that tempted Eve in the garden wasn’t a “snake in the grass” but rather Satan who is “the serpent” appearing as an angel of light. An angel of light looking like a 33 year old male. Because Satan isn’t a “snake”, he was a cherub, and he is now a dragon. He would of been the class of cherub that represented the reptile class.(that is the one which is missing.) But whether he appeared as an actual snake or as an angel of light, he still easily deceived Eve.
The serpent is a lot more powerful and smarter than man. He was also created without fear. (Job 41:33)
You can’t handle the serpent. Anyone who tries to handle the serpent usually gets handled. You saw what he did to Job if you read that great book of the bible. He got Abraham to lie. He got Noah to get drunk. He got Lot to commit incest. He got David to commit murder and adultery. Greater men than me and you have been slain by him.
We can’t handle the serpent ourselves but we don’t have to be ignorant of his devices.
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Here are some ways “handle the serpent”
1 – Turn Him Over To The LORD
Jud 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Michael the arch angel didn’t even try to rebuke Satan himself. He turned him over to God. Many people will get mad at the devil and cuss him out or call him names. But the Bible says he is a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour.
He isn’t Afraid of me, you, or anyone else.
2 – Quote Scripture
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The good thing about memorizing scripture is that you can quote it when your tempted.
Jesus Christ quoted scripture in the garden when he handled the serpent.
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matt 4:6 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.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Remember how in 1 Samuel 17 the Bible refers to Goliath as “the champion.” He was the reigning champ who was defeated by David (a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.) Jesus Christ defeats the reigning champion, satan, who is the god of this world.
We are part of the body of Christ and that makes us champions. This is why we have point number 3.
3 – if you run into the serpent remember you have already overcame
Revelation 12:11 (KJV) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The one who is in the world is the devil and I overcame him. Not by my own strength. I am a weak and frail human being. Satan is a roaring lion walking about seeking whom he may devour. Without Jesus Christ the devil would eat me for dinner. I can’t handle him. You can’t handle him but there is someone living in me that can handle him.
Jesus Christ has man handled the serpent many times in the past and he will again in the future.
Satan had 5 “I wills”
Satan’s 5 ‘I WILL’S’ – For you have said in your heart:
(1) I will ascend into heaven,
(2) I will exalt my throne above the stars (the angels) of God (he wanted his own throne like God)
(3) I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north (in heaven)
(4) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
(5) I will be like the Most High.’
For every “I will” that Satan spoke there is also a knockout punch from The LORD
Since Jesus triumphed over principalities and powers when he died in the cross. He also causes us to triumph.
2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
The virgin born only begotten son of God, (the Lord Jesus Christ) conquered death hell and the grave. He kicked deaths teeth out. Defeated satan again. He was crucified for our sins. They buried him but he arose the third day. He shed his redeeming blood for our sins. So he makes us to be conquerors.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
If you’re saved than you have eternal victory over the devil. Although he can bug you in the flesh. He can’t take your salvation.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
