Proof of the Holy Spirit: The five signs that Jesus promised would accompany believers

The final instructions Jesus gave His disciples before His ascension are some of the most powerful promises in scripture. They detail the kind of supernatural accompaniment that would follow those who dared to believe and proclaim the Gospel.

Mark 16:17-20 promises that those who believe will be equipped with divine power:

"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Verse 20 confirms the immediate fulfillment: “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

While Mark 16 establishes what the signs are, the Apostle Paul, writing in 1 Corinthians 12, reveals the Holy Spirit's meticulous blueprint for distributing these gifts and powers across the entire Church body.

1. Unified Source, Diverse Manifestation 🤝

The ultimate goal of the signs and gifts is a powerful, unified ministry, which is ensured by the fact that the entire operation flows from one God. This principle prevents competition and guarantees every gift serves a singular divine purpose.

• The Same Spirit (Gifts): The Holy Spirit is the author of all spiritual gifts (including the power to cast out demons and speak in tongues).

• The Same Lord (Ministries): The Lord Jesus directs the practical ministries (like laying hands on the sick) where these gifts are deployed.

• The Same God (Effects): God the Father is the one who orchestrates the effects and results, "who works all things in all persons" (1 Corinthians 12:6).

No matter the specific miraculous sign performed, the authority and the power belong entirely to the Triune God, operating through the believer.

2. Gifts are Distributed for the Common Good 🎁

The signs are not rewards for super-believers; they are resources for the collective mission. The power to heal or to speak miraculously is given to the body, not for individual glory.

• Given to Every Believer: "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7).

If you believe, you have a divine assignment and the spiritual resource (a gift) to accomplish it. Your faith is followed by a portion of the Spirit’s power, intended to edify, instruct, and strengthen the entire community.

3. The Spirit’s Sovereign Assignment 🕊️

While believers are encouraged to "desire the greater gifts," the distribution of those gifts is not a democracy; it is a sovereign decision made by the Spirit to best equip the Church.

• "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:11).

We don't earn the power to cast out demons or the ability to heal; we are stewards of the gifts God chooses to assign us. This ensures that the Church operates under God's wisdom, not human desire, and prevents anyone from claiming total spiritual self-sufficiency.

4. The Body Analogy: Interdependence is the Design🤚🦶

To fully grasp the wisdom behind the distribution of these signs, Paul uses the analogy of the human body. The hand and the foot have different functions, but they are both essential to the body's movement and success.

• No Self-Sufficiency: The Body of Christ is designed so that no single member possesses all the signs or gifts. The gifted prophet still needs the gifted healer, and the one with the gift of tongues still needs the one with the gift of service.

• Interdependence: The body analogy ensures that we remain connected and reliant on one another. The gifts are given strategically to promote unity and mutual care (1 Corinthians 12:25).

In conclusion, the signs Jesus promised in Mark 16 are the dynamic fuel for the Church's mission. The distribution method described in 1 Corinthians 12 guarantees that this power is channeled effectively—not for personal fame, but to create an interdependent, unified, and powerful Body ready to preach the Gospel and demonstrate the reality of a risen Christ.

WATCH VIDEO