Come On Now...I Want It ALL - Where Are The Snakes?

[Bruce S]

Laughing at myself here a lot tonight, and others too, shhh, in some other threads, feel almost drunk [but AA's can't drink] so we type on religion BBS's to get high...

Anyway, I'm a Pentacostal, those nutcase guys who wave hands, yabber in pretend languages smear oil on peoples heads before we all pile on them like a football scrimmage ballgrab, and other goofy things that I swear they make up just to see if I'm game enough to try ANYTHING to get into heaven.

So, when I tell REAL normal Christians I'm a Pentacostal, they snicker, and I have to endure the usual. I just normally roll my eyes back into my head, start trembling, wave my hands and a little blessed spittle on my lips and theyBACK OFF, quicklike.

But what is it with the SNAKES question I keep getting asked about? We don't have no snakes at MY Assembly of God church. Should I complain? Are my pastors keeping them hidden for only the insiders?

What is it with SNAKES, and how come only WE get to have them? I mean good Indian Temples have snake carvings, I know, we have four of them near me, but SNAKES, why SNAKES.

"I HATE SNAKES!" [Indiana Jones - The Temple of Doom]

 

[look]

Well, Bruce...

I guess it's because Satan would like for there to be some confusion on this subject.

The subject on snakes is found in Mark 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.

This verse deals with protection and healing as we go out into the fields to preach the Gospel.

Look at what happened to Paul, when he was shipwrecked on this island...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.
Act 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

The same thing is available to us, if we believe that. This is, no doubt, why Satan tries to throw confusion over this marvelous provision of God's protection...Satan knows this glorifies God...and this would be a huge sign to the unbelievers...

Blessings and grace to you, my brother...

 

[ZiSunka]

But what is it with the SNAKES question I keep getting asked about? We don't have no snakes at MY Assembly of God church. Should I complain? Are my pastors keeping them hidden for only the insiders?

What is it with SNAKES, and how come only WE get to have them? I mean good Indian Temples have snake carvings, I know, we have four of them near me, but SNAKES, why SNAKES.

"I HATE SNAKES!" [Indiana Jones - The Temple of Doom]

Um, we aren't supposed to go out looking for snakes to bite us, to test and see if God will save us. Just like we aren't supposed to drink poison to test God. I agree with look, it's a promise of protection while we do God's work, not a dare to see if God loves you enough to keep you alive.

And even then, it is a promise of protection, as long as that protection serves His purposes. If it serves His purposes for us to get sick or die, then we need to be open to that as well and not doubt Him or ourselves.

 

[Gentle Panther]

Laughing at myself here a lot tonight, and others too, shhh, in some other threads, feel almost drunk [but AA's can't drink] so we type on religion BBS's to get high...

Anyway, I'm a Pentacostal, those nutcase guys who wave hands, yabber in pretend languages [we tell others it is biblical, but I KNOW we do it just to **** off the Presbyterians...shhh], smear oil on peoples heads before we all pile on them like a football scrimmage ballgrab, and other goofy things that I swear they make up just to see if I'm game enough to try ANYTHING to get into heaven.

So, when I actually get the balls to tell REAL normal Christians I'm a Pentacostal, they snicker, and I have to endure the usual. I just normally roll my eyes back into my head, start trembling, wave my hands and a little blessed spittle on my lips and theyBACK OFF, quicklike.

But what is it with the SNAKES question I keep getting asked about? We don't have no snakes at MY Assembly of God church. Should I complain? Are my pastors keeping them hidden for only the insiders?

What is it with SNAKES, and how come only WE get to have them? I mean good Indian Temples have snake carvings, I know, we have four of them near me, but SNAKES, why SNAKES.

"I HATE SNAKES!" [Indiana Jones - The Temple of Doom]

LOL!!!!!

 

[look]

Hmm, this is where the rubber meets the road...

 

[Follower of Christ too]

The Jesus Only practice serpent handling because of the scripture Mark 16: 15 thru 18. They also drink poison and handle fire..I know of some deaths due to this practice, but on the other hand I know of some deaths by fasting. I am not a member of the Jesus Only church and I personally do NOT feel a need to have serpents and poison in a worship service! I do know that Jesus is our only hope for salvation.

 

[The Midge]

I happy to go with the verse "Do not test the LORD your God."

 

[look]

The practice of handling snakes and drinking poison are nothing but religious practices to stay away from and are comparable to walking on hot coals and glass...

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The practice of handling snakes and drinking poison are nothing but religious practices to stay away from and are comparable to walking on hot coals and glass...

I agree. I've been Penticostal all my life and have only heard about these kinds of services. . .if they bring out snakes in any service I'm in. . .I'm outa there

 

[bluesonata]

Um, we aren't supposed to go out looking for snakes to bite us, to test and see if God will save us. Just like we aren't supposed to drink poison to test God. I agree with look, it's a promise of protection while we do God's work, not a dare to see if God loves you enough to keep you alive.

And even then, it is a promise of protection, as long as that protection serves His purposes. If it serves His purposes for us to get sick or die, then we need to be open to that as well and not doubt Him or ourselves.

I agree with this statement 100%. I think we, as human beings, get carried away with all of the "glitz". Why some churches (denominations or whatever) place so much emphasis on speaking in tongues, snakes, and other things is beyond me. They must not take the lessons from the bible very seriously.

Our pastor has often told us a true story of a lady missionary whom he once knew. I no longer remember where she was ministering, but it was in the jungles in either Africa or South America. She and the natives sat down to eat (I think he said they were eating chicken). After a bit, a dog came up and ate a piece of her chicken that had fallen on the ground - and the dog fell over dead.

Evidently, her chicken had been poisoned and while it killed the dog, it didn't affect her at all.

This is how God works. He protected her - and in protecting her, He was a witness to those who knew her food was poisoned.

He is an AWESOME GOD!!! AMEN!!

May God Bless!!

Kathy

 

[look]

Praise the Lord!!!

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

That's an great story bluesonata,

I remember a missionary story once, that I heard from the missionary themself, where the different denominations got together in one service. The Penticostal Missionary was seated next to another that did not believe in demonic possession and/or deliverence of demons.

Anyway, during the praise and worship time the Penticostal had his eyes closed and he was deep into worship and there was a woman in the service that began to manifest. She started "slithering" down the isle.

Well, the eyes of the one pastor got big and he watched in horror as she came slithering toward them. He looked over at the Penticostal who was totally oblivious to what was going on. Then he looked back at the women who was getting closer, and he looked at the Penticostal, and he looked back at this woman.

Just as she reached the area they were standing, the non-penticostal reached over and grabbed the upraised arm of the Penticostal, laid it on the head of the approaching woman and shouted "in the name of Jesus".

The demon was cast out, the woman was set free and the non-Penticostal now believed in casting out demons.

 

[He put me back together]

Yeah...it's kinda funny. FIVE churches in the Appalacians keep pet snakes, and all pentecostals get a rap for it. <sigh> ... Well, my grandma turned a complete backward flip once, gracefully flying through the air without flipping her skirt up in the least bit...most beautiful thing you ever saw...but pay that no nevermind. I think the most bizarre question of that nature was "So you guys handle chickens over there?" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

 

[Force]

My friends grandpa was the first missionary to a lot of villages and tribes all over and one time in South America I believe it was he was (making a really long story short) in the hut talking to the leaders of the village when this guy came running in and collapsed at their feet. It turns out the guy said some voodoo doctor from like another tribe had put a curse on him....one in which a King Cobra was chasing him to kill him. He said he had been running 3 days straight etc, to go find the missionary. Sure enough outside the window staring in a HUGE king cobra was out there like waiting to kill him. Needless to say he gave his life to Christ among a lot of others etc. and the demon/snake was banished in the name of Jesus.

My memory is a little rusty....but they have a lot of cool spiritual warfare stories!

Not really what we were talking about but it had a snake in it and its a cool story! lol

 

[Hitch]

Well Im all for snake hadlers going the way of the Shakers.

H

 

[Hitch]

My friends grandpa was the first missionary to a lot of villages and tribes all over and one time in South America I believe it was he was (making a really long story short) in the hut talking to the leaders of the village when this guy came running in and collapsed at their feet. It turns out the guy said some voodoo doctor from like another tribe had put a curse on him....one in which a King Cobra was chasing him to kill him. He said he had been running 3 days straight etc, to go find the missionary. Sure enough outside the window staring in a HUGE king cobra was out there like waiting to kill him. Needless to say he gave his life to Christ among a lot of others etc. and the demon/snake was banished in the name of Jesus.

My memory is a little rusty....but they have a lot of cool spiritual warfare stories!

Not really what we were talking about but it had a snake in it and its a cool story! lol

Tales of South American cobras are often exaggerated.

H

 

[look]

Hmm... that's how the pharisees treated Jesus' works...

Hey! How would you know? Oh, I know, you must have lived out there for some time, right?

 

[Hitch]

I wonder whether the Pharisees knew cobras are asian snakes...

 

[look]

I wonder whether the Pharisees knew the U.S.A. has Formosan termites, or African killer bees?

 

[Hitch]

I dunno but I think I read something about mexican jumping beans in II Hezikiah 2;14



South American cobras speak in forked toungues...

I know,,gag,,, but I couldnt resist.

H