Let's Become a Believer Who Catches Snakes 1
Bible passage: Mark 16:16~18
“16. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18. they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. "
The sermon title is “Let’s Become a Believer Who Catches Snakes.” More precisely, it is “Let us not become those who get bitten by snakes, but become those who catch snakes.”
When we say “Let us become those who catch snakes,” people say “snake catchers,” as you may know, there are those who make a profession out of catching snakes, but I am not saying to become such snake catchers. Here, the snake signifies Satan. In Genesis Chapter 3, a snake appears.
The Bible calls this the old serpent, and in the Garden of Eden, the snake, having received the instigation of Satan - the thought of Lucifer and the dragon - tempted Eve, causing her to commit the sin of eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Revelation 20:2 says, “He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”
Tuwe Waumini Wanaowakamata Nyoka 1
Andiko la Biblia: Marko 16:16–18
“16. Aaminiye na kubatizwa ataokoka; asiyeamini atahukumiwa. 17. Na ishara hizi zitafuatana na hao waaminio: kwa jina langu watatoa pepo; watasema kwa lugha mpya; 18. watashika nyoka kwa mikono yao; hata wakinywa kitu cha kufisha, hakitawadhuru kamwe; wataweka mikono yao juu ya wagonjwa, nao watapata afya.”
Kichwa cha hubiri ni “Tuwe Waumini Wanaowakamata Nyoka.” Kwa usahihi zaidi, ni “Tusiwe watu wanaoumwa na nyoka, bali tuwe watu wanaowakamata nyoka.”
Tukisema, “Tuwe watu wanaowakamata nyoka,” huenda watu wakafikiria wawakamatao nyoka kama kazi yao. Lakini sisemi tuwe wawakamatao nyoka kitaaluma. Hapa nyoka anawakilisha Shetani. Katika Mwanzo sura ya 3, nyoka anatokea.
Biblia humwita nyoka wa zamani. Katika Bustani ya Edeni, nyoka, akichochewa na Shetani—mawazo ya Lusifa na joka—alimshawishi Hawa na kumfanya atende dhambi kwa kula tunda la mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya. Ufunuo 20:2 inasema: “Akamshika yule joka, nyoka wa zamani, ndiye Ibilisi na Shetani, akamfunga miaka elfu.”
