How are we to interpret this?

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St. Paul was bitten by a viper, and the natives thought he was going to swell up and die. He shook off the viper into a fire and survived. then the natives thought he was a god. He said that he wasn’t but they insisted. Jesus said that the Apostles would not be harmed as a sign that were speaking the truth about God. The Apostle Paul was “evangelizing” the natives. He spoke of Jesus as the Redeemer of men. There are Charismatic gifts of healing, prophesy, the word of knowledge, healing, casting out of demons. These gifts were used to build the Church, they edify, but do not sanctify. The gifts of virtue from the Holy Spirit sanctify, eg. Faith , Hope, Love, theological virtues centered on God. We have the Pentecostals who believe in these gifts. St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of these gifts, and Vaticanll mentions the gifts in its documents, there is what is called the charismatic gift of faith, and there is the virtue of faith. Jesus said if you have faith enough, you can move mountains. I use a lot of para-phrazing because these statements are spontaineous. don’t have enough time to look up exact biblical verse. I’m confident in my presentation though.The Catholic church has the charismatic movement which uses these gifts. Old timers like myself are settled in our ways, we should be open to The Holy Spirit’s work.it is needed.
 
Which verse is it that tells people that it is ok to pick up serpents and similar things??
The verse regarding serpents and other such things is I believe in Matthew, but not sure of the exact verse.

The following verse is the one that tells us to test our faith.

2Cor 13:5 (Wey) Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers; put yourselves under examination.
 
Hello everyone,

My 18 year old son asked me about this passage, and I have no answer to offer him. Can anyone help? Jesus said if believers “drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them”, etc. How are we to interpret this?
Let me give you an example from my own life as to why and how I interpret this scripture.

Several years ago a drank from the cup of a person who I suspect had bleeding gums and hepatitis C. I had contracted jaundice and was diagnosed with it. I prayed to Jesus to help me with this incurable disease. My prayer was answered and not only do I no longer have hepatitis C but there is no trace of me ever having it at all. Thank you Lord.
 
Mrk 16;18 Who ever believes and is baptised will be saved…these signs will accompany them; drive out demon, speak in new languages, pickup serpents and drink deadly things and it will not harm them.

Luk 10:19 I have given you power to tread on serpents and scorpians and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Rejoice rather because your names are written in heaven.

1 cor 10-19 Paul’s winter in Malta: he shook off a deadly serpent into a fire and survived contrary to the natives expectations. He laid hands on the sick father of Publius and he was cured.

It is clear that these powers where given to believers to enforce the word of God, the “Good News” that those who believed in Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as “Lord, and Saviour” would obtain salvation. Even today the Pentecostals practice these beliefs, and we do have the Pentecostal gifts practiced in the Catholic church. It does receive some opposition, especially from some traditionalists. Although these signs are not the substance of our Faith, the word of God is, and so is Apostolic tradition. In our world today there is great need for spiritual manifestations, and at the same time there must be spiritual discernment,because the devil does imitate the Holy Spirit in order to deceive the faithful. St. Padre Pio was an example of this truth, the need for spiritual manifestations.
That part of the world , the Catholic faith was threatened, and people had to be shown the truths of our faith by signs. When the faith is weak it sometimes has to re- energized by signs. It’s all the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did say “that it is an evil generation that demands signs…” Is our generation evil?
 
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