Note 10 at Mk. 16:17: Some people have tried to get around these verses by saying that they were not found in some of the oldest manuscripts. The only reason that people desire to explain these scriptures away is because their lives don't match up with them. Instead of changing themselves, they would rather change the scriptures.

We still have the same authority today that Jesus gave His disciples to cast out devils. Speaking in tongues is still a supernatural gift to every believer who will receive it. We are still supposed to walk in victory over the devil and if a true believer lays hands on the sick, they will recover. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Heb. 13:8).

Note 11 at Mk. 16:17: When Jesus said that we would do these signs in His name, He was referring to doing these signs through His power and ability. He gave us His power of attorney.

Note 12 at Mk. 16:17: Casting out devils is not a special ministry for only some in the body of Christ. It is the right of every believer. No one who reads the Bible can deny that Jesus and the disciples cast demons out of people. Still some don't believe that this has any relevance to us today. All anyone has to do is look around at the depravity in our society and he can see that we still have demon possession today (see note 3 at Mk. 1:32, p. 68).

Note 13 at Mk. 16:17: Speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit discussed in 1 Corinthians 12-14. It is one of the first miraculous manifestations that accompanies receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6).

There are two different kinds of speaking in tongues. First Corinthians 13:1 says we can speak with the tongues of men or of angels. The tongues of men are speaking of known languages such as took place on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-6). This is the gift to supernaturally speak a known language without having been taught it and it comes for the purpose of witnessing as on the day of Pentecost. There is also a gift of tongues that is speaking in a heavenly language (what 1 Cor. 13:1 calls the tongue of angels). This is a language that is not known to the speaker (1 Cor. 14:2,14) but allows the believer to communicate directly with the Lord through the Spirit. There is another kind of speaking in tongues that equals prophecy if it is interpreted (1 Cor. 14:5).

Not every believer will speak in known languages as on the day of Pentecost, or prophesy in the assembly through a message in tongues and an interpretation (1 Cor. 12:30), but every believer who receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost can speak in the tongues that are for the purpose of edification (1 Cor. 14:4).