Heroes of wonders

Mark 16:17-18 Heroes of wonders
When we watch the soccer games in the Korea-Japan Worldcup, we can hear the news "Wonder happened !". News tells that these are wonders that Senegal defeated France 1:0, and United States defeated Portugal 3:2, and South Korea defeated Poland 2:0.
If wonders happen in the games, spectators become excited and overjoyed. All of the Koreans were overjoyed when the Korean team defeated Poland 2:0. It was the first victory after 14 games in Worldcup. It took 48 years. As I saw the Koreans overjoyed, I thought, "We Christians have bigger wonders than the wonders of victories in the Worldcup matches !"
Brothers and sisters, there are full of wonders and miraculous signs in the bible. When we see these wonders, we become excited and overjoyed. Imagine how much they were overjoyed when the blind man recovered his sight, when the crippled man walked, and when the dead man became alive.
These are wonders that Abraham had a son at the age of 100, and Jesus changed water into wine, Peter caught such a large number of fish that two boats became full of fish. When these wonders happened, they were excited and overjoyed.
Today's scripture says, "These signs will accompany those who believe." It means you and I are the heroes of wonders and miracles. And today's scripture says, "In my name they will drive out demons."
Brothers and sisters, what do you think of demons ? Lots of people do not know about demons. They do not believe the existence of demons, and they say with doubt, "Have you seen demons ?" But the bible tells about demons many times. Demons were the angels in the kingdom of heaven. But they were expelled from the heaven because they rebelled against God.
And the numerous demons consistently try to steal, kill and destroy humans. And they hinder us from believing God. Therefore if demons come to us, we become sad, irritated, angry, painful and failed. If we do not drive out demons who are like thieves, robbers and impostors, we cannot worship God nor get happiness.
But we cannot overcome demons with our human power. Something wondrous has to be happened. Or not, we will sigh again. Therefore make the wonder that you drive out demons. And be the heroes of wonders. Today's scripture says, "These signs will accompany those who believe ; In my name they will drive out demons ; they will pick up snakes with their hands."
Snakes mean Satan and demons. To pick up snakes means to overcome snakes. Usually people scream in alarm and they run away when they see snakes. But believers can pick up snakes as the snake catchers do. We do not run away when we see snakes, but we say, "You snakes, you are my prey !" Let's say together. "You snakes, you are my prey !" I want all of us to be the heroes of wonders who drive out demons and pick up snakes.
Today's scripture also says, "They will speak in new tongues." It means ; if we believe in Jesus, wonder happens to our tongues and lips. Before we believe in Jesus, we told bad language such as "I will die because it is hot. I will die because it is cold. I will die because I am happy (?) I will be crazy." And our lips were negative and destructive. And we grumbled on and on.
But now our lips are full of thanks, hope and positiveness such as "Hallelujah ! Thank you. Something good will happen to us. I can do. Let's try." Therefore people are surprised at us, "Wow, you have been changed ! What a wondrous thing has happened to you !" I pray all of us to be the heroes of wonders that our tongues and words have been changed. And I pray that you will create happiness by your tongues and you will beautify your life, your family by your new tongues.
Today's scripture also says, "When they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all." People do not drink poison unless they want to commit suicide. But they might drink poison by chance or someone puts poison into the food to kill them. That means, we face dangers and crises in our life.
But at this time, don't say, "I will die !" Don't worry about it. God will guard you. So you will never die because of the crises. Even your hairs will not be hurt by them as Daniel was not hurt even in the lion's den and as Shadrack, Meshach and Abenego were not hurt even in the blazing furnace.
People said with surprise, "Wow, they have not been hurt ! Something wondrous has happened to them !" I pray all of us to be the heroes of wonders that we are not hurt by even poison.
Today's scripture also says, "They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Days ago I read a story in our internet homepage entitled "Miracle.. miracle.. O thank the living God !" Let me introduce you the story.
『This is the story happened to my younger sister. I never believed that the miracle would happen to me. But now I believe that because the miracle has happened to my family. Now I believe that God is alive. In fact, I hated Christians. And I hated to go to the church. But now...
I have a younger sister. He had a cancer. The doctor told that she would live less than 6 months. But we tried our best to heal her. But she was getting worse and worse...
At last we were tired and disappointed. And our family could not find any other way to heal her. But in the hospital, we met a senior deaconess who is 78 years old. I asked her to pray for my sister. She laid her hand on her and prayed for some days. Then she said to her, "You have been completely healed !"
We believed that. And today my sister told me the result of medical exam that she has been completely healed as the senior deaconess had said. My sister was examined in Japan again. And the doctor also said, "Cancer has disappeared !"
We tried all of the ways such as anticancer drugs, radiation treatment and folk remedies. But we failed. But now she has been healed by her prayer. When she received a death sentence by the doctor, we said to her, "Let's invite a famous exorcist. And let's have a big ceremony of exorcism."
But she said, "No, I don't want to live by that way. I will believe in God !" Now I think her faith has healed her. This miracle caused all of our family to come to God, and to come to the church. O God of miracles, thank you very much !"
Brothers and sisters, we do not want to be sick. But unfortunately we face sickness and diseases. If we are sick in the foreign land, we feel sadder and harder. But remember God has given us the power to heal our diseases. Therefore place your hands and pray for divine healing. You will be the heroes of wonders that you can heal diseases. And many people will be joyful and happy by the wonders even in this foreign land. Amen !