This week a preacher in Kentucky was bitten by a snake and died. According to reports, this preacher had been handling snakes in the past and was also injured by them. The reason the man was handling snakes was his belief that Mark 16:17-18 commanded him to do so. But in Mark 16:17-18, Jesus is speaking of those days of the book of Acts, where certain Christians performed miracles after having the power given to them by an Apostles (Acts 8:18).

The confrontation with snakes and poison weren’t to be demonstrations before audiences, but rather God’s assurance that He wouldn’t allow any harm to come to His servants (Acts 23:11, 27:21-26, 28:1-6).

Religious snake handlers of today get hurt by the snakes they handle, but notice that Jesus said that snakes and poison wouldn’t hurt those of whom Mark 16:16-17 was speaking. No preacher is to be handling snakes today because the period of Mark 16:17-18 was during the infancy of the church when miracles confirmed the word (Mark 16:19-20; Hebrews 2:1-4).

I’m sorry this preacher is dead, but he was doing something based upon his misunderstanding of the scripture (2 Peter 3:16).
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Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

​Colossians 3:18-21 gives a challenge to the family, so take a few moments to read the following verses and see how your life matches up.

Verse 18, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Verse 19, Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Verse 20, Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Verse 21, Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

How did you match up? Is there any thing you need to change? Have you been doing what the Bible teaches in these matters? Only you dear reader can answer these questions, and they must be answered truthfully; because your soul is at stake (Romans 14:11-12).
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Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Thou shall not steal (Mark 10:19; John 10:10; Romans 2:21, 13:9; Ephesians 4:28; Luke 10:30-36). Treat others as you wish them to treat you (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31-36). All this Biblical information means nothing to a street thug (Proverbs 1:7-22).

However, if the tables are turned on him, that will be a different story. Suppose a street robber takes a woman’s purse, runs into an alley and is ambushed and robbed by another thug? Now the first thug will think that the second thug did him wrong. But such isn’t the case. Instead it is a man reaping what he sows (Galatians 6:7; Proverbs 11:5; Luke 16:25; Matt. 26:52; Proverbs 26:27; Job 5:12-13).

How is it that he can mug someone and feel justified but cannot be robbed himself? When that poor woman was confronted with a gun in her face, begging the thug not to take her bag, he took it anyway. And now, he thinks another predator has disrespected him by robbing him of his ill-gotten gain?

Committing robbery is a sin, and all who do this evil will be lost in hell if they don’t repent. I implore men to get a job and do honest work because if a robber escapes the police, be assured he will not escape God (Psalm 94:9, 139:7-12).
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Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able” Luke 13:23-24. “Enter ye at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many shall go there, but because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV).

These distressing words of Jesus Christ are saying that most will be lost because of the refusal to submit to the commandments of God (Matthew 7:21). Yes, man loves doing things his flawed way and not God’s way Proverbs 14:12. For example, men refuse to accept the Bible as the infallible word of God. Men refuse to go to church. Men refuse to pray and men refuse to believe in Jesus. Some men are bold enough to deny the existence of God and with all this evil being done, it’s easy to see why most will go to hell Psalm 12:1-8, 14:1-7; 1 Peter 4:18.
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Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.