It’s Time to Take Up Serpents!
Jesus Himself declared that we can remove these serpents from both our and others’ lives. His clear words concerning this are found in the Great Commission, specifically Mark 16:15–18. Let’s examine it closely.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” —Mark 16:15–18, NKJV, EMPHASIS ADDED
According to Jesus, all believers are entrusted with the responsibility to go forth and share the gospel. As they do, they will cast out demons, speak in new tongues, lay hands on the sick for their recovery, and, yes, take up serpents. What does this mean?
The Greek term for take up is airō, and it carries a profound meaning: “to remove” or “to take off or away what is attached to anything.” The implications of this are shocking. It indicates that these serpents can attach themselves to anything in your life—and that you are called to remove them. They can latch on to your marriage, your relationships, your family, your children, your physical body, your finances, your business, your government, and even your ministry, stifling your prosperity and growth. There’s virtually nothing these serpents won’t coil themselves around. Unfortunately, this isn’t an exaggeration; it’s a harsh reality. Thank God we have been given authority to take them up from any place to which they have attached themselves.
It’s curious how rarely this aspect of the Great Commission is expounded. Many ministers focus on preaching the gospel, baptizing, and healing the sick, but they omit the vital role of taking up serpents. Either these ministers associate it with churches that handle literal snakes in their services as a way of demonstrating their faith, or they skip over this topic and avoid operating in healing and deliverance because of fear or lack of knowledge. Taking up demonic serpent spirits is an aspect of spiritual warfare that hasn’t been deeply explored, yet it’s right there in the words of Jesus, who unequivocally says this is a sign that will follow believers as part of their divine mission.
It’s crucial to dwell on this point: Jesus expects every single believer, not just the famous figures known for deliverance or healing, to be able to take up serpents. If you haven’t removed a serpent from yourself, your friends, or even strangers, then you are not operating in the full authority Jesus gave us.
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