BIRTHMARKS

One of the most dependable ways of identifying someone is by a BIRTHMARK. Historically it has served to identify both Kings and Criminals. 

 In fact some peoples birthmarks have become SO identified with them that you cant IMAGINE their faces without conjuring up the memory of their birthmark at the same time! Everyone from old Gorby Gorbachev to Marilyn Monroe!

 At various times in history Birthmarks became all the rage! In Pre-Revolutionary France until the Hollywood of today Women and sometimes even MEN have painted or pasted imitation birthmarks on in order to get that certain fashionable  "look"!

 It seems that Birthmarks rise and fall as either BEAUTY MARKS (which is what they have been called) or as disfigurements to be covered up!

 Many men and women go to great lengths and expense to either MASK their birthmarks with cosmetics or to actually have them surgically removed! They simply DON'T want to be "MARKED".

 One reason why is

THEY DON'T WANT TO STAND OUT IN A CROWD.

But what does that have to do with US? EVERYTHING!

 Jesus preached a NEW BEGINNING, a NEW BIRTH! In Mark 16 Jesus said....

  15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned . 

 This is the message of the NEW BEGINNING the NEW CREATION, THE NEW BIRTH

 But in the very next verse he tells us something amazing.....

 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe ; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 The GREEK word here that the writer chose to use translated "SIGNS" is the word Semeion which means not just SIGNS  but MARKS! The word means the MARKS by which one is IDENTIFIED, the Mark by which a person is distinguished from others and known!

Imagine if a man claimed to BE Gorbachev and yet HAD NO BIRTHMARK (semeion) you would know IMMEDIATELY "IMPOSTOR! NOT THE "REAL  DEAL"!

 There is a PURPOSE included in the BIRTHMARKS of OUR BIRTH ( The SEMEION)

 Casting out devils in Jesus Name, Speaking in New Tongues, Laying Hands on the sick and seeing them Recover, Taking Up Serpents (CONFRONTING DEVILS)  Protection from Drinking Deadly  Things.

 THEY DISTINGUISH US AS THE CHILDREN OF  GOD!

I WAS BORN MARKED! I WILL NEVER BE ASHAMED OF MY BIRTHMARKS! THEY ARE THE VERY THING THAT DISTINGUISHES ME BEFORE GOD!