By THE SPIRIT, Mark spoke in chapter 6:
12 So they (the disciples) went out and preached that people should repent.
13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
As believers in Christ we have been given the command to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and expose the lawlessness at hand. The word repent means to change one’s mind, path, or direction; to reconsider. Many people have lost their moral compass and live their life with the “anything goes” mentality without any guidance to what is righteous, lawful, and proper. Some people where pajamas in public as though they think they are starting a new trend. Others walk around with their pants appearing to be “falling down” and holding on by the crotch. When perverseness is left unchecked, society degenerates to new lows.
Before the disciples went out, Jesus empowered them:
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts—
9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.
11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
Were the twelve and the seventy the only ones to receive power and authority? Absolutely not! There have been many since who have carried the Gospel with the same power and authority up to this very day. We must earnestly desire to walk in the same manner and seek FATHER in this area. Let us come boldly to HIS Throne to be anointed just as the twelve and seventy were empowered. There is a dying world out there that needs to hear the Gospel with signs following. In chapter 16:
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 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.”
Notice that the first thing Jesus did was to have a corrective interview with the disciples for He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart. We might need this same correction. We must no longer be passive but speak HIS Word boldly as we are given opportunity. Now is the time.