Hope

I'm cribbing this from Pastor Steven Anderson's sermon on 06/14/2020.

As James 3 says, the tongue is a fire. Right now, it seems the world is on fire. But the Bible also says in 1 Corinthians 13:8:

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

Now that refers directly to languages. We know that languages die. But the tongue is also a fire. I think it's quite reasonable to assume that the fires set by our tongues will cease. When? I don't know. How? I don't know. Trust in God, and never lose hope.

This also makes me think of: 

"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

What a fire that will be!

Never lose hope.

The Tongue is a Fire

Have you seen this video?

Consider what you just watched in relationship to James 3:1-10:

"1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

One of the reasons I believe the Bible to be true is because it isn't just literally true, but allegorically true as well. The news industry can accurately be described as a voice of the country. The population of that same country is often described as the body politic. This is no mistake.

We can see now, thanks to the riots and Corona-chan, that the news media is used as a tool to set nations on fire.

Like a Roaring Lion

When I heard Owen Benjamin say that evil has to tell you, or show you, what it's doing/going to do, it made me think of 1 Peter 5:8:

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

Sounds like the same thing.

This then lead me to think of Ephesians 6:10-17:

"10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [b]wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [c]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"

Now consider 1 Peter 5:8-10 in regards to what is happening in the world today:

"8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

We as Christians have been equipped by our Heavenly Father with the tools and power to address and fight the devil and his servants. We are not in this fight alone, as our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are also suffering the same afflictions for His sake. God will make us perfect, establish us, strengthen us, and settle us. Amen.