We’ve all heard of communicable diseases. I think they are typically transmitted by touch (contact), air, water, insect bites, etc. On the other hand, we’ve also all heard of verbal communication. Generally speaking, for most of us, that relates to communicating via words in some format….audibly, text, and even sign language. It may well be that a pandemic is in process, only this time, it’s being transmitted via words. As far as we know, for the first time in history, there is a type of media that is virtually ubiquitous. For instance, people with internet connectivity in virtually any part of the world can now tune in to just about anything from anywhere. If you are upset about virtually anything and looking for reinforcement, you can likely find it online. Consider that the internet/media can be the carrier for diseased words (words of rebellion, words of discontent, words of hate, etc) and those words can now be spread much easier than ever before. Quite frankly, one person with a successful website or broadcast can touch millions and millions of lives, and those individual lives can reach out and touch others. Not all words are bad, of course, but our world is a fallen world. Jesus made a statement saying that satan, himself, is the prince of this current world. Are you seeking and receiving communications that cause you grief (and I’m not talking about an update from your aging grandmother)? Are you tuning into communications that cause you discontent and unrest? Are you tuning into incendiary communications? Do they upset you, make you mad, make you want to fight…even kill? Make sure you check the author. Yeah….the prince of this world is very sly indeed. He’ll take anyone captive to do his will, and quite frankly, he’d have you kill people (even your neighbors), he’d have you stockpile weapons, he’d have you revolt if in the end it meant chaos, death, and destruction. It seems to me that satan loves chaos and destruction. It’s a win/win for him. he’ll take a revolution over peace any day of the week and twice on Sunday. One of the beginning signs of the end times is revolutions. The world does seem to be heading in that direction. We need to be careful about what we seek, who and what we tune into, and what comes out of our own mouths.
Luke 21:9…When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.
Philipians 4:8…Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Titus 3:2…Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no-one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility towards all men.
1 Peter 2:13-14…Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
Romans 1:1-7…Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.
Proverbs 24:21-22…Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Galatians 5:22-23…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Proverbs 13:3…Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
Psalm 141:3-4...Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.
Revelation 12:9…The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
1 Peter 5:8…Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 8:44…You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
