Armed and Dangerous
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
2 Chronicles 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
It’s not enough to just have that firearm packed in the holster on the hip. At least one bullet needs to be loaded before there will ever be the slightest danger of anything or anyone being damaged or injured. Once the ammunition has been placed in the chamber, though, there is immediate importance that certain precautions are taken so there isn’t accidental firing in the wrong direction. Barney Fife on the ‘Andy Griffith Show’ became a very different law enforcement officer once Andy would give him permission to load his gun with the one bullet he was allowed to carry. He had authority by just putting on the uniform, but he became a dangerous policeman as soon as his gun was loaded. The only problem was not knowing for sure which direction his gun might be fired.
Each of us have been loaded with an ability to communicate, with the result being either life or death. Even if there is no ability to speak due to a physical disability, there is still power present to convey either uplifting information or that which will bring destruction and death. As we gather to worship God together, we’re being presented an opportunity to take this capacity with which we’ve been equipped and exercise the positive communication of God’s goodness and mercy. As soon as sounds begin to be heard and the truth of God and His ways vocalized, there is activation of God’s power on our behalf with an assurance that God is most certainly working for us to accomplish greater things than we could even imagination.
While we’ve been loaded with the capacity, however, there is a choice to either let praise continually occupy the lips, or for quite the opposite to be given a voice. Destruction can quite easily wield its dominance using our very words as long as there is direction of our firing towards anything other than a kingdom purpose. Today we’ve been given the means of shutting down any evil access to our firing chamber (the mouth) by filling it to overflowing with praises that build up and bring glory to the God of our mercy and salvation. Allowing the Spirit to direct our lips, there will be a sound that makes way for the moving of an undefeated force of love, hope, and peace. Fire away.
