In the last post, I said that all of us make choices every day. No one is exempt from making choices. The question is, are we making the right choices? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know the outcome of our choices before we make them? If that were the case, we would never experience disappointment or the repercussions of making the wrong decision.
The truth is we never make decisions that are totally objective, we are always influenced by our experiences, our emotions, and … by the voices we allow into our lives. The voices of friends, family, the spiritual voices of God, and even the Devil. So, the real issue is who will you trust, people, demonic voices, or God’s voice? Show More
Perhaps you have trusted in your own self, your friends, your family, and even the Devil himself in an attempt to find happiness. You’ve done it your way. Now ask yourself the hard question, are you where you want to be at this point in your life?
How about a change, put your trust in Jesus! His love for you will never go away! He wants you to live a blessed life, but you have to do it His way. To do it His way means that you will have to learn to hear His voice then trust and obey.
Step one is learning how to recognize God’s voice.
The reason there is such an emphasis on the Bible is that the Bible is the way we:
- we take time from our busy day to devote to the Lord. You have to admit when you commit to reading the Bible you are taking time away from all of the distractions that life brings.
- God often speaks through the Bible to our situations and circumstances. In previous posts, we’ve talked about Spiritual illumination of the scriptures, personal revelation, and the Rhema word. All of these ways are common ways in which the Lord speaks to us.
As we spend time in the Word, we begin to learn the spiritual language of God. We learn of His ways and character which then enables us to recognize what is of God and what isn’t. In essence, I am saying that relationship builds awareness of His voice.
Satan, of course, will try to imitate Jesus’ voice, but if you really know Jesus you will recognize the imposter. Just as you know the voice of your closest friend.
Once you know His voice the next step is to isolate His voice from all the noise in the world that we live in. Isolating His voice from the – TV, radio, cellphones, work, and responsibilities. Satan will try to keep you busy and occupied so that you will be unable to hear the “still quiet voice” of God which is spoken of in 1 Kings 19:11-13.
Can you hear what I am talking about? You have to take the time and practice of listening for the “still quiet voice”.
Many Christians wait for a crisis in their lives and then try to learn God’s voice. In the noise of a crisis, it is so difficult to hear the voice of the Lord.
Remember these things as you learn to discern His voice…
God’s voice encourages the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control”.
Satan voice, on the other hand, will encourage your flesh (old man). Galatians 5:19-21.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
Next, God’s voice does not condemn, shame or use guilt to do His will.
God edifies, encourages and exhorts. In general, He builds us up.
- Edify– to instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually. / Antonym – confuse, perplex, puzzle
- Encourage– to give support, confidence, or hope to (someone). / Antonym – demoralize, depress, sadden
- Exhort– to strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something. / Antonym – deter, discourage, dissuade
- Satan will use any means necessary to make you stumble and fall and after he does that, he will use guilt and shame against you.
God’s voice is “still or quiet”.
This means He is gentle and doesn’t have to use many words to make His will known. Satan is verbose and loud, trying to confuse you and trying to drown out God’s voice. He will go on and on…
Be aware… 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.
Demonic Voices or Strategies:
The devil can’t “make” you do anything, but he can try to persuade you to do something that you really shouldn’t do. Here are some methods he will use to tempt you.
He will appeal to your flesh, that simply means that he will tempt you by appealing to your sexual nature, opportunities for financial gain, or personal power over others.
He will use fear, especially the fear of loss…
- 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”.
- 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”.
These things are not of God but are the tools of the enemy to try separate you from God.
- He will try to discourage you…
- He will try to create doubt…
- He will lead you into depression…
- He will use guilt and shame to coerce you…
Remember what I said earlier, “The devil can’t “make” you do anything, but he can try to persuade you to do something that you really shouldn’t do. However, as a final note, today remember this important fact.
“Greater is the Holy Spirit in you than all the demonic forces in Hell”. 1 John 4:4… (paraphrased).
