The Voice of God 9

There are so many voices that fill our ears in these days. It is important to be able to discern between the different voices.

This is how the voice of the devil sounds. When he speaks, his voice comes to:

•     Deceive (Revelation 20:7-8)

•     Cause oppression (Acts 10:38) 

•     Discourage (Numbers 32:6-10)       

•     Cause you to be bitter (Colossians 3:19)   

•     Cause confusion (Acts 19:32) 

•     Cause you to rationalize sin (Isaiah 5:20)  

•     Blind your mind (2 Corinthians 4:4)    

•     Cause you to lie (1John 2:4)

•     Cause you to doubt God's Word (Hebrews 3:12)

•     Cause division in your family, church, business (Mark 3:25)

•     Cause you to disobey the Word of God,(Joshua 5:6)

•  Inspire rage, anger and malice (Ephesians 4:31)

This is what your flesh sounds like:

(Gal. 5:16-21)
Your flesh has a voice! It speaks to you in a commanding and authoritative sound pitch. It doesn't matter if you are an apostle, prophet, pastor, CEO, Governor, Police Chief or an average citizen. Your flesh speaks to you constantly. Any time you follow the voice of your flesh, the net result will always be negative. Galatians 5 reveals the sound of your flesh. You know you are listening to and being led by the voice of your flesh when you engage in:

• Adultery - unlawful sexual relations between a man and a woman, sexual immorality


• Fornication - pornography, harlotry, incest, impurity, cheap sexual encounters


• Uncleanness - homosexuality, pedophilia, sexual perversion, lustful pleasures


• Lasciviousness - undisciplined, lewd, overeater, lazy, shiftless


• Idolatry - worship of sports stars, movie stars, music icons, preachers, money, etc.


• Witchcraft - includes drug use, sorcery, spells, luck charms, horoscopes, zodiac signs


• Hatred - holding grudges, malice or anger for someone, hostility, paranoid loneliness

• Quarreling (contentions) - to quarrel with words, stir up strife and incite debates


• Jealousies - the spirit of jealousy, rivalry spirit, never-satisfied wants

• Wrath - creating domestic and civic turmoil, outbursts of anger, fits of rage, temper

• Strife - getting pay back for wrong, angry contentions, selfish ambition


• Seditions - dissensions, stirring up strife in the church, government, home, etc.
 

• Heresies - causing discord, unrighteous indignation, incorrect interpretation of the Word


• Envying – small-minded and lopsided pursuits

• Murder - to spoil or mar the happiness of others, to kill


• Drunkenness - public/private intoxication, alcoholism, uncontrollable addictions

• Reveling - clubs, house parties, obscene music, wild parties, orgies

 

You know you are hearing the voice of God when you hear these things:

•   He gives instruction in righteousness, 2 Tim. 3:16)


•   He gives correction in righteousness, (2 Tim. 3:16, Prov. 3:11-12)


•   He causes you to profit in Christ, (2 Tim. 3:16, Jn. 15:16)


•   He brings to your remembrance the Word of God, (Jn. 14:26)


•   He guides you into Truth, (Jn. 16:13)


•   He exhorts you, (Jude 3, Rom. 12:1)


•   He comforts you, (Jn. 14:16, Ps. 23:4)


•   He rebukes and reproves you, (Titus 1:13, 2 Tim. 4:2) 


•   He convicts you of sin, (Rom. 6:1-23)


•   He leads you to salvation, (Rom. 10:9-10, 2 Tim. 3:15)


•   He assures you of the Father's love toward you, (1 Jn. 3:1, Jer. 31:3)


•   He admonishes and warns you, (Eph. 6:4, Acts 21:4,10-14)


•   He edifies you, (Eph. 4:12)


•   He increases your faith, (Rom. 10:17)


•   He causes you to triumph in life through Christ, (2 Cor. 2:14)

I would rather hear the voice of God

than any voice in the world.

Which is why I read my Bible daily

and take cover in Jesus.

John Piper

Voice of God 10: HERE