voices that influence us

[NewCreation435]

The church that I attend started a new series called "voices" which has to do with the voices that influence us. The pastor talked about the difference between God's voice and Satan's. He said God's voice can be described as consistent with the Bible, loving, true, helpful, centered on others and Jesus. Satan's voice can be characterized by lies, exaggeration, assumptions, suspicions, confusion and self.

with all the people and circumstances trying to influence us how do you tell the difference between God's voice and others or Satans?

 

[Lamb]

Satan can masquerade himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) With that in mind if a voice is telling us something we have to think about whether it's turning us away from faith in the Savior into faith in something or someone else (even self) that would be a false gospel, stopping us from loving God or our neighbors and whether it entices us to break a commandment. God would not ask us to do any of that.

 

[tango]

Satan can masquerade himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) With that in mind if a voice is telling us something we have to think about whether it's turning us away from faith in the Savior into faith in something or someone else (even self) that would be a false gospel, stopping us from loving God or our neighbors and whether it entices us to break a commandment. God would not ask us to do any of that.

This ties in nicely with the warnings Moses gave about false prophets, where he acknowledged that a false prophet might give a prophecy that came to pass but even if it did come to pass, if that prophet said "Come, let us go after other gods" then they were to be ignored. Deut 13 and Deut 18 have some good stuff about false prophets.

Since the devil can masquerade as an angel of light we shouldn't be surprised if his voice is, on the face of it, very much like God's voice in some respects. He won't necessarily tell us to just go ahead and sin (although he sometimes does), he may give us all sorts of fine sounding reasons why what he's suggesting isn't actually sinful, or "isn't so bad", or some such. He will sometimes use a tactic of presenting substantial amounts of truth in the hope we won't notice the lie tucked in there. He may present Scripture but twisted out of context or misapplied (he did that to Jesus so we shouldn't be surprised if he does the same to us).

Maybe he'll tempt us to sin on the basis we can always enjoy the sin and repent once we're done. Lots of tricks the devil can use against us.

 

[ValleyGal]

Imo, when you hear God's voice, there is no mistaking it. Until someone does hear his voice, it is easy to mistake it. When I was younger, I would mistake attraction and my own desires as hearing God - especially if the attraction was very, very strong. But when I finally heard God's voice at age 30, I knew how wrong I'd been every time before. I do not hear God often, but when I do, I absolutely know it's him and I listen. If it's not him I'm hearing, then I know it is coming from within myself.

I agree with the pastor's description of God's voice. He will never go against Scripture, and he will show the truth of Scripture.

 

[faramir.pete]

Hmmm well I agree with your Pastor's teaching and his categorisation of the 'voices' in our lives.

But I have to say that imo it is far from easy to distinguish between God and the masquerading liar that is Satan, especially when your own heart wants to hear what Satan is offering.

I have fallen foul of this combination and found myself a long way out of God's guiding voice.

I would add one thing to your Pastor's teaching, be patient and wait for confirmation of what God is saying, in my experience He is not in a hurry and will take time to confirm His voice to us, if we just wait.


Pete from Peterborough UK

 

[NewCreation435]

Hmmm well I agree with your Pastor's teaching and his categorisation of the 'voices' in our lives.

But I have to say that imo it is far from easy to distinguish between God and the masquerading liar that is Satan, especially when your own heart wants to hear what Satan is offering.

I have fallen foul of this combination and found myself a long way out of God's guiding voice.

I would add one thing to your Pastor's teaching, be patient and wait for confirmation of what God is saying, in my experience He is not in a hurry and will take time to confirm His voice to us, if we just wait.


Pete from Peterborough UK

That is my experience also. God's timing is not ours that is for sure. He may be on time, but he is rarely early

This is a series of messages that just started today, so we will be focusing on this for several weeks at the church

 

[NewCreation435]

This ties in nicely with the warnings Moses gave about false prophets, where he acknowledged that a false prophet might give a prophecy that came to pass but even if it did come to pass, if that prophet said "Come, let us go after other gods" then they were to be ignored. Deut 13 and Deut 18 have some good stuff about false prophets.

Since the devil can masquerade as an angel of light we shouldn't be surprised if his voice is, on the face of it, very much like God's voice in some respects. He won't necessarily tell us to just go ahead and sin (although he sometimes does), he may give us all sorts of fine sounding reasons why what he's suggesting isn't actually sinful, or "isn't so bad", or some such. He will sometimes use a tactic of presenting substantial amounts of truth in the hope we won't notice the lie tucked in there. He may present Scripture but twisted out of context or misapplied (he did that to Jesus so we shouldn't be surprised if he does the same to us).

Maybe he'll tempt us to sin on the basis we can always enjoy the sin and repent once we're done. Lots of tricks the devil can use against us.

Yes, he is an expert at twisting things out of context. I am thinking of the Waco cult years ago where a man claimed to be the Messiah led a small band of followers. Eventually the compound where he was burned to the ground and he died in that fire. He used scripture and talked for hours in Bible studies to his followers. But, he took the Word out of context

 

[Imalive]

The church that I attend started a new series called "voices" which has to do with the voices that influence us. The pastor talked about the difference between God's voice and Satan's. He said God's voice can be described as consistent with the Bible, loving, true, helpful, centered on others and Jesus. Satan's voice can be characterized by lies, exaggeration, assumptions, suspicions, confusion and self.

with all the people and circumstances trying to influence us how do you tell the difference between God's voice and others or Satans?

Satan accuses, God convinces of sin, but gives a way out.
And just test it w the Bible. Satan also always tells you it's no big deal, go sin, don't feel guilty, it's no sin lol and if you're then so stupid to listen he accuses.

 

[ValleyGal]

Didn't Jesus say "My sheep know my voice"?

 

[psalms 91]

And e do if not to busy to hear it

 

[tango]

Yes, he is an expert at twisting things out of context. I am thinking of the Waco cult years ago where a man claimed to be the Messiah led a small band of followers. Eventually the compound where he was burned to the ground and he died in that fire. He used scripture and talked for hours in Bible studies to his followers. But, he took the Word out of context

Yes, from people like that to some other fringe groups who do things like stand on "You will declare a thing and it will be established for you" from Job 22:28 and act as if they can just speak things into being, there's a lot of twisting Scripture to say what we want it to say.

 

[NewCreation435]

Didn't Jesus say "My sheep know my voice"?

From what I have been told sheep have a habit also of getting lost. It doesn't appear to be a particular compliment that Jesus called us sheep

 

[ValleyGal]

From what I have been told sheep have a habit also of getting lost. It doesn't appear to be a particular compliment that Jesus called us sheep

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I am a true sheep. I am prone to wander in the ways of the world till something happens that Jesus comes a-calling to bring me back...and sometimes he has to use the hook on his staff to do it. I don't mind he calls me a sheep - it's the truth. And I think if most people are honest with themselves, they would say the same thing.

 

[Imalive]

Didn't Jesus say "My sheep know my voice"?

And all the sheep say: Ame e e e e e en.

 

[NewCreation435]

Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I am a true sheep. I am prone to wander in the ways of the world till something happens that Jesus comes a-calling to bring me back...and sometimes he has to use the hook on his staff to do it. I don't mind he calls me a sheep - it's the truth. And I think if most people are honest with themselves, they would say the same thing.

I would agree with you on that. I think we have a tendency, perhaps it is part of our fallen nature, to try and be self sufficient. Other voices crowd in and get our attention and cause us to deviate from the path that God wants for us. Those other voices could even be good things like jobs, children or other responsibilites.

 

[pinacled]

Didn't Jesus say "My sheep know my voice"?

With certainty.

Amen