Matthew 16:21-23
21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Identifying God’s voice. When I was a child growing up my father was pastor of a church and a man who was a deacon in the church and a song leader made a statement to my father; “He said there are times when I don’t know if I am listening to God or I am listening to the devil.” That sounds some what humorous and sounds very sad, but it was a very honest statement. People often ask how do I know if God is speaking to me or if it is someone else? “I have asked God for direction and I seem to hear two voices; how do I know God’s from Satan? How do I know God from my own will or my own desire? Is God really trying to get through to me?”
Identifying the voice of God, identifying whose talking is essential if we are to listen accurately and aggressively. In John 10 Jesus says “My sheep know my voice” that is a normal experience as you walk in the Holy Spirit, you deny yourself and you easily distinguish the voice of God from flesh or from Satan.
How do I know when God is speaking? First off is this, when God speaks it is always consistent with the word of God, the Bible. When you neglect the word of God, the Bible and you do not build your life upon its principles, your do not build your life upon the precepts it is easy to be deceived. The better you know the word of God the more easily you are going to recognize God’s voice. When you make decisions they have to be in agreement with God’s word. If you pray and you hear a voice and you have an answer that is inconsistent with scripture it is not of God, it is either your flesh or it is of Satan. You must adjust your life to the word of God and not to your feelings.
Some times when God requires something of you it will conflict with your human reason, your human wisdom.
Jesus Christ said if you are slapped on one cheek turn the other cheek, that is not very reasonable; if some one wants you to go one mile you are to go cheerfully two miles that is not very reasonable. Jesus often did the opposite of what people expected Him to do. What God says often conflicts with human wisdom. When God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice that definitely conflicted with human wisdom; and yet Abraham knew he had heard from God and obeyed and God proved Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.
God words will clash with fleshly natures. God will not tell us to do anything that gratifies our flesh; that is our ego, our pride, our self,; God does not speak in those terms. God speaks in such a way that the results please the Spirit of God within. Society appeals to the flesh nature. God wants to benefit others as well as ourselves and it requires a substantial faith.
The voice of God will challenge our faith. God wants to stretch us, He want us to grow in trust and dependence. That is why He often gives God size assignments.
The voice of God will often call for an act of courage. In Joshua chapter 1 verse 1-9 three times He says be strong, be courageous. Fulfilling God’s Will requires courage.
Other ways to distingue God’s voice is: God is concerned about our witness and our influence with others.
We must have patience; God never tells us to rush into a decision. You need to consider the consequences. We need Godly council, spiritual growth, peace a calmness in the inter spirit.
Two things you must understand if we willfully disobey God’s Word in our lives it will impair our hearing. As his sheep He knows us we hear His voice and we will follow. If we can not hear His voice we can not follow and something is wrong.
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