The Voice of God

1. The Voice of God After we hear a voice, we must discern that it is truly from God

2. In Contrast to Paganism our God Speaks Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 1 Corinthians 12:1-2

3. Our Confidence is that God: • Has spoken • Is Speaking • And will speak to men

4. Topics we address: • Does God Speak to people today? • How can we recognize His Voice? • How Can I avoid being mistaken? • How often should I expect to hear from God? • Why don’t we hear more clearly?

5. How can we hear more clearly • Think Like God thinks • Value what He values • Love like He loves

6. Re-Calibrate our Minds • Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is… Romans 12:2

7. The Lord’s Voice is not Overpowering And after the earthquake, a fire; but the Lord was not in (the earthquake or) the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice.

8. How God Speaks First and Foremost: By His Written Word “Still Small Voice” (Holy Spirit) Through Authorities Through Confirming Signs

9. Today’s 2 Questions: #1 How can we recognize His Voice? and #2 How Can I avoid being mistaken?

10. God Directing without Words • Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, • After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

11. God Speaking • And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” • And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

12. “Another “ Voice • As we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: • The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation”.

13. Paul Knew it was not God’s Voice • And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out the same hour.

14. Punished for doing God’s Will • And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas…, • And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city… • And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,

15. Recognize deception by the Dark Ventriloquist “In the world there are many kinds of voices…” 1 Corinthians 14:10

16. Satan will Masquerade • And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. • 2 Corinthians 11:14

17. Jeff Dunham and Achmed the Dead Terrorist Popular Ventriloquist

18. Ventriloquism • Originally, ventriloquism was used for ritual or religious purposes; the Zulus, Eskimo, and Māori • “Gastromancy”

19. (Acts 16:16-18) • A girl who had a "spirit of Python” and followed Paul and his companions around the city of Thyatrira, crying out after them.

20. 2 Types of Wisdom • This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. • For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. • James 3:15-16

21. 2 Types of Wisdom • But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. • James 3:17

22. God’s Voice is Wisdom Satan’s Wisdom God’s “Wisdom” Pure Peaceable Gentle Easy to be intreated Full of mercy Good fruits Earthly Sensual Devilish Envying and strife Confusion Every evil work