Beware of Familiar Voices by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers (John 10:4-5).

Oftentimes, some people hear voices that tell them what to do or about what they’re doing; salvoes of thoughts bombard their minds, especially when they’re on the verge of making very important life-decisions. As a Christian, it’s important that you judge the thoughts and voices you hear with the Word, even when such voices are “familiar voices.”

 That the voice you heard, or are hearing, is a familiar one doesn’t necessarily mean it’s God-sent to you. So, be wise, and know the difference between the voice that God sent to you and the voice of a stranger. A stranger will bring you a different message and lead you in the wrong path (See Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Many times, people wish and hope that a stranger would confirm God’s message to them, thinking it’s more supernatural or spectacular when someone they’ve never known confirms God’s Word to them. But that’s not God’s way of doing things. God is most  likely to send to you the one you’ve known, to confirm His Word to your spirit, not the one that you’ve never known. Therefore, always be sure that the voice you’re harkening to or that’s leading you, and confirming your thoughts and prophecy, is the voice of God, or the voice of the one He’s sent to you.

There’s no true child of God that wouldn’t know or recognise the voice of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). In our opening scripture, He said, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:5). The problem with many is that they ignore His voice. Listen for God’s voice and direction in His Word, because He’ll speak to you through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:
Thank you, heavenly Father, for the privilege to be taught and instructed in, and by, your Word. Your Word is my guiding light and the reservoir from which I make choices and decisions. I’m sensitive to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as I meditate on the Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
 Psalm 16:7 TLB; Isaiah 30:21; John 10:27-28

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Peter 1:22-2:1-25 & Ezekiel 29-30

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
 Jude 1:1-11 & Daniel 11-12

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