When I was a new Christian, hearing and knowing God’s voice were the two things I struggled the most with. How could I know whether I was hearing from God when I didn’t know His voice? How could I be sure the Lord was speaking to me while reading Scripture, listening to a sermon, going to Sunday school or a Bible study? I was so afraid of missing God’s instructions, warning, and encouragement that I often found myself paralyzed by doubt.

As I began studying the Bible, I learned how God’s voice matched the Scriptures. Thus, if I wanted to know what God had to say on a particular topic, I only had to know what the Bible said on that topic. If I heard a voice and was unsure whether or not that voice was the Lord’s, the Bible would confirm whether it was Him.

God’s voice will never contradict the Bible. If the voice you’re hearing is encouraging you to take Scripture out of context to make it fit your situation, the voice isn’t God.

1. God’s voice will never deny Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

As sure as we believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, that He is God’s Son, and that salvation comes only through belief in Him, many others are convinced otherwise. There are voices in the world, trying to convince Christians that Jesus is not the only way to God and heaven. Rest assured, any voice that tells you there are other avenues to God isn’t from the Lord. Thus, God will never ask you to place your faith in another savior.

2. God’s voice will never demean nor demoralize you (Hebrews 10:12).

God will convict Believers. God will rebuke and reprove us. He will even chastise us (Hebrews 12:6; Proverbs 3:11-12). But He will never demean nor demoralize us. God does not intentionally hurt us. God loves us, and He pours that love upon us as any loving father would. Any voice that demeans you isn’t God.

3. God’s voice will never instruct you to sin (Romans 6:1-2).

God’s voice will not entice you to sin or live a sinful lifestyle. If you’re hearing a voice that’s convincing you to sin, rest assured that is not God’s voice.

4.God’s voice will never tell you someone can’t be saved (2Peter 3:9).

Salvation is God’s will for all mankind. God wants everyone who wants it to come into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must continue to pray for those who are unsaved.

5.God’s voice will never tell you to doubt His will, His Word or His way (James 1:6-7).

Doubt never comes from God. Satan had Eve question God’s instructions. The enemy uses the same tactics today, enticing us to doubt God’s instructions. The enemy wants us to doubt The Lord and disobey His voice. God’s voice will encourage us to trust in The Lord at all times even if we don’t fully understand.

6. God’s voice will never tell you to fear demons (Matthew 10:28).

God will never tell Christians to fear demons. On the contrary, the Bible tells us that we should fear(reverence) God (Psalm 115:11). Believers who are walking in the will of God don’t have any reason to be afraid of demons (1Peter 5:6-11). Thus, the voice that tells us to fear demons isn’t coming from the heart of God.

7. God’s voice will never tell you that He doesn’t love you (1 John 4:16).

Some people often struggle with the knowledge that God loves them. Some are convincing that there was something they need to do to earn God’s love. The enemy wants us to believe God doesn’t love us, the enemy wants us to believe our flaws, weakness and transgressions are too much for God to love us. God loves us despite our flaws, weaknesses and sin. However, God is calling for us to have a relationship with Him through His son Jesus Christ. We have an open invitation to commune wigth Him at any time. Thus, it is to our advantage to take the time to learn to discern His voice.

PEARLStoPONDER: The role of The Holy Spirit is to reveal God’s thoughts, teaches and guides Believers into all truth by rightly dividing the Word. Therefore, anything that is contrary to God’s truth is from the enemy.