The volume of this world, people, media and even voices in the church are very loud in this season. Instant access to information through social media is amplifying the sound of so many voices in the earth, leaving a generation wondering what voices are of God and what voices are not.
The Word of God clearly reveals that we have a biblical mandate to walk in discernment in the last days. 1 John 4:5-6 says, “They are of the world, and therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are of God, and whoever knows God listens to us. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
I believe that it is absolutely imperative that every blood-bought believer understands the Word of God makes it clear how we can confirm what is the voice of God and what is not the voice of God. There are many ways to test whether what you are hearing is of God, but allow me the opportunity to give you three quick ways to test.
God’s voice must align with the Word of God.
You may not have an exact Scripture that says exactly what you heard from God, but what you hear must align with the Word of God. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words; they are silver tried in an earthen furnace refined seven times.” This sounds so simple but I believe that one of the traps of the enemy in the last days is to tempt every blood-bought believer to lose sight of the fundamentals of the faith, and the end result is the spirit of error. When we think we heard from God, we must guard against pride that persuades us not to allow the Word of God to be the measuring rod.
God’s voice can be confirmed with godly counsel.
It’s so exciting when we hear from God, but one thing I have noticed about the voice of God is that it can be easily confirmed by those I trust around me. Do not be afraid to share what you believe you heard from God with those around you who you trust. Humble yourself and allow them to be a confirming or disaffirming voice in your life. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 13:10 (NKJV) says, “By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.”
God’s voice will be accompanied by peace.
Two powerful questions must be considered when discerning the voice of God: “Do I have peace?” and “Can my peace stand the test of time?” Sometimes as you are testing what you heard, especially when making big decisions, you should consider waiting a day or a few days to be certain that what you think you heard from God is equipped with sustainable peace. Philippians 4:7 (MEV) says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
