11But My people would not hearken to My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. 13Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! Psalms 81:11, 13 (AMPC)
Right from the start in the garden, life has always been about who we are hearing, what voice we are listening to. Adam and Eve listened to the voice of the serpent – the deceiver and plunged the entire human race and creation into chaos, death and destruction.
But there’s the voice of truth. It’s the voice of life. It’s the voice of peace. This is the voice of the Lord our God. He’s always speaking, calling, instructing, and guiding. He so much desires that we listen to Him and walk in His ways.
God so longs for us to listen to His voice because He desires the best in life for us. He delights in our wellbeing and prosperity.
He tells us the results and benefits of listening to His voice. It’s a walk of victory and triumph. It’s a life of provision and satisfaction with God’s best.
Psalms 81:13-16 (GNT) 13How I wish my people would listen to me; how I wish they would obey me! 14I would quickly defeat their enemies and conquer all their foes. 15Those who hate me would bow in fear before me; their punishment would last forever. 16But I would feed you with the finest wheat and satisfy you with wild honey.”
In John 10:1-5 Jesus talks about Himself as the Shepherd of the sheep. He says the sheep hear and recognize His voice and they follow Him. He calls them by Name and leads them out. They follow him because they know His voice. They do not follow strangers but they flee from them because they do not know or recognize the voice of strangers.
The voice of the good shepherd is truth, life, peace, encouragement, comfort, exhortation, correction, affirmation, warning and edification.
The thought, word, idea, preaching, teaching, prophecy, vision, belief and ministry that brings forth the above mentioned things is the voice of the Good Shepherd, the voice of God.
The voice of strangers who are thieves and robbers is deception, manipulation, death, guilt, condemnation, fear, discouragement, self-doubt, worry, the sense of unworthiness, lack, and confusion.
Every thought, word, idea, preaching, teaching, prophecy, vision, belief, and ministry that brings forth the above mentioned things is the voice of robbers and thieves, the voice of the serpent, the devil. So now which voice are you listening to? Be wise, flee from the voice of strangers, listen to and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd that you may live.