John 10:4-5
King James Version (KJV)
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Good morning friends. I bring you greetings in the name of our Awesome Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was having a discussion with one of my FB Friends yesterday. She said she was watching the TV show called The Voice (now I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this already, if not, hang on, it’s coming). This show is where there have judges sitting in a chair, but their backs are turned to the person who is singing. If they like what they ‘hear’ then they will turn their chair around and try to get them to join their team. If they’re not really interested, then they don’t ‘turn around.’ She said there was a particular young man, about 15, who said he got his voice from God. At first she thought that he made the statement before he started singing and no one turned around, but actually he made the statement after he finished singing. She said the judges were saying ‘they wished they had turned around’ I said well it’s their loss. Immediately it came to me ‘people are going to wish they had turned around when they heard THE VOICE’
How many times have we set out to do something that wasn’t right or good and you heard ‘the Voice?’ The Holy Spirit convicted you because if you followed whatever it was whether it was going to a party, hanging out with certain people, saying certain things, the consequences would not work in your favor. Well this TV show mimics life in many ways. The Bible states in Hebrews 3:15-19 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
How will we know God’s Voice? By reading, praying, studying and seeking Him in everything we do. Putting Him first. He ‘speaks’ to us in many ways. He was speaking to me as I typed this message, because the teacher must learn the lesson first. He speaks to us through scriptures, a post on social media, yes God knows what we put on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. He can read. He speaks through teachers and billboards. It could be something so small as a piece of paper on a table, a message written on a napkin. So no matter where you are or what you are doing or even think you’re big and bad enough to do, at some point you heard THE VOICE! And if you’re still not sure, pray for confirmation because there are many ‘like voices’ but there is only ONE voice that will lead you into his heavenly presence and eternal rest.
I don’t want to be like those judges. I don’t want to wish I had ‘turned around’ when I heard THE VOICE. God has already proven Himself to me many times. He has been faithful when I didn’t even have faith the size of a mustard seed. He has given me a purpose and many avenues in which to fulfill that purpose. I want to encourage and motivate people to hold on to life! God is calling us, many may not be 100% sure, but those of us who are, it’s time to walk in your callings, your gifts, and your talents. People are hurting and in despair and they are waiting on many of us to walk by faith and not by sight. They are waiting on our testimonies of trials and tribulations turned in to triumphs and victory. Don’t let the day come when you say ‘I wish I had turned around.’
9/24/2013
Comments
Amazing Post!
Great post. How awesome it is that Jesus would stop to save just one sheep even though He has a multitude. "Be still and know that I Am God." Thanks for sharing. Liked and Shared.
Sometimes we just have to stop the busy, busy and listen for the Lord to speak. Thanks for sharing this, Carla.
In John 10:27 this scripture is saying that people who obey God's commandments and does his will on earth, God above will know because he can read our hearts. After all he gave us free will to make a decision to do what is right. Sadly, some people choose to do wrong thing in life and will suffer the consequences of their actions. That's why this scripture says I will know them and they will follow me. Simply put, you can talk the talk, and you must walk it too. I enjoyed reading your post and happy to share it for you.