Decision Magazine Devotion from the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association – Wednesday, 22 January 2014 “Know His Voice” by Anne Graham Lotz
Hope
Have you ever been confronted by someone who said something
like, “God told me to tell you”? Such statements often are followed by a “word
of knowledge” such as, “If you only had more faith, you would be healed.” Or,
perhaps, “If you were living right, you would not have lost your job.”
omeone, with compassion clothing his or her words, might even
say, “God has told me that He doesn’t mean for you to be unhappy. He would
never want you to stay in this miserable marriage; He wants you to be happy.”
Or, “God has told me He wants you to be healthy (or wealthy or prosperous or
problem-free).”
Such words spoken by sincere people within our circle of
Christian friends can put us into a tailspin of emotional devastation and
spiritual doubt. It is especially traumatic and confusing when those words are
uttered by someone in a position of religious leadership.
How can you and I know which voice speaks the truth, which voice
is authentic? Learning to recognize the voice of God is critical, not only for
our own peace of mind but also for developing a personal relationship with Him
and for living a life pleasing to Him.
Go deeper: “How to Know God’s Voice” by Anne Graham Lotz
Have you ever been confronted by someone who said something
like, “God told me to tell you”? Such statements often are followed by a “word
of knowledge” such as, “If you only had more faith, you would be healed.” Or,
perhaps, “If you were living right, you would not have lost your job.”
Someone, with compassion clothing his or her words, might even
say, “God has told me that He doesn’t mean for you to be unhappy. He would never
want you to stay in this miserable marriage; He wants you to be happy.” Or,
“God has told me He wants you to be healthy (or wealthy or prosperous or
problem-free).”
Such words spoken by sincere people within our circle of
Christian friends can put us into a tailspin of emotional devastation and
spiritual doubt. It is especially traumatic and confusing when those words are
uttered by someone in a position of religious leadership.
How can you and I know which voice speaks the truth, which voice
is authentic? Learning to recognize the voice of God is critical, not only for
our own peace of mind but also for developing a personal relationship with Him
and for living a life pleasing to Him. Yet how can we be sure the voice we hear
is His? Jesus answers that question using the illustration of the relationship
between the shepherd and his sheep.
Read John 10: Jesus the Good Shepherd
1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the
sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper
opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead
of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not
follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the
voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did
not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the
gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the
sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be
saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.
THE AUTHENTIC VOICE IS BIBLICAL
What does God say about the importance of determining which
voice is authentic among the cacophony of voices clamoring for our attention?
See Deuteronomy 18: 18 I will raise up for them a prophet[a] like you from among
their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet,[b] who shall
speak to them everything that I command. 19 Anyone who does not heed the words
that the prophet[c] shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20
But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak
in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet
shall die.”
Footnotes:
a. Deuteronomy 18:18 Or prophets
b. Deuteronomy 18:18 Or mouths of the prophets
c. Deuteronomy 18:19 Heb he and Galatians 1: There Is No Other
Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who
called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not
that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want
to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel[a] from heaven
should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that
one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims
to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!
Footnotes:
a. Galatians 1:8 Or a messenger.
What event in John 9: A Man Born Blind Receives Sight
1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His
disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was
born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was
born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4 We[a] must work the
works of him who sent me[b] while it is day; night is coming when no one can
work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he
had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread
the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”
(which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The
neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this
not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others
were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”
10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The
man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam
and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him,
“Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been
blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.
15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He
said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of
the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the
sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?”
And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say
about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had
received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received
his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How
then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son,
and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees,
nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for
himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for
the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus[c] to be the
Messiah[d] would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said,
“He is of age; ask him.”
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been
blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a
sinner.” 25 He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do
know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do
to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you
already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you
also want to become his disciples?” 28 Then they reviled him, saying, “You are
his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to
Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man
answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from,
and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but
he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the
world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born
blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered
him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they
drove him out.
Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found
him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”[e] 36 He answered, “And who
is he, sir?[f] Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “Lord,[g]
I believe.” And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for
judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become
blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely
we are not blind, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would
not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Footnotes:
a. John 9:4 Other ancient authorities read I
b. John 9:4 Other ancient authorities read us
c. John 9:22 Gk him
d. John 9:22 Or the Christ
e. John 9:35 Other ancient authorities read the Son of God
f. John 9:36 Sir and Lord translate the same Greek word
g. John 9:38 Sir and Lord translate the same Greek word.
revealed that the shepherds, the religious leaders of Israel, spoke with false
voices as Jesus describes?
In John 10: Jesus the Good Shepherd
1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the
sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper
opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead
of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not
follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the
voice of strangers.” what are some of the criteria that Jesus gave for
determining a false shepherd? A true shepherd? Give a practical application for
each criterion.
THE AUTHENTIC VOICE IS PERSONAL
According to John 10: 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for
him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads
them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the
sheep follow him because they know his voice. what is the basis of the
relationship between the shepherd and his sheep?
In the parable Jesus gave, who is the Shepherd? Who are the
sheep? What is the Shepherd’s voice today? How do we, the sheep, hear His
voice? Give an example of a time when you have heard the Shepherd’s voice.
According to John 10: 5 They will not follow a stranger, but
they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” why do
the sheep run from the false shepherd? Give an example from your own life.
What is absolutely necessary if you and I are to discern between
the voices of the true and the false shepherds?
How does the reaction of the religious leaders in verse 6 reveal
their identity as false shepherds?
THE AUTHENTIC VOICE IS POWERFUL
What is the Good Shepherd able to do that the false shepherd
cannot? See John 10: 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the
gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the
sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be
saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly.
How does Jesus’ claim disqualify the pluralism of our day? See
John 10: 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the
gate for the sheep.
Give phrases from the following verses that confirm the
uniqueness of Jesus’ claim: John 1: The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into
being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come
into being, 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the
world.[a]
Footnotes:
a. John 1:9 Or He was the true light that enlightens everyone
coming into the world, 14 And the Word became flesh and lived
among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[a] full
of grace and truth.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:14 Or the
Father’s only Son, 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[a] who is
close to the Father’s heart,[b] who has made him known.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:18 Other ancient authorities read It is an only Son,
God, or It is the only Son
b. John 1:18 Gk bosom; John 3: 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night
and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God;
for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”
Footnotes:
a. John 3:2 Gk him, 15 that whoever believes in him may have
eternal life.[a]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn
the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who
believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned
already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Footnotes:
a. John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes
with verse 15; John 14: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.; Acts 4: 12 There is
salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among
mortals by which we must be saved.”.
What practical steps will you take to make sure that the voice
you are listening to is that of the Good Shepherd? D ©2003 Anne Graham Lotz
Prayer
Dear Father, thank You that You do not keep a distance from us,
but are always near. As we spend time with You in prayer, study of Your Word
and worship, please teach us to discern Your voice from all others. In Jesus’
Name. Amen.
From “How to Know God’s Voice” by Anne Graham Lotz, Decision
magazine, January 2014 ©2003 Anne Graham Lotz
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