TOPIC:   DON’T FOLLOW THE VOICE OF A STRANGER

SCRIPTURE: “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (John 10:4-5)

In this world, there are two types of voices: the voice of God and the voice of the devil. Any voice that speaks to a person or introduces thoughts that go against God’s commandments is a voice of a stranger, which is the voice of the devil.

The voice of a stranger is often carnal, fleshly, lustful, envious, and sinful. Whenever a thought arises in your heart that poses a danger to your spiritual life, know that it comes from the devil. It is crucial to counter that thought with the Blood of Jesus. If you do not, you might find yourself acting against your will and doing what you despise. The devil implanted the thought of betrayal in Judas Iscariot, leading him to follow through with that betrayal despite prophecies foretelling it.

Jesus said, “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.” And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. “And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, ‘That thou doest, do quickly.'” (John 13:26-27)

Consider our first parents, Adam and Eve. When they were in the Garden of Eden, the devil deceived Eve into eating from the tree that the Lord had commanded them not to. They yielded to the voice of the devil and ate the forbidden fruit, which opened their eyes and led to their expulsion from the garden. What kind of voice are you yielding to? Is it the voice of God or the voice of the devil?

Today, many Christians have strayed from their faith and adopted ungodly lifestyles, dressing, and behaviors because of yielding to the strange voice of the devil. It is a strange voice that leads a person to commit fornication or adultery against God’s will. It prompts retaliation with harmful actions or words. It encourages malice, pride, cheating in exams, and falsifying figures to steal at work. It is the same voice that tempts individuals to watch pornography, engage in masturbation, lie, and visit inappropriate websites.

Remember, the devil has three primary missions: to steal, to kill, and to destroy destinies, futures, and eternal lives (John 10:10). It is time to be spiritually aware of the things happening in our environment so that we can easily discern the voice of God from that of a stranger.

Lastly, do not follow the voice of a stranger. Such voices lead to disaster, frustration, misery, and condemnation. May you not conclude your Christian journey in the same way Judas Iscariot did. Instead, you will reach the end of your journey saying, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

PRAYER

1. Father, in any way I have been following the voice of a stranger, help me to turn back now in the name of Jesus.

2. Father, grant me a discerning spirit to distinguish between Your voice and the voice of a stranger.