THE VOICE OF GOD AND THE VOICE OF THE DEVIL

The Voice of God and the Voice of the Devil There are two roads in life, two directions, two voices, two paths, but only one journey, with signs and warnings ahead of us. If you had the opportunity to ponder your life today and look back and reflect on where you are standing, which highway of life would you enter and what signs were ahead? Which exits did you miss where you were supposed to get off? I believe that if you look hard enough into your journey, you will know that there are two voices trying to direct your path: the voice of God and the voice of the devil. Look at how different these two voices are. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV). One voice leads to victory regardless of the potholes you encounter on the highways of life. Another voice comes to delay, steal, and alter the plans and purposes of your destiny and how it’s supposed to play out in your lifetime. That other voice brings torment, sickness, confusion, fear, doubt, unbelief, letdowns, entrapments, delays, chaos, oppression, depression, suicide, even sometimes murder in the journey called life. That voice will steal your life away, regardless of who you are. It will give you the worst deck of cards that you could ever imagine and put you on the road to spiritual death, to the point of no return. Caution: The Bible tells us that Satan can appear as an angel of light, and increasingly I see him using tactics to mimic the true Light—Jesus Christ— through New Age practices. Many times, people will fall into the trap of speaking to their “inner guide” or “spirit guide” or “ascended self.” This garbage goes by a lot of different names, but the reality is that they’re entertaining familiar spirits: Spirits who speak loving, self-affirming words to them and teach them “higher knowledge.” My point is that you may hear sweet words and think, “this has to be God,” because the devil likes to mimic everything God does, but with a perverted twist. If a person continues on this path, the end result will be ugly. Eventually those spirits’ true colors will show up, and the person’s bondage will be complete. Anyone who practices “channeling” of spirit guides needs serious deliverance. This is a form of witchcraft and demonic possession. Don’t be fooled, people. Ask God to help you discern good from evil. Holy angels do not have ongoing conversations with people; they may appear from time to time to deliver a message or encouraging word (we see this in the Bible), but if any “angel” tells you it’s from God and wants to have a “walking/ talking/guiding” relationship with you—it’s a demonic spirit, pure and simple. Let me take you back to the place where it all began—the voice of God comforted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where they had His sweet fellowship in their lives, day after day. But an interruption took place in the midst of the Garden, a second voice that was pure poison, and that voice came from the serpent, the devil himself, lying through his teeth. Here’s a recap of the encounter that took place in the Garden of Eden: But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5 ESV). Prior to this conversation, God gave an order of trust, and told Adam and Eve that they could eat from any tree in the Garden except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. I believe the reason God allowed this, and gave this order, was to give them freedom of will and build trust between God and man—which brings us into a pure relationship with God, based on those principles. So here Adam and Eve had two trees, or really two opportunities to choose right from wrong; because if they disobeyed God’s one command, He said they would surely die, which refers to spiritual death—and eventually results in physical death. The devil, in his craftiness, seized the opportunity to turn man against God. How did he do this? By trickery of speech and by twisting God’s words. That caused the Fall of man, and this has affected us down through the generations; until now, we think we have become like God, making our own decisions. Not only has the Fall decayed our lives and our families, but this entire world, by causing us to play God. But in God’s mercy, He spared Adam and Eve, by killing an animal in their place. This showed that someone innocent had to die on their behalf, which is a foreshadowing of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Sin came into the world through Adam’s sinful choice, but redemption was coming right after it. God already had a plan of salvation in motion. And today, as rebellious people, we have rejected that gift of redemption, and the devil laughs and is still conquering the opportunity for us to not only play God, but to keep spiritual death in humanity. Doors are also opened to demonic activity in the lives of those who reject God’s way of salvation. This is how spiritual warfare was born. God has given the Church the victory against the enemy and his kingdom. It’s up to us to reinforce that victory. Which Voice Will You Choose? Since that day in the Garden, down through the generations, many people have harkened to that voice of Satan. We have played a game to be God, thinking that we can be our own God, knowing right from wrong or good from evil. We have come down to nothing, a life of bad decisions, a life of emptiness and sorrow, but we don’t have to stay there. I come to bring you good news; there is another voice—the one true Voice—and His name is King Jesus. He is the only way out from any nightmare you are facing today. It’s time to turn to the Cross of Jesus Christ. Life is too short. “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14 NKJV). Take a moment to examine yourself. You only have one life to live. If you knew you had only five years, ten years, twenty years, or even just days left of your life, what decisions would you make? Would you allow the devil to steal your life away? If you had one trip to make to the Post Office of Eternity and you asked the clerk for a change of address form, which address would you put on the form? Would it be Heaven or hell? In the Gospel of John during the crucifixion, there were two thieves on the cross; one repented and Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise,” which means Heaven, not purgatory. The other thief harkened to the wrong voice, and his outcome wasn’t a pretty one, as he ended up in hell. I leave you with this thought. If you are here today hearing this, this is your second chance. The God I know is a God of mercy, a God of grace, and a God of love. This is your second chance. So please fill out this form and choose the way to your new home for eternity. CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM: First Name: ____________ Last Name: ____________ Current Address: _________________________________ Earth—Funeral Home of Your Choice: ___________________ Final Destination: Heaven or Hell? __________________ Heaven is a place of peace, joy, love, a place of no sickness or disease, no hurt, no torment, no pain, no tears, worship as you never heard on earth—a place where we won’t ever say goodbye because no one ever dies, and the greatest joy is to be with Jesus. Hell, which was created for the devil and his demons, is a place where you never see your loved ones again. It is a place of lowliness, torment, rejection, and despair—a place where your thoughts will remind you of how many times you rejected the free gift of salvation. In hell, souls are ripped apart by the tormentors, sorrow reigns forever, the smell of death (sulfur) pervades the atmosphere, and the only song you will ever hear is the wailing and screams of those who are there forever. There is no hope of ever escaping hell, because of the decisions that got you there. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV) Which voice will you listen to? What will be your eternal destination? Lets pray! Play “voice of truth”