The Voice Within

Scriptural Text: ;

Roman was destroyed by the enemy within, in light of a strong military, powerful government, and blooming economic system. It was weaken by the flesh of men.

The history of Israel is one of repeated spiritual failure. Under the leadership of Moses, the judges, and the kings, God’s people repeatedly turned away from Him. Their cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, and restoration is most clearly seen in the Old Testament book of Judges. Again and again, God disciplined His people. Again and again, they turned away from Him.

Finally, after generations of warnings, God lifted His hand of protection from His people and they were invaded by the Babylonians. Jerusalem was destroyed, thousands were slain, and the survivors were taken captive. For seventy years, God’s people lived in a foreign land. Then, just as God had promised, their oppressors released them from captivity. A remnant returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple.

God’s people had failed miserably; consequently, He had disciplined them harshly. Now, His judgment was complete, and He offered the people forgiveness and restoration. This is the setting for ,

is a prayer from the godly people of Israel for those in their nation who were still living in disobedience to the Lord. It is preserved in God’s Word to guide people in every generation. This is, When You Fail and Are Disciplined by God, 85:1-13.

1. Remember God’s past mercy (vv. 1-3).

2. Ask God to restore His people—to set aside His anger and judgment once again (vv. 4-7).

3. Listen carefully to God’s Word (vv. 8-13).

The psalmist believed the promises of God, that He would answer the people’s earnest prayers. Filled with great confidence, he proclaimed that God would speak to His burdened people. Therefore, he pledged to hear, to listen carefully and obey, everything God had to say.

“A minister speaking that day said: “We assume that if a man has heard the Christian gospel he has been enlightened. But that is a false assumption. Just to have heard a man preach truth from the Bible does not necessarily mean that you have been enlightened.”

“A minister speaking that day said: “We assume that if a man has heard the Christian gospel he has been enlightened. But that is a false assumption. Just to have heard a man preach truth from the Bible does not necessarily mean that you have been enlightened.”

God’s voice must speak from within to bring enlightenment. It must be the Spirit of God speaking soundlessly within.… Tozer

[W]hen we fail to hear His voice, it is not because He is not speaking so much as that we are not listening. JAS014"

Why? The answer is given in the parable, The Shepherd and His Sheep: False vs. True Teachers ()

the shepherd sheepfold symbolizes the place where the sheep is kept(v.1)

1.  The sheepfold (v.1). Believers are kept: in the church; in heaven; in the Kingdom of God; in salvation; in spiritual sight; in spiritual deliverance from darkness...

2.  The false shepherd (v.1). Those who try to find ways to get in other than the front door. They are classed as a thief (Judas), and a robber (Barabbas). , ,

The false shepherd is...

• a thief: a seducer and a deceiver, a crafty and dishonest man, a man who will use any means to get into the sheepfold and steal the sheep.

• a robber: a man who will use violence and cruelty and will destroy and devour if necessary to get into the sheepfold.

(NKJV) 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

(NKJV) 1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord.

4he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

(NKJV) 1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord.

5useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.

2Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord.

3.  The true shepherd(Jesus Christ)(v.2-3). The Shepherd of the Owner (God). He is known by the Porter (God or the Holy Spirit) [, , , , )

(NKJV) 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

(NKJV) 27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

4.  Lesson (v.4-5) Believers trust the voice, the Word of Christ, because they know His voice. (, , , , Jn 1:1-3)

(NKJV) 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

(NKJV) 37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

(NKJV) 13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

(NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

(NKJV)That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—

the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—

The sheep knows Jesus voices, that Jesus is the Way ().

3that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Strange voices, Its sound and words are different.

Note: The strange voice can be the voice of... • false religion • false science • false psychology • false philosophy • humanism • materialism • worldliness • fame (, )

(NKJV) 27For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

(NKJV) 27For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

27For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

(NKJV) 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

May Jesus enter into us and clear out and cast away all hindrances of soul and body, to the end that we may be one with him here upon earth and there in heaven. So help us, God. BME047