Voices

In Scripture we are told to test all things (1 Thess 5:21).  Jesus reassured us that His sheep know His voice (John 10:4) and again in verse 14 the Lord tells us, "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."  Yet today there are many who claim to be followers of Jesus, who claim to know His voice, and count themselves among the saved, a child of God who do not know Jesus as Lord and twist the Scriptures.  In addition there are many who are following the teaching of these men and women blindly, on a course straight to hell.  I am not writing this to judge who is and who isn't of the family of God, rather I'm writing this because upon taking a closer look at what some pastors are proclaiming to be truth is in fact false, deceptive teaching and the Scriptures say (Mat 24:11), "...many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."  Because they regard the man so highly they aren't opening the Bible to test his or her words against God's word or are simply too lazy to read the word for themselves.  

When Paul visited Berea he reported, (Acts 17:11) "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.  The Bereans were checking the Scriptures to test what Paul was teaching against the word of God.  This was a commendable act because Paul is a man capable of sin like all other men.  As followers of Christ the word of God is our only measure of truth.  

Joshua 1:8 "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 19: 7-10a The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

However, many regard the reading of Scripture tedious, boring and dull.  Therefore they go to church to have their ears tickled and are unaware of how far from God and His truth they really are.  

Proverbs 9 warns us of the voices that will be calling to us.  There are only two, the voice of wisdom and the voice of folly and they sound very much alike.  Let's look at them both.

Proverbs 9:1-6  The voice of wisdom:

Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding  she says to him, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:13-18 The voice of folly:

A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, "Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.

What I find interesting about these two voices is they both call from the same "pulpit" the highest places.  The false teachers of today stand in a pulpit just as the teachers filled with the Holy Spirit, called by God and equipped by God to teach His word.  Both pulpits are in a building called a church. 

The second thing I find interesting is the people they are calling, they are the simple and as we read in the Psalm 19 it is the word of God that makes a the simple wise.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7).  If it is the word of God that makes the simple wise then without it we have no tool with which to measure truth or folly and no Person with which to guide us in truth.  

What is the difference between the two messages, it is the direction in which believing that message will take you.  Without the Lord, without His word to give us wisdom we will surely be led right to the pit of hell.  "But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell."

The Lord wishes that none would perish, that all would come to repentance and life.  John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Proverbs 9 declares there are two voices that will be calling for us to follow them, one is wisdom leading to life and the other is folly leading to hell.  Proverbs 9 also tells us the solution to the problem we have, "How do we know which is the voice of wisdom?"  Verse 10-11 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.

Proverbs 3:26 For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

If you are tempted to decide you do not need the Lord and you can determine for yourself which voice is the way of life you are already deceived, for it is the Lord that gives wisdom and without the word of God to guide you, you are among the lost.  Do not rely on a man or a woman to tell you the truth alone but search out the Scriptures to determine whether their words are wisdom or folly.  Proverbs 9:12 is clear, If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.  Christ is our mediator (1 Tim 2:5), it is His blood that washes our sin and gives us life and citizenship in heaven (Eph 1:3-14) (Phil 3:20) (Col 1:9-14), to refuse Him is to stand on your own merit on that day of judgement(2 Cor 5:9-21).

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Following Jesus,

CC