We get to hear voices and noises. Noises in this blog post are sound waves that disturb and distract us from hearing the voice. The voice is what you hear from God.
What you hear can push you out from the Garden.
In the very beginning of the Bible we have the book of Genesis. In the book, we see after God created Adam and later he created Eve. God spoke to Adam. Then Adam told Eve God’s instruction. But Satan in the form of a serpent spoke to Eve. The serpent twisted the truth spoken by God to Adam and Adam to Eve and tempted her to eat the fruit from the tree of good and evil. Is not often temptation often glorifying the short term and the quick and easy option. Eve used logic and reasoning and decided to follow the crafty voice of the serpent. Eve considered it wise in her own eyes to follow the enticement of the serpent rather than following the instruction and truth told by God to Adam and what Adam had told Eve.
Adam and Eve were banished from the garden. They could not continue to eat the abundant supply of fruits and vegetables that were growing in the garden of Eden. They could not dwell in the garden God had placed them in, they could not walk with God and hear his voice.
The voice you hear defines you. It will shape your victories.
David was a shepherd boy. But his father sent him on assignment. He was asked to take food for his brothers and enquire about them. He obeyed his father. Placing the sheep under his care in secure care. He saw his brothers and other Israelites drenched in fear. They had heard the narrative of the Goliath, the giant who was their enemy. They not only heard it once, they believed it, they imagined themselves getting defeated. They were so very prepared for defeat they did not want to try, they were very absolutely certain. Fear gripped them so tight, they believed the enemy’s words totally, that fear chained them to inaction.
David although he was smaller in stature than many of the other Israel soldiers, and even smaller than his brothers, he also heard the noise of Goliath. But the identity given to him by His God was an identity he believed in and lived in and thought about. He had not worked on his identity after seeing the giant Goliath. Every day, probably every hour he kept thinking about his identity given by God. David exercised his identity daily even when he was taking care of his sheep. So when he had to encounter the lion and the bear, he was already strong enough with determination and strength of the mind.
The God given identity you practise daily will make you prepared any time you face enemies like Goliath’s. The voice of God defining your identity should be remembered and played again and again, expressing and articulating the attributes of the God given identity time and again. Key to being prepared at any time.
David spoke his identity and the mighty and powerful identity of his God. David reminded Goliath of the weakness of his identity in front of David’s God’s might and power. The stone and the sling in the hands of David became powerful. David knew that he belonged to God who was almighty and all powerful. That was enough.
Your weapons of war, oratory or skill with words may seem weak against the enemies weapons. But what matters for victory is that Lord God is with you, empowering you to victory.
Hear and ponder to bring the fruit.
Mary was visited by Angel Gabriel. She heard his voice say that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bring forth a son, Jesus Christ. She chose to ponder what God spoke through the Angel Gabriel. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Mary had remembered what the angel told many times every day. She did not understand because this was never heard off – never ever. She asked God, what did this mean? How would it be? God is faithful, He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is always with us. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ( Hebrews 13:5b NKJV).
As an answer to her prayer, Mary was told by the Angel of her Aunt Elizabeth who was old and had conceived in her old age. This was a powerful testimony and encouragement to her. Mary immediately went to her and stayed a considerable number of days and was encouraged in her faith journey.
Due to a census Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem. But there was no inn. Only the stable for the lamb was available for her to give birth. Because Mary had kept pondering what the angel told, Mary did not take the noise of the situation and circumstances – although they were loud and smelly to disturb and distract her from the voice of God through the angel which was played in her mind again and again. No, nothing could disturb her. Mary was steadfast in her mind. She was determined. She knew the voice she heard was precious. Only that mattered. By repeatedly remembering it – she could silence all other noises that were only distractions to be ignored for her.
Herod the emperor was wanting to kill all young baby boys. She had to go to Egypt with Mary and the infant. Then she came back with child Jesus and Joseph. All these troubles and difficulties and travels could not disturb her or make her doubt her mission statement she received from the angel Gabriel.
When you hear the voice of God. He will guide you through all circumstances. Mary’s determination was strong, she was steadfast to be loyal to the mission God had given her through the angel. The voice she heard and kept pondering empowered her to bring fruit and complete God’s purpose for her life. He will give you testimonies to encourage you.
Would God find you faithful? Have you been faithful with what He has already spoken to you? Reflect and examine your life, before you conclude.
The Syrian Kings servants who spoke Hebrew
Sennacherib, the Syrian King, was powerful and mighty. He won all the wars he fought. He defeated his enemies. He decided to attack Hezekiah the King of Judah. Sennacherib sent his officers to speak to the citizens of King of Judah. The purpose of the message was to make the people of Judah fearful of war against the Syrian King. The Syrian King desired that even without going into war the Kingdom of Judah would surrender. Thankfully the people of Judah had decided to hear King Hezekiah only. They turned a deaf ear to what Sennacherib’s messengers told.
Sennacherib did not give up. He wrote letters to revile the Lord God of Israel. ( Read 2 Chronicles 32:17). He then sent his people to speak with a loud noise in Hebrew – the language of the people of Judah. Then they called out with a loud voice in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, that they might take the city. ( 2 Chronicles 32:18 NKJV)
People of Judah choose to only consider what King Hezekiah had already spoken. “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.( 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NKJV)
And we know that the Lord sent an angel and cut down all mighty men of the King of Syria. So the King of Syria had to shamefully return back to his kingdom. The King was killed by one of his children. The 32nd chapter referred above is good to be read and celebrated.
Do you hold strong to the voice of God, his angles, his Word, his prophecy for you. The way you hold tightly to it, you will find the Lord ordaining your victories.
The elections, the wars and other crisis
Whatever the anxiety or circumstance you face, hold tight to what you hear from the Lord. Let His Word empower you.
