A young man met with a man of God for counselling. According to him, God had told him to choose any lady out of three ladies for a wife. After taking time to listen to him, the pastor asked him; “How sure are you that this is from God?” His response revealed his ignorance; “God cannot be wrong.” The man of God replied him; “Yes, God cannot be wrong. But you can be wrong.”
Friend, God cannot be wrong, but you can be wrong (1 Samuel 16:6-7). Most times, people are wrong in their receiving. Except you constantly expose yourself to the ministry of the word and have someone that constantly speaks into your life, the likelihood that your receiving is wrong is very high. The ministry of the word is what stabilises us in the ministry of the Spirit (Psalm 119:89).
What many people do not realise is that there are many voices in the realm of the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:10). When someone says he heard a voice, we need to check the source of that voice (1 John 4:1). Sometimes, it is not even the voice of the devil you are hearing. It could be the voice of your flesh, circumstances, sentiments, prejudices, the environment, people, etc.
One of the ways you know that someone is not hearing the voice of God is when what they claim to hear violates divine order in their lives (1 Corinthians 14:40). For example, as a church member, you cannot claim that God spoke to you to stay away from church service (Hebrews 10:25). Your pastor cannot give an instruction to the flock, and you claim to have a contrary instruction.
It is the sheep that refuses to hear the voice of the shepherd that becomes a victim to the wolves (Matthew 10:16, John 10:16). You would notice that before the wolve destroys a sheep, it would first distract it. This distraction often comes via strange voices. Be careful when the voice you are hearing does not align with the established structures and relationships in your life (John 10:4-5).
Divine order is superior to divine leading (Titus 1:5). Until you align yourself with divine order, you cannot be safely led. When you don’t study and obey the scriptures, there is no guarantee that the voice you are hearing is from God (Luke 4:4). God always works by His word through Spirit and by His Spirit through His word. Remember, God cannot be wrong. But you can be wrong.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria