Discerning God’s Voice

The handiwork of God and the evil deeds of the “accuser of the brethren” are oftentimes easily distinguished – but not always … remember satan can deceive us as an angel of light! However, we can usually trace the finger prints of God through the after-affects of His work amongst us … and likewise for the activity of the devil. Here are some indicators that you might find useful in recognizing God’s presence, and the opposite sort of “aroma” left by satan.

[Keep in mind that these are not absolute predictors, just guide posts!]

God satan

Life death

Love fear

Faith doubt

Peace aggression/ warfare/ trouble

Joy depression

Power fate

Harmony strife

Beauty ashes

Rejoicing mourning

Praise heaviness

Sound mind confusion

Encouragement contention

Acceptance rejection

Reconciliation destruction

Healing affliction

Compassion hard-hearted

Wisdom/ Knowledge deaf/ dumb

Discernment blindness

Natural designs homosexuality

Delivered bound

Innocent/ Normal growth cancerous/ abnormal growth

Trust worry

Completion competition

In a teaching given at a mission’s recent Int’l Prayer Summit on the subject of “Listening to God”, the following hand-out was distributed to help people develop a “listening heart” to the voice of God.

God satan

I. The Nature of the Approach (John 10:1ff)

Invited/ wanted uninvited/ un-wanted

Leads/ invites forces/ pushes

Personal/ by name impersonal

II. The Content of the Message

Correction (Heb 12:6-12) condemnation of personal worth

Conviction/ Specific (John 16:8-9) condemnation – general

Merciful (Matt 9:13) unmerciful

Truthful (John 14:6+17/ 17:17) experiential

Inner solution/ character change (II Chron 16:9a) outer solution/ circumstance change

Peace making/ relationship building (Heb 12:14) revenge/ disrupting relationships

Forgiveness (Matt 6:12+14/ 18:21-22) judging/ bitterness

# III. The Relevance of the Message

Now (Matt 6:34) worry about the future

Practical (John 2:5) impractical

Ordinary (Mark 4:31-32) sensational

Simple/ Definite (Eph 3:8-9) complicated/ confusing

# IV. The Effects of the Content

Hope (Rom 15:13) hopelessness

Peace (Phil 4:7) worry

Faith (Rom 1:17) unbelief

Encouragement/ Comfort (II Cor 1:3-4) discouragement

Understanding others (Prov 13:15) despising others

Wisdom (James 1:5) ignorance/ foolishness

Warren D. Carter

Discerning God

22.10.98