God, Is That You?
It is our desire to hear the voice of God. The problem is that there are many voices in this world, and it seems that much of the time, it is the voice of the enemy that is talking the most and the loudest. There are principles outlined in God’s Word that will help us distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of the enemy. It is time to silence the enemy so we can hear clearly the voice of Truth.
KEY TEXT: “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice” (John 10:4,5 NLT).
One of the ways to know what God is saying is to determine what. He is not saying (I Corinthians 14:33). There are certain things that are just not from the Lord such as anxiety and doubt. The enemy knows that if he can plant seeds of worry into your mind you will become unsettled and exhausted making listening to God more difficult. The voice of God will always encourage you to have faith (II Timothy I:7; Romans 10:17).
Another way that the enemy seeks to destroy the hearts of men is through condemnation. That voice of condemnation is not from God (Romans 8:1). God does not condemn us, but rather, through the work of the Holy Spirt, He brings us into conviction (John 3:17-21). There is a big difference. Condemnation pushes us away from God through hopelessness and discouragement, where conviction brings us closer to God through repentance. It is Satan who accuses us (Revelation 12:10). It is God who convicts us, leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
When God speaks, He will never contradict His Word (Psalms 18:30). Through His Word, the Lord guides and directs us, corrects and instructs us, encourages us and expresses His love for us (II Timothy 3:15-17). If we hear a voice that is contrary to what we have read in Holy Scriptures–be it an inner-voice or through a person–then it is imperative that we do not take heed to that voice (I Timothy 4:1,2; I John 4:1-3).
Read Proverbs 30:5. Every word of God is pure. What He speaks to us will be pure and beneficial. Remember the three C’s: Confusion, Condemnation, and Contradiction. If any one of these is a resounding voice in your life then it is not God talking to you...it is the enemy (John 10:10)
Welcome to The Church of God in Ocala!
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Come and join us for International Youth Camp!
December for many states is bitterly cold and dreadfully boring for students on their Winter Break, which is why The International Youth Department has moved Youth Camp to the week of December 21-27 in sunny Florida where kids and adults can spend an entire week swimming, playing in the outdoors, enjoying a major theme park in Orlando and more....will you join us?
Upcoming Events
• Saturday June 13th: Arise, Shine Day!
• Sunday June 21st: Father's Day.
• Saturday July 4th: Independence Day
Scripture Center
• Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. - Psalm 25:4-5
• "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.”. - Matthew 18:1-5 NKJV
• "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”. - Luke 6:27-31 NKJV
• "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”. - Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJV