The Voice of Truth

[Article by Lantz Manomano]

What is the voice of truth? It is only by reading and understanding the Bible that we can know the truth about life. Therefore the voice of truth is the word of God.
However every single day we hear many voices from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. These voices usually shape our perception about life and they may also determine our destiny in life.
Which voice are you listening to? Can you distinguish the different voices that speak into your life? Are these voices good or are they bad? How do we differentiate between the voice of God and the other voices that speak to us?
There are many voices but there is one true voice that overcomes all other voices and this is the voice that we should all want to know. Therefore we want to look at some of the many voices that we may encounter on a daily basis and see if we can relate to at least one of them or all of them.

THE MANY VOICES versus THE VOICE OF TRUTH

1- The Voice of Fear: this voice always speaks when we want to progress in life. This voice speaks when we are afraid to face someone or a situation. This also the voice that fears the unknown. It sets a limitation on the strides towards progress and forces one to stay in a comfort zone.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you
The voice of truth, which is the word of God however says fear not nor be afraid of them and the reason for not to fear is because God will go with you and He will not fail nor forsake you.

2- The Voice of Condemnation: this is the voice that prefers that we live in guilt and depression rather than in the freedom Christ has given us. This voice consistently reminds us of our past sins and failures even though we have been forgiven by God. This voice may also try to make us doubt God and the assurance of our salvation in Christ because it always speaks when we slip up so that we doubt God’s love and forgiveness in our lives.
However the voice of truth reminds us that Christ came to give us life and that whoever believes in Him is not condemned but comes to the light so that his deeds may be made manifest.
John 3:16-17 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Romans 8:1 says: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3 – The Voice of Self-Deception: this is the voice where one is able to deceive himself. This is the voice in which one believes his own lies. We corrupt ourselves inwardly. This voice hates the truth and therefore seeks to cover up or avoid the consequences of one’s actions. This voice creates a false reality about one’s life or about a specific situation. When we believe the voice of self-deception, we do not see life or our circumstances as we truly should. 2 Timothy 3:8 speaks of men who oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
John 3:19-20 says: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
However, the voice of truth which is God’s word reveals that we must seek the truth because the truth will set us free (John 8:32).

4 – The Voice of Worldly Reasoning: This is one of the most dangerous voices because it always wants to water down the Word of God. This is the voice that views the Word of God as foolishness because it is based on worldly wisdom. This voice looks at the natural and not the spiritual. Therefore worldly reasoning opposes faith in God. This voice is also based on the philosophy, culture and traditions of man rather than God.
The voice of worldly reasoning looks at outward appearances and speaks only from a worldly understanding. For example atheists pride themselves in using reason and not faith. Worldly reasoning therefore trusts in the wisdom and philosophy of men rather than the wisdom of God.
So the voice of worldly reasoning deprives people from knowing God and from living by faith.
1 Corinthians 1:18-22 says: For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
The voice of truth says that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17) and that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

5 – The Voice of False Doctrines: 2 Timothy 4:4 says that many people “will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into many myths”.
Therefore the voice of false doctrines leads us astray from listening to the truth of God’s word.
The voice of false doctrines makes us follow false teachers who are both deceived and are deceiving others. This voice also deceives us into following false signs and wonders.
Matthew 24:24-25 says: For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand
It is therefore a subtle but dangerous voice that shows outward results but whose source is not from God but is from satan.
The voice of truth however says that we shall recognize false teachers by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).
2 Timothy 2:15 says: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

These are some of the voices that we face daily and we constantly have to take a stand in order to overcome these voices as they compete against the one true voice which is the voice of God. Do you ever experience any of these voices? How do you respond to these voices when they present themselves? It takes time to learn of these voices and we need to differentiate the voice of truth from all these other voices.

HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE VOICE OF TRUTH FROM THE OTHER VOICES?
In John 10:27-28 Jesus said: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Earlier on Jesus said the following in John 10:4-5: “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

It is a tiring thing when we listen to many voices at the same time. It causes confusion and indecision. Therefore there is only one voice that matters, and that is the voice of God.
We therefore must be able to differentiate between the voice of truth and the other voices that compete for our attention.

So below are some of the ways we can get to know the voice of truth:

1. Studying the Word of God: the Word of God separates the voice of truth from any other voice that does not glorify God. As we study the Word of God we develop an ear of the voice of truth which always speaks after all the other voices, that still small voice that is supported by the Word of God (Psalms 1:1-3).

2. By Yielding to the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Guide who teaches us all things and He guides us into all truth. By doing so we are able to differentiate truth from any other voice that does not portrait truth at all. Yielding and trusting the Holy Spirit brings peace when many voices speak because we will be trusting not in ourselves but we will be trusting in the word of God by the guidance of His Spirit (John 14:26, John 16:13.)

3. By Diligently Seeking God: God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) and this can be done by deliberately putting God first and seeking Him and His righteousness and hearing His voice when He says trust me for today and I will take care of tomorrow when it comes (Mathew 6:34).

4. Renewing Our Minds: this is so that we have to prove what is good, acceptable and the perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). We have to put away the voices that are not good, acceptable and not the perfect will of God and instead meditate and obey God’s word.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE VOICE OF TRUTH
• It sets us free from being slaves to any other voice that does not speak truth.
• It leads us to have confidence in the Lord and not to depend in ourselves
• The voice of truth is found in the Word of God, so the Word of God is where we hear the voice of God.
• The spirit of guilt and fear is lifted every time we allow the voice of truth to lead us
• When we yield to the voice of truth, our paths are made straight
• As the voice truth becomes the dominant voice in our lives, Christ can be glorified through the transformation of our lives.

Final word, God is good and does not leave us unequipped but He equips us through His word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 
The Holy Spirit who is our great teacher and also through our brothers and sisters in Christ who are there to remind us of God’s voice and point us to Christ.
The voice of truth speaks of life and redeems us from eternal death and carries us through trials and tribulations. It teaches us to pray, seek and to glory and boast in the Lord.
Many voices will come but there is only one voice that overcomes and that stands forever and this is the voice of Truth.
Be blessed and continue to shine for the Lord and also for those who question God’s existence please pray for God to show up and reveal Himself in your life.