How do you differentiate the voice of God from the devil?

[HerCrazierHalf]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits. Since the devil is a fallen angel and interacts with humans and "knows of this (material) world" it stands to reason that impersonating God is a possibility. Add to that the odd requests God makes to people in the Bible. Essentially telling Abraham to kill his son but providing an alternate sacrifice just in time comes to mind.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

 

[Davian]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

From what I gather, if you believe, God sounds like you.

 

[lupusFati]

It's in the bible somewhere. Something about 'testing the spirits'. Idk.

 

[True Scotsman]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits. Since the devil is a fallen angel and interacts with humans and "knows of this (material) world" it stands to reason that impersonating God is a possibility. Add to that the odd requests God makes to people in the Bible. Essentially telling Abraham to kill his son but providing an alternate sacrifice just in time comes to mind.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

That is a very good point and I don't see how we could tell the difference. That is if there actually was a Satan and a God. More importantly many people who claim to hear God are Mentally ill. How would we be able to tell the difference between God and a hallucination.

Once I had a bad reaction to an antibiotic drug. It caused me to hallucinate for a couple of days. During that time I saw the grim reaper standing in my doorway, sickle and all. It spoke to me. It seemed completely real. Things around the room were talking to me as well.

 

[Ana the Ist]

That is a very good point and I don't see how we could tell the difference. That is if there actually was a Satan and a God. More importantly many people who claim to hear God are Mentally ill. How would we be able to tell the difference between God and a hallucination.

Once I had a bad reaction to an antibiotic drug. It caused me to hallucinate for a couple of days. During that time I saw the grim reaper standing in my doorway, sickle and all. It spoke to me. It seemed completely real. Things around the room were talking to me as well.

I've heard of adverse reactions... but that's something wild lol. Especially from an antibiotic, I've just never heard of hallucinations from them (except maybe malarium). I'm not saying it didn't happen... I'm sure it did. Can you remember what the drug war called? Did you have a fever at the time?

 

[Emmy]

Dear HerCrazierHalf. Love is the greatest divider, God is Love and Satan flees from Love and all Compassion. Satan might not say so, but talk of love or anything to do with love, and Satan will disappear. To be safe from Satan,
think of Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it. Love your neighbour as you love yourself."
Pick up your sword of Love, and Satan will be gone.
I say this with love, HerCrazierHalf. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Colter]

The Devil was never able to invade the sanctity of the human mind of those did not actively seek him. He had been a trusted Son under The Son of God in authority and power, fell in love with his own brilliance, took himself too seriously, lost faith in the unseen Universal Father, launching his orgy of darkness and death.

Today it's a matter of ideology, of Lucifers meme that still pervades our world. It's the difference between faith in God and his living Word, or Lucifers Atheist lies, where the creator is rejected and replaced by the seductive allure of arrogant humanism. The doctrines of life, faith trust in the Fathers spirit guidance leading to life eternal, or the doctrines of self assertion leading to eternal death.

"Intelligence grows out of a material existence which is illuminated by the presence of the cosmic mind. Wisdom comprises the consciousness of knowledge elevated to new levels of meaning and activated by the presence of the universe endowment of the adjutant of wisdom. Truth is a spiritual reality value experienced only by spirit-endowed beings who function upon supermaterial levels of universe consciousness, and who, after the realization of truth, permit its spirit of activation to live and reign within their souls." UB 1955 ​

 

[dysert]

I don't think it's hard for a Christian to differentiate God's voice from another's. (A non-Christian could very well have trouble, though.) Jesus said the sheep know the shepherd's voice.

 

[True Scotsman]

I've heard of adverse reactions... but that's something wild lol. Especially from an antibiotic, I've just never heard of hallucinations from them (except maybe malarium). I'm not saying it didn't happen... I'm sure it did. Can you remember what the drug war called? Did you have a fever at the time?

Not only hallucinations but terrible paranoia. I believe that I experienced the symptoms of schizophrenia as a result of the drugs. I do suffer from an autism spectrum disorder, OCD and Tourette's. I believe that the antibiotic changed my brain chemistry enough to bring out the potential in me. Thankfully the effects wore off quickly once I stopped taking the drug. The doctors had never seen anything like it.

 

[juvenissun]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits. Since the devil is a fallen angel and interacts with humans and "knows of this (material) world" it stands to reason that impersonating God is a possibility. Add to that the odd requests God makes to people in the Bible. Essentially telling Abraham to kill his son but providing an alternate sacrifice just in time comes to mind.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

Good thing comes from God. Evil thing comes from devil. Human can tell the difference. But sometimes evil can be disguised as good. In that case, atheist can not always tell the differences.

Christian has an internal (build-in) compass which can tell north from south (good from evil). However, Christians could still fail if the internal compass is not used in case of confusion.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

Good thing comes from God. Evil thing comes from devil....

In the "Is Slavery EVER Acceptable" thread, a number of Christians are arguing that chattel slavery is moral.

So is that the Devil's or God's morals?

 

[Colter]

In the "Is Slavery EVER Acceptable" thread, a number of Christians are arguing that chattel slavery is moral.

So is that the Devil's or God's morals?

I don't know what the devil thought about Chattlel slavery but the practice of slavery itself was acceptable among various cultures within societal evolution as illustrated in the thinking of the people who wrote the Bible.

 

[razzelflabben]

I am often stumped by how many people ignore scripture on things like this in exchange for their own wisdom...I John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

vs. 2 tells how to test, or what the test is....we also have...Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.


Jeremiah 29:8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.

I Thessalonians 5:21 but test them all; hold on to what is good,

II Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.

II Cor. 12:3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

My personal favorite, you would be surprised how many people cannot openly confess that Jesus is Lord...it's kind of mind boggling. Another great passage

“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him” (Deut. 18:22).

Some of these apply to prophets, however, the voice of God is spoken through the prophets, therefore applies to the question at hand. This is also why it is so important to the christian walk to 1. test the voice and 2. know scripture and how to apply it and 3. take our thoughts captive and make those very thoughts obedient to the Lord.

Well, that's my two cents

 

[True Scotsman]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

The issue I have is that Angels are believed to be hyper-intelligent among other traits. Since the devil is a fallen angel and interacts with humans and "knows of this (material) world" it stands to reason that impersonating God is a possibility. Add to that the odd requests God makes to people in the Bible. Essentially telling Abraham to kill his son but providing an alternate sacrifice just in time comes to mind.

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

What does the voice of God sound like? Since I've never heard either how would I tell them apart.

 

[Resha Caner]

Is this question focused solely on the acoustic properties of a voice, or is it asking the deeper question about the message behind the voice?

In that regard, why is this question posed as being unique to God? How do you know the voice of any being?

 

[com7fy8]

According to many Christians God communicates to them. But how does a Christian know that they are hearing God's voice?

Part of being able to know God's voice is knowing that our Father is personal with His children and therefore He does communicate with each of us personally.

"God resists the proud,
.But gives grace to the humble."
. . . . . . . . . . (in James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:5)

God's resistance speaks louder than words; while I do something in ego, I can have a run-in with things designed to slow me down so I don't get into the trouble I could. And when I react by getting nasty and cursing and unforgiving, this is proof that I have not been acting in love with God. So, I need to stop and trust God to restore me to Him in His love and personal leading.

Yes, the Bible tells us things which are not in God's voice > "bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking," "malice", (Ephesians 5:2); unforgiveness (Mark 11:25, Luke 23:34); self-seeking (James 3:14); and lording-over spirit (1 Peter 5:3) and wanting to control and use people.

And while I am being submissive with God, His grace effects me so I am in peace and even personal sharing with Him. And in His peace I have His personal leading, not only words telling me what to do. I need His voice; and the tone of His voice is peaceful and gentle and even warmly affectionate and humble, making me this way, too, while I do what He has me doing. So, words alone are not enough. Words are not a person's voice.

Jesus says, "'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

So, the tone of Jesus Christ's voice is gentle and lowly and rest-giving.

Therefore . . .

How would a human outsmart a profound intelligence that has had millenia to learn?

By not going only by what intelligence would tell us.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

On our own, though, we have not had what it takes to do this. We need to trust You, LORD our Father, in us to have us doing all You mean by this.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

Is this question focused solely on the acoustic properties of a voice, or is it asking the deeper question about the message behind the voice?

In that regard, why is this question posed as being unique to God? How do you know the voice of any being?

It is more about verifying the messenger. I'm not sure if the voice of God (or angels/spirits on His behalf) would have a particular acoustic property. I think "communication from God" would be a more accurate phrase than "voice of God".

A simple example is of a homeless guy on the street shouted "you are all in danger. You have to evacuate this block. " you'd ignore him. But if someone who looked like a police officer or fireman did this you would get out of there.

The difference is that one is given a level of authority and the other isn't.

 

[Resha Caner]

The difference is that one is given a level of authority and the other isn't.

You just answered one aspect of the question: you listen to those who have authority over you. When your boss says, "Do this work or you won't get paid," you do the work. When the bank robber says, "Lie down on the floor and don't move or I'll kill you," you lie motionless on the floor.

Do you think there are other aspects as well?

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

You just answered one aspect of the question: you listen to those who have authority over you. When your boss says, "Do this work or you won't get paid," you do the work. When the bank robber says, "Lie down on the floor and don't move or I'll kill you," you lie motionless on the floor.

But I know my boss is my boss. If the CEO of my company asked me to do something and I don't know it's her than I would decline based on not recognizing her authority.

Com7fy8 gave a great answer. The question is about how do you know they are who they say they are?

Do you think there are other aspects as well?

There has to be. Your examples of authority are simply based on "I'm more powerful than you" which is not a good basis of authority IMO.

 

[juvenissun]

In the "Is Slavery EVER Acceptable" thread, a number of Christians are arguing that chattel slavery is moral.

So is that the Devil's or God's morals?

This kind of thing is very easy to determine. We do not need to learn how to listen in order to know. It is written black and white in the Scripture.

If you do not read the Bible, I can tell you one not-so-wise way to find it out:

If your slave hate you, then you are doing the devil's thing. If your slave loves you, then you are doing the God's thing.