Identifying and Silencing the Other Voices: The Enemy, Part One

Freak out Disclaimer: Let’s just get this over with from the get-go. I know readers of this blog are at all levels and depths of belief. Maybe even some of you hold Christianity at arm’s length thanks to a certain segment of believers who are notorious for “Devil talk.” You know, hell, fire and brimstone, an evil spirit behind every bush, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada.

I hate that Christian stereotype. In fact, I’ve spent most of my Christian life trying to distance myself, not only from that label, but also from other Christians who have a preoccupation with the Devil and evil spirits. I find it rather creepy and completely ineffective as a tool to draw people closer to Jesus.

However, sometimes it’s impossible to discuss “good” supernatural things (i.e. hearing God’s voice) without also addressing “bad” supernatural things (i.e. the Devil, evil influences). The Bible is very clear that we have a spiritual enemy. Therefore, I feel it is my responsibility to address all aspects of hearing God’s voice as I understand them in Scripture.

If this doesn’t freak you out–awesome. If it does, feel free to wait for another post where I discuss cleaning ladies, personal trainers and hardwood flooring. I promise, my stat counter doesn’t tell me if you exit at this point or not.
If you choose to remain, I promise to rely very heavily on Scripture while discussing this so you can see this stuff comes from God and not from me. And if this is your first time reading my blog, please know that I mostly post on more positive aspects of hearing God’s voice. And I’m not creepy in real life. I’m actually sort of light-hearted and funny.  For realz. K?

So as a brief review, there are two other voices competing with God’s voice in our hearts and heads. Our flesh and our enemy. Last week I talked about what the flesh sounds like according to the Bible and then I followed up with some personal examples of what that voice sounds like specifically in me. I finished with some do’s and don’ts as to how to handle it when it’s talking.

This week let’s look at the other voice, our spiritual enemy (Satan), in the same way. But I’m going to break it up into a few posts, because it’s kind of long and pretty heavy.  You’ll thank me later.  Ready?

Loo-EE-ville

I don’t say it right. Folks born and bred in Louisville, Kentucky pronounce it “Loo-a-vul.” No sooner do I say the name of my fair city and I inevitably get the question, “Where are you from?” Well, that and the fact that I say “you guys” instead of “y’all.” And that I have claimed neither the Louisville Cardinals nor the Kentucky Wildcats as my favorite basketball team. All dead give-aways that my city of origin is north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The other day at the park, I met a lady who moved here from Puerto Rico. She was so stinkin cute. For only being here a few months, her English was fantastic. But I had to chuckle when she told me that she thought “Lou-ee-Bill” was really pretty. I guess I’m not the only one who pronounces it wrong.

Accents reveal a lot about a person’s place of origin. Especially when English is their second language. I know many people from other countries, and most of them speak English fluently. But even the most fluent tend to pronounce certain words in such a way as to reveal their native tongue.

Satan’s Native Tongue

Did you know that our Enemy, Satan, also has a native tongue? No matter how hard the Enemy tries, he can never sound exactly like God. He’s got an accent, and God wants us to recognize it.

“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:43-47)

What Does the Devil Sound Like?

1. Deception and lies contrary to God’s word: This is the most obvious attribute of Satan’s voice: The Lie.  The verse in John 8 (above) says it so plainly: he is a liar and the father of lies. What does it mean when someone is referred to as the “father” of something? It means he is the originator, the founder, the creator, the one with whom the “something” is most closely associated. What is Satan the father of?  LIES! The originator, the founder, the creator and the one with whom lies are most closely associated. Lying is his native tongue. It’s what he knows best. Even when he uses truth he twists it in order to deceive. He did this to Eve in the garden and he did this to Jesus Christ in the desert. He will most certainly do this to you and me.

What this voice sounds like in me: “I’m a terrible mom. In fact, I suck at being a mother. Why did God give me these children anyway? Can’t He see how much I stink at this? My kids would be better off without me.”

2. Doubt, fear and discomfort. God’s voice brings assurance, not doubt. It brings courage, not fear. Comfort, not discomfort. If you’re hearing something that makes you feel any of these things, it is not God.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7 NKJV)

What this voice sounds like in me: “I can’t do this. Why is this so hard for me? I will lose another child. I will fall right back into depression.  Jon will leave me someday. I will be raped. I will die in a plane crash.  I will get cancer. I will die young and my children will be raised without their mother.”

3. Lack of peace, or a sense of restlessness, pushed and pressured. We already talked at length in about peace and God’s voice going hand in hand. Jesus promised He would leave us peace. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God is the Prince of Peace. Bottom line: If you aren’t feeling peace, chances are great the voice you’re hearing is not God.

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22)

What this voice sounds like in me: “I’m not doing enough. I need to do more. I must excel. I must be perfect. I must do all things, do them perfectly and do them now. I’m missing something very important that I should be doing.”

I hate to leave you at this point, but I don’t want you to skim over this stuff.  And I know you.  If the post is too long, you skim.  No worries.  We all do it. 

Come back Thursday for the balance of this subject when I’ll tell you four more characteristics of Satan’s voice and what to do to silence him.