The Problem Of Strange Voices by Dr. D.K. Olukoya: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Many Kinds of Voices

In 1 Corinthians 14:10, there are so many kinds of voices in the world and none of them is without signification. In John 10:4-5, when the shepherd puts forth his own sheep he goes before them and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers.

All voices — no matter where they are coming from — can be grouped into three categories:

• The voice of God
• The voice of man
• The voice of the devil

Every voice has a spirit behind it. Every voice has an agenda. Every voice has a purpose. Even a grunting, mourning voice has a signification.

Once you begin to follow Jesus, there are many voices seeking to lead you astray. We are surrounded with so many voices, and if you are not careful and follow the wrong one, there is a problem.

The Agenda of Strange Voices

In John 10:10, the thief comes not but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Strange voices do not come to play with you. Their agendas are specific:

1. To confuse — a person may be doing the right thing; strange voices divert them to the wrong one.
2. To divert — evil diversion from God's path.
3. To kill
4. To destroy
5. To demote — to make the person take a decision that demotes their life.
6. To bring failure — and when somebody fails, his destiny is buried.
7. To bring fear and worry — most strange voices operate through these.
8. To steal — they bring strange friends who speak not from the throne of God but from the bottom of hell.
9. To disgrace
10. To destroy destinies — when you reject the voice of God and listen to the voice of the stranger, you get into trouble.

This is the great truth: it is not everything within man that is in total agreement with Satan. There is some godliness planted into every human being regardless of their foundations. In order to go the way of the devil and listen to the voice of the devil, something within you has to be ignored, and these other voices have to be quenched or killed for the devil to take overall headship.

This is the trouble with drug addicts, alcoholics, smokers, and fornicators. One voice said, "Don't do this — you may be hooked and won't be able to get yourself free." Another voice said, "No problem, you can stop when you like." But they find that that second voice is a deceiver.

Which Voice Do You Obey?

• Is it the voice of the desires of your heart?
• Is it the voice of the thoughts of your heart?
• Is it the voice of God in His word?
• Is it the voice of the shepherd, Jesus, or the voice of Satan, the stranger?
• Is it the voice of your flesh or the voice of God?
• Is it the voice of fear or the voice of God?
• Is it the voice of bitterness, envy, and jealousy or the voice of God?
• Is it the voice of the cares of this world, seeking fame and popularity?

The voices that you hear will determine your destiny. The voices you listen to will have an impact on whether you move forward or backward, whether you are promoted or demoted, whether you are happy or sad.

There is only one voice of God, but there are two voices of strangers — the devil and man. God's verdict concerning the stranger is: Psalm 18:44-45 — as soon as they hear of Him they obey. Strangers shall submit themselves, fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

Sickness, Poverty, and Frustration as Voices

Sickness is a personality. It speaks: "You are not well. You are going to vomit. You cannot finish this food." And those who agree with that voice and say yes — many with that disease die. The right response is to reject the voice of that stranger and command it to shut up.

Poverty is a personality. It speaks: "Your family is poor. This money will not come. These things will not sell." If you do not command those voices to shut up, they will ruin the person.

Frustration is a voice. In fact, frustration is a personal decision, just like happiness is a decision. You can decide to be happy in spite of what is going on around you. When you know it is the voice of the stranger, say shut up in the name of Jesus, then fill your heart with the voice of God and the things of God. If you do not, they will capture you.

Sometimes you need to talk to them as loudly as they are talking to you.

How to Know the Voice of God

• 1. Inward witness — God speaks words into your spirit man. There is an inward knowing.
• 2. Peace — when God speaks, peace comes into your soul and your soul is addressed.
• 3. Confidence and assurance — the righteous is as bold as a lion.
• 4. Agreement with scripture — if any voice asks you to do something unscriptural, it is not God.
• 5. Confirmation — when God speaks, He will confirm His words to you.
• 6. Clarity — Jesus always speaks with clarity and in line with the word of God.
• 7. It glorifies His name — when God speaks, it will bring glory to Him.

Characteristics of the Stranger's Voice

• Doubt and fear — God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
• Conflict, restlessness, and lack of peace
• Wondering — you will be unsure whether it is the Lord or not.
• Lack of clarity and confusion
• It negates the Lord's command — once something is opposite God's command, it is the voice of the stranger.
• It denies or discounts the lordship of Jesus Christ
• Condemnation, guilt, and discouragement

When the Lord speaks, He has an agenda for your life — and it is a good agenda. In Jeremiah 29:11, His thoughts toward you are of good and not evil, to give you an expected end.

Father, I ask you to forgive me for every time I have listened to a strange voice — the voice of doubt, the voice of not trusting God, the voice of worry, the voice of fear of death, the voice of demotion, the voice of fear. Forgive me for listening to the stranger. I renounce every strange voice assigned to lead me astray. Every voice from the grave speaking against my destiny — I silence it now in the name of Jesus. Every voice of infirmity — you are a liar, in the name of Jesus. Every voice of fear — catch fire, in the name of Jesus. I receive my destiny back from the strangers' hands. Amen.