You know how when you have heard a voice, but you can’t immediately discern whose voice you have heard? I am sure that this is something that each of us has experienced at some point. There is a reason why it is important to know whose voice you are hearing. It is called trust.
We can’t completely trust who we don’t know, so therefore we may not be able to trust what they are saying. When we don’t recognize the voice that is speaking to us, or calling out to us, our hesitation to respond is understandable. We then question if the source can be trusted, and if there is an unverifiable element to what is being said we may not know for certain if what we are hearing is true.
As believers, we want to know that the words that we are hearing carry the full weight of truth. and the only way we can trust that truth is being spoken is if the person speaking is trustworthy. Usually we can discern when someone is speaking an untruth, but not always. This is when it takes the Holy Spirit to speak into our spirit. After all, He is the Spirit of truth, and He will lead us into all truth.
Some years ago, a pastor that we know went to Israel. When he returned he told us how he was in a town when several shepherds came through with their herds of sheep. He explained how the sheep were all mingled together and how difficult it was to discern which sheep belonged to which shepherd. But, as God’s Word tell us in the gospel of John, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” When the shepherds were ready to take their sheep away, all they did was whistle. Those sheep recognized their shepherd by his individual whistle, and they quickly followed him out of town.
When you know the Person who is speaking, then an imposter will not get very far. You and I will be able to pick up the difference immediately. When God speaks we are able to recognize His voice. We have studied His Word, had His Word confirmed by the Holy Spirit, and we therefore know it can be trusted. When we are hearing a voice that is claiming to be our Father, and yet doesn’t sound like our Father, then it is not our Father!
John 10:27-30 ESV “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”