FIRST-TRUMP#top..........Sound the alarm in Zion..... ...........................

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VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD

⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:)

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:)

What does the Shepherd's voice sound like?

Have I startled you? Have you ever considered this question before? Has your Pastor ever told you which voice to listen to? Has he told you to listen to the True Shepherd's voice? Or have you been taught to listen to your Pastor's voice?

It's going to make a big difference in the end, don't you think?

If you haven't heard the Shepherd's voice, don't you think it would be expedient to check in on this? Perhaps you should ask your Pastor if he's heard the voice of Jesus.

When I first heard the Lord's voice, 30 years ago, I was shocked, and I was in no position to investigate the meaning of the experience, or how others have experienced hearing the Lord's voice. And at this time my entire life turned around. 

The second time I heard the Lord's voice was 30 years later. At that time I was stressed and worried, and I cried out to the Lord for His peace.

I received His peace, and at the same time I spent an entire month crying uncontrollably. And at that time I began having an understanding of the Word, which I relay on this website. And on a personal level, amazing things began to happen that I would surely have never expected or believed.

I have found that when the Lord speaks to people, people change. Consider those in the Old Testament. Consider the Apostles and others in the New Testament. When Jesus spoke, nothing remained the same.

What does Jesus sound like?

When I heard the Lord's voice this last time, I set out to learn what others who have heard the Lord's voice experienced. I asked people if they have heard the Lord's voice. Some people thought I was a Kook. Other's said they had heard His voice, and when they told me of their experience, I knew they hadn't.

I read books telling of people's experience with the Lord. Again, though these people were very often high in the church and well regarded, I knew they hadn't heard from the Lord.

But one lady told me of someone she knew (or had heard of) that heard from the Lord, and from her description of his experience, I believe he had, because his experience was similar to my own. I don't mean to say that God does not speak to different people in different ways, but there are some things that just don't fit the pattern He has given us as to how He works.

Another confirmation as to my, or anyone else having heard from the Lord, is if it fits the experiences that are portrayed in the Bible. All through the Bible we have examples of God speaking to people. What did God say to these People? How did He sound? How did He say it? What happened before and after the experience?

There have been other times besides those I mentioned when I heard "voices." And it appears that these voices have some understanding of what I expect the Lord to sound like, because they seem to be imitations of what I had described in my writings as having heard. But they were not His voice. I had no doubt about this. Whether those other voices were just my own wayward thoughts, or if they were the tempter's in an effort to confuse me I don't know. I just know they weren't the Lord's voice.

What does the Lord sound like?

I would like to give you a step-by-step plan as to how you can learn to hear the Lord's voice. I see others doing just such a thing in regards to prayer: Pray this way, and get that. Pray saying these words, and get this. I have never seen or heard anyone tell how to hear the Lord, and if I did, I think I would run from that person.

I can't tell you how to hear the voice of the Lord, but I can give you some tips on how to find out for yourself:

Read the Bible!

When I say: read the Bible, I mean forget all you've been taught the Bible says, and read it as if you had never seen the book before. Read it, not like a story book in the children's hour or from the pulpit, but read it like you believe every Word. You've been doing this? I doubt it. If you have then:

What does the Lord sound like? That's an easy question, isn't it? Ever been asked this question before? Don't you think it's a logical question to ask of someone who is a Christian and supposedly following the Lord? If we're following Jesus, then we surely must have heard Him speak. Or if we are a new Christian, we must surely be making a strong effort to get close enough to Him to hear what He is saying. Isn't that what you've been taught in church? It is what you've been taught? Or do you say it isn't what you've been taught?

Below are some Scriptures relating to Jesus speaking; or of other people who have heard the voice of the Lord. Perhaps you might learn from them how to detect the Lord's voice so when He calls, you will recognize the Shepherd's voice and not be led astray by a wolf in sheep's clothing.

And when you've learned to hear your Shepherd's voice, perhaps you can instruct your Pastor.

²⁸Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. ²⁹He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:)

²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:)

²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:)

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. ⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ....²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. ³⁰I and my Father are one.(John 10:)

Compare this Scripture with Revelation. Notice the being called out, the being led out of the sheepfold of His sheep.

What is the fold where the sheep are being kept? Who is the "porter"? Who are the other sheep that are not the Shepherd's own? They're not goats, but sheep, in with the Good Shepherd's sheep. Who are they? Which flock are you in? Who's voice do you hear? The porter's? The other shepherds (or wolves as the case may be)? Or do you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd because you are a part of His flock?

What does your shepherd's voice sound like?

³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. ³⁷Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:)

Are you "of the truth"? How do you know? There are thousands of brands of "truth" floating around in the churches, how do you know what you're being taught (or that you are teaching or preaching) is the truth and not one of the many fables saturating the church? How can you be sure you are "of the truth"?

¹And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, ²And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. ³And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: ⁴And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? ⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. ⁶And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. (Acts 19:)

What was Paul (Saul) doing when he heard the Lord's voice? Was he seeking to do the right thing? As we read Paul's writings, yes, he was seeking with all diligence to do the "right thing." Yet he was going just the opposite direction of that which was right.

And what happened when Paul heard the Shepherd's voice? Did he change at all? Or did life go on as usual for him?

⁹On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: ¹⁰And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, ¹¹And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: ¹²Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. ¹⁴But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. ¹⁵And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (Acts 10:)

Here we have Peter, one who walked with Jesus for over three years, being one of the closest to Jesus of all of the disciples. Peter is told to do something. What was he told to do? Did he like what he was told? How did Jesus talk to this special disciple who He has apparently placed over His entire body, the Church? Did anything change in Peter's life after he heard from Jesus? What kind of "conversation" did he have with his Lord"

We have very few instances where Jesus spoke to anyone, even His Apostles, after His ascension. We find this in the Old Testament as well. Except for Moses, who "stood in the stead of God," we see but rare occasions that God spoke to anyone other than His prophets. Abraham, that special one of God; David, that "Man after God's own heart:" Joseph, the one who endured so much in his youth and who is a portrayal of God: these heard from God but rarely, and some not at all. But when God spoke to them, nothing was the same thereafter.

We read where Jesus spoke to John "the Beloved." Read the account, notice how Jesus spoke to John. Pay attention to how John responded to his Lord and "friend." Compare your own relationship with your Lord with those who were closest to Jesus. Do you show the same awe, reverence and trust that Peter, John and the others who heard from their Lord has demonstrated? Are you taught to have this kind of relationship with Jesus? Or are you taught that you are "buddy-buddies" with Jesus and He is just waiting to do whatever He can for you because you are so special to Him?.

²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. ²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, (Luke 2:)

Notice that Simeon was "just and devout" and that he was "waiting." Notice Who was leading this man who was waiting.

For well over a thousand years the people "waited." The entire purpose of God selecting a people was that they should wait, and to know what to watch for when He arrived to fulfill His purposes. No other people was so prepared. The rest of the world was in complete ignorance of Jesus. But the Jews waited. And they waited.

When their Messiah finally arrived, what did they do, those who waited? Did they flock to Him? Yes, they did. The angels called the shepherds from the fields. Wise men came from afar to see the Messiah. The poor and the sinful sought Jesus. Even a Roman Centurion believed on Jesus, as did cities of the Samaritans believe on the One they had been waiting for and had been prepared for. There was just one group of people who did not care that their Messiah had arrived: the religious leaders who supposedly cared the most, and who were the most educated as to the arrival of their Messiah, and who taught the poor and beggarly what they were to watch for and how to make themselves prepared. They taught, but they neither believed, nor did they prepare themselves.

Sound familiar?

When Jesus was born, wise men came to Herod and announced the birth of their Messiah, and the religious leaders knew absolutely that this was their Messiah because they told Herod so. Do we read of one single of these leaders, the "preachers of the Word" going to visit their Awaited One?

When John the Baptist was born, there was much ado, in the Temple itself, about how this child must be something special. When Jesus was circumcised, two saints who had been waiting for years announced that this was the Messiah they had been waiting for. This right in the Temple. Do we read of any of those religious scholars announcing to others this great event?

When Jesus was 12 He was showing extraordinary knowledge and wisdom. The religious leaders took note of this, but did one of them follow up on this fact?

We read of at least two of the religious leaders who were "secret disciples" of Jesus, and there are verses that describe how all the leaders believed that Jesus was the Messiah. But how many of these "in the know" did anything but deny and persecute the One they were waiting for? Their "position" in the community was more important than their commitment to God or their placement as instructors of righteousness.

These religious people were so involved with being religious, that they were blinded to their own reality.

How are your eyes? What do you look for? How earnest are you in your seeking of the Lord? Is it just a ritual, a game as it was with the religious people of Jesus' day? Who do you have your ear tuned to? Do you think you are seeking the Lord so earnestly that angels will be sent to gather you and to inform you of your Master's return?

Read the parables, the many of them where Jesus describes His return, such as the ten virgins, and the servants entrusted with the talents. Where do you fit in to these scenarios? Read the Sower and the Seeds. Which describes you best? Be honest with yourself now, because some day the truth will come out, and it may look a whole lot different in the light of day before the Judgment Seat than it does in these darkest days in history.

⁴²And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:)

³⁵And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ³⁶And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. ³⁷And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. ³⁸And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. ³⁹And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. (Mark 1:)

³⁴And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. ³⁵For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:)

²Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ⁴And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:)

⁵That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; ⁶Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: ⁷So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1Cor 1:)

⁴And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. ⁵And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2thes 3:)

¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Rom 8:)

⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Mat 7:)

There are many people supposedly "waiting." But for what? And for Whom? What are they looking for? What do they expect to see? Perhaps a cloud to whisk them away into Never-Never land?

What are you looking for? Are you really waiting? Or are you waiting because it's "The thing to do" like the Pharisees of Jesus" day?

¹⁵I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ¹⁷Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. ¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. ²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ²²He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Rev 3:)

¹³But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. ¹⁴Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Mat 15:)

Have you been giving your Pastor and your Sunday School teachers their regular eye test? Have you been searching the Scriptures with the aid of the Holy Spirit to insure that what you are being "fed" is proper and good fodder? Or have you been just blindly following your leader into whatever ditch he may lead you?

⁸But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ⁹Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mat 13:)

It might be possible that your Pastor has very good vision and can see things in their right perspective. But his ability will be useless to you unless your hearing is at its best. Have you been inspecting your hearing for truth-blocking ear wax and faulty connections? A good Bible understanding is essential for good hearing.

⁵And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: ⁶For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:)

²²For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. ²³But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. (Mark 13:)

Note, even the "very elect" of God will come close to being deceived. Why won't the elect be deceived? Is it because they are hearing the voice of the Lord and they're not confused by the many other voices in the world?

We think that all we have to worry about is some "beast" who will be obvious to everyone because he'll be running around with a rubber stamp putting numbers on everyone's forehead. But John tells us:

¹⁸Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (John 2:)

⁴²But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. ⁴³I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. ⁴⁴How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5:)

The church does the very same thing the leaders and the religious did in Jesus' day: they serve one another and seek to impress one another. Those who do so learn the Bible in order to be better able to sell false doctrine, or to impress others with how much they know.

Read carefully these final passages and see where you will be standing.

²¹Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. ²⁴Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: ²⁵And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. ²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. ²⁸And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: ²⁹For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (John 7:)

¹³Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Mat 7:)

¹³(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom 2:)

²¹Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²²But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: ²⁴For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:)

³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: ³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Mat 25:)

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Rev 20:)

²⁵And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, ²⁶If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ²⁹Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ³⁰Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. ³¹Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? ³²Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. ³³So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. ³⁴Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? ³⁵It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 14:)

⁶²And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:)

²⁴Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ²⁵And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: ²⁷But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1Cor 9:)

¹¹And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: ¹²That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. ¹³And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? ¹⁴The sower soweth the word. ¹⁵And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; ¹⁷And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. ¹⁸And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, ¹⁹And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. ²⁰And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:)

³But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴For God commanded, . . . Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. ⁷Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mat 15:)

¹⁵If ye love me, keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:)

²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. ²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:)

⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:)

⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:)

LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF GOD

Joseph did not hear the voice of God. Abraham heard the voice of God but rarely, and the first time he did so he was older than most of us will ever be. Even Moses, who was the voice of God to millions of people did not hear from God until he was 80 years old. And most of the Apostles did not hear from their Lord after they watched Him ascend into heaven, and then but rarely for the few who did.

Yet these people were able to follow the Lord, in spite of their not being able to hear Him audibly. How could this be?

¹⁵If ye love me, keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

¹⁸I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ¹⁹Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. ²⁰At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. ²¹He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. ²²Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ²³Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ²⁴He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

²⁵These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. ²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:)

¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. ¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. ¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. ¹²This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. ¹⁶Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. ¹⁷These things I command you, that ye love one another.. .

²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:)

⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹Of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. ¹²I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. ¹⁴He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. ¹⁵All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.. (John 16:)

The chances are slim that any of us are going to hear the Lord call our name, or verbally explain to us what He wants us to do. That would be a great thing if He did so. But that is not the way He has chosen to deal with us. He did not do so with His disciples, nor will He with us. Yet there is a way that He has provided by which He may communicate with us.

I hope I have shaken your confidence that He will tell us what He desires of us through a pastor. He might, but that is unlikely, especially since few pastors, it appears, are listening to God themselves.

In order to be in the will of God, we must be striving to fulfill His commands. We must be doing what we have been given to do, and this in little steps. Those who take the steps given them will be given more. Those who remain in their pews and trust in their church doctrine, will hear no more than what comes from the pulpit.

We must past one test before we are given a more advanced test. And it is in the testing that we are able to grow in faith, and to become ever more in tune with the Lord's voice.

Often we are not aware that we are truly walking in the will of God, but as time passes, many years on occasion as it was with Joseph and Moses, the working of the Lord reveals itself in our past. Joseph expressed this concept thusly:

¹⁷And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. ¹⁸And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ²⁰But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. (Gen 50:)

After writing the main body of this article I was given a suggestion that expresses this portion that I now write, and that I had missed. The critique explains what needs to be said better than I am able to say it, so I would like to print it in its entirety here, and leave it as a conclusion.

"Interesting, and good, but don't forget that the Holy Ghost speaks to us interiorly. He moves our souls to take action, to do God's will.

He touches our heart and His word becomes clear and distinct in our immortal souls."

( For more on this subject, read The Judgment, and Ten Gates.)