1 Kings 19 verses 12 and 13. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice. And it was so when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entering in of the cave And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou hear, Elijah? There's two thoughts that we want to touch upon to start our message. It is one of my favorite, if you're allowed to have a favorite portion of the word of God. And I say it a lot. I believe when you speak of that still small voice of the child of God. We hear a lot of voices in this world. Many influence and they use mighty, powerful words. Many times words of great deceit and mislead many people because they are fluent in the things that they speak. And to their great harm, oftentimes they believe their own deceit. and the things that they speak. Secondly, as we go on later, at the end of verse 13, it says, what doest thou hear? Why are we here? Why are we here tonight as the children of God? Are we here to truly worship our Savior? To acknowledge Him? Are we here that we might be drawn closer unto Him? that we would be better able and better equipped to stand against the wickedness of this world. These voices that we talk about, I want to make sure that you understand they are upon us every day, many times 18 or 20 hours a day, bombarded from the television, the radios, talking to people, Peer pressure. For so many young people here in this world, they laugh and scoff at them, daring them to do things that are contrary to the word of God or enticing them. And how foolish it is. Many times we, as sleep would overflow us, there's many times things that we hear and maul over in our minds. of the things we have heard during the day. Don't underestimate the power of these words, nor estimate the power of the voices that Satan will use to work in the lives of those that are his. Our greatest task is to distinguish, as the children of God, where these voices come from. First off, we want to make sure that you understand that everyone who is called to serve God and preach unto Him, he is an advocate, he is a preacher of the Word of God, and as we preach and read portions of the Word of God unto the lost, we are the voice, as it were, or the spokesman, if you like it better, for Almighty God. That is the way he is determined it to be. He tells us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, use these voices to his honor and his praise and his glory as God's children. Truly our greatest task is to be able to distinguish between these voices. Those who teach us especially in the realm of our faith and salvation, and I'm not talking about losing our salvation because we know the doctrines of grace. But many times we are allowed to slide or to slip or to be tempted by Satan by the voice of man, by the voice of quote unquote reason, which many would throw in our direction. We must understand that God speaks to his children. and we hear His voice. Every time you sit down and read in the Word of God and those words or these letters come and touch your mind and your heart and you understand the meaning of them, that is God speaking. It is for us to know in the religious realm or the religious world out there today, they use many flowery words. They speak many things to deceive that are not in accordance with the Word of God. I'm a firm believer when a man gets up and stands before you and presents the Word of God, he should use Scripture. That's when God is talking unto the lost and to the children of God likewise. Flesh speaks unto the man in his heart. See, this flesh is weak. We must understand that it is easily tempted by the words, or enticed by the words of Satan, by the words of men, and the desires of this flesh to do things that are contrary to the word of God. We're tempted every day. How many times, I know I've said it here before, but when I used to work, they had a bass tournament. Every week the men had it on Wednesday night. from the time they got off work to the time it got dark. During the summer, they would go bass fishing. They couldn't understand why I wouldn't go. They will entice you. They will have logic to reason in their minds. You don't need to be a religious fanatic. It's good for you to go out. The Bible had fishermen in it. And how they choose to deceive, and they choose their words. and we need to be careful what we hear. Satan desires to be deceived by the ever-present voices in this world. It would amaze you at the people that you have heard speak today. Now, you say, well, so what? There's so much noise. So much going on. in this world, so many things to entice our minds to stray from the things of God. You know, I likened it to, and we had back quite a few years ago now, we had where I worked at, the Transformer Blue. And we had all kinds of electrical equipment in the building. And when the transformer blew, then everything whined down and it become, as it were, almost deathly silent. We were living in amongst so much noise. And so it is, there's great noise in this world. When we should be thinking or pondering upon the things of God, there's those that are out there that'll talk about something that they can talk all day long. and never say anything worth hearing. And I'm not talking about Congress, but they're guilty of it. But we must understand that there's voices out there. We must be aware of this as God's children, that there are those in the world around about us that desire nothing more than to hear themselves talk. You know, people will get to the mirror and they'll talk. I know people get up and talk all day long and never say anything. But there's those who go about deceiving so many. They fill their minds with things concerning the flesh and this old world, and they give not God the praise. They do not speak of heavenly things or eternal things. They are voices of little worth. We make decisions every day. So many times we're guilty of yielding to the voice of others instead of following in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How careful we need to be. As I thought of young people, young boys and girls and those who live in the world today that are raising up and all how many voices they hear. They've got six or eight different teachers every day. They've got school bus drivers, they've got this and that, they've got everything. They've got headphones or buds now, they call them, don't they? They've got all these voices that are bombarding them. Some that are happy, some that are sad, some that carry the burden of bullying. But there's so much noise going on around them. And they don't hear. Nor do they seek the leadership of the Lord. because they know that if they have to make a quick decision to join the group, let's go have fun. We're only young once. We need to be careful. All we talk about drugs and alcohols and all the things that Satan has placed in this earth to entice the young people. We need to tell them to listen to God. hear God speak and seek His will and His leadership in their lives as children of God, as young people. What would God have you to do? And don't listen to the voices. Those who will tell you it's alright to have that first cigarette. It's alright to drink a little beer or a little bit of alcohol. They'll go on and tell you it's alright if you smoke a little more water. and on and on and we should go with the things that they entice people with. We need to be careful of the voices that we listen to. Oh, we must also understand there's those who follow very strange voices here in this world. Many times people who are children of God will allow themselves to be touched by these things. And I'm talking about those who mingle with the horoscope. Those who go to psychics. Some even look to the stars. Or they even examine their own selves. And they listen to others as they speak. I've known people where if you pat them on the back and you speak a few good words to them, you made a friend for life. And so it is, that's who they prey upon, these voices. those that they can lead astray. And we must be reminded that voices are everywhere. Where can you go? You can't even hardly go to your closet and pray. Nowadays we have phones and cell phones and house phones and all kinds of devices, computers and everything. And, you know, you take two steps You can't drive down the road unless you pass three cars and two of them have the cell phone right up against their chin and they're talking to someone. More voices. We need to be aware. Oh, where is the silence? Where is the quiet? Where is the peace? Where is the joy? When we're filled, our ears are filled with the voices or the noise of this world. We need to be aware. In 1 Samuel 3 and verse 1. And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days. They were precious in those days. You know, people will talk about a lot of things and they get thrilled, don't they? You get somebody that really loves sports, they just get totally consumed with sports. Some with some type of ball. Sometimes it's race cars. Many different and varied things. They're overwhelmed by these things. But very seldom do we hear people speak as these words that are precious. And we speak of them highly to those around us. And we speak of the greatness of our God. Truly it is soon heard throughout the world of all the voices, of all the noise that goes on in this world around us today, how few, how few there are that speaks of God and the love and the mercy of our great God. and the salvation that we have through Him. Oh, it was precious in those days and now it's thrown to the dirt behind them. Now it is cast aside. Our ears are filled with the words and the voices of the ungodly. We're bombarded. Oh, we need to be aware. Oftentimes people will not even question what people say. and how foolish we are. How do you know it's God speaking? We must hear His voice. And child of God, first rule, I always tell everyone, Almighty God and the Holy Spirit will not lead you to do anything that's contrary to the Word of God. End of story. Never will He ask you to do anything that you cannot base it upon the truth of God's Word. We need to be reminded of these very things as God's children. You know Adam hid from the voice of God in the Garden of Eden? Him and Eve? Because of their sin? Because why? You know they're blaming on the fruit and the disobedient? It's because they listened to the wrong voice! God gave them every bit of knowledge and wisdom and understanding concerning the Garden of Eden. But yet, because they listened to the voice. of he who is called Satan. Man has paid the price. They have fallen. Are you hiding from God? Do you choose to hear His words or His voice and the things of God? So many times there are services going on or anyone around us and we choose to stay home. With the noise! and how thankful we are that God has laid upon our heart to be in his house tonight. I challenge you tonight that you as a child of God put the voices to the test. Understand we must try every spirit and every voice whether it is of God. Those who will have you to deny any portion of the word of God is not your friend. and in their voice you better not hear too. They'll tell you that all the religious denominations need to come together and talk together and we'll compromise and we'll work out our differences and go on. But the voice of compromise is a dangerous tool. It is a dangerous thing. We must stand for the truth of God's word. in the book of Acts chapter 17 and verse 11. These were more noble than those at Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so. When we are putting the voices to the test, we go to the Word of God. When they speak unto us words that we do not know, or words that we have not heard, or things that we do not understand, let us be like these saints of old who searched the Scripture whether those things were so. And every moment, maybe they're perfectly right, we'll praise the Lord if they are, but now you have spent time in the word of God and the voices of the world are put aside. And now you're hearing God speak through his word, that's a precious gift. But you must try these words. You must know these things and you must understand these things. What a great blessing for the child of God. In the book of Proverbs, chapter 16, Proverbs 16, verse 1, the preparations of the heart in man, and an answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord breathed the Spirit. commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. He speaks here of the preparation of the heart in man. It is so easy to stumble. I'm not saying we lose our salvation. It is so easy to stumble when you listen to the voices of this world. The things that we have seen, change during our lifetime brother steve the bible says in the latter's day there's going to be a great increase in knowledge a man's grown too smart for god i fear for their soul but we are reminded as the children of god there's so many voices out there They have changed the thoughts of America that abortion is no longer a sin. Homosexuality is no longer a sin because of the voices that are speaking louder than what we do. We're not standing for the truth of the word of God. We go to our little churches and we whisper these things inside of the doors. And we do not go and declare them unto our representatives and those, and we must, they're speaking louder than we are. Our voices are too silent. But their voices are loud. They're loud. And they've got it to compromise. how dangerous it is when we listen to these voices. And we hear these things going on about us as the children of God. Truly, we must be aware we have been given everything that is needed to discern between the voices. In other words, we don't have excuses. You say, I'm easily deceived. Well, if you are, then you need to make more cautions. You need to spend more time in the word of God. You must not go to the places that preach such things. You must have no part with the people who teach such things, who want to discuss such things. Tell them, no, that is not in the word of God. Therefore, we put them, as I say, to the run. For we have the weapons and the tools given unto us by Almighty God where we are able to stand. Let us prepare our hearts for the battle and our voices may they be strong and stand for the truths of God's word. In the book of Hebrews chapter 5, Hebrews chapter 5 and verse 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use of their senses exercise to discern both good and evil. In other words, we have to put a little effort into it. The thought of exercising or going out and working ourselves to where we understand the difference between right and wrong. We use the yardstick of the Word of God in order to measure the voices and the truths and the things that they are teaching and preaching unto us, leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, it says in 6 and verse 1. That's what they want. That's what their voices are for. You ever notice they come in pairs or twos or threes or fours and they speak and they sit on the corner of your couch or in your easy chair and they speak words contrary to the things of God. We need to be aware and we need to stand fast. But the truth that we are God's children is that we must know the difference between good and evil, between right and wrong as God's children. You know, as they say in the modern days, it's not rocket science. It's either right or wrong. But we must be careful what we hear because they have allowed things to seep into the lives of everyone that are absolutely contrary to the word of God in every facet of our life. we need to be aware in the book of Isaiah the 30th chapter Isaiah chapter 30 in verse 21 and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it. When you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left. He says, thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it. Now you can take that either two ways. But when you're out amongst the people of the world, there's voices behind us. They're trying to push you, as it were, off the cliff. They're trying to lead you down the wrong path. But likewise, there's those or voices who care, who speak things that are right, in accordance with the word of God, that you might know. And it all amounts in what you hear. So let us Stay away from the voices as much as we can. I know we have to work and we have to go out amongst the people of the world, but we don't need to sit and to listen to the lies and the deceits. A lot of people have great giant libraries and even Bible books. And a few is fine, but I decided a long time ago I want to be real careful what I allow. Because someone comes in and they see all these books from all these other religious denominations, what are they going to think? And those voices could be behind you speaking, and you read one book after another book, after another book, after another book. And it begins to eat away. And the voices are behind you, but what if? Those who have a church bus, and there's nothing wrong with providing transportation for people, but then they hide a $20 bill or a $5 bill under the seat. You go on and on with the tricks to get people to compromise. Well, if their church has a yard sale, why can't we have a yard sale? And on and on, and these are voices which will speak to the mind and to the heart of man. And we need to be aware. Truly, as we read in this passage of scripture in 30 and verse 21, and thine ear shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it. And it's true, also true of the ungodly who lead those by misrepresentation of the word of God. This is the way, come join us. You're trying to climb a hard, rocky mountain. And here we're in the valley by the cool brook. And we're having sweet fellowship. And we have a volleyball team and a basketball team. And we've got all this to entertain them. We've got a youth church. These are voices who eat away like a cancer. upon the truths and the foundations of God's word and how things are to be done in the Lord's house. Oh, it's so easy for us to be deceived. How many times has that voice, the very voice of Almighty God spoken unto us? that we may know how our God would have us to walk here in this world. So we just talked about walking. How many times have we heard the path? You know, when I was a young lad at home on the farm and my dad taught me, and I thought my dad was really one of the smartest men and he was, he was an intelligent man. But he told me, he said, when you get ready to go out and to plow the field, he said, you put the plow down and you put your eye on the mark and you don't move your eye from that tree or whatever spot you have and your line will be true. The road will be straight. It's amazing. That comes from the word of God. But I thought at that time I was little and didn't know any better. But it's true for the child of God. When we allow our eyes or our ears to go to the right or to the left, then we will veer from the truth. It's that simple. The voices will make a noise. Oh, they'll have great musicians come in. They may not be Christians, but they may be singers, professional singers who make a pretty sound. And the sound overwhelms. You know, there's places that have musical church. They come in and say, well, Saturday and Sunday, we're going to have nothing but singing. Voices that overwhelm you. But no questions of the word of God is being presented. I know I'm going in a lot of different directions, but I think we need to be aware of these voices. as God's children. We need to understand that there's so much going on in the world today from every direction we are being bombarded by voices and by idle words. And we need to be reminded. In the book of Galatians, chapter 1, Galatians chapter 1, verses 8 and 9. Galatians 1 verses 8 and 9. But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we have said, so I now again, if any man preach any gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Now we can hear false gospels, can we not? You can take any Sunday morning that you want to pick, and those who are hearing the voices of sovereign grace, missionary, Baptist, preaching the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection, repentance, and faith, a risen Savior, there are 10,000 voices going out over the radio and over the television and from the quote-unquote pulpits that are leading people to hell because they are sweet in their words and they're foolish in their voices. Even though the voice would seem as it were from an angel, Have you not had people that come and preach, and I know people that always tell me, there used to be a preacher down here in the South Shore that buttered Mountaineer's mouth. He had this kind of voice, and he was sweet, and he'd say, honey this, and honey that, and pat you on the back, and I mean, it was just ridiculous. But he deceived many. He didn't preach a true gospel. And we need to be aware of these things as God's children. They pervert the gospel of Christ, it says. And it don't matter who it is. I don't care how nationally famous they are, how they have great events in different places all over the world. Tokyo and anywhere else you want to think. If they are not preaching the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, beware. I know of a great missionary many years ago who was supposed to have a great big giant venue in Ohio. And they signed the contract, as it were, to have it there. And they got up a few days before, and they called, and they canceled it. They said, why? Because we didn't get enough money promised in order to pay for our expenses. Their voices were being used for the Almighty God. Instead of praising Almighty God and preaching the gospel unto the loyalst, we need to be aware and to be careful. In 2 Timothy chapter 3, 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verses 16 and 17. It says, all scripture is given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works. The word of God. You must have the word of God. The voices that we want to hear are not the voices of this world. We need to be careful that we have our ears filled with the words of the word of God. And our hearts likewise upon these things. In the book of Proverbs chapter 11, Proverbs chapter 11 and verse 14. where no counsel is, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. He that is surely for a stranger shall smart of it, and he that hateth sure truth is sure. He tells us in this passage of scripture, where no counsel is, the people fall. But the multitude of counselors, there is safety. To me, it's telling me anytime that you have the opportunity to hear the word of God, the truth, take advantage. Take advantage and grow. That we might be able to discern between what is right and what is wrong as God's children. And you know, as we grow fewer in numbers, and it seems to be that way, we must grow stronger. We must stand for the truth. We must fill the gap in the wall as they teach. I want to close by looking in 1 John chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4 and verse 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God. Because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Believe not every spirit. Only those who speak right things. Those of the word of God. There's many voices in this world. Let us be aware. Let us stay in guard. Let us be faithful. And let us test these words, test these voices, to the yardstick or to the measure of the word of God.