SILENCING THE VOICES THAT SPEAK IN OUR LIVES
Pr. James Victor Lubwama
Matthew 4:5-11 (NIV)
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.’
There are silent destructive voices that speak in our lives which usually discourage our hope and inhibit our faith. They even sometimes masquerade as the voice of God (2 Corinthians 11:14). These voices are from the devil, they always oppose, reject and contradict the word of God - they are so on point that they will point to the facts of life. Whereas God speaks through His Word; logos - the written word and and Rhema - the Living Word or prophesies, the devil works by imposing fear, pointing you to difficulties, past failures and creating negativity in one’s mind.
These voices can only be silenced by the word of God. Amidst challenges, worries and fears, speak the word of God, and eventually the voices will cease. In the scripture above, Jesus taught us an important lesson about the secret and the power in the word of God; for He always responded to the devil with the word of God (not with any other quotations). The problem with some believers is that when the devil whispers negativities and fear, they turn to motivational books or instead of the truth – Word of God. If God has spoken, He will bring it to pass (Isaiah46:11). What makes you think that He has forgotten you? He is watching you in all situations.
Genesis 21:13-21 (NKJV)
"Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. 15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. 20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer."
In Genesis 21 above, we see God speaking to Abraham about Ishmael's future. But later on, faced with a difficult situation – lack of water, Hagar gave up her child to die, until she cried unto the Lord and He opened her eyes and she saw a well (provision)
Sometimes we think that God doesn’t hear us when we cry out unto Him or see what we go through in our businesses or projects, but He hears and listens to it all (Hagar's child - business or work of your hands). When your venture is hit by financial thirst, call upon the Lord and He will send rain. Don’t let go, don't give up;  for whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Hagar was in a hopeless situation, but God had mercy because of the spoken word or covenant He had made with Abraham. The bible says in Genesis 17:19-22 (NIV) that says; 
‘Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.’
Be hopeful, have faith; cling unto the Rhema Word and at the right time, God will open your eyes and you will see a well of water.
Always respond to the silent negative voices with the word of God

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