Jesus asked his disciples who do men say that I am? There were varying answers and then he asked them “but whom say ye that I am?”

Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Then Jesus tells them about the death burial and resurrection and Peter’s response to this was not from God.

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

This set of verses is a good example of the voices that influence our lives:

• Who do men say that I am? What are others saying? (Mat 16:14)
• What is God revealing? (Mat 16:22)
• What is Satan whispering? (Mat 16:22-23)

Whose voice do you hear and whose voice influences you the most?

We need to be made sure we are listing to God instead of other people, Satan, and even our own reasoning. However, our connection with God is not just one way. We are assured that God hears our voice.

Our message from God today is that he speaks to us more than we know. His messages come in a variety of ways. Sometimes, it is “thus saith of Lord” and in others, it is a gentle voice, a small nudge, or a revelation.

Some people say they have never heard from God, but the Bible says that God wants open communication with us.

Can you hear me now?

 I remember a time when hardly anyone had cell phones and if you did have one you practically had to stand under a cell tower to get reception. Now most adults and some small children have cell phones, but we occasionally still have a problem with spotty reception. In the old days cell phone carriers had their marketing teams produce commercials with people repeating the phrase “Can you hear me now?” over and over into their cell phone. Occasionally, I find myself saying those exact same words when I lose reception.

Sometimes, I am curious if we feel like we have lost reception when it comes to God speaking to us? This is the kind of thinking that causes doubt. God wants us to know that he still speaks to us.

Can God inspire our thoughts?

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

• There is no indication that God spoke this to Peter.
• Did Peter initially think that this was from his own logic…probably?
• Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
• Jesus says God revealed it to him.
• It seems like God shared this information by putting the thought in Peter’s head.
• The Bible calls this shared information inspiration.
• 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
• Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
• 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God

We are blessed when God shares his thinking with us.

• Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil,
• Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
• Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

Sometimes we listen to other people.

It is easy to listen to other people and allow them to mislead us. Sometimes people may share information with us that is not accurate. In some cases, they are not intentionally lying to us, they are simply sharing what they believe. In other cases, people just lie.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

• These thoughts could have originated with human reasoning.
• These thoughts could have been inspired by Satan to diminish the knowledge of who Jesus really is.
• Some people may have just heard someone else say it so they followed along.
• However the Bible warns of deceivers and false doctrine.
• 2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
• 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;    2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables
• Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

We are blessed when we trust in God instead of man.

• Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
• Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
• Psa 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Stop Listening to Satan

Most of us can say we have never heard the audible voice of Satan. In fact, when Satan influences people he implants thoughts or uses other people to spread his lies. When Jesus tells his apostles about the death burial and resurrection Peter’s response was directed by Satan.

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

• This happened 6 verses after Peter got a revelation from God.
• Peter probably did not know he was being influenced by Satan.
• Satan used Peter’s humanity to gain influence: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

There are many examples of Satan influencing men: he provoked David to number Israel, he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, and he entered Judas to betray Jesus; but let’s focus on what he tries to do to keep us from God’s word. Let us look at the parable of the sower.

Mar 4:3  Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Mar 4:4  And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Let’s look at the explanation of those that fell by the way side.

Mar 4:14  The sower soweth the word.

Mar 4:15  And 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.

• The sower soweth the word…this is most often thought of as a preacher preaching. I agree with that, but preachers aren’t the only way the word is sown. The word can come from the Bible, or it can be from God’s mouth.
• When they heard the word Satan came immediately.
• Satan wants to destroy our faith in the word.
• Satan wants to destroy our faith in the ministry
• Satan wants to destroy our faith in God.

God has equipped us to defeat Satan

• Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
• Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;…
• Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
• Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
• Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
• Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
• Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What would you say if God said, “Can you hear me now?”