“The Truth has a voice”
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, and by His Spirit, there is a voice for us that proclaims the truth; a truth which transforms our very lives. Amen.
Romans 8:12-17
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
17 and 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 with him.
Dear friends: There are many voices in this world. Some of the voices sound harmless; it might be an advertiser telling you that you should dress a certain way, or wear a certain perfume. Maybe its friends saying they like you, but you really don’t fit in their company? Maybe it’s a family voice telling you that you don’t matter because you are poor and wealth less.
There are terrible voices which speak doubt, pain, uncertainty, fear, and sadness into our lives. The voice maybe hurtful as it speaks to you about your past life; causing insecurity in a rough and a COVID-19 afflicted world. These voices cry out and they harm your soul causing you to live a hopeless life. Such harmful voices can lead to miseries of sadness and depression which may cause you to lose focus of your blessings and happiness…our text is telling us that these are voices of the flesh.
Rev. what is the meaning of the voice of the flesh
Flesh in the text means our fallen and sinful nature in a fallen, broken and a sinful world. In Romans, chapter eight, Paul comments on the outcome of listening to these harmful voices. Paul contrasts what these voices of the flesh do as compared to what the Spirit of God does and gives.
Romans 8:13 says it this way, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Listening; to the voices of this sinful world, listening to the voices of our culture, to the broken voices of our own sinful flesh will crush our hopes, they’ll drain our confidence. Like Paul said; those voices will eventually kill us.
Rev. this sounds scaring; what shall we do to be saved?
Mr Kyei and my dear listeners, don’t let your hearts be troubled… those are not the only voices in your life or in my life.
Ok.
I’m here to tell you that today there is a better voice; a voice that says, “I want you, you’re Mine!” there is a voice of truth which will change your life and my life forever…. Hallelujah
Amen! This is refreshing and assuring; Rev. please you may proceed!
Paul says again in Romans 8:12, 14 “So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”
Paul says; Stop listening to the voices which will destroy you. Rather hear what God’s voice of truth declares, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Cherished listener: I believe you hear it? “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” You are God’s child! His voice says, “Take all your imperfections and failures and bring them to Me. Take your pains and hurts in life and lay them before Jesus. By faith, lay before Jesus all your doubts and fears, for nothing will separate us from His love.”
Deacon Kyei: thanks for that delivery… That is exactly what Paul in Rom 8: 15-17 says: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if we’re God’s children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”… Hallelujah!
By faith, a believer is an heir of God the Father! We receive God’s blessings and favor through Jesus Christ. Do you really know what that means and the impact it can have on your life?
The voice of truth which is the voice of Jesus wants to keep you from losing the precious gift of a blessed new life which awaits you. The voice of truth says in (Romans 8:1). “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
The voice of truth In (Romans 8:11) says, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you”
Hallelujah!
Amen!
My dear one: You are a child of God, bought with the blood of Jesus who gave His life for you on the cross. Through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, you receive the gift of forgiveness and restored life.
Mr Kyei: It is very important today that you listen to the right voices in your life.
Rev. Voice or Voices are one of the first things we learn to hear and discern… Researchers revealed that babies can already hear sounds at 30 weeks…
Remember the wonders in the Bible, Elizabeth said to Mary the Mother of Jesus in Luke 1:44 For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leapt in my womb for joy.
Scientifically; it is proven that babies recognized their mothers’ voices from that of strangers!
It’s very important that you and I understand that destructive voices cry out in each of us, our lives. Note that apart from COVID-19 PANDEMIC…There is another pandemic… which I will call pandemic of misinformation; a pandemic of falsehood…
This voice of deception devalues your purpose in life, it undermines the mission God gives you as His unique and irreplaceable child, this voice tries to degrade the impact God wants you to make on His world… sometimes this negative voices of deception mislead us to become critical, divisive, mean, and sceptical.
Rev. These voices of untruth slow our hearts and drain life from us…To those listening to us…I don’t know what you are going through…you may be feeling that way today.
That’s why it’s so important to hear the voice of truth from our Savior Jesus Christ. Remember what Romans 8:15-17 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”
Dear listener: we are not a slave to the destructive-broken and fallen voices in our lives or in this world. I declare to you that; we are children of God! We are heirs of a new life; in and through Jesus Christ there is salvation for us.
God’s voice declares this Good News to us. God’s Son earned this gift on the cross for us. The voice of truth says, “I want you. I love you. I have redeemed you. You matter to me. I live so that you too may live forever.” That’s the voice of truth, my friend. And there is life-saving power in that voice…listen to it!
Jesus spoke from the cross. “It is finished!” “Father, forgive them.” He assured a man known as a thief, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
oh yes; The voice of truth says to us, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”
The voice of truth says, “I am with you always to the end of the age.”
it says, “Proclaim this Gospel to all creation. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.”
The voice of truth is powerful; it gives you a new life. Do you hear the voice of truth today? Will you listen to the voice of truth in your life?
You may remember when Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Every shepherd listening understood that sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. Several flocks can be mingled in a field, but when the shepherd calls, the sheep that are his, they follow him. Why? How does that work, because the shepherd feeds and cares for the sheep. Those sheep know where their sustenance comes from! They know who provides for them. And they follow his voice.
Dear friend, be honest with yourself today; you know that there are many, many fallen and harmful voices at work in your life today, voices that take the life out of you and lead you down destructive paths.
Jesus has another word for you; a clear voice of life and salvation, a way of life for you to follow and live.
The Voice of Jesus works wonders? Today, be assured that God provides a mute button to the destructive voices of Satan and his weapon of sin. The death and resurrection of Jesus silenced the dominating voices of death and destruction. The promise of God’s love and presence silenced the loud noise of doubt and fear. All of them are muted! God in His love and grace eagerly listens to us… as we cry out, “Abba, Father!” the believer is a redeemed and forgiven child of God. That is the voice of truth.
God presses the mute button with His living and gracious Word in our life. The voice of truth speaks into our life at this very moment.
The voice of truth goes on saying: “Do not be afraid!” be still and pray, with God all things work together for good.”
The voice of truth is a precious gift from God to you today.
Will you believe Him? Will you let God mute the destructive voices in your life to give you silence to sustain you so that you can hear Him speak His grace into your life today? Will you be that encouraging voice of grace to others too? Truth has a voice; it’s the voice of Jesus Christ is calling to you in and through His Word today. Trust in Him, for His truth transforms your life and mine, now and forever. Believe it!
Amen.
Benediction
The Lord bless; you and keep you
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His everlasting peace…
Amen!