James 1:2-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

Testing of Your Faith

² Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let us return again the question of what God’s voice sounds like.

Why do we ask? Do we feel like we are missing something? Are we lacking in some way?

Hebrews 11:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

By Faith

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The KJV uses evidence rather than conviction. When we ask what God’s voice sounds like are we looking for evidence in the flesh that we failed to find by faith. Why we ask a question is very telling about us and our own needs. Will we refuse to believe if we do not receive “the answer” we want?

Desiring to have things our way is the leading edge of rebellion. He is Lord. He is God. He is perfect and we are not yet perfected. This sounds a little like the child that refuses to each spinach just because mom says it is good for them.

Maybe we should ask this of God.

Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.

Then hope that we can live with the test results.

Matthew 7:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

If we rely on our works to save us we have failed. If we think that works are a sign of salvation we are deceived. We know who deceives, it is Satan.

Verse 20 says we will be known by our fruits.

Galatians 5:22-23 English Standard Version (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Note closely that the issue of law is mentioned. These fruits are produced by the Holy Spirit by virtue of His presence in the body and not by obedience on our part. Neither obedience to law nor obedience by faith produce these fruits. It is the primary sign of the indwelling Holy Spirts.

This is the primary sign of our salvation. The Holy Spirit produces them and not we ourselves.

Can they be replicated by the flesh? Sure, but like all things of the flesh they will wither and die. Flesh produces death, they will wither.

Jeremiah 8:13 English Standard Version (ESV)  When I would gather them, declares the Lord, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them.

Return to Matthew 7:23 again for a moment. Jesus declared that He never knew them. This indicates there is no relationship. They were not His sheep, they harkened to the voice of a different master. The issue of those works being lawless is best understood as not being authorized by the will of God.