It is written in Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
This is not merely a historical warning; it is a present reality. For a very long time, God’s people have been complacent and drifting, because we have lost the knowledge of God. The Hebrew word for “knowledge” here (*da’at*) does not refer to intellectual information, but to covenantal, relational understanding of God’s character, commands, and His will. When God’s people turn away from His law, they become spiritually dead.
Many believers today have not picked up their cross to die to the self; therefore, they cannot see the spiritual decay around them. The definitions of justice and sin have been twisted by false teachers and cultural pressure to the extent that many sins are considered as virtues. We are living in the fulfillment of Isaiah’s warning:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
Everyone who has no respect of the word of God will not listen, and will continue to say whatever he likes. But this will likely bring curse and disaster upon himself in the end.
The root cause: No Fear of God
It is written in Jeremiah 5:20-24 “Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, Who have eyes but do not see; Who have ears but do not hear. Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble in My presence?… But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed. They do not say in their heart, ‘Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season.’”
The fear of God brings safety not terror for His people; it is absolute respect, reverent submission, and the recognition that He alone is Lord, the Creator Of The Universe. Proverbs 9:10 declares, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” and Psalm 111:10 echoes, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.”
Yet today, so many do not want to hear these word of God, we treat the gospel as a spiritual buffet. We select the verses that comfort, ignore the ones that convict, and reshape Christ into a mirror of our own desires. This can only produces a virtual god to bring self-destruction.
Notice the structure of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Before we ask for daily bread, healing, or deliverance, we are commanded to reverence God’s name. Without that foundational respect, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” becomes an empty slogan. Jesus Himself warned: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). Without reverence men can understand nothing.
The Trap of Deceit and Self-Made Religion
It is written in Jeremiah 5:26-29; “For wicked men are found among My people, They watch like fowlers lying in wait; They set a trap, They catch men. Like a cage full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit; Therefore they have become great and rich. They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; And they do not defend the rights of the poor. Shall I not punish these people?’ declares the LORD, ‘On a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?’”
Is this happening today? We must ask ourselves with humility. Do we see churches spending large sums on buildings and comfort while the poor, the orphan, and the marginalized are ignored? When a congregation becomes “fat and sleek” spiritually, it loses its sensitivity to the Shepherd’s voice. Jesus gave clear instructions on how we should use our resources and who we should honor:
“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they are not able to repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14) True obedience is not just about what we say in church; it is about how we treat the least of these. Jesus identified Himself with the poor and the suffering:
“In as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)
James 1:27 reminds us: “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: To visit the orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” How many have listened to this Scripture?
Leaders Rule by Their Own Authority
It is written; “An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
“To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.” (Jeremiah 6:10)
“I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, Like a horse charging into the battle. Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush Observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know The ordinance of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:6-7)
This is a serious indictment. The religious leaders rule on their own authority, and the people love it because it confirms their desires. We see this in every denomination where leaders run churches without inquiring of the Lord, teaching men-made doctrines and traditions rather than the whole counsel of God, and twisting the Word to suit their agendas.
Peter warned us about this distortion in 2 Peter 3:16: “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
When we accept a leader who twists Scripture, or when we twist Scripture ourselves to justify our sins, we are closing our ears to the voice of the Lord. We become like horses charging blindly into battle, driven by fleshly impulse rather than divine direction.
Today, this distortion takes many forms: sermons that entertain but do not convict, teachings that elevate human experience over divine revelation, leaders who build platforms rather than imitate Christ. When shepherds feed themselves, the flock are led astray.
Return to the Good Shepherd
Jesus said in John 10:11-12; “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.”
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
Jesus does not say, “My sheep are chosen,” and stop. He says, “My sheep listen to my voice.” Eternal life is not a simple confession; it is a dynamic relationship sustained by hearing, following, and abiding. The hired hand may preach, perform, and persuade, but he does not lay down his life. He does not hear Jesus’ voice.
We must watch out for those “hired hands.” Not everyone who is called to serve is chosen to lead. Jesus warned in Matthew 22:14: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
The only secure place is under the Good Shepherd’s care. He knows His sheep by name, calls them by voice, and lays down His life for them. And Jesus said in John 14:21: “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Watch out some leaders may appear kind and charismatic, yet they do not lay down their lives for the sheep. They may even be like Judas, who appeared to be a disciple but had a heart of deceit. The chosen ones are those who imitate Jesus, offering their bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) and living solely for the will of God.
Hearing His Voice
Jesus said in John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” This is the vital assurance of the Christian life. Hearing Jesus’ voice is not mystical speculation; it is through prayer, meditation and wait on the Lord, guided by the Holy Spirit. His voice is going to tell us how to do God’s will, as Jesus declared: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4 The “daily bread” is the “word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” This is how we receive real-time instruction on how to do God’s will. Jesus modeled this dependence: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34) Jesus took this food to do the Father’s will. He sustained Himself by listening and obeying. We must do the same. The dark forces are trying their best to turn the sheep away from this practice, distracting us with noise, busyness, and false doctrines that says “no need to hear.” The danger of silence is severe. David cried out In Psalm 28:1: “Hear me, O LORD my God, and give ear; Otherwise I shall sleep the sleep of death, And I will be like those who go down to the pit.“
Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Jesus said; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Why so many believers do not hear the Lord’s voice? The answer is they don’t have pure heart. Neither do I, if the Holy Spirit does not open my eyes, I can see nothing. God’s children are deceived so badly that they rarely ask for this blessing. Many are so blind that they don’t realize they are not poor in spirit at all. The Scriptures to them become as Isaiah said in 28:9-11
Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there.” Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
Many live with unconfessed sin and a hardened heart. Fewer understand the sermon on the mount to seek blessings of the beatitudes. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us the fundamental of true prayer life: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.“
Repentance is not optional; it is the maintenance of our relationship with God. When we fail to repent, we block the communication. As Psalm 66:18 said: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.“
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness.“
— Hebrews 3:7-8
All God’s children can hear His voice in the form of thoughts and ideas, but thoughts from other source will also come in. If we are not sensitive and familiar with the word, we will miss His voice. What we read, listen or think will impact our ability to distinguish His voice.
We have to repent in order to practice God’s word, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.“
The warning is written in Philippians 3:18-19: For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.
Both blessing and cursing are in front of everyone, choose wisely.
Doing God’s Will – Be Filled with the Spirit and Pray Psalms
It is written in Ephesians 5:17-19: “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.“
To understand the will of the Lord, we must be filled with the Spirit. This filling is achieved by obeying and surrendering our own will. It takes time. When we obey the word “speaking to yourself with psalms” We can learn from what the Spirit said, which holds many secrets to hear the Lord’s voice:
- Meditation is the first key blessings: Ps 1:1-2 BLESSED is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Whoever despise this word of God and refuse to practice, he will face difficulty in hearing his voice. I have learned this the hard way.
- Ps 4:4: Tremble, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. I find this this is the most effective way of listening his voice so far.
- Seek His face: “Restore us, O God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” (Psalm 80:7)
- Seek Guidance: “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me…” (Psalm 25:4-5)
- Fear the Lord: “Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.” (Psalm 25:12)
- Seek truth of our heart: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Make the request: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)
These are not optional devotions; they are the breathing pattern of a Spirit-filled life. Colossians 3:16 commands us: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” When the Word dwells richly, the Shepherd’s voice becomes unmistakable.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit
We are all self-centered and rebellious to some degree. When we refuse to obey the Word we grieve the Spirit. For example, it is written:
(Luke 9:23) “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(I Corinthians 11:1) Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
(I Corinthians 12:31) But earnestly desire the greater gifts (LOVE). And I show you a still more excellent way.
(I Corinthians 14:1) Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
(II Corinthians 13:5) Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?
The above verses are just few of the key gifts we should desire and seek according to the Scriptures. We have to ask ourselves, how often do we put these Word into practice? Have we asked for the gift of LOVE?
We are so ignorant of the real value of these verses, because we have too little respect or knowledge of God and His word.
We have to wake up and repent. May we be a people who hear, obey and repent. Do not twist the Word. Do not pick and choose. Do not follow hired hand to flatter the flesh. Tune our hearts to the Good Shepherd.
Let’s pray Psalm 90 (NKJV)
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
You turn man to destruction, And say, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers.
For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified.
You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh.
The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Return, O LORD! How long? And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.