The Beginning

The Past

The Present

The Future

The End

Home

Site Map

Lay it to Heart

A Still Small Voice

Some Christians Claim They Are Doing Right Because of a Still Small Voice Inside Them

Some Christians base their decisions not on the Bible but instead their feelings. When asked to justify the their actions with scripture they misquote scripture or take it out of context. When shown they they are not in accordance with scripture they fall back to another unscriptural position of saying they know they are doing right because of a "still small voice" within them. They pretend, suggest or imply that this is God's Holy Spirit revealing something to them. They use the phrase "still small voice" because it sounds Biblical but refuse to listen to God's word.

The Bible's Still Small Voice Is not Silent

1 Kings 19 is the source of this phrase.

8	And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9	And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10	And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11	And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12	And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13	And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14	And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15	And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

The still small voice was not silent. It was not inside Elijah's heart or mind. It was an actual voice speaking to him. It was considered still and small because of what had just happened; a great and powerful wind, an earthquake and a fire.

God's Word Is not Subject to Private Interpretation

2 Peter 1 lets Christians know that the word of God is not limited to just priests or pastors and is not given to us in the form of a feeling or inner knowledge without Biblical basis.

19	We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20	Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
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.

God does not hide his word. He does not give it to one person only or make it private. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." There is not way the man of God could be properly prepared if the word was given only to certain individuals. We cannot live by emotions. We need guidance from the word of God. If the Holy Spirit is leading to do something will not contradict the Bible. It is the Bible only that is the authority. That is the source for scriptural truth. It can be understood by all who apply themselves to it.