VOICES

Recognizing the lies, remembering the truth.

From the garden to the wilderness, the enemy has always tried to twist God’s words, plant seeds of doubt, and distract us from who we really are. But even in the noise, God’s voice still calls — steady, true, and full of love.

In Voices, you’ll explore key moments in Scripture where the enemy speaks — through deception, mockery, intimidation, and false promises and contrast them with what God says about you. This study will help you name the lies, reclaim your identity, and tune your heart to the One who calls you His own.

If you’ve been struggling to hear God clearly or feel unsure of who you are, this study is an invitation to listen more closely  and believe more deeply the truth He’s been speaking over you all along.

THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY

The Serpent (Satan) speaks to Eve

Genesis 3:1–5
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Enemy’s Tactic(s): Planting doubt in God’s truth and twisting His intentions.

Nehemiah’s work of building the wall is mocked

Nehemiah 4:1–3
Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

Enemy’s Tactic(s): Attacking confidence and discouraging God’s people from completing their calling.

Goliath taunts Israel

1 Samuel 17:8–11, 16
He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
[…]
Verse 16
For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

Enemy’s Tactic(s): Wearing people down through fear, threats, and repetition.

The devil tempts Jesus

Matthew 4:1–11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Enemy’s Tactic(s): Casting doubt on who God says you are. Promising easy gain apart from God’s way. Using Scripture out of context to manipulate or confuse.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT YOU?

You are loved

Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You are chosen & set apart

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You are a child of God

John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

You are an heir — A co-heir with Christ

Romans 8:17 …and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

You are forgiven and free

Colossians 1:13–14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

You are washed, sanctified, and justified

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

You are not alone

Matthew 28:20b And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

You are the light of the world

Matthew 5:14–16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

You are God’s temple — The Holy Spirit dwells in you

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

You are righteous in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

You are a citizen of heaven

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

You are God’s workmanship — His masterpiece

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

You are safe and secure in Christ

John 10:28–29 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

WHOSE VOICE ARE YOU LISTENING TO?

John 10:3–5
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Isaiah 30:21
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Which voice has been loudest in your life lately — God’s or the enemy’s?

What lies have you believed about yourself, and how do they compare to what God says about you?

Are there areas in your life where you’re unknowingly agreeing with the enemy’s voice?

Are there habits, influences, or people you need to turn down so you can better hear God’s voice?

If you fully embraced what God says about you, how would your life look different?

What step can you take this week to intentionally listen to God more closely?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.