1st Samuel 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, here am I; for thou called me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he calls thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So, Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
This particular story in the Bible must be observed and studied very seriously, because it has deeper implications for persons living in the 21st century, who have to sift through a number of voices inside our heads. Out of the blue, and without any prior warning, a voice is heard distinctly, calling Samuel.
His first thought was that it must be his mentor, Eli, and so, he goes to him not once not twice, but three times. Samuel probably did not know at that time that invisible beings could make such a direct form of intrusion into the human experience, where he can hear a voice clearly calling him.
In his young mind, as it is in the minds of so many people, that isn’t possible, and thus, after the third undeniable intrusion, he is probably wide awake on his bed, with his hairs standing on edge, as he waits and ponders in the darkness, what on earth could be happening to him.
The narrative tells us why Samuel kept going back to Eli, as the source of the voice, because he did not yet know The Lord, neither was he familiar with His voice. Later on, in his experiences with The Lord, he was not scared or uncertain anymore, because he became familiar and sure of the voice that would speak to him over and over again.
The question we need to address is whether or not, God’s voice is the only voice that we can hear in our heads. Is it possible for invisible bad actors, namely the prince of darkness and his hosts, to call a person by name, and give suggestions and instructions to do this or that?
Just because you’re a Christian with The Holy Ghost doesn’t mean that God’s voice is the only voice you would hear inside your head. There are times when you will hear other voices suggesting things that are totally contrary to God’s will, and you will have to sift through them and act only on that which is the will of God.
Hearing other voices, including satan’s voice, does not in and of itself constitute sin. It is when persons yield to those other voices that there would be a problem, but if you were to hear other voices, and suggestions, other than the voice of Christ, that is something that we would have to be reconciled to as being an ongoing reality.
As we approach the end of time you will hear many voices in your head, beckoning and suggesting, and commanding you to do such and such. It is what you choose to do that makes all the difference.
There’s a valid reason why The Lord cautions us to beware of “his” devices, referring to man’s arch-enemy, because, without a knowledge of God and His word, persons can and will fall into snares.
The prince of darkness could speak through other people, he can also make a direct intrusion into your mind, and he can give visions and dreams, just like how holy angels can.
And since it is an undeniable, and well documented fact, the Christian in our day has to be on high alert, with the enabling power of The Holy Spirit, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, since we are living in abnormal times, and experiences of a supernatural nature may be headed our way.
A vision is an experience where the receiver is fully awake, and could both see and hear things which appeal to the five senses. This occurred when in the wilderness of temptation, satan gave to Christ a live vision of the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of the
Like Daniel, like the prophets of old, and like Ellen G. White, Jesus was awake when He got this vision. So, the Christian in our day must be aware of the level of intrusion that is possible through fallen angels. This will prepare us to be anchored in the truth and in Christ if and when unexplainable phenomena will come your way. Let’s read:
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And said unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
[The Desire of Ages pp 129] Placing Jesus upon a high mountain, Satan caused the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, to pass in panoramic view before Him.
The sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and fruit-laden vineyards. The traces of evil were hidden. The eyes of Jesus so lately greeted by gloom and desolation, now gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity.
Then the tempter’s voice was heard: “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Armed with this knowledge, the student of the Bible can immediately shut down any notion that any and every supernatural manifestation, or any voices that might make such a direct intrusion in your human experience, inevitably has to be the voice of God, or that it is of heavenly origin.
This is not absolutely the case and thus, the you and me are required, through the power of The Holy Spirit and the word of God, to sift through the many voices and experiences that are on the menu, with the intent of identifying and following God’s voice alone. At the end of the day, it’s what you choose to do and who you choose to follow that makes all the difference. Let’s read:
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Proverbs 1:10 My son if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
The Bible teaches us that the prince of darkness has the ability to utter things into your mind, whether it be through other individuals, or by a direct infusion. He spoke to Job, commanding him to curse God and die.
He spoke to Eve, to Adam, and to Moses, to Achan, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and his voice has been heard in the mind of every individual who has ever lived on our planet.
When Adam and Eve sinned, one of the unfortunate consequences was that the prince of darkness was now given more ready access to human minds, and ever since that fatal day, all human beings have, and continue to hear his voice, some more, some less.
God’s ideal is that we will only obey His voice, but as far as other voices go, you will hear them from time to time. If you were to hear any commanding voice telling you to do something that is contrary to God’s revealed will it’s your positive duty to verify that the voice is indeed God’s voice, before proceeding with the command.
And if you are not 100% sure, do not proceed under any circumstances. Even if you have to ask God for a sign, it will be better to confirm before acting on any command or instruction to do the unthinkable.
When God spoke to Abraham concerning his son, God gave Him a definite sign to guide him moving forward, in addition to which, Abraham knew God’s voice, because of his relationship and communion with Him over a number of years.
In fact, according to the servant of the Lord, on that occasion, Abraham also heard satan’s voice telling him to do the exact opposite, which was more inline with a human approach to the issue, and no doubt, Sarah would have called 911, if she were to get wind of the command from God.
Abraham obeyed, because he was absolutely sure of the voice that spoke to Him, because he habitually sought The Lord and was obedient to His commands so that this instruction coming from God could have been instantly identified as to its origin. Let’s read:
Genesis 26: 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 148] Satan was at hand to suggest that he must be deceived, for the divine law commands, “Thou shalt not kill,” and God would not require what He had once forbidden.
Side by side the father and the son journeyed in silence. The patriarch, pondering his heavy secret, had no heart for words. His thoughts were of the proud, fond mother, and the day when he should return to her alone.
As they were about to begin the journey of the third day, the patriarch, looking northward, saw the promised sign, a cloud of glory hovering over Mount Moriah, and he knew that the voice which had spoken to him was from heaven.
It is a grim statement that we make when we inform persons that satan’s voice can also be heard in your mind, suggesting and commanding you to do some apparently good things. The proposal that had come through Peter to Christ was on the surface good, but it originated with the prince of darkness.
That is why we have to inform you, by the grace of God that the enemy of souls is preparing a major assault on the remnant, using that familiar passage: “It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day” Unless individuals have studied God’s word intently, and unless you know God’s voice, it would be quite difficult to tell the difference.
For instance, last week Friday evening I was working at the dealer on a Mercedes Maybach, and there were some issues that were not being resolved in a timely manner. I was already in the middle of the job, and as I looked at sunset time, I realized that there could potentially be a major problem.
It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath, that is true, so if for some reason the issues could not be resolved in a timely manner, does the statement of Christ on doing well on the Sabbath allow me to stay at the Dealership until the work is completed, even if it will mean working until 10:00 pm on Friday night?
Or, should I pack up and leave in the middle of the job, and wait for Sunday morning to continue? Let’s say there was a voice inside my head, commanding me to finish the job and be reasonable, even though the sacred hours of the Sabbath would be violated, should I then obey that voice?
When the people back then tried to take Jesus by force to make Him a King, that voice came through Judas, and for the you and me who are supposed to be studying the Scriptures, with an air to obeying God’s will, satan’s voice will be heard from time to time, mostly suggesting good things that are not in harmony with God’s will.
In the following example you will find Peter trying to protect Jesus which to him was something good and noble. But lo and behold, the author of the thought was satan. Thus, even though you may hear a voice, suggesting something that might be in and of itself good, the sifting process must continue. Let’s read:
Matthew 16: 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
[The Desire of Ages pp 416] Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal.
Here it is again where someone raises an objection to Christ’s work, with apparently the best intentions and yet it was the prince of darkness provoking the thought and words. This happens quite often in our everyday experiences, so that it becomes necessary to heed the words of Christ pertaining to vigilance. Let’s read:
John 11: 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinks for he hath been dead four days.
[From heaven with Love pp 256] When the Lord is about to do a work, Satan moves upon someone to object.
Consider carefully the two previous examples, for it was not your everyday sinner on the menu. These were God-fearing believers in Christ, so, you can just imagine what takes place with persons who do not have The Holy Spirit living within the heart.
Now, it’s one thing to vocalize the voice inside your head, but it’ a completely different matter to obey it if it’s not God’s voice. There have been increasing incidents where persons have heard a commanding voice inside their heads, and they followed through with obedience, but it turned out that the voice was not God’s voice at all.
Let’s just say here that with the uptick in indulgence in pagan philosophies, ideologies and practices, you will see and hear more incidents where persons will hear commanding voices, telling them to do the unthinkable.
In the two most recent cases, two mothers claimed to have heard a commanding voice, telling them to strangle their kids. And unfortunately, they obeyed the voice and the rest is history. Someone will need to advocate for them, hence the reason why we say that it is quite possible that God is now saying, hold on a minute, through His providences. Let’s read:
CNN News September 6/2026
An Illinois mother had become “very invested” in the high-profile Lindsay Clancy murder trial before prosecutors say she killed her 2-year-old son on Tuesday, according to witnesses cited in court documents.
At the time over 1,000 miles away, the jury had been deliberating in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse accused of killing her three children. Walsh had been discussing the case on a group text message with her friends up until 12:30 p.m.
Around 4 p.m., the Frankfort Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive toddler before he was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to a Friday news release from police.
And these are not merely isolated cases, for with an uptick in demonic activity across the land, there will be more and more of these cases surfacing. In fact, there are several notable examples of persons who claimed to hear commanding voices in their heads, before going on to commit gruesome crimes. Let’s read:
In another case involving postpartum psychosis, the mother, Andrea Yates drowned her five children in a bathtub. Forensic experts documented that she had experienced severe auditory hallucinations for many months, commanding her to harm them, which she initially resisted.
But later on, she was completely overwhelmed, and went on to do the unthinkable deed, and she was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Now, we are not discounting the fact that certain drugs can produce hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, depression and the whole nine yards. That is a well-documented fact, for big pharma says so in many of their advertisements.
But, the question to be answered is whether or not the voices inside your head can actually force you to do an evil deed or vocalize the evil thought that was forced into your conscious, or unconscious mind.
Did Mrs. Clancy have no choice whatsoever in the matter, and did the prince of darkness tie her hands and force her to do the unthinkable. Consider very carefully what the question is, and the implications thereof, for if we were to accept that, it means that we are finished as a society, because other logical questions are sure to follow.
Did Bin Laden also hear voices in his head, in that cave in Afghanistan, and did satan bind him in his fetters, so that he had no choice but to blow up the world trade centers, and kill over three thousand people?
The reason why we raised the example of Bin Laden is because there are also instances where the crime committed was not tethered to the use of any drug, such as when Herod wiped out all the male Jewish children under two years of age.
And when Pharaoh commanded the male Hebrew babies to be disposed of, was he taking any kind of drugs and was he hearing voices in his head, and if so, did the prince of darkness bypass his freedom of choice, and force him to do what he did? Was Hitler on medications, and did he also hear voices inside his head?
This raises an even greater, and far more important question, for if persons claim that the commanding voices made them do what they did, against their will, who should ultimately be held responsible, the person in question, or the prince of darkness, or the drug company?
As we dig deeper into the ramifications of the plea of insanity, commanding voices, the effect of drugs and the consequent verdicts of innocence, we have to ask ourselves could the devil force persons to sin against their will, after intruding a sinful suggestion into their minds.
Let’s say David heard a commanding voice inside his head, telling him that he must sleep with Bathsheba or else, would he still have a choice in the matter, or is he bound in an iron destiny, from which he cannot escape?
It may be that The Lord, through angelic agencies, stopped the Clancy trial in its tracks, lest we board a runaway train, headed for never land, as far as the issue of personal responsibility and the freedom of choice goes. So, here’s the first question in precis form, that needs to be addressed:
[1] If you were to hear voices inside of your head, telling you to do something that is wrong, can those voices then force you into doing the evil act, against your will, so that you have no choice but to do it? We are taking a close look at the very concept. Let’s read:
Joshua 24: 15 And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come, with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause.
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.
There is a growing tendency in our day to remove responsibility from the individual, and place blame on circumstances, the weather, drugs, voices, and everything and anyone but the person in question. Furthermore, even though we hate to say it, the old devil gets blamed wrongfully on too many occasions for things that persons are fully responsible for.
There are instances where the excuse: “the devil made me do it” is applied to abuse of one’s credit cards, driving under the influence of alcohol, and to other failures in the human experience, too many to mention.
And the poor devil cannot defend himself since he is hidden from view, and therefore, he becomes a sort of scape goat for anything that may otherwise shift the burden of responsibility to our shoulders. He is a last resort of blame, with no one to vouch for him.
The devil made me do it was first used by Eve, when she blamed him for the choices she then made. It is funny, because Eve also heard the voice even before she saw the serpent. And if the Christian is not very careful today, the same philosophy could and would imperceptibly invade our thoughts and actions, and consequently find us unprepared for the judgement. Let’s read:
[The Desire of Ages pp 125] While Satan can solicit, he cannot compel to sin. He said to Jesus, “Cast Thyself down,” knowing that he could not cast Him down; for God would interpose to deliver Him. Nor could Satan force Jesus to cast Himself down. Unless Christ should consent to temptation, He could not be overcome.
The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us. But every sinful desire we cherish affords him a foothold. Every point in which we fail of meeting the divine standard is an open door by which he can enter to tempt and destroy us.
The second question is equally important: [2] Who will be ultimately be held accountable for crimes which are committed under the claims of insanity?
In other words, if an individual is genuinely mentally disabled, and he commits some grave crime, will he be held accountable when the books of record are opened in the judgement?
That question will be answered in next week’s Bible study because it will address many of the verdicts or pleas, rulings and precedents that we have become accustomed to over the years, and take for granted.
In the meanwhile, God would have us chew on this word by applying and incorporating it into the many choices we have to make. No one could force you to do evil, for the time being because we’re free moral agents, and God has opened up the way through Christ, so that all who desire to right, could do so, in Him, and through Him.
Yes, we may have our struggles from day to day, but you can struggle without falling, for struggling is not a sin. God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble, therefore, whenever those commanding voices terrorize you to do wrong, just remember the deed must first pass through the gate of your choice.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that is meant to help us to live victoriously from day to day, and it is the will of God that from here on out we’ll consider, and appropriate the freedom of choice the Lord has given to us, by making choices, and taking actions, that are commensurate with righteousness. Let’s read:
Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
God Bless!