Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Beware of Counterfeits
Read Chapter 4 of Discerning the Voice of God. Key passages: 2 Corinthians 11:14; 1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15–16.
Previewing Week 5 of Discerning the Voice of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 11-week guide when you’re ready.
Not every voice that speaks into our lives is from God — and Shirer's sobering but necessary chapter on counterfeit voices equips us to test what we hear rather than receive it uncritically.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Second Corinthians 11:14 warns that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. Shirer takes this seriously as a reason for discernment rather than as a reason for fear. What is the difference between a healthy, biblically grounded skepticism about voices and a paralyzing fear that keeps us from hearing God at all?
2.Shirer identifies several counterfeit voices: the enemy (Satan), the flesh (our own sinful desires), and the world (cultural pressures and influences). Which of these three do you find it most difficult to distinguish from God's voice, and why?
3.First John 4:1 commands us to "test the spirits." Shirer gives practical criteria for this testing. What are the key tests she recommends, and how do they work together as a system rather than as isolated checkpoints?
a.Does the message align with Scripture?
b.Does it glorify Jesus Christ?
c.Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of fear, pride, and self-reliance?