The Voice is an American singing competition television series broadcast on NBC. The goal of The Voice competition is to discover currently unsigned singing talent (solo or duets, professional and amateur) contested by aspiring singers, age 13 or over, drawn from public auditions.
Each new season begins with the "Blind Auditions," during which professional singing coaches form their team of artists whom they mentor through the remainder of the season. The coaches' chairs are positioned facing away from the artist during the artists' performances. Upon hearing a voice of interest, those judges attracted to the artist press their button which turns their chair 180 degrees towards the artist and illuminates the bottom of the chair to read, "I want you." At this point, the coach who sees the source of the voice for the first time, usually exhibits excitement, shock and joy. Lastly, the artist must choose a coach and thus the two begin an extended personal relationship involving mentorship, counsel, correction and discipleship. The artist becomes both a friend and disciple of the coach.
This highly popular and entertaining premise is a vivid picture of the life of faith in Christ Jesus. Like the judges on the show, you don’t have to see God to be a believer in God. 1 Peter 1:8—and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. Many, many saw Jesus and didn’t believe (e.g. John 6:60-66), but Jesus Himself said blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed (John 20:29).
You can’t see Jesus. You can’t feel Jesus. But you can hear Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ (Ro. 10:17). Smiles light the judges’ faces when they hear and have yet to see, but when they turn and faith becomes sight, they rejoice with exultation! The old testament is the story of a people who heard God’s voice but wouldn’t listen, e.g. Jer. 6:10; 13:11; 17:23; 25:4, 7. Jer. 35:14b—But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me. The Voice judges become believers solely by the sound, but when they turn and sound marries with sight, they’re compelled to stand and sing along with overwhelming joy!
In God’s kingdom, we are both awakened unto new spiritual birth and then grow in grace by hearing the voice of Christ. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Ro. 10:17). Faith is like a seed, and seed needs soil, but soil also needs seed if it wants to produce anything other than a weed. In the same way, your heart needs the voice of God. Now it’s true the Lord is our Shepherd and we lack nothing (we need), but we all want to expand. An acorn is created to expand into the fullness of a giant oak. So faith is exercised and strengthened by speaking what you’ve received from God. Stop speaking what you don’t believe. Speak the little bit you do believe. That prepares you to receive more with a joyful and glad heart.
The Holy Spirit is the Author of faith, and like breathing, believing is the most natural thing for God’s people. But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it (Deut. 30:14). As His voice enters your spirit, the revelation of what you’ve always been moves out of your heart, into your head and starts showing up in your feet.
The voice of God comes through relationship with God more so than from the Bible. The revelation from God’s Spirit within comes first, and the voice is confirmed, not generated, by anything that God has created. That includes the scriptures. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me’” (Jn 16:15). They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law (Mk 1:21-22). The Spirit tells you the things of God; the letter (written word/Bible) is dead—The plan wasn’t written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It’s written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives! (2 Cor. 3:6)
So the language of faith doesn’t depend on my faith or me, but on Him. Jesus is the language of faith. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey (Ps. 119:103). It gives growth to the seeds in your heart. Just speaking of Jesus will always awaken something in you because all people are held together by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3). But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
Everything you can see and touch somehow teaches Jesus Christ, even “The Voice” television competition. The judges, with ears alone, hear a pleasing sound, turn 180 degrees and declare, “I want you.”
Hebrews 11:1— Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
II Cor 5:7— For we walk by faith, not by sight:
Mark 4:33—With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
John 10:27—My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 8:47— Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
Hebrews 4:2— For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they hearddid not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
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