This Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in the "7 to 9" gathering of ICC TV Montreal, William NGOM returns to a simple but demanding theme: obeying the voice of God. Not just listening to it. Obeying it. And above all, exposing the false reasonings that comfortably settle us into disobedience.
Obeying first requires knowing the word
William NGOM states it right away. You cannot obey a word you do not know. "We must obey the word. But where is the word? It is in the Bible. So actually, we really start with the basics. We go back to the basics because sometimes that matters."
Do you want to get married? What God says about marriage is found in his word. Are you going through grief? What God says about grief is found in his word. Are you living through a difficult moment? His word has something to say to you. But for that, you have to read it, meditate on it, work through it.
William NGOM insists on a clear-eyed image: the congregation launched their reading plans at the beginning of the year. "In January, everyone was excited. In February, excited. In March, it dropped off." Today, if you ask someone, "Where is your reading plan?" the answer no longer comes. The reading plan is not a January achievement. It is a discipline for the whole year.
Two inseparable dimensions: the written word and the voice of the Spirit
Obedience requires the written word (the Bible), but also communion with the Holy Spirit. The two go together. The Bible will not tell you, "Go speak to that man over there in red." That voice comes from the Holy Spirit. But the Bible tells you that you must proclaim the gospel.
If you stay only with the written word without communion with the Spirit, you will evangelize the wrong people. You will waste your time speaking to hearts that are not yet ready, while the person the Lord has prepared for today, you will walk right past.
"You cannot obey the voice of the Lord if you have no communion with the Spirit." Both dimensions are necessary to be effective.
Exodus 23: the promise made to those who listen
William NGOM opens Exodus 23, starting at verse 20. "Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you carefully listen to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
The promise is clear: God has prepared a place for each of us. To get there, he sends an angel, he marks out the way, he does everything necessary. Our part is to listen to his voice and do what he says. Then he becomes the enemy of our enemies and the adversary of our adversaries. This is how obedient people end up not having to fight. Simply obeying is enough to set God in motion on their behalf.
Two parking lots: Jesus' and the enemy's
William NGOM uses an image drawn from everyday life. In some countries, parking lots are shared. There is the parking lot of the obedient: that one is managed by Jesus, he is the one who watches over the cars, he tells you where to park. And there is the parking lot of the disobedient: that one is managed by the enemy.
"God takes care of the obedient. The enemy manages the disobedient and puts them in prisons." Disobedience is a prison, and the jailer is the enemy. People can pray for you, fast, anoint your head, but no one can obey in your place. The pastor cannot obey for you. Obedience is your personal commitment, your responsibility.
The false reasonings that keep you in disobedience
When we disobey, the Spirit normally puts sorrow in the heart. We want to repent, we want to make amends. But when someone disobeys and remains comfortable, William NGOM says it plainly: "It is because there are false reasonings that make him comfortable in that position."
False reasonings are these inner mechanisms that keep us from obeying, turn us away from God's will, and quietly settle us into disobedience. He identifies several of them.
1. Excuses and justification
"Justification is when we use circumstances, past experiences, or arguments to make ourselves comfortable in our disobedience." We say, "I had no choice. I could not have done otherwise." Or, "Pastor X in such and such country did the same thing, so I am not the only one."
Beloved, we always have a choice. God created us with free will. God himself says, "Here is life, here is death. I set both before you. Choose." Nothing is imposed on us. It is our will, our decision. The enemy can influence us, but we always have the choice to say no.
William NGOM tells the story of a young brother from his church in Ivory Coast. He had gotten engaged too soon, without the means, against the advice of the elders. He kept receiving his fiancee in his studio despite the warnings. A pregnancy resulted. Called before the church's small council to be helped, everyone expected repentance. Instead, he explained, "The sister came to visit me and as soon as she entered the room, the devil acted." No repentance, no responsibility. Everything blamed on the devil. That is justification protecting disobedience.
2. Diversification
When you are corrected, you change the subject. You shift the conversation elsewhere to avoid facing what actually concerns you. It is a false reasoning that shields you from confrontation.
3. Intellect and reasoning
We mobilize our intelligence, build an argument, stack up nuances to make acceptable what the word of God simply calls disobedience. The intellect becomes a fortress that protects sin.
4. The "uncategorized" false reasoning
William NGOM mentions a fourth one that he classifies as uncategorized because it does not fit the other three. The principle is the same: it is a mental construction that makes you comfortable exactly where the Spirit would want to disturb you.
2 Corinthians 10: tearing down strongholds
William NGOM calls the congregation to prayer. He cites 2 Corinthians 10:4: "For the weapons of our warfare are not merely human. They draw their power from God, who makes them able to tear down strongholds. Yes, we tear down false reasonings."
The battle is not first against other people. It is against these reasonings that have taken root in us and legalize our disobedience. The 7-to-9 prayer then becomes a prayer of inner demolition: tearing down strongholds, uprooting false reasonings, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Key takeaways
- You cannot obey a word you do not know. Picking a reading plan back up, returning to Scripture, meditating on the word: this is not a January performance, it is the foundation of all obedience.
- The written word (the Bible) and the voice of the Holy Spirit work together. One without the other will make you ineffective.
- Exodus 23 is a concrete promise: God fights for those who listen to his voice. Your obedience triggers his protection.
- There are two parking lots: Jesus' (the obedient) and the enemy's (the disobedient). Choose where you park.
- False reasonings (excuses, diversion, intellect) are spiritual strongholds. They can only be fought with the word and prayer.
Personal application
- Where are you concretely with your reading plan this year? Does the word still hold a real place in your days, or has it fallen behind urgency and entertainment?
- Is there a specific area of your life where you know the Lord is asking something of you and you are resisting? Name it before God this morning.
- Which false reasoning do you find yourself using most often: excuse, justification, diversion, intellect? Ask the Spirit to show it to you and uproot it.
- Which "parking lot" is your life parked in right now: the one of obedience, or the one of comfort in disobedience?
- What real communion do you have with the Holy Spirit today? Take time this week to talk to him and to listen, without an agenda.
Verses cited
- Exodus 23:20-22 · the angel sent ahead, the voice to listen to, the enemy of your enemies
- Deuteronomy 30:19 · "Here is life, here is death. Choose"
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 · tearing down strongholds and false reasonings
Frequently asked questions
Does God still speak to me today outside of the Bible?
Yes, the Bible remains the standard, but the Holy Spirit continues to guide through his inner voice, never contradicting Scripture. William NGOM insists: the two dimensions are inseparable. The written word gives you the framework; the voice of the Spirit gives you the concrete application for your day.
How can I recognize a false reasoning in my own life?
The most reliable sign is comfort in disobedience. When you disobey without being troubled, when you consistently find arguments to explain why it is not a big deal, when you shift the conversation as soon as you are corrected, a false reasoning is in place. Ask the Spirit to show you what you are protecting.
I want to obey but I cannot manage it. What should I do?
William NGOM reminds us: no one can obey in your place, but you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is there to teach you all things. Return to the word, pick a realistic reading plan, surround yourself with brothers and sisters who pull you upward, and pray, taking hold of 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 for yourself to tear down the strongholds.
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