John 10:4-5 (The Message)
When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.
Our spontaneous recognition of the Lord’s voice is learned through experience and divine aid (I Sam. 3:1-7). Recognizing His voice (which should be the norm) is cultivated by daily contact with Him and obedience to Him. Counterfeits are best recognized when one has a knowledge of the genuine.