How To Recognize The Spirit Of God

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  This is how you can recognize The Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.  This is how we recognize The Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."  1 John 4:1-6 (NIV)

The Apostle John wrote to the believers to warn them that every spirit is not from God.  He told them that every spirit which acknowledges that Jesus, The Christ, is the Son of God who put on flesh and came to earth, is a spirit from God.  Those spirits which do not acknowledge Jesus, are not from God.  Believers are children of God and will overcome those who do not believe, because He that is within every believer is greater than he who is in the world.  Those which are of this world are attracted to, and like to hear worldly points of view.  Those who are of God will recognize and listen to The Spirit of God.

The Spirit of God is within all who truly believe that Jesus Christ is The Son of God.  Every spirit that we hear is not from God.  Any spirit which speaks and says something which is contrary to The Word of God, or encourages us to do something which is contrary to The Word of God, is not from God.  The Bible is the means by which we can test what we hear.  However, we must read and study The Word of God so that we will not be led astray.  The devil does not want us to read the Bible.  A well read believer is better equipped to rightly divide The Word of God, and to recognize that which is not of God, but of an evil spirit.