We are to test the spirits ...

6. Does the spirit confess the Lordship of Jesus?   (I Corinthians 12:3).
7. Does the spirit confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?   (I John 4:1-4).
8. Check with the natural authorities over you. (parents, pastor, teacher, boss, husband, and governmental authorities).  (Hebrews 13:17).
9. Check with a Christian Counselor or counselors.  (Proverbs 11:14).
10. Check with the Word of God.  (II Timothy 3:16-17).
11. Check with your conscience (I Timothy 1:5, 1:19, 3:9).
12. Check with your spouse. (The wife is the help meet while the husband is the covering).  (Genesis 2:18, I Corinthians 11:3).
13. Be sure that you spirit is involved (not just your mind, will, and emotions).  (I Corinthians 2:14-15).
14. Ask God to confirm what you have heard.  (Judges 6:36-40).
15. Rely on your past experiences in hearing God's voice if possible.  (John 10:5).
16. Understand that the Holy Spirit both leads and drives.  (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12).

Things to avoid!

17. Pressure decisions.  (Proverbs 21:5, 29:20).
18. Partnerships.  (Proverbs 6:1-5).
19. Shady decisions.  (Song of Solomon 2:15).
20. Decisions that bring hurt to others. (II Corinthians 6:3).
21. "You owe me" decisions.  (Romans 13:8).
22. Something for nothings schemes. (I Chronicles 21:24).

1. "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ"  (I Corinthians 2:10-16).

2. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me"  (John 10:27).

3. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool"  (Isaiah 1:18).    "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"  (I John 1:9).

4. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).  "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit"  (Ephesians 5:18).

5. "Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Samuel 3:9-10).

6. "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost"  (I Corinthians 12:3).

7. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"  (I John 4:1-4).

8. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you"  (Hebrews 13:17).

9. "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety"  (Proverbs 11:14).

10. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works"  II Timothy 3:16-17).

11. "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned"  (I Timothy 1:5). "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck"  (I Timothy 1:19).  "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience"  (I Timothy 3:9).

12. "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him"  (Genesis 2:18).  "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God"  (I Corinthians 11:3).

13. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man"  (I Corinthians 2:15).

14. "And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.  And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.  And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground"  (Judges 6:36-40).

15. "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers"  (John 10:5).

16. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil"  (Matthew 4:1).  "And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness" (Mark 1:12).

17.  "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want"  (Proverbs 21:5).  "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him"  (Proverbs 29:20).

18. "My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.  Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.  Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.  Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler"  (Proverbs 6:1-5).

19. "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes"  (Song of Solomon 2:15).

20. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed"  (II Corinthians 6:3).

21. "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law"  (Romans 13:8).

22. "And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost"  (I Chronicles 21:24).