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It is a natural part of your relationship with the Lord that the Holy Spirit will speak to you directly and through others. A lot of hurt is able to be avoided by knowing which words are from the Lord and which ones you are able to put your trust in. Here are some pointers to help you test to know which words are from the Lord.
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit if it was Him speaking to you. Christians have the best of intentions. Like all of us we are learning and need to have grace with each other while we grow in our relationship with Jesus. When someone gives you a word from the Lord write it down and spend time praying asking God if it is from Him or not.
Test what God has spoke to you with another member of the body of Christ. When you believe you have heard something from God directly take it to another member of the body of Christ who is mature in the Lord. Ask this person to pray with you. What God has spoke He will confirm.
Test the word against scripture. In some way what God speaks in the present day is an extension of scripture even if it applies to a specific situation. Take it to the Bible --- the written word of God. If it is the Lord speaking it would some how fit in and it would be material we would find in the letter's Paul wrote to the first century church. God will not go against His written word.
Does the word spoke to you fit in with your life? What God speaks to us directly will fit into our life. If it is correction then God is showing us a better way of doing things. If it is direction then what He has spoke to us has already begun in our lives. God sticks with us through our whole life and builds upon what He has already begun in our life.
Are you able to see Jesus in the person who has brought you a word from the Lord? When you know the person whom brought you a word from the Lord reflect upon their character. Are you able to see Jesus in how they live their life? Their commitment to the relationship they have with the Lord will be reflected in their deeds and the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be evident in their life.
Words from the Lord don't strengthen your flesh but feed your spirit. Test that what you believe God has said to you is spirit food --- words of life, growth and maturity as a believer in Jesus. Even words of correction draw you closer to Jesus, the one you love.
Those who are over you in the Lord will be God's vessel in helping determine major life decisions. Use God's spiritual authority structure to check in with when you are praying over major life changing decisions. Share what your vision and passion for what you want to do with your life and direction you feel the Lord is leading you. Take time to pray with the person and talk about the practical ramifications of decisions you are making. God may bring you through a season of preparation before moving you into the next stage of your life and is just letting you know what is coming so you may began to prepare.
Write down the words you heard or were told for future reference. If the timing seems off but you have determined it was from the Lord write it down for accuracy and then go about your life. The Holy Spirit will draw you back to read your prayer journal when the timing is right. Writing down what the Lord has impressed upon you establishes credibility in knowing what God has spoken to you directly or through others so you are not relying on your memory or what you want God to say to you.