Is It REaly from God?

When I raise this question, people sometimes ask me a question in return, 'I believe in leadings,' they say, 'I am willing to obey. In fact, I often have done so. But I know that there are other spirits loose in this world, and they aren't all holy. I also know that I cam capable of thinking that my own intense desires are the Holy Spirit's wishes. How can I be sure that a leading is truly from God?'

This is a valid question. The Bible warns us that Satan, the evil one, is capable of both issuing his own leadings for destructive purpose and undermining God's leadings in your life.

Paul wrote to Timothy, ' The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons' (1 Tim 4:1)

These lying spirits may appear to be channels of God's power. John referred to 'spirits of demons performing miraculous signs' (Rev. 16:14) and Jesus predicted that 'false Christ and falst prophets' would 'perform great signs and mircales to deceive even the elect - if that were possible' (Mt 24:24)

Evil spirits are not necessarily easy to distinguish from God's ministering spirits, the angels. As Paul pointed out, 'Satan himself masquerades as an angel of lig' (2Cor 11:14) Therefore it is verry important to know the orgini of the leadings coming into your mind.

- Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels