After receiving the answer to my prayer for fear of the Lord I realized that survival depended on reliably and consciously hearing God’s correction, instruction, and direction. Hearing could not be imagined, it had to be true hearing. Only God’s true direction would save me from destruction. It was my vital necessity and I ordered my life in a manner consistent with seeking it as my vital necessity. I went to work to take care of the cares of this world and came home. Once home I read the Bible. I fasted food and water. They were not my vital necessity - the word of God’s direction for my life was. If seeking at this level proved insufficient then I was prepared to take vacation or quit my job so I could fully seek God. Nothing mattered more than his direction.
If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him. (1 Chronicles 28:9 - Amplified Bible)
During this time I found the scripture in 1 John that tells us to test whether a spirit speaking to us is of God. The scripture also tells us how to do this.
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 you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: (1 John 4:1-3)
On the third day of fasting I was getting ready for work when I had a thought directing me to eat. “Eat some bread and drink some water.” I followed the instructions given in 1 John and asked, “Is Jesus Christ come in the flesh?” There was no reply in my thoughts. I asked two more times with the same result.
About a half an hour later I had a thought saying the exact same words. “Eat some bread and drink some water.” I followed the instructions given in 1 John and asked, “Is Jesus Christ come in the flesh?” This time I heard a positive, joyful, “Yes!” I asked again two more times and each time I heard the positive, joyful, “Yes!” Measuring according to the scriptural instructions to identify the Spirit of God, I submitted myself to eat. “Since this agrees with the scripture I will eat some bread and drink some water.”
Since that time I’ve learned more about testing whether a spirit is of God.
The Spirit of God must manifest the fruits of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: (Galatians 5:22-23)
Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)
The Spirit of God must confess Jesus is Lord.
No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3)