text: does anyone know how to tell the difference between a "good" spirit and an "evil" spirit? i have had a spirit following me around since a good friend died in a fire back in 2002 and i recently moved into an old building most of the time it feels like my friend shorty because he liked to make people laugh by playing harmless pranks but with in the last couple of days really bad stuff has been happening. like i fell down the stairs but it couldn't have been an accident because i tripped over the phone cord that hadn't been there earlier (it was moved and i was home alone) i've been waking up with bruises like someone been hitting me in my sleep (i sleep alone by the way) and i feel a bad presence in general. i don't really feel like shorty has been around in the last few days. if this is an "evil" spirit how do i go about getting rid of it? malevolent demonic spirits will always approach you, or speak to you, from the left side of your body (the left ear).  spirits from the divine nature (god), being the holy spirit and benevolent angels, will always approach you, or speak to you from the right side (the right ear).   this is so because the "righteous" stand at the right hand of the father, and that which is against god stands at the left.  there is a “test” in the bible to determine if the spirit is from the divine nature or the demonic nature, located in the book of 1 john 4:1-4… “beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of god; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  by this you know the spirit of god: every spirit that confesses that jesus christ has come in the flesh is of god, and every spirit that does not confess that jesus christ has come in the flesh is not of god.  and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”  hence, demand of the demon if it acknowledges that christ incarnated into flesh, was crucified and resurrected.  they will deny this, and thus you will know it is a demon.  as far as eliminating the evil presence, speak to a christian deliverer, they are equipped in these matters, but be prepared that it may require that you may have to go through the rebirth in christ to secure his security.  it may just as well be that god has allowed all of this so that you may know him.