Matthew 7:15-16a Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.

In the Book of Acts (chp. 19), Paul journeyed to Ephesus and ministered to some disciples in the region. He asked them, “Did they receive the Holy Spirit when they believed?” In their response to him, they said, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul continues his dialogue with them by asking, “Into what then were you baptized?” in which they replied, “Into John’s baptism.” Furthermore, Paul’s statement to them was, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When the disciples heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. The disciples began speaking in tongues and they prophesied.

God worked unusual miracles through His vessel Paul that even handkerchiefs/aprons were brought from his body to heal the diseases of the sick and for evil spirits to be cast out. This miracle attracted the attention of Jewish exorcists who witnessed what was happening and they took it upon themselves to call on the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits to be cast out. The text also says there were seven sons of Sceva and a Jewish chief priest who also did likewise. And the evil spirit answered and said to the Jewish exorcists and the others, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Wow, even evil spirits have knowledge of who belongs to Christ. Paul was a genuine believer and the Jewish exorcists along with the seven sons were non-believers or for lack of a better term, they were counterfeits/scam artists trying to perform miracles in the name of Jesus.

Ladies, we can look at this passage and apply it to our lives. Just as there were false prophets in Paul’s time, we have them among us in our culture today too. Also, there are counterfeit copies that the enemy uses to trick us women into believing that some men are called to be our husbands when the Lord has not ordained that particular calling. “Do Not Be Deceived!” It’s very important to be in God’s Word on a daily basis while maintaining an active prayer life, so you can have discernment when a person like this comes across your path. God will reveal the true nature of their character. This person may talk a good game in the beginning and they may even be successful in hiding their true self for a time. But sooner or later, the truth always comes out. What’s hidden will be revealed. Recently, I heard a radio host give an acronym for the word FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real. This can also apply to the definition of a Counterfeit. Ladies, I encourage you not to entertain or keep company with a Counterfeit. By that, I mean a man who is a Compromiser, Deceiver, and/or Manipulator. Someone whose actions are contrary to God’s ways. Unfortunately, this behavior is not just evident in the world, it has also infiltrated our churches. Don’t walk, but run quickly away from this type of person. Keeping company or entering into a relationship or marriage with a man of this nature, you are headed for a hard life of severe emotional distress, constant heartache, and painful consequences. You will be living in a deep horrible pit. Don’t think that you can change a man or he will change once you have a relationship with him. If you see that his behavior reflect signs of compromise and deception now, be sure that it will certainly carry over into a relationship and marriage later. It will only get worse and worse.

As you continue to cling tightly to the Lord and walk closely with Him, He will reveal those red flags to you. In the Book of Ezekiel, it states that he was a Prophet whom God used to preach to the house of Israel. God also spoke to Ezekiel in visions.

Ezekiel 8:6-12 says:

Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.” So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 

And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” So I went in and saw, and there-every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, “The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”

Just as the Lord spoke to the Prophet Ezekiel and revealed things to him, the Holy Spirit will certainly speak to you and I and open our eyes to the truth. He does not lie for He is the Spirit of Truth.

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

2 Kings 6:17a And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.

Ladies, be faithful in praying to the Lord. Ask Him for His wisdom and discernment and He will give it to you. Pray also for a heart to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and to listen to the Lord’s voice when He says “NO” to Mr. Wrong. Do not allow your feelings to lead you into settling for satan’s counterfeit copy. Instead, stand firm in resisting the devil and he shall flee from you. Run into the loving arms of God and wait patiently on Him for His very best choice in a genuine godly husband who will love you as Christ loves the church.

Psalm 84:11b No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

The best is yet to come! God keeps His promises and if He has made that promise to you, He will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you ask, think or imagine and give you His best choice in a godly mate. He will shower you with the blessings of a beautiful godly husband who is worthy of your love. Trust Jesus! There is nothing too hard for Him. He will provide. Wait on the Lord!

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Genesis 24:63-67 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to her servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself. 

And the servant told Isaac all the the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.