Beware of the Counterfeit

By Evangelist Shirlene Bailey

To my young, single friends in Christ I would just like to share a word that you can take with you into the New Year. It is “Beware of the Counterfeit”! As you entertain ideas of what your New Year’s resolution will be this year please consider this: this year will NOT be a year of counterfeits! If you’re like me I am always looking for and desiring something real, tangible and lasting. In my relationship with God I have developed a craving for that which is REAL, eternal and lasting. In my relationship with God I have learned, and, am yet learning, how to sort out that which is not of God and is not good for my life.

So, as you prepare yourself for the New Year, make it your resolution to stop settling for counterfeits, to stop settling for second best and to stop living beneath your God given privileges. God desires to bless us with so much, but we must first allow Him to be the head of our lives. It is with training and experience that one can determine a counterfeit and with these same techniques we to can determine what is real and of God and what is simply a counterfeit sent by the enemy or something we have created in our own imaginations. Now this is not gender specific. In fact, the enemy can send a counterfeit in many “forms” such as in the form of a familiar spirit (a spirit that mimics or is called up by a witch or sorcerer Deut. 18:11 & 1 Sam. 28:3 – 20), a lying spirit (a spirit speaks untruths or distorts by giving partial truth), or men and women who present themselves as God believing or God fearing but are not. Now, let’s look at why a counterfeit is created. It is created to deceive, mimic or duplicate the worth or the value of its authentic counterpart. A counterfeit is designed to take the place or replace that which is real. It is designed with the deliberate intention of fooling, or convincing one that he/she has received the “real thing” when, in fact, it holds no value. The only value a counterfeit has comes from our belief in it as being real. Think about it. As long as we believe something is real it becomes valuable or relevant, but the minute it is determined it is unreal its value and relevance diminishes instantly. Let me pause here to say it is possible that this individual is carnal and has not reached spiritual maturity. This person may need more time to grow up in God. However, there are those who are perpetrating! They have a form of “godliness”, but they deny the power thereof.

To my single sisters and brothers who are waiting for that Godly wife or Godly husband: Please beware of the counterfeits! Sisters, the word said you would be found. The bible says he that finds a wife finds a good thing so stop chasing after these brothers. They cannot find you if you’re always in their faces. Come on, every man loves a chase, so stop being so easy to catch. Then be sure that when he finds you that you are wife material. Learn how to cook, clean, support and help meet the needs of your mate. I love you ladies!

To my brothers: Have you ever painted a wall and the coat of paint was spread too thin? Or have you ever made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the jelly was spread to thin? In either case anything spread to thin isn’t good! Paint spread to thin will eventually reveal all the dirt, damages and flaws hidden underneath and jelly spread to thin may give a hint of something good, but it will eventually not be enough. So stop trying to play the role of Casanova and spreading yourself all over the place by having multiple partners and taking on other spirits as you intertwine yourself with others over and over again. The idea consummation is to be made complete, whole or as ONE. The bible tells us as woman that a MAN (mature, ambitious, and nurturing) will find a woman so be God’s MAN. God’s man is prepared to be the priest, protector and provider of his home. As you position yourselves for the real blessings God wants to give, you must also be careful not to be that counterfeit manipulator or perpetrator who only becomes something in order to get what they want, but cannot maintain the facade. I love you fellows. Note: Whether male or female one who engages in sexual intercourse outside of wedlock with multiple partners is a whore/whoremonger.

Now, let’s get back to the counterfeit. There are several ways to decipher a counterfeit and these very simple techniques can also be applied to our spiritual lives in determining what is real or fake. One technique used to expose a counterfeit is by holding it up to the light. Quite often when a trained eye examines a dollar bill expected of being counterfeit it will be held up to the light. Now in the spiritual realm, we know that our light is Jesus Christ the Light of this world. When determining a potential partner we must hold that person up to the Light to see how s/he measures up to God’s standards. Hold them up to the Light (Jesus) to see if it is evident that God is in her/him. Hold her/him up to the light to see if the iridescent strip reveals, as well as confirms, its authenticity.

In bills of more value something else is revealed when it is held up to the light. A second image is revealed. Yes, a second image of the first image is revealed. What am I saying? I’m glad you asked. Don’t be hasty in choosing and/or deciding on a LIFE-LONG partner. Take your time to look for the second image. Yes, this person may say that s/he is a believer and even profess Christ, but keep looking to see if you can see a deeper image of God in her/him. Those who design counterfeits have become more sophisticated with their techniques and have intensified the intent to deceive. So has Satan. In that same way we as believers must be determine to seek out and look for God in all things that pertain to our lives. Singles must search to see if they, indeed, trust in God, or is the trust in self? Are they full or pride, lust and self-gratification? For example, you meet a guy who claims to be a Christian and he suggests to you that he would like to be intimate with you. You tell him that it is against your beliefs to engage in anything intimate and he tells you that it’s ok and they you both can pray for forgiveness after you’re done. It should be obvious to you that he is either very, very carnal or a counterfeit! Sure praying for forgiveness is always appropriate when you have sinned, but beware of making a habit of sinning deliberately and then telling God that you’re sorry.

Another technique used to detect a counterfeit is to mark the bill. Each bill has been treated with a litmus type solution that causes the bill to change color when a mark is put on it. So, don’t be afraid of putting this new found relationship to the test. See if its color will change proving it to be counterfeit. Often times you may feel leery of stating what your beliefs are, or what your expectations are in a mate. You may fear scaring this potential mate off, but if the person scares off that easily maybe they were not meant for you anyway.

Whatever the case, a counterfeit is like getting someone that is not complete. So, remember hold the relationship to the light, be sure that he or she trusts in God and that God is the head of his/her life. I have heard many single folks express a desire to be married and to have a companion, a soul-mate. I admonish you as you are waiting to position yourself to hear from God, to be careful not to set yourself up by turning a blind eye and allowing self-deception to have its way. You know what you see, so stop ignoring it. Use your spirit of discernment and if you’re not sure you possess it ask of GOD for the gift of discernment, especially those of you who have encountered one bad relationship after another. For those who are weak--exercise some discipline over your flesh. KEEP IT UNDER SUBJECTION BY SURRENDERING IT TO GOD! Be sure you are being GOD’S woman/man first. It will make it easier when that special person enters your life. To my sisters, grandma always use to say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” Don’t get me wrong. I am not calling any of you a cow. What I am saying is this: When you have given away something very precious only to find out you’ve been given a counterfeit this leaves you feeling misused, abused and left with nothing.

To my brothers and sisters, can I keep it real? You pass up some great sisters and brothers because you can’t see pass the outside. Do you know a cashier is less likely to suspect a newer bill to be a counter fit because of its “newness”? How many counterfeits have you let in because of the glitz and glamour? You know what they say-- everything that shines isn’t gold. Now, I am not saying that you should not want anyone who is well groomed. What I am saying is that there may be some brother or sister out there who has been through a little something. S/He may be a little worn tattered or even been torn, but s/he’s the real thing. S/He is still valuable and of great worth! I have heard it said that an old dollar spends just like a new one, but you can’t do anything with a counterfeit but get in trouble! So, beware of the counterfeit!