“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” Matthew 7:15-20.

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,” 1 Corinthians 1:28.

We all know about the scripture above that speaks of how a person can deceive others by pretending to be something that they are not; in this case an innocent, pure, child of God. The enemy as we know, can come as an angel of light, and will pretend to represent truth when in fact, it is lie.

But I wanted to talk about another twist of this scripture. For there are some among us who don’t perhaps dress or act like the crowd. They don’t wear the finest clothing when they come to church. They aren’t the crowd pleasers, or the popular ones. They may even wear tattoos or as a man, they may have longer hair.

But when we spend time with them we find out very soon, that they have a depth about them, and a light shines from their countenance. They have spent time with God and it shows. Their appearance at first may surprise us, for they don’t look or even act, like the rest of the crowd. They don’t shout ‘Amen’ at everything, or say, ‘Praise the Lord,’ after everything the preacher says. But their head is bowed in deep reverence as they worship.

How many of us have felt uncomfortable around a person that walks the streets and doesn’t have a home of their own? And yet, we know that Jesus welcomed all to come into his kingdom. He looked for the lowly, and those who were on the fringes of society. They are among us, and some may well have a high calling from God upon their lives.

Perhaps we should rethink our preferences when we go to hear a great speaker come to our city. Instead of flocking to hear their prophetic proclamations and insights, maybe God wants our eyes to see differently.

He walks among us even now, and yet would we recognize him? Or would we instead, look for a man like Saul, that stood head and shoulders above the rest, and wore the finest clothes, and spoke as one that was trained by man?

Amen.

~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the Lord is a special way in 1975 and has been prophesying regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are to be reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?