Psychology is defined as the science of mind and behavior. Psychology in the church is man’s attempt to suppress sin. If the Law of God could not suppress sin, what makes man think their laws can suppress sin? The Law of God was not meant to suppress sin but expose it for what it is…death. Psychology is an example of  spiritual adultery in today’s church.  It attempts to make the Cross of Christ of no effect by directing the person to self will instead of His Cross. The strength of the Lord to destroy strongholds will never be known in the psychology gospel, only the strength of one’s self.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!…” Romans 6:1-2.   The mere mention of “sin”  in many of today’s churches brings out the religion in the religious.   “We don’t live under law, we live under grace!” they scream.    However, if we are living in unforgiven sin,  have not repented for our sin or confessed our sin and asked the Lord for help…we are deceived and living under the law and not grace.   I am not talking about sinless perfection, the Bible does not teach sinless perfection.   I am speaking of willful sin. “ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” Hebrews 10:26.  Willful sin is the transference of our faith from what Jesus did on the Cross to our works.  When we transfer our faith, usually unknowingly (hence the deceit), we are sinning and have removed the Sacrifice, Jesus Christ, for our sin which once again allows our sin nature to have dominion.  The result of which is the person fighting the sin nature within their means, which they cannot do on their own.  Weekly meetings, 30 minute sermons and a class to become a better Christian becomes the prescription to defeat one’s sin nature.  I will say it again right here, there is only one way our sin nature can be defeated…through our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  Because of this willful sin,  works become an attempt of atonement . Instead of showing faith by works, works are the atonement.  The works are appealing to the flesh. They are often fun and are indeed “good” works but they are performed merely to soothe the conscious. They are the salve applied to the sin with a hand clap of appreciation in the Sunday morning services. They are works while living under the law but with the law having a more flesh appealing effect.

The liberty that came with God’s grace upon salvation is deceitfully stolen by the harlot instead of the Jewish Pharisee. “For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that want understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.  But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” Proverbs 9: 14-18.    Finally, as the torment of the sin nature becomes too much to bare, that’s ok…in fact that is quite normal, there is always a program to overcome that problem also.

The weight is too heavy and psychology is applied. Once again, man tries to sanctify the sinner with a law that God’s law could not even accomplish (again, because it wasn’t meant to accomplish holiness but point out lack of holiness to the sinner). God’s Law, being perfect, exposed the need for a Saviour, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ work on the Cross has already defeated that unconfessed sin. We won’t find that defeat in a classroom, a program or any other man made doctrine. We will ONLY find the defeat of the sin nature at the Cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ONLY one who can defeat the sin that has dominion over us. Until we confess to Him our sin, realize our error (repent) and ask HIM for help we will never know and understand His grace. When He reaches His Hand down to you and breaks that stronghold, you know without a doubt it was Him and had nothing to do with you. It is then, the understanding of what He did on the Cross is revealed and living under His Grace begins. This will never happen as long as man stands in the way and attempts to sanctify the saint by means of psychology. Don’t encourage me to be strong but instead, remind me how strong my God is when I’m weak. Pray for God to heal a broken spirit instead of trying to heal it yourself. God uses people to point them to Him for salvation and sanctification. Jesus not only justified us on the Cross but He died to give us life and life more abundantly. We can’t quit seeking Him after salvation and allow man to sanctify us. Keep seeking the Lord and allow His work to continue. God gave us two infallible resources – the Holy Spirit and His Word. His Word and the Holy Spirit always point us to the Cross of Jesus and His finished work. Ignoring sin is not God’s grace, confessing, repenting and victory over sin is God’s grace. The confession of sin is admitting we need God’s help to overcome. 1 John 1 is instructing the SAINT to confess their sins, not the sinner. If we never admit we need the Lord’s help to overcome sin, we are rebelling; we are slapping the hand that feeds us.

Psychology in the church is poison in the pot. It is diluting the Gospel of Jesus to appeal to the conscious of man. If it is not pointing you to the Cross of Jesus and HIS finished work, it is another gospel…period. The Bible warns us of other gospels. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8.

Psychology gospel doesn’t come dressed in a red cape with a warning flag. It is pretty, makes good sense to the carnal mind and appeals to the flesh. It’s target is your faith. Without faith in Jesus we are not justified. Without justification we are not saved…isn’t that the devil’s goal? Can you see where this can derail one’s faith; especially someone new to the Lord? As much as “we” try to help them, if we are not pointing them to God’s Word, which points to the Cross of Jesus and what HE did, they will never know to yield to the Holy Spirit but will instead quench Him. They will never have victory and we, the ones who disciple them, will be held accountable for leading them astray if we point them to any other gospel. If the Lord has given you a ministry, we are stewards of His Gospel and His Gospel alone…nothing added to It and nothing taken from It, anything else is another gospel. – Donna Warren

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” Hebrews 10:26.

Willful sin is often mistaken as consciously sinning but it is actually the transference of our faith from Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Once we receive the knowledge and understand the benefits of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross at Salvation (the Truth), and we willfully transfer our faith to another object (faith in our good works, the church’s method for spiritual growth, that little questionnaire that tells us what God wants us to be), we have thus removed our faith from the very Sacrifice for sin, Jesus Christ.

Many churches today promote Jesus as our Saviour but the church as our lord.  These churches attempt to get the saint to point A by way of point B.  They will point to the very Sacrifice, Jesus Christ, and say It is relaying the foundation of the Gospel and open the door to man’s philosophy for spiritual growth.  If holding the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ lays waste your religion and you are offended…it is not “me” offending you, it’s the Gospel of Jesus.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2.

-Donna Warren

The word of faith doctrine has mistaken faith with presumption.  It doesn’t matter what we get right if we get Jesus wrong.  In the word of faith movement the scripture is used as bait to make the deceived believe the deceit.  Adding a lie to the truth doesn’t make the lie true but makes the truth a lie.  Schemes of man for redemption degenerates Jesus’ finished work on the Cross and is demonic.

Praise the Lord He is still in the healing business.  Praise the Lord He is still in the miracle business.  Our faith, placed solely and completely on Jesus’ finished work guarantees a miracle of deliverance or a miracle of endurance.  Hebrews 11 is full of miraculous healings and deliverances but it also tells of miraculous endurance for those who “had trial of cruel mocking and scourgings” (Hebrews 11:36).

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1.

Discern the doctrine, a little leaven will leaven the whole lump and the lie will ride in on the truth’s coat tail. – Donna Warren

Word of faith – the religion of counterfeit grace based on fear.  If you don’t confess that scripture, are you still righteous?  What about soul ties and family curses?  Am “I” responsible for breaking them to have victory or will Jesus deliver me?  I guess it depends on which gospel you believe.  The Gospel of Jesus says I’m righteous whether I profess it or not.  The Cross of Jesus broke that family curse when I accepted Him as my Saviour.  Breaking those soul ties goes something like this, ” Lord, please forgive me for my sin.” and then repenting.  The only requirement for victory is faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  Jesus can deliver me from that addiction, His Gospel will break those strongholds.  Pastors of the word of faith movement, who proclaim to preach the Word of God, point the Bible toward you instead of Jesus.  When we read the Word of God in context, it points to Jesus Christ and what He did…not us.

Can you see the religion?  It is still works wrapped in another package.  Our faith is placed on our works because of what we have done and not what Jesus has done.  This religion has our faith wavering from positive confession to breaking sin but calling it a soul tie.  We can’t break sin’s hold on us, ONLY Jesus can deliver us.  Grace is not grace if lack of profession results in fear of righteousness, healing and deliverance being in jeopardy .

These word of faith doctrines are not scriptural.  Scripture may be quoted but often twisted.  Word of faith whole heartedly embraces psychology into the church and is very seeker friendly.  If sin or hell is ever mentioned they scream legalism.  If you believe that Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is Christianity 101, well – you may need to go back to Jesus’ Christ and Him Crucified and repent.  – Donna Warren.

We can die a thousand times in our mind but God only appointed us to die once. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die,…” Hebrews 9:27.   The enemy’s fear can kill us in our mind over and over again.  God’s grace is sufficient for the day.  God’s grace is not sufficient for us to face death until HE says it is time for us to face death…then, just as everyday before, God’s grace will see us through.  Many times as a survivor, either of the sickness or of the one past, we don’t realize His grace until later.  No matter the sickness and disease riddled body, God can heal the spirit.  Whether our body is sick or healthy, when God calls us home…we’re going home and it has nothing to do with what the devil says.  Satan has been trying to kill us since birth.

It is a blessing when we understand they are never ours to begin with but were given to us to steward over for a time.  Our children, parents, spouses and friends are gifts from God – literally.  Our purpose is to love them while they are here and when they are gone, praise Him for blessing us with them…no matter how short or long the time.

I have heard of many sudden deaths lately, from perfectly healthy, young and vibrant to the diseased and suffering.  It is not up to us to understand God’s timing but we can only be thankful for the time until He called them home.  A friend of mine once said God is calling home His warriors…maybe so.

The entirety of Hebrews 9:27 reads this “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”.  Eternity can happen in a moments time.  As my pastor often says, we are all one heart beat away.  I praise God for His saving grace.  I praise God  for those who have past on to Glory, never to have to die again.  I praise God He has given us a choice…we are all appointed to die once but the choice of suffering a second death, eternity in hell, is up to us.  That is what Jesus came to save us from yet we stumble and don’t believe.

Praying today for those who are facing death a thousand times in their mind.  Jesus saved us from that second death on His Cross.  Don’t allow fear to exalt itself above what the Word of God says.  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7.   – Donna Warren

While the church is calling the nation to repentance, God is calling the church to repentance.  “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:..” 1 Peter 4:17.  Discern the church today; it promotes a relationship with God but fellowship with one another.  Fellowship with the Lord in today’s church consists of small groups, home groups, Christianity class 101 and one 30 minute sermon a week from the preacher to keep us motivated. The church today is so busy promoting the relationship with God that they don’t give one time to fellowship with Him. It is impossible to fellowship without a relationship but entirely possible to have a relationship without fellowship.  Once the church has established their spiritual duty, a relationship with God, they step in the way and become the veil between God and His children.  Being too busy in the work of the Lord to fellowship with Him is the devil’s distraction.  Good works will naturally follow true Faith and not be a distraction.  Discern who and how much time we are spending in fellowship without “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” Hebrews 10:25. If we spend more time fellowshipping with the holy rollers than the Holy Spirit, then we have a relationship with the Lord but it is our brothers and sisters, teachers and preachers that we are fellowshipping with.  God gave us teachers and preachers to teach us His Word and point us to Him for spiritual growth, not to teach us spiritual growth and point us to the church.  God bless all of you preachers and teachers who still believe in the power of Almighty God and trust Him to deliver us instead of trying to deliver us yourselves.   God have mercy on those who have allowed the world into the church. – Donna Warren

God can only meet us at the place where our debt was paid, the Cross of Jesus.  Never get so busy saying no to the devil that you forget to say yes to Jesus.  Say yes to Jesus and HE tells the devil no.  Our authority in Jesus name requires a relationship with Him.  A relationship with the Lord requires intimacy.  He knows and once we know He knows, we are humbled by His mercy on us in spite of knowing.  The Lord is waiting to deliver us at His Cross…there where our debt was paid.  There, where our victory was achieved, is where our faith lies…at the Cross of Jesus.  Yes Jesus, yes! – Donna Warren

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” 2 Corinthians 4:1-3.

This is to all of the oak trees and the sprouts, the elders and the babes, the young and old…this is a letter to the Laodiceans. This is for the ones who God is calling back to their first love, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. There will come a day soon, very soon, where we all will have to fish or cut bait. The day is coming when we will have to choose, God’s way or our way.

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” Revelations 3:15.  I always thought I understood what that scripture meant. The hot ones were the ones with the fire, zealous for the Lord. The cold Christians were those sitting on their tombs every Sunday morning at church. And the lukewarm, well they were just somewhere in the middle; one day hot and the next day cold; on fire for God then burn out for a while. You can easily look around and see each of these “classes” of Christians, right?

However, I have come to understand that a hot or cold Christian has absolutely nothing to do with any of these factors. A “hot” Christian could be the very ones sitting on their “tombs” still singing out of the old red Hymnals (which I love by the way). While the cold Christians are the ones who appear to be on fire, very “spiritual”. In reality we are judging these hot and cold Christians by their emotions and know nothing of their relationship with God.

It seems to me as though the hot or cold Christians have nothing to do with emotions or even Biblical knowledge but more to do with our proximity. In other words, hot or cold is not a vertical scale but a horizontal scale. The closer we come to the Truth of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ, the hotter we become. The further away we get from the Truth, the colder we become. Didn’t we all play the game of Hot and Cold as children?

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16. It seems as though some of us Blood bought, devil chasin’, old fashion, red hot Christians may very well be lukewarm in the eyes of the Lord because we have indeed grown further from the Truth instead of closer to the Truth. Upon our arrival in God’s plan for our lives, we begin to mold what He started. We start out hot, both vertically (emotionally) and horizontally (spiritually) but as the world begins to appeal to our flesh and we attempt to mold our Christianity to our world. We think we are on fire for God but are deeply offended when the Truth is presented because we are in fact lukewarm, possibly even cold.

All of the works this counterfeit grace has piled on to Christians has now become the law in which they will be judged. The programs, methods, processes and steps to recovery are laid waste against the Gospel of Jesus. Our problem is sin. When we are saved our sin nature doesn’t go away but we die to our sin nature; it no longer has dominion over us when we say yes to Jesus Christ. We accept His finished work upon salvation but immediately turn away after. We turn inward, to our selfwill and learn how to be holy through church class 101, then 201, etc., etc. All the church wants is a year, or sometimes 40 days and they will show you how to live a holy life. In the mean time, you are lukewarm. You started off hot but began to follow man’s ways for spiritual growth instead of God’s way. God’s way for spiritual growth will cause you to cry out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord..” (Isaiah 6:3), instead of I am righteous of God…even though you are, you understand it has nothing to do with you. It requires humility and not pride to do it God’s way through Jesus finished work. None of our programs or declarations of righteousness are needed in God’s plan, which is offensive to the lukewarm.

The time will soon come when we have to decide – are we hot or cold. Do we want to seek the Truth of the Word of God or the truth of the word of man? God will not be judging you by what I told you, He will be judging by what HE told you. Jesus said “It is finished” John 19:30, which means “It is finished”. I still believe those words and refuse to partake in the programs of today’s church to help do what the Cross of Jesus has already done.

So to all of you “oak trees” that have held true to the Truth, I’m thankful to God for you. I’m thankful you have withstood the persecution of the spoiled baby’s screaming legalism because the full Gospel of Jesus Christ didn’t fit into their lifestyle. To the ones who started off hot but have become lukewarm, I pray you understand your emotions have nothing to do with your spiritual temperature. I pray you allow the heat to burn off the chafe as you seek the Truth and no longer allow man leaven the lump. – Donna Warren

“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Matthew 13:10-15 KJV

I just listened to a sermon where the pastor was quoting from the Message Bible. This verse is what really captured my attention:

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”  John 3:16-18 Message Bible

Throughout history, man has attempted to do what only the Holy Spirit can do.  The Message Bible can hardly be called an “interpretation” of the Bible, at best a devotional. The Word of God is written as instruction to the Believer. It is there that we learn to go out and preach the Gospel of Jesus to the nations. A new Believer is not expected to know much about Christianity, they are just supposed to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they are brought to a place understanding their true condition. This conviction causes one to realize they are the reason for the problem. Now that I have your attention, please allow me to explain that last statement – that is if you haven’t ran for your sackcloth and ashes yet. “We” are the reason for our problems but NOT necessarily for a “sin” we committed. Someone isn’t afflicted only because of their sin but because of man’s fall, Adam’s sin. We are brought into this world cursed because of Adam’s sin but we are also given a choice to be saved from such eternal destruction and we are given that choice because of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. It is this condition that is realized upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We are the cause of the problem because we have not accepted Jesus as our Saviour and have attempted to save ourselves. We are, like it or not, born sinners in need of a Saviour. It goes against our flesh to “need” anything. It takes true humility that can only be understood through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I can’t explain it to you, this is a choice each one has to make.

Everyone has their opinion as to which interpretation they prefer of the Bible. I know people who are adamant about the King James Version. I was excited when I received a New King James Version of the Bible but have witnessed, on more than one occasion, a difference in the scriptures. By a difference, I mean a different meaning all together. The Word of God was written by man and anointed by the Holy Spirit.   The King James Version is the only version that is interpreted word for word, all others are thought for thought. For this reason, I am now one of those who are adamant about the King James Version Bible…but that’s me.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 KJV

God sent His Son into the world to save us. There is a big difference in “point an accusing finger”, as in the Message Bible and “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world”, as in the KJV. Just as the Law was given to reveal sin to the World in the Old Testament, Jesus’ Cross reveals to us our condemnation but does not bring condemnation, but salvation. If you ever want to know how bad sin is, look to the Cross of Jesus.

The Word of God is the criteria by which we base our Christian walk and we are all responsible for our own faith. It is not what I say or even what the preacher says, if it doesn’t line up with the Word of God, it is wrong. This Message Bible, seems to be yet another attempt of man to bring the world into the church and make God’s Word fit their gospel.  I for one don’t want to hear, nor can condone any pastor using the Message Bible as the Word of God…but that’s just me.     – Donna Warren.

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. “ 1 Corinthians 1:17-18.

The simplicity of Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the Reformation we have been seeking. The veil the church has placed in front of God’s throne will be torn down and God’s plan of salvation will go forward. Jesus is the veil which allows us access to God’s throne. We would not have the presence of God without the Cross of Jesus.

As all who have been saved went to the Cross of Jesus for salvation, so too will we return to Jesus’ finished work for our sanctification. Many churches who preach salvation through Jesus Christ will immediately turn and teach another gospel for spiritual growth – this is spiritual adultery. Well intentioned, God loving Christians will turn to 40 days of purpose and other various methods for their deliverance and victory. All of the efforts of man to live a godly life become the law in which we will be judged by. This becomes an offense to the saint, just as the Gospel is an offense to the sinner.

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), two of the servants doubled what their lord had given them to which he replied, “…Well done, thou good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things..” Matthew 25:21. The third servant went and buried his talent. This servant preserved what his lord had given him to multiply and his talents were taken from him and given to the other who already had talents.

Upon our salvation, we are given light. The veil is torn down and we accept Jesus as our Saviour AND Lord (some rebel against the Lord part). Because of Jesus we have been reconciled and redeemed to our position as a child of God. Our ONLY part in this reconciliation was faith in Jesus..Hallelujah! Then immediately another veil is placed in front of us. All of the do’s and don’ts of religion, the classes, the service, the activities…oh, how the works feel good and feed our ego and the don’ts are hidden under the veil of self will. Our flesh is fed but our soul is starving. We have attempted to preserve the light we have been given freely and at the same time rejecting anymore “free” light. Now that we understand the light and we love the light, we are now willing to “pay” for more of this free light. The rejection of this free light, which was given freely to us at salvation by Jesus Christ, has now become our stumbling block and given to others who already have an abundance of light…an abundance of talents. Good and profitable works will naturally follow those who have been given an abundance of light. “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8.

We must pray for those who are zealously seeking God but are deceived by the veil of counterfeit grace the church has placed in front of them. Jesus Christ paid for their victory on His Cross also. If their talents have been taken, or others have come in, at the last hour, under the same contract and therefore receiving the same payment for something they have worked for all of their life, remember the same mercy and grace that has grafted one in, is the same mercy and grace that has grafted all in. Pray for eyes to be unveiled and ears to be circumcised to the Truth of the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for the church to turn back to Jesus Christ finished work after salvation and remain there…remain in the presence of God.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Phillipians 1:6.     –Donna Warren