“ And (Jesus) said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” John 2:16.

How many of our churches have twisted that scripture just enough to make it ok to sell  merchandise in our Father’s House?  Does our rationalization change what the Word of God says?  I understand the proceeds go to specific ministries, etc. but “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6.  I don’t understand how the Spirit would birth something that goes directly against what God’s Word says.

So does that make it okay if “we”, Christians, twist the Word of God to fit our circumstances but it is blasphemy when a sinner twists the Word?  That’s what sinners do.  Our Father’s House is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and be led by the Holy Spirit.  Doctrine’s of man have been preached with Jesus as the example, which He is, but man as the source and not Jesus.  Again…”That which is born of the flesh is flesh;…” John 3:6.  The gifts shops and coffee shops are very appealing to the flesh but I don’t come to church for coffee and donuts.  Call me legalistic; but I would rather lift the Lord Jesus Christ up and get a touch from God at the House of God than go shopping.  The shofar and prayer shawls may make one feel righteous but only the Blood of Jesus Christ makes us righteous.

We can’t point our finger at compromise until we stop compromising.  “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5.  – Donna Warren

“Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liveth.” Jeremiah 44:26.

God commanded Judah not to go back into Egypt but to stay in the land if they wanted His blessings. When Jeremiah finished his prophecy to Judah and it wasn’t what they wanted to hear, they accused him of prophesying falsely.  God had promised to build them up and not pull them down and to plant them and not pluck them up if they stayed in Judah.  In Jeremiah 42, three verses are devoted to God’s promises if they stayed in Judah and 9 are stark warnings not to go into Egypt.  Judah had already been delivered out of Egyptian bondage but due to lack of trust in God, they would march back into Egyptian bondage.  Just as today, men trust men instead of God.

“But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.” Jeremiah 44:17.  In their apostasy, Judah believed they their calamities had come upon them because they neglected worship to the “Queen of Heaven”.  (The “Queen of Heaven” by the way was named “Astarte” which is where we get our “Easter”.  That is another story for another time but I pray next time you celebrate “Easter” with the easter baskets and bunnies, you remember who you are celebrating.  As Christians, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ – not Astarte.)  They had no idea these calamities were because of their worship to other gods.  Is any of this starting to sound familiar?

In todays world, we think of worshipping other gods as little wooden statues but it is not.  Worshipping other gods, or idolatry, is faith in ANYTHING other than Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  Every single person on the planet has faith, even atheists have faith, but it is the object of our faith that matters.  In the church today we have psychology as an object of our faith.  Carve out a little statue and name it psychology.  Then we can go ahead and carve another one and name it philosophy.  While we are at it, let’s go ahead and carve one out and name it “series”.    The church today is rebelling against God’s Word and seeking man’s scheme for a victorious life.  Egypt makes us comfortable in our sin; in our idolatry, whereas, God will shine His light on our sin and then point us to the deliverance of our sin, the Cross of Jesus Christ.

So what came of Judah after rebelling and going to Egypt?  “Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.” Jeremiah 44:27.  As should be expected, God’s Word will always stand and a small remnant of Judah was left to tell the story.

However, the following verse is what made my spirit jump:

“Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.” Jeremiah 44:30.

What is significant about this scripture?  Seeker sensitive Egypt was punished for receiving the rebellious Judah.  Egypt was delivered into the hand of her enemies.

Dear Seeker sensitive church who worship the gods of psychology, philosophy, word of faith and many others…. your pews may be full, your worship may be appealing to the flesh with the music and lights, your preaching may be inspirational but there is nothing – nothing you can do that will feed the spirit of one who is truly seeking God.  Those who can discern the difference between a psychology gospel and the Gospel of Jesus Christ will either starve to death in Egypt or leave Egypt and seek the face of God.  If this offends you, then pray for discernment and ask the Lord to reveal to you what it is that is offensive.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will always lay waste our works, which Egypt doesn’t like; It will lay waste our fear, which keeps us in bondage…the Gospel of Jesus Christ will offend those who are sitting under another gospel because it shines a light on their god.  Remember this seeker sensitive church and those sitting in the pews:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14.

Few there be that find it…get out from under Egyptian’s bondage that the Lord has already delivered you from and determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified from Salvation until the good Lord brings us home…stay at the foot of the Cross of Jesus.  – Donna Warren

There is much misunderstanding about being Baptized in the Holy Spirit.  The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God which adds power to our testimony and our walk with Jesus.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;” Mark 16:17, part of our great commission included speaking with new tongues.  Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, He commanded His people to “…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4.  All who where there, not only the Apostles, received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the initial evidence. 

When Philip went to Samaria in Acts 8:12-17, the people believed his “preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12.   Once the Apostles in Jerusalem heard the Samarian’s received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to go and pray for them, “that they might receive the Holy Spirit:” Acts 8:15.

In Ephesus, Paul asked “…Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” in which they replied they “have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit.” Acts 19:2.  Paul laid his hands upon them and “…the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19:6.

The simple fact of the matter is, if one does not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues, one will not have to worry about receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This subject is not something to argue about with one who has received the mighty Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I would like to caution those who call the Baptism of the Holy Spirit demonic to be careful of calling what God has ordained as evil and to remind them of Mark 3:29, ” But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”

If you do not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, that is your prerogative.  It does not affect one’s Salvation whatsoever but does endue us with power to witness and do the work of God.  However, if you do not believe…. “Quench not the Spirit”(1 Thess. 5:19).

Thank you and God bless!  – Jim Warren

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.” Hebrews 10:1-2 KJV.

Please pay close attention to the word “conscience” here.  Conscience as defined by Merriam Webster is a  feeling that something you have done is morally wrong.  Conscious on the other hand is to know that something exists or is happening.  To put this scripture in context, it is speaking of the Old Covenant sacrifices which were a type and shadow of the only Sacrifice which was sufficient to pay for our sins, Jesus Christ.  The sacrifices of bulls and goats had to be done over and over but the Sacrifice of Jesus was one time and it completely atoned for all of our sins.

Some versions of the Bible (NKJV and AMP in particular) replace the word conscience with conscious.  There is a big difference in these words when we understand the dominion, or lack of dominion, of the sin nature in our life.  In Romans 6, sin is referred to as a noun and not a verb in the original Greek.  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6.

Upon salvation, it is our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified that gives us dominion over “the sin” or our sin nature.  Jesus Christ is the Source and His Cross is the means in which everything we receive from the Lord is made possible.  It is not Jesus’ incarnation nor His resurrection that reconciled and redeemed us but His Sacrifice on the Cross that paid the penalty for sin and took the dominion that Adam had given to satan back.  His resurrection is proof of payment made in full, Hallelujah!

The problem in the churches today is they have replaced proper faith, the faith we have at Salvation in Jesus Christ and His finished work,  with their method for spiritual growth.  Although we still believe our salvation comes through Jesus’ finished work on the Cross, religion will begin to add sacraments and rules to Jesus’ finished work, which immediately abrogates the Grace of God.  Many of these sacraments and rules are scriptural in nature, for example – fasting, prayer, prayer shawls, etc., but if done with the wrong motivation become works.  These are things we do BECAUSE of our fellowship with God and not FOR our fellowship.  It is our faith that produces the proper works and not our works that produce the proper faith.  If this is not understood, it is possible that you may be caught up in religion and your faith misappropriated.  This is not the first time this has ever happened, the Bible is full of such stories.  We have all been guilty of such misappropriations at times.  Unfortunately, however, we have not all humbled ourselves to confess and repent.   It is our CONTINUED faith in Jesus finished works that enables us to continue to receive HIS guidance, HIS knowledge and HIS wisdom through the work of the Holy Spirit in us…not man’s guidance, knowledge and wisdom. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2.

This is where our dominion over our sin nature (noun) is received through the Holy Spirit because of our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  Our sin nature is not dead but we are dead to it.  Hence we no longer have a “conscience” of sin because our sin no longer has dominion over us when our faith is properly appropriated in Jesus and His finished work but we are still conscious of our sin nature.  In other words, we know our sin nature is there (conscious) but it no longer has power over us (our conscience) because of our faith in Jesus.  Understand?  Perhaps this will help…

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.  Faith in what Jesus did and nothing else is where the power of God is manifested for His Will, not ours.  Seek the Lord, know WHO He is and WHAT He has done.

-Donna Warren

“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” James 3:8-10. Humanity is driven by the power of the tongue unless it is kept bridled.  An unbridled tongue produces jealousy, envy and strife.  Only through proper faith in the finished work of Jesus can the Holy Spirit help to bridle our tongue.  There is nothing else in nature that can compare to the double use of the tongue.  Blessings and cursings do indeed flow out of the same mouth. The word of faith doctrine has managed to produce congregations full of Christians practicing witchcraft in an attempt to force God to produce their desired results.  We have often heard of the “little gods” teaching which is in fact witchcraft.  Witchcraft is a “craft of the wise”.  What the word of faith calls blessings and cursings, witchcraft calls spells.  Mind you, we are talking about what the word of faith calls blessings and cursings, NOT what the Word of God calls blessings and cursings.  The potion for the positive confession (blessing) of the word of faith doctrine involves the correct words with the correct amount of faith to bring forth that which one desires to happen.  When such “happening” does not occur, the amount of faith must not have been sufficient.  Then there is the negative confession (curse), the confession of one’s reality, which completely negates and voids the positive confession. “…calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17.  We need to read this bit of scripture in context first of all,  “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17.  If GOD has told us personally to call those things , we can certainly call it.  If WE think it, speak it and presume to receive it because of the spell we cast, it is nothing more than white witchcraft.  There are different spells for different problems; we have healing spells, prosperity spells and many more.  These spells completely remove God’s will and replaces it with our will.  This cycle becomes a terrifying cycle of not saying the right thing or cursing the wrong thing, so on and so forth.  It is a cycle of fear to achieve your blessing which is not from God. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:3-6.  The Word of God must always be rightly divided before the seed of His Word can be sewn.  It is the fruit of His Word that we bear witness to, not the fruit of our word.  The power of our tongue can only be tamed by the Holy Spirit through proper faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and not through faith in our tongue.  The blessings of God come from God and produce the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” Galatians 5:22-23.  The blessings of man come from man and produce the fruit of man.  Godliness with contentment is truly a great gain (1 Tim. 6:6).  Discern the difference in a spell and a blessing according to the Word of God and not the word of faith.  It may not make you popular in the seeker friendly social justice church but it will give you peace while resting in God’s will and receiving His blessings.  – Donna Warren

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient:…” 1 Corinthians 6:12.

There is a big difference in unity and compromise.  There are many in the church today who use the excuse to witness where you are to be able to be where they want to be.  Unity in the faith is unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  To understand this, one must also understand the Gospel of Jesus divides, not compromises.  “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34.  When we compromise what God says is sin, we are also compromising the name of Who paid the price, Jesus Christ, for the sinner we are attempting to make peace with.  Jesus paid the price for the sinner and the sinner must choose to be saved to have dominion over the sin.

Love the sinner, hate the sin has been morphed into love the sinner and their sin.  The church no longer divides because the church no longer preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ but another gospel.  Christian’s attempts to blend in with society to “witness where they are” has in fact, blended and not divided them from the world.  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17. 

There are two churches, the True church and the apostate church.  The True Church preaches and teaches all things come by the means of the Cross of Jesus.  The apostate church preaches salvation through the Cross of Jesus and teaches all “other” things come by the means of man.  The Word of God calls this spiritual adultery or the harlot.  The apostate church will teach you to do your part and the True church will show you there is no part you could possibly do – Jesus has done it all.

As the world rewrites their version of the church and sinners are no longer changed by the Gospel of Jesus being heard, more and more Christians are becoming desensitized to compromise because they are following man and their knowledge is carnal.   They are the ones who were witnessed to by the ones who were witnessing where they are.  They are the majority who only see the physical effects of the spiritual realm.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14.  Always witness where you are, just make sure where you are is where you are suppose to be.  Always be ready in season and out of season to preach the Gospel of Jesus.  We, Christians, are a peculiar people; we are set apart from the world.  Do not be condemned to compromise with the world.  – Donna Warren

“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head”  Matthew 8:20.

Isn’t it disturbing the number of people who claim to be “little gods” because they are a child of God when the only begotten Son of God referred to Himself as “Son of Man”?  In the New Testament, “Son of Man” is used of Christ 86 times of Himself, yet we prefer to be called “little gods”.

“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.   But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.”  Psalms 82:1-8.

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” Psalms 82:6.   Many of the television evangelist have taken this scripture completely out of context and used it to show us we are little “gods”.  We must first understand the term “gods” in context.  The term for God, the God of Israel, in Hebrew is Elohim when used in the singular sense.  However, the term for gods, the earthly judges who represent God as in Moses case (Ex. 7:1), is elohim also – except in the plural case.  So the “gods” spoken of here are the earthly judges or the representatives of God.

We are God’s representatives, right?  So that makes us little “gods” as well.  Not so fast my friend.  Psalm 82 was written to ISRAEL.  God had appointed Israel as judges and to be His representatives but they failed.  “Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thous shalt inherit all nations.” Psalms 82:8.  Jesus Christ, took up Israel’s Divine Purpose of being the Judge to Israel and all the nations…not me, not you but Jesus Christ.   Sorry, but we are not “little gods”.

I have heard people condone the teachers of the “little god” theory because of all the good things they have done.  May I remind you, as a sinner I use to do a lot of “good” things as well but I was still on my way to hell.  The Word of God has been taken so out of context and promises made to Israel, whether fulfilled or not, have been claimed as our own.  Just the other day in a conversation with a friend, we were talking about Romans 4:17, “…calls those things which be not as though they were.”  To put this scripture in context, if God has said something to you, than by all means we call it.  However, if He has not, it is nothing but presumption.  How many of us have seen people walking around sick saying they aren’t “claiming it”.  How are you going to get healed if you don’t say “Lord, I’m sick, help me?”  God can’t bless a lie.  If we’re sick, we’re sick whether we claim it or not. 

All of that is another story for another day.  I hope that it may cause you to question some of the things religion has taught us though and then you begin to seek out the Truth for yourself in the Word of God.  I believe some of us would be quite humbled if we understood what we were teaching is not God’s way but man’s methods.  Then again, not all like to be humbled.    – Donna Warren

“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.” Proverbs 25:21-22.

How many of us are guilty of praying that blessing on our enemy just so the Lord would “heap coals of fire upon his head”?  The heap of coals referred to is actually likened to the heap of coals taken from the Brazen Altar to the Altar of Incense.  The coals going from the Brazen Altar to the Altar of Incense were diverted from the judgment altar to the mercy altar.  The Incense offering always took place after the Brazen Altar offering, which was the atonement offering, where reconciliation with God was made possible.

So when we are blessing our enemy we are indeed pouring those heaping coals of fire upon their head, praise God.  We are diverting judgment and showing mercy which God has given us.  How many of us actually thought we were cursing our enemy by praying for them?  On the other hand, how many times have we thought a blessing was a curse?

“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Psalms 141:2.

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:21.

From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, we see God leading His children and we see His children following or rebelling.  However, no matter the case, we see God’s will done on earth as it is in Heaven.

A prime example is the prophet Balaam who was offered payment to curse God’s people.  God made His will perfectly clear to Balaam but he was bent on having his way.  “And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.”  Numbers 22:22.  The Angel of the Lord stood in front of the donkey to block it’s path but Balaam cursed the donkey.

“Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and His sword drawn in His hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before Me:” Numbers 22:31-32.  The Lord, making his will perfectly clear, still allowed Balaam to go his way and seek to curse the children of God.  Proof thereof that God will not force our will.  Man is given free moral agency and will.   No matter how much Balaam sought God to curse whom God had already blessed proved to be a fruitless task.  Balaam’s self will refused instruction from the Lord and Balaam’s self will failed…as self will always does. 

How many times have we struck the donkey?  How many times have we tried to curse what God has blessed?  When God’s will doesn’t line up with our will and He gives us free will to choose; how  then can we curse God for our will?  Praying for God’s will doesn’t always mean we will like it at the time but we still rejoice in the answered prayer and not curse the answered prayer.  Having knowledge of spiritual things is not spiritual knowledge.  We must seek God for spiritual knowledge to keep from cursing God’s will while attempting to get Him to bless our will.   – Donna Warren

“…Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My Words? says the Lord?” Jeremiah 35:13.

As the Rechabites refused to drink wine, build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards because of their father, Jonadab; God asked Judah and Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My Words?” (Jeremiah 35:13).  This is strikingly similar to the spiritual condition of the United States today.  The sons of Jonadab hearkened to the words of their father but we, the sons and daughters of God, won’t hearken to His Word?

God sent His Word to Judah but the king, Jehoiakim, burned the scrolls (Jer. 36:23).  How many today dismiss the parts of God’s Word they don’t like?  It seems much more acceptable to preach happiness instead of holiness.  How often has God invited and commanded us to return to Him but we don’t incline an ear to hear?

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.” Jer. 36:27-28. 

It would serve both sinners and saints well to note that whether we incline an ear or not, whether we pick and choose parts of God’s Word or not, that the entirety of God’s Word will go forth.  God will always have a remnant to write again “all the former words…the king of Judah hath burned.”  A nations sinful actions will not stop the Word of God.

The problem with the sugar coated gospel, prosperity gospel, 40 days and 100 ways is not God’s problem but ours.  How quickly we hearken to man’s ways and discount God’s way.  Will we not receive instruction and hearken to God’s Word?  The Lord has been so faithful to us while we have hearkened to man’s word, can we not hearken His?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Donna Warren