“And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.” Joshua 3:3.

Don’t allow those who are led by the flesh to tempt your flesh.  We stand in our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified until we see the Hand of God in the situation.  Too many move from where the Lord told them to stay because of others who are led by the flesh pushing those led by the Spirit of God.  It is only when we hear the sound in the top of the mulberry trees that we move (2 Samuel 5:24).

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6.  The Glory of God can only rest upon that which is born of the Spirit of God.  It is only when we are led by the Holy Spirit that we can put our feet in the Jordan and be assured it will part.  The flesh will push us toward the Jordan and cause us to presume it will part.

Being led by the Spirit of God does not involve written evaluations to determine our spiritual gifts or our work in the church…that is flesh.  The Spirit of God will lead us into all Truths but only if we allow Him.  Be determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and keep your faith on the only Sacrifice God will accept, His only begotten Son.  Our good works done in the flesh will be consumed by fire.  It is the Sacrifice (Jesus) that sanctifies the Altar (the Cross).  When we are led by the flesh we are adding our works to the Altar.

God does not intend for us to have to presume His will for our lives but He will guide us through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Author of our faith and He will strengthen our faith if we will just believe.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14.  Believe Him and be led by the Spirit of God!  – Donna Warren

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace; not with meats, which have not profited them who have been occupied therein.” Hebrews 13:9.  God will not accept the strange doctrines we bring to the altar.  These divers rituals are not what establishes the heart in grace.  The 12 steps, 40 days, prayer shawls and shoffars can’t  defeat sin, no matter how holy and righteous they appear.   God has supplied us with everything we need to overcome sin…His name is Jesus Christ.  Simple faith in Who God sent to the Altar for us will establish a heart in grace and empower us through, the Holy Spirit, to be raised a new creature and to live the resurrected life.  ANYTHING else brought to the Altar is not faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified but faith in a corrupt sacrifice.  Donna Clark Warren 

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,”  Colossians 2:18-20.

When we think of cults we usually think of purple jello and compounds.  Please allow me to share some of the characteristics of a cult according to Scripture and you discern the modern day cult.

The first characteristic of a cult is self imposed fasting and self denials of many things to appear religious.  Please don’t think I just said fasting was a cult activity!  Fasting is scriptural and an important part of the Christian life. However, when done with the wrong motives it is works. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8.   Fasting is a personal thing, where we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and draw closer to the Lord, not a group activity where we are encouraged by our brethren.  “That you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.” Matthew 6:18.  Fasting within itself is not holy.  In other words, our action is not holy but the One in Whom we are seeking is Holy – Jesus Christ.  Fasting is personal, between the person and their Saviour, Jesus Christ.  It is not a method nor a means to an end.

Another characteristic of a cult is a religion of demons or angels.  “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels…” Col. 2:18 speaks to worshipping of angels while 1 Timothy 4:1-2 warns of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” .  Doctrines of devils includes any doctrine that does not line up with the FULL counsel of the Word of God.  A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.  Man is infallible but the Word of God is not.  Test all spirits against the Word of God.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25.  Any form of worship man chooses apart from the true worship of God only feeds self righteousness and has is completely and miserably powerless over sin.  Such is the reason we will know them by their fruit…do we have power over our sin nature or does it have power over us? 

Activity based on superior knowledge, new revelations outside of the Word of God or sensuous feelings is cult activity.  “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith…” 1 Timothy 6:20-21.  To say there are new revelations outside of the Word of God is to say God’s Word is insufficient for today…avoid these profane and vain babblings. 

Lastly, ANY religion that is not Christ centered and Gospel true is cult activity.  When we see the winds of doctrine waving to and fro, we should also see the doctrines of demons waiting to deceive.  The Word of God doesn’t change but the sand washes away.  “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. 

There are many who are walking around condoning sin, condoning false teachers and doctrines of devils all in the name of love.  I praise God that He loves us enough to give us the Holy Spirit and His Word to discern the difference, instead of just condoning our ignorance.  – Donna Clark Warren