“Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. ¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: ¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not as many, which corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17.

The Gospel of Jesus, the event if you will of His Sacrifice to pay our sin debt in full unto God and give us dominion over our sin nature, is the occasion or the moment of which the division of spiritual life and death occurred.  Jesus’ work was the event which enabled us to no longer be dead in our sin and trespasses but alive unto God, our Father.  In other words, Jesus did not cause the division but what He did for us on Calvary’s Cross was the moment of division.  Jesus’ finished work gives life and life more abundantly to those who believe.  “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:” Luke 12:51.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, will lay waste motivational gospels.  When the name of Jesus Christ is lifted up among men, the presence of the Holy Spirit will use that occasion, that “event” to bring division not compromise.  The Holy Spirit’s convicting power will bring to surface the evil of the human heart and cause the “savour of death unto death” or the “savour of life unto life”.  A heart will either harden or soften depending on the choice of the person, not the choice of the Gospel.  There is but One Gospel and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8-9.

Discern the gospel you are sitting under.  The rightly divided, full counsel of the Word of God will bring to surface the evil of our heart, which results in humility not pride…depending of course on which side of the dividing line we choose.  Sadly, many gospels today try to unite that which the Lord has divided.  Make no mistake though, what the Lord has divided…no religion, no man or no tradition can unite.

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. ¹⁸ 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 1:17-18

-Donna Clark Warren

“Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”  Luke 11:35.

Below are some, not all, of the psychology gospels being preached in many of the modern churches today.

1. Positive Reinforcement – Positive reinforcement answers the question of what we get out of our new found religion. This practice involves a reward for something we have done positive.  It is the study of “what we get” as opposed to “Who Jesus is and what He did”.  As we know, many respond to praise and recognition.  Sadly, the religious are full of accolades for the fellow religious.  ” Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. ⁴¹ I receive not honour from men. ⁴² But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. ⁴³ I am come in My Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:39-43.  Searching the Scriptures, we think we have eternal life but in our day to day living we will not come to Jesus that we may actually have life and life more abundantly…we turn to man and schemes of man.  What we say and what we do are two entirely different things.  We believe the positive reinforcement to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Divine enforcement of His Word which enables the Child of God to live the holy life we are called to live.  Our faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work for our deliverance is what allows the Holy Spirit to deliver us, not positive reinforcement.  Positive reinforcement did not defeat sin on Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone made a mockery of every demon in hell. 

2. Meditation – Meditation is suppose to alleviate anxiety and depression, causing a remarkable improvement in a person’s sense of well-being.  The Word of God says “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

3. Aversion Therapy –  Aversion Therapy modifies behavior through ignoring or distraction.  There is even one book out today by a “Christian” author who says to do push ups if the temptation doesn’t go away.  Ignoring the problem doesn’t make the problem go away.  Regrettably, we have more Christians lying to themselves about their problems by “not claiming it”, when the Lord says “Take My Yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My Yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30.  “Not claiming it” or better known as Aversion Therapy, is not taking the Lord’s Yoke upon you so He can give you rest, it is ignoring your heavy yoke. 

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵ 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.

Discern the gospel being preached against the Word of God.  Is it the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faith in HIM or is it another gospel with faith in man?

“Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”  Luke 11:35.

-Donna Clark Warren

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:1-8.

There is nothing we can do in the flesh, no amount of good works, religious works, self effort or self will that can change the heart of man.  The heart of man must be circumcised, changed into a new creature in Christ Jesus which is done exclusively through faith in Jesus and His finished work.  Such is the reason that many, myself included, had to at one time or another repent of our “good works” as well.  Regrettably, the majority of the church world does not realize the need to repent of the good works performed while we were minding the things of the flesh.  The good works may have indeed been “good” but the problem is the place these good works held in the heart.  Did these good works result in a changed heart or were they minding things of the flesh?  Did they puff up or leaven the lump?  The Gospel of Jesus Christ will humble the heart.

Many agree and understand the only way to God is through Jesus.  It is because of what HE did on the Cross that we are reconciled unto God and our sin debt is paid in full.  The Cross of Jesus is the exclusive way to our eternal Salvation.  As a Child of God, we know this blessed Truth.  However, as a Child of God, many do not understand it is that SAME faith in Jesus and Him crucified, that is the exclusive way to our Sanctification as well.  The multiplicity of man’s schemes to overcome our sin nature will not change the heart of man, which in turn will not and does not sanctify man.

We are all born with a sin nature because of Adam’s fall.  This sin nature is on the throne in our hearts before our Salvation.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes in to our heart and dethrones the reigning monarch (sin nature).  We do not have dominion over our sin nature before our Salvation, if we could there would have been no reason for Jesus to go to Calvary’s Cross.  Our new life as a Child of God begins when the sin nature is isolated by the Holy Spirit upon our Salvation.  The Holy Spirit is now on the throne of our heart.  We are spiritually alive unto God (Romans 6:11) and no longer spiritually dead in our sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Then comes our day to day living with Jesus.  In our zeal to learn, we are snared by the religious “good works” of others who are sincerely (but sincerely wrong) teaching us various ways and means of sanctification.  21 days, 40 days, 100 days of various religious activities should sanctify the religious…according to the religious.

Our Sanctification process is the same as our Salvation process, faith in Jesus’ finished work and His finished work alone…not our “good works”.  Our “good works” performed in the flesh puffed us up, HIS Good Work will humble and comfort the heart.

“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.  It is only when our faith remains in Jesus (“law of the Spirit”)  that the Holy Spirit is commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death.  When our faith is in anything other than Jesus’ finished work, the Holy Spirit will not give us dominion over our sin nature.  This includes faith in our good works, self effort and self will which is what the majority of the modern churches preach and teach today – motivational psychology.

This is why so many of God’s children are walking around in bondage.  Their religious organizations have directed their faith to another, mainly themselves, for Sanctification.  With their faith placed in their self efforts, their sin nature remains on the throne in their hearts because the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” has not made them “free from the law of sin and death”.  Their faith is in Jesus’ finished work for Salvation, praise God and rightfully so, but for their Sanctification, their faith is in another source.

All of the rules and regulations religion places on the new Believer will in fact provoke their sin nature because their faith is placed on those rules and regulations to sanctify them.  “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. ⁹ For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” Romans 7:8-11. 

It is a change of heart that this world needs, not one world religion, not unity in compromise and not more religious rules and regulations.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33.  HIS righteousness does not come through works of the flesh but through faith in Jesus….seek Him first, Jesus and Jesus alone can change the heart of man.

-Donna Clark Warren

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2. 

The Apostle Paul regarded the entire Corinthian church as contaminated because of the habitual sin of one person.  Unless this person repented of his sin, he was to be expelled from the church and delivered “…unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:5.

Before everyone begins putting on their sack cloth and throwing ashes in the air, hear me out please.  I would like to discuss “And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away…” .  I want to know who is “ye”.  Is “ye” me? Is “ye” one who believes sinners AND Saints are to be called to repentance for their sin by lifting up the name of Jesus Christ and the weight of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and God’s mercy falling on them like rain?

Or, is “ye” one who calls the sheep in to their fold, coddles them with their love, kindly pats them on the back, gives them the purple kool aid and welcomes them home?  Does this “ye” preach another gospel that condones sin?  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8.  

If the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross to give us eternal life and dominion over our sin nature, is not preached behind the pulpit, our faith is not in Him to deliver us from the dominion of our sin nature but in our selves (our self will and self effort) to overcome our sin nature, which cannot be done.  If we could have victory over our sin nature without faith in Jesus and His finished work, Jesus would not have had to go to the Cross.  What we preach is what we believe and what we believe is what we preach. 

Has ye mourned that these may be taken away from among you?  “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a Brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹² For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³ But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.

If “ye” have not called them to repentance or expelled them from the church, “ye” are puffed up.  But we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, right?  Absolutely!  But some are humbled by God’s grace and repent of theirs sins daily, while others openly flaunt their sins daily in the face of sinners, Saints and babes in Christ Jesus causing them to stumble.  Those who are puffed up have turned our liberty as a Child of God into their license to sin.  These standards do not apply to one who has not professed Jesus as their Lord and Saviour but only to those who do.

“But if any have caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. ⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. ⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. ⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:5-8.

You see, the purple kool aid church will not allow a professing Saint who refuses to repent of their sin to be turned over to satan for the destruction of the flesh in hopes their spirit may be saved.  Instead they try to save them by keeping them in their fold and never allowing the power of God through their faith in Jesus to deliver them…they are puffed up.  Once the sinning Saint repents, we are admonished to forgive and comfort him, lest he be swallowed up by the enemy.  Let us not skip over this part lightly.  Once a Saint repents, we are to comfort and love them.  The devil will have us accusing a repentive Saint and condoning a sinning Saint…discern the difference.

Please don’t tell me there is no such thing as a sinning Saint.  Sadly there are many who are in bondage to their sin nature.  They hate their sin as much as they hate others.  However, because they are not preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ for deliverance, faith in His finished work for their continued liberty, but instead preached another gospel (motivational, psychological) causing their faith to be placed in their will and their efforts, they are accursed and remain under bondage.  These people love the Lord Jesus Christ and seek Him daily to strengthen their will, instead of submitting their will to His strength.  They seek Jesus to rehabilitate them instead of regenerate them into a new creature in Christ Jesus.  These Saints are sincere but sincerely wrong in where their faith is placed for their victory over their sin nature.

So, I ask ye – are ye puffed up?  Have ye mourned the loss of the Brethren? Are ye condoning the sinning Saint and rebuking the repentive Saint instead of rebuking the sinning Saint and comforting the repentive?  Prayerfully discern.

-Donna Clark Warren

“The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him.” Lamentations 3:24-25.

Sadly, there are many marching around their Jericho wall presuming the Lord told them to march when He wants them to wait.  Presuming God’s Will is disobedient and brings disgrace upon the work of the Lord.  Wrongly presuming our will to be God’s Will does not change God’s Will.

“Who is he that says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord commands it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceeds not evil and good?” Lamentations 3:37-38.  The Lord does not say He will, when He won’t.  Neither does He say He won’t, when He will. 

Sometimes the Lord wants us to wait and see HIS work in our lives.  He will not share His glory.  When He wants us to wait but instead we march, declaring and decreeing God’s Word against His Will, we hold the Word of God up for reproach.

Lay your Isaac at the Cross of Jesus and wait on the ram in the bushes if the Lord has told you to wait.  “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity (persistence) he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”  Luke 11:8-9. If persistence causes the unwilling to supply a need, how much more will persistence cause our willing Lord Jesus to supply our needs.  However, we must understand, persistence is sometimes persistently waiting and seeking is seeking God’s Will and His Divine Presence in our situation.  

Our victory is in our Lord Jesus Christ but we aren’t seeking the victory, we seek Jesus because of Who He is and what He has done for us on Calvary’s Cross and persistently seeking Him results in finding Him and when we get a hold of Him, when we wait and see the Salvation of the Lord in our lives (Lamentations 3:26),we have found our victory…our victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also?” Luke 11:39-40. 

The law, any law, whether it be the Mosaic Law, a Scriptural doctrine that man has made into a law, or some man made scheme to add righteousness or give dominion over our sin nature will only clean the outside of the cup while the inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

The Mosaic Law was righteous and given to man to reveal their unrighteousness.  Man’s self righteousness would not accept their revealed unrighteousness, therefore they added to God’s Law and exalted themselves.  Is this striking a cord with anyone else?

“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. ²² Though ye offer Me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. ²³ Take thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” Amos 5:21-23.

The Pharisees had exalted the rituals and ceremonies and neglected for what purpose they were actually intended, atonement for sin which enabled communion and fellowship with God.  All of the rituals and ceremonies were given as a type and shadow, a symbol, of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Sadly, still today the laws are given which exalt the ceremony and neglect the Sacrifice.  The cups are cleaned on the outside but the inside remains ravenous and wicked.

“But He that enters in by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep.To Him the porter opens; and the Sheep hear His Voice: and He calls His Own Sheep by name, and leads them out.” John 10:2-3.

Hear me when I say this, “the porter”, the Law or the Doorkeeper, opens the door to  the only One Who kept the Law perfectly, Jesus Christ .  HE is the One Who fulfilled the Law and has entered in through the Door, calling His Sheep by name and leading them out.  Those feasts, festivals, rituals and ceremonies are the symbol of the One Who has entered through the door.   The porter (the Law) doesn’t open the door to those who enter in through the symbol but only through the Sacrifice, Jesus Christ.

Discern Who or what is being exalted.  Although the religious mention the name of Jesus in the ceremony, discern the reality of Who or what is actually being exalted, the ceremony or the Lord Jesus Christ.  Is the cup clean from the outside?  Jesus Christ is calling His Sheep out…do you hear Him?

-Donna Clark Warren

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the Door of the sheep. ⁸ All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. ¹³ The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” John 10:7-14.

The church is not the door to Jesus Christ but He is the Door to His church.  Those who have entered the Church of Jesus Christ know His voice and will not follow a hireling.  The hirelings have diluted the Gospel of Jesus to attract the world to the one world church.  They have come to kill, steal and destroy sheep who do not know the voice of the Lord and do not keep His Word, the false sheep who follow false shepherds.  The schemes of man and traditions of their religion are presented as the door to the Church of Jesus Christ, instead of Jesus Christ being lifted up as the Door to His Church.

Pray, discern, look and listen…whose voice do you hear?  Is it the voice of a hireling or the Voice of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ?  The hireling will present another door other than faith in Jesus and His finished work for victory over sin’s dominion.  The traditions, ceremonies, feasts and festivals which profit one nothing are presented as righteous to the hireling’s fold.

“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. ⁷ Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? ⁸ This persuasion cometh not of Him that called you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:5-9.

This persuasion of traditions comes not from Him that called you, Jesus Christ.  Who did hinder you?  Was it a hireling?  Jesus is the Door to His Church…a particular religion is not the door to Jesus.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And He said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. ¹¹ Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. ¹² Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and take away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:10-15.

Many have a head knowledge of the Word of God, including satan himself, and he is still the devil.  The Word of God is only revealed to the Child of God with “…an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it…”.  Those that “hear” the Word and then “keep” the Word are those that are given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God…not those that “hear” and then “quote” but those that hear and then keep God’s Word.

Regrettably, we often attempt to discern the ground we are planting and not the seed we are planting according to the Word of God.  In other words, we change the Seed (The Word of God) to fit the ground instead of allowing the Seed to change the ground.  “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.  The Word of God is the discerner of the heart, not us.  Whether It falls on rocky ground or good ground, is not up to us to discern – we just plant the Seed.

Furthermore, we don’t plant tares to grow wheat, we plant wheat to grow wheat.  In an attempt to lure the lost into religious organizations, the religious plant tares instead of wheat.  Then when the tares are revealed as tares and not wheat, the religious blame the tares for being tares…you will know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:20).  When the religious plant religious tares, they get religious tares.  When the Word of God is planted, the Word of God discerns the heart. 

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:14-15.  Stop discerning the ground and discern the seed you are planting by the Word of God and allow the Word of God to discern the heart.  -Donna Clark Warren