“Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”  Matthew 25:1-12.

All ten virgins arose to trim their lamps but only five virgins had oil.  The five virgins with no oil believed their religious activity would save them.  They were in the church but not in Christ.

“²¹ Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that does the Will of My Father which is in Heaven.

²² Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:21-23.

Any message other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified is deemed iniquity.  If the message does not point to Jesus as the source and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross as the means by which our Salvation AND our Sanctification comes, it is another gospel and is accursed…it is iniquity and makes the Cross of Christ of no effect in the life of the Believer (1 Corinthians 1:17).

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.  So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth.”  Revelation 3:15-16.

We should all examine ourselves.  Do we have oil in our lamp or are we just trimming the wick?  Who is the source of victory over our day to day living?  Us or the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have we denied ourselves, picked up our cross and followed Him or have we “embraced” ourselves, picked up our cross and followed man?

Let me be clear, many in the modern church are working iniquity.  They prophesy in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in the name of Jesus but they know not nor do the Will of God.  The tepid response of the pews to pulpits reveal the lukewarm…those who are neither cold or hot.  Because they don’t reject the Will of God, they believe the lack of rejection is by default acceptance…this is not so.  Acceptance or denial one thing requires repentance of the other; there is no in between.  We either accept the Will of God or we deny the Will of God.  We have been given a free will to choose and the Blood of Jesus gives the Believer the ability to choose God’s Will…whether we do or not is our decision.

We claim to know Jesus but does He know us?

“You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”  James 2:19.

Work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  Study to show thyself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).  We know Him, we do well…but does He know us?

-Donna Clark Warren

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, DWELLS NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He gives to all life, and breath, and all things;” Acts 17:24-25 (emphasis added).
The Holy Spirit does not dwell in temples made with the hands of man.
“Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16.
The definition of superstition is a belief or practice resulting from ignorance or a false conception of causation. Sadly, superstition is rampant in the modern church as a result of ignorance and/or false conception of causation. It is the Holy Spirit in the temple of God, which is the Child of God, that breaks bondages, set the captives free and heal the broken hearted when the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, is lifted up to the people.
“And I (Jesus), if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32.
The weight of the conviction of the Holy Spirit on the sinner will bring the sinner to repentance. We are commissioned to go out to all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The commission of the modern church is to lift up the church to the world and they (the modern church house) will draw all men unto them. The Gospel of Jesus doesn’t not need manipulation to convict the sinner or the Saint. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on Calvary’s Cross needs to be lifted up to ALL men, sinners and Saints, and the Holy Spirit will draw them.  
Know you not that the temple of God dwells in the Believer and not in temples made with hands?  Beware of superstition in temples made with hands.
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.” Acts 17:22.

“¹¹ For the Grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

¹⁵ These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15.

The Grace of God that brings Salvation is available for all…for whosoever will believe.  The Grace of God teaches us to deny ourselves; deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.  God’s Grace exhorts us to pick up our cross and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.  It is there, at the crossroads of denying ourselves and picking up our cross that the Believer will often fail.

Religion will exhort us to live soberly.  It will give us many methods to be righteous and godly in this present world but none of which result in the purifying of a “peculiar people”.  Lifting up the demands of the law, this includes the law of “love” which results in unconditional love for that which God has declared sinful, cannot result in holy living.  If this was so, the Cross of Christ was in vain.

God has given us ONE answer for sin.  There is but one Way, one Truth and one Life and that is in the Man Christ Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the wages of sin for whosoever will believe and is sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on High. Because of WHO Jesus is and what He has done on the Cross, sin shall no longer have dominion over the Believer.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the Law, but under Grace.” Romans 6:14.

The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death unless our faith is solely and exclusively in Jesus Christ and His finished work.  Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”   This is a spiritual law!  Lying to ourselves about our condition does not result in healing. Faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ causes God to perceive the virtue flowing from the hem of Jesus’ garment and touches the throne room of Heaven.

The crossroads of denying ourselves and picking up our cross – picking up that which the Lord Jesus Christ made available to all who believe, dominion over sin and the ability to live a righteous and godly life in the present world; cannot be broached unless we first deny ourselves.  The modern gospels are all about self and what we must do to obtain this righteous and holy life we hear so much about.  Ceremonies, traditions and “doing our part” had nothing to do with our Salvation and neither does it have anything to do with our Sanctification.  These methods lifted up to the modern church today result in failure which can lead to the destruction of one’s faith in Jesus for Salvation.

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  Luke 9:23.

One cannot live soberly and righteously until one denies himself.  When we are the source and our effort the means of our holiness, we are abominable in the eyes of God…no matter how religious they may seem.  Deny yourself.  Reach out and touch the Hem of His Garment and allow God’s healing virtue to flow.  Come out from among them and be the peculiar people the Lord has called us to be.  Press toward the mark for the prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).  Look for and you will find that blessed Hope…Christ Jesus.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁷ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the corner,

⁸ And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, an Holy Nation, a Peculiar People; that you should show forth the praises of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:7-9

The evidence of our love to God causes us to show forth the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.  We examine ourselves daily, whether we be in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) because of our love for Him.  We fight the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7) – faith in Jesus Christ (Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe) because of our love for Him.

Religious ceremonies will not CAUSE us to bring forth the praises of God Who has called us out of darkness but will INSTRUCT us to bring forth praises of God in order for Him to call us out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Prayer shawls, yamakas and the like do not cause virtue to flow from the throne room of God and effect healing on the Believer.  40 days, 21 days or 100 ways will not result in deliverance of the captives from the sin that so easily besets them.

Reaching out in faith to touch the hem of the One in Whom we know; the One Who has brought us out of the darkness into His marvelous light results in a shout of praise.  The One Who authors and finishes our faith; precept upon precept, line upon line, is no respecter of persons.  He will do for you what He has done for so many others.

Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to free us from the wages of sin (death) and give us dominion over sin.  Our Lord is now sitting at the right Hand of God, constantly making intercession for the Saints.  As a born again Believer we are crucified with Him so that we may be in the likeness of His Resurrection.  We no longer have to partake in the ways of the world for deliverance because we are now alive unto God.  HE is the way maker…not us, not our vain imaginations, not our self efforts.  Jesus Christ – He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Don’t stumble at the Word.  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.

“⁸ Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

⁹ Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son.

¹⁰ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

¹¹ For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:8-11.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁵ The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl (impolite) said to be bountiful.

⁶ For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

⁷ The instruments also of the churl are evil: he devises wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speak right.

⁸ But the liberal devises liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.” Isaiah 32:5-8

The false teachers, the liberals,  make empty the soul of the hungry.  They cause the drink of the thirsty soul to fail.  The false teachers devise false teaching and by these false teachings they will stand.

“¹¹ Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

¹² These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”  Jude 11-12.

Beware my Brothers and Sisters, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of man, and not after Christ (Colossians 2:8).  The liberal preachers and teachers will stand in the power of their own vain imaginations and not in the power of God.  They have gone the way of Cain.  Thirsty souls are starving for the liberty and freedom in which the liberals proclaim but do not possess.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.  Jesus Christ IS the Way, the Truth and the Life…there is no other.

“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.

Whosoever drinks of the water the life in Christ Jesus shall never thirst.  The river of life shall spring up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).  Are you thirsty?

-Donna Clark Warren

“15 And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

16 He that believes and is baptized (Baptized into Christ’s death, not water baptism. Romans 6:3-4)  shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the Right Hand of God.

20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”  Mark 16:15-20
These signs shall follow those that have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their life:

• In the Name of Jesus they shall cast out devils.  Jesus Christ defeated every demon in hell on Calvary’s Cross.  
• They shall speak in new tongues. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4) will follow those Who believe.  Jesus told all of His followers immediately before His Ascension that they should “wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).  He was speaking of being “Baptized with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:5).
• They shall take up serpents.  Believers will put away demon spirits…not reptiles. Luke 10:29
• If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.  This does not mean purposely ingesting poison in order to prove one’s faith but the protection of God if one accidentally ingests that which is unhealthy.
• They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. In the name of Jesus, the sick will be healed…whether it be this side of Glory or not.  We are all appointed a time to die unless we go in the rapture.  

“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.
These signs (among others) shall NOT follow those that have made Jesus Christ the Lord of their life:

• Adultery
• Fornication – living together
• Lasciviousness – unbridled lust, shamelessness, license to sin
• Idolatry – today’s idolatry consists of 40 days, 12 steps, feasts, festivals and traditions of man for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.
• Witchcraft – Witchcraft is rampant in the church.  Speaking things into existence or not speaking something for fear it will come true is withcraft and superstition, not faith.  Lying about our sickness does not bring about healing and  ignorance of our condition is not victory.  
• Hatred
• Strife
• Envying
• Drunkenness
• Rebelling

Sin will not follow Believers.  We do not conjure up miracles.  We place our faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross and the signs will follow.  Recognize the fruit which follows the “Believer”.  If they do not possess that which they profess, their profession is empty.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ will effect a change in the Believer’s life…a change of heart; a circumcision of the heart made without hands.  

“You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?   Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.”  Matthew 7:16-17.

You shall know in Whom they believe by the fruit that is brought forth.  

-Donna Clark Warren

 “Woe to the rebellious children, says the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

² That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.”  Isaiah 30:1-3.

“Spiritual Covering” by any other than the Spirit of God for any other is not a spiritual covering but spiritual and Scriptural ignorance.  The teaching in the modern church of spiritual covering by man, preachers, teachers, etc. is not of God or from God.  If it’s not from the Spirit of God it is from another spirit.

The Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) covers the Believer Himself through the Word of God – which too many proclaimed Christians do not know for themselves.  Going down to Egypt (the world) to inquire of the precepts of man and trusting in their statutes adds sin to sin.

“⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:1-4.

The profession which many proclaim but do not possess because of spiritual and Scriptural ignorance can be possessed.  The peace of God which passes all understanding is available to those who seek the counsel of God…to those who are careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication make their requests known UNTO GOD…not man.

Jesus Christ made a way for God to be our God and for us to be His Children when He paid our sin debt on Calvary’s Cross.  Jesus Christ made a way for us to have dominion over the sin that so easily besets us.  Why then do we seek the counsel of man?  Why do we follow the statutes of the world?  Why don’t we deny our self effort, pick up the precepts of God and follow Jesus?  He has made a way but many are too slothful to follow Him.  Their itchy ears continue to seek the grandeur of the religious ceremonies which excites the flesh.

If we are indeed Children of God, why then do we follow the ways of the world to be free from the law of sin and death?  If we could be free from the law of sin and death through the ways of the world (human psychology), why did Jesus have to go to Calvary’s Cross?  It is understandable if the world believes these worldly precepts but for the Child of God to believe this garbage brings reproach to God.

Repent.

-Donna Clark Warren.

“25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press (crowd), and said, Who touched My clothes?
31 And His disciples said unto Him, You see the multitude thronging Thee, and say You, Who touched Me?
32 And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.
34 And He said unto her, Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace, and be whole of your plague.”  Mark 5:25-34.
Religious activities and ceremonies will not result in virtue flowing from the Throne Room of God.  Feasts, festivals, prayers shawls and yamakas will not make one whole.   Faith in Jesus Christ and His Redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross allows the Holy Spirit to do what He is commissioned to do in the Believer’s life – isolate our sin nature and allow us to live unto God.  The same faith that brought us in to the Kingdom of God, faith in Jesus and Him crucified, is the same faith that allows the Holy Spirit to maintain (not gain) our freedom from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2) and give us dominion over our sin nature (Romans 6:14).   When our faith is moved to our religious activities, ceremonies and precepts of man for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil, we are not free from the law of sin and death.  

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  Luke 9:23.

Until we deny ourselves, our self efforts, we cannot pick up our cross and follow Jesus.  As long as our focus is on ourselves and our faith in our performance, we are not free from the law of sin and death by the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus but we are fighting to gain freedom in our own efforts.   This fruitless fight will destroy the faith of the Believer…which is satan’s goal.

Be “…determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2.

-Donna Clark Warren

“3 Beloved, when I (Jude) gave all diligence to write unto you of the common Salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the Saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:3-4.
Contending for the faith; fighting the good fight of faith…faith in Christ Jesus which was once delivered unto the Saints, may be offensive to those who have turned the Grace of God into a license to remain wilfully ignorant of the statutes of God.  The Lord has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truths.  However, many do not use the resources Jesus Christ afforded the Saints and turn to religion 101, traditions and schemes of man from the vanities of their own minds to learn of Jesus.  They are forever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of Truth (2 Timothy 3:7).  

“9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.
12 To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the Word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”  Isaiah 28:9-13.
Judah would not hear the Word of the Lord.  The simplicity of the Gospel, the precepts upon precepts and lines upon lines, became a stumbling block and they were broken, snared and taken.  

Certain men (and women) have crept into the church unawares and turned the Gospel of Jesus Christ into another gospel, a self help gospel.  A gospel in which self is the source and self effort is the means by which victory over the world, the flesh and the devil is obtained with Jesus being nothing more than an example.  This is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  This gospel does not, will not and cannot set the Believer free from the law of sin and death.  If that was so, Jesus did not have to go to Calvary’s Cross to give us dominion over sin – our self efforts and self could do so.  

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

Please understand, “He”, the Holy Spirit, is not commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death when our faith is in anything other than Jesus Christ and HIS atoning work on Calvary’s Cross.  This is WHY all other gospels are accursed.  This is WHY we must contend for the faith…faith in Jesus Christ and HIS finished work.  This is why we must fight the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life.  The Holy Spirit in us IS greater than he that is in the world and He earnestly desires to guide us into all Truths according to the Word of God…NOT according to the precepts of man.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to deliver us from the sin that so easily besets us when our faith is in our self efforts to overcome.  

“28 Come unto Me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.
Contend for the faith.  Fight the good fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And you know that He (Jesus) was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” 1 John 3:5.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  The Word, Jesus Christ, was manifested to take away our sins.  Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the sin debt for all of mankind.  The Word (Jesus) was manifested in the flesh spotless, without blemish.  He was Sacrificial Lamb of God.  At the Altar of His Sacrifice is where our sins were paid.  It is there that the dominion of sin is taken away.

Knowing this, knowing Who Jesus is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, there is absolutely no doubt as to His Resurrection.  There remains therefore a rest for the Child of God (Hebrews 4:9).  We know in Whom we Believe.  We know that He is sitting at the Right Hand of God.  We know that we know that we know that we are saved to the uttermost seeing He ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

-Donna Clark Warren