“²⁰ And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:

²¹ When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

²² So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

²³ And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord.

²⁴ And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

²⁵ And Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? the Lord shall trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

²⁶ And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The Valley of Achor, unto this day.” Joshua 7:20-26

As Achan coveted the Babylonian riches, so too does the modern church covet worldly riches. The modern church ascribes her blessings to her methods and philosophies to achieve worldly goods and uses them to seduce the Child of God into their own apostate fold by adding Scripture to the methods presented. The Valley of Achor became a place of great horror for Achan because of his covetousness of the Babylonian riches.

^“14 Therefore, behold, I (GOD) will allure her (Israel), and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

¹⁵ And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the Valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:14-15

The valley of horror became a vale of hope for the Israelites.  There are some who have spun a web of horror in their lives. The lusts of the flesh and the deceitfulness of sin have resulted in attaining many a worldly goods; shekels of silver and gold have been won by the vain philosophies and have no doubt been revealed as a snare; bait to entice others down the road of apostasy.

“² And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” Acts 3:2-8

There are some whom the Lord has brought into the wilderness, to the valley of horror, but this valley of horror is now a door of hope yet seeing they do not see.  The devil maintains his lies while God’s Children vainly attempt to gain His blessings through methods of man.  Instead of walking through the door of blessing made available to us by our Lord Jesus Christ through His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross, we stand at the door in fear.

“And He (Jesus) 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

The Cross of Christ was a place of great sorrow for our Lord…it was a valley of horror.  Yet for us, the Cross of Christ is a vale of Hope that we must pick up in order to follow Him.  When we go through valley’s of despair, unpleasant circumstances sometimes caused by our failures, there remains a Door of Hope afforded the repentant Saint, a cross to pick up with the blessings of God.

There are many broken sitting at the gate called Beautiful who need someone to take them by the hand lead them to the Door of Hope…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“⁹ I (Jesus) 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 comes 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.” John 10:9-10

God’s Arm is not shortened.  If sin has hindered your walk with the Lord, confess such sin to the Lord and walk through the Door of Hope…you will find life more abundantly.

-Donna Clark Warren

“But He (Jesus) answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the Mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

The study of the Word of God is not mere intellectual entertainment but nourishment to our spirit.  Many protestant churches will begin their denominational “series” on the tradition of ash Wednesday and Lent while their remains a lost and dying world who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer.

When the Word of God is preached in context and not used as bait to deceive the sincere Believer or to rationalize the preacher’s philosophy (aka sermon), the Word is anointed by the Holy Spirit and pierces the heart of the Believer.

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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

With one side, the Word of God will circumcise the heart; removing the carnality of the old man as it reproves and corrects both the Saint and convicts the sinner. The Word of God will cut off sin from man or man in his sin as it guides us to a point of decision which we all must make.  Do we follow the Lord or submit to the intellectual stimuli offered from the pulpit?  The decision is strictly the individual’s.  If they wish to follow that which the Lord seeks to sever because of denominational hindrances, God will see to it they are sent a strong delusion that they should believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

^“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Word of God is His faithful witness to His saving purposes for mankind.  It brings death to the old man and resurrection power through the anointing of the Holy Spirit when Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done, is lifted up to all who may hear and our faith has come by hearing the Word of God, rooted and built up in HIM – Jesus Christ, the Rock of our Salvation…not a religious tradition given to stimulate the intellect.

“³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. ⁴ For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

Recognize the difference between intellectual entertainment and the Word of God feeding your spirit with the Bread of Life.

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8

If a Believer could not be deceived, the Apostle Paul would not have warned us to “Be not deceived…”.  Whatsoever a man sows, he shall indeed reap.  If one sows to the flesh and rebels against the precepts of God, they will reap the curse which they have sowed, namely corruption.

What many fail to understand is the rebellion in the heart of man began long before the fruit is realized.  Just as the prodigal son’s rebellion began the moment he desired His Father’s goods without His Father’s presence and the fruit of this rebellion ended in him not only feeding the swine but eating with them as well (Luke 15:11-32), so too does man’s rebellion today begin the moment we seek God’s blessing through sowing to the flesh and we quickly reap corruption.

“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.” Romans 8:5

Sowing to the flesh and minding the things of the flesh result in the Believer stepping out of the Will of God and into their own personal or religious philosophies regarding God’s Prescribed Order for victory in the Believer’s life.  These philosophies will often involve “our part” in gaining  (not maintaining) life everlasting.  Our faith is then directed to “our part” and hence the rebellion begins in our heart. Without realizing, our consecration is replaced with ambition and we are deceived.

Please understand, the modern church does not understand the difference in ambition and consecration.  Their “purpose” IS the exaltation of ambition in the professed Christian…not consecration.  Consecration is a fruit of sowing to the Spirit.  Ambition is a fruit of minding the things of the flesh and results in dining with swine.  This corruption of our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ for maintaining victory over sin leads to spiritual death…not life everlasting.

God’s Prescribed Order of victory requires faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.  The power of sin was broken on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe (Romans 6:14).  Our faith in Jesus’ finished work gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do in the Believer’s life, free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  To be frank and honest, there is no other way to sow to the Spirit other than faith in the Cross of Christ.  It is this faith that reaps life everlasting and gives the Believer dominion over sin.  This faith produces fruit unto God and is not corrupted by vain philosophies rooted in feelings, thoughts and opinions.

Fight the good fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

Be not deceived by vain philosophies.

-Donna Clark Warren

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

¹⁶ He that believes and is baptized (baptized in Christ [Romans 6:3-5] not water baptism) shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16

The Believer is not called upon to save society but to save men out of society.  The worldly system belongs to satan and we (God’s Children) are called upon to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified to a lost and dying world.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:2-5

This form of godliness will often manifest through prophesying in the Name of Jesus, casting out devils in the Name of Jesus and doing many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus but are all forms of godliness with a root of pride.  They are workers of iniquity who Christ does not know (Matthew 7:21-23).

Instead of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified to call man out of this worldly system which is damned, many have vainly decided to take it upon themselves to save society.  God chose the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21.

The Great Commission for the Believer is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified…not save society.  It is imperative that the lost have the opportunity to hear this glorious Gospel so that they may believe upon the One, Jesus Christ (the only begotten Son of God), Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to deliver them from this condemned world and through Him the lost may be saved and the Saint may be kept through their continued faith in Who Jesus is and what He has done as the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

Regrettably many are toiling in the world to save society in a vain attempt to redeem the worldly system while there remains a lost and dying world among us.  My loved ones, your loved ones and others loved ones are slipping into a devil’s hell while the covetous, boasters and proud who have a form of godliness are sweeping the Body of Christ to and fro with every wind of doctrine keeping them preoccupied with their fleshly lusts from worldly wisdom handing out bottles of water and holding social and civic events under the banner of “Christianity”.

In the words of John the Baptist – Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2).

“Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2.   

Redeem the time…preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  How shall they call upon the Lord Jesus Christ in Whom they have not believed?  How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? (Romans 10:14).

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, IS IT TRUE, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” Daniel 3:13-14 

How often have the religious and politically correct (which is a religion in and of itself) persecuted those who are determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified? How often does the Child of God hear “is it true” you believe drinking of alcohol is a sin?  Is it true you believe homosexuality is a sin? What about abortion, is it true you believe that abortion is a sin?  Is it true you will not partake in the Jewish feasts? Is it true you did not attend the “new members” class? Is it true you do not listen to Kenneth Copeland or Bill Johnson?  Is it true you believe we are living in the days of the laodicean church age and the majority of the modern churches are apostate?  With a church on every corner, is it true you cannot find a church to attend?  Is it true you will not compromise your beliefs for the sake of fellowship with others, even though the Scripture says come out from among them and be ye separate (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)?

When Nebuchadnezzar discovered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow to his gods or worship his golden image, he ordered them thrown in the fiery furnace.  Has the devil ever condemned you to the fiery furnace for refusing his commandments?

Satan’s commandments are always given for three purposes; to kill, steal and destroy your faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  Once satan gets us out of God’s perfect Will for our lives, he will continue in his commands where the only choices we believe we have are perform satan’s commands or die.  For the lost, the fear is physical death and for the religious the fear is spiritual death.  In other words, someone who is addicted to drugs believes if they don’t get their next fix they are literally going to physically die.  On the other hand, a religious person who misses their religious ceremony will feel as if they are spiritually dying if they do not attend.  Just to be sure, nothing could be further from the truth.  It is these religious ceremonies, some of them may even be Scriptural ordinances, that lead to death when our faith is placed in those ceremonies for our righteousness.

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” Daniel 3:16

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not careful to answer King Nebuchadnezzar.  These three Hebrew slaves knew in Whom they had believed and retained their testimony of believing in God to deliver them.  Regrettably there are too many professing Believers that quickly lose their testimony as soon as the devil says “is it true”?  They are bound by fear of that fiery furnace they may have to endure for Christ’s sake.

“²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spoke, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

²⁵ He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:24-25

If you’re facing the fiery furnace, be not careful to answer.  Yes, it IS true – I know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

It is true.

-Donna Clark Warren

“² And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

³ And wherefore has the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” Numbers 14:2-3

There are many born again Christians who the Lord desires to use but they are so busy finding fault or questioning their current circumstances that they cannot be used by God.  Sometimes the Lord will place us in a position or circumstance and He expects us to trust Him.  God expects us to retain our testimony, not destroy it with our complaining and worry.

We, God’s Children, were bought with a very high price.  Jesus Christ did not shed His life’s Blood for us to be lost in the wilderness.  Keep looking unto Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith.   No matter the circumstances, Jesus Christ will guide us precept upon precept, line upon line from His Grace to HIS Glory…not our glory but HIS Glory.  We are made in the image of God to glorify Him.  God is glorified when we continually look unto Jesus as the Source and His Cross the means by which all of our needs are freely and abundantly supplied according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Too often our needs are being met but because we have deemed them insufficient, we complain, murmur and question.  In turn, we have destroyed our testimony and placed ourselves out of commission.  To be frank and honest, we are quite literally dumber than a rock.

“And He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40

It is not our unpleasant circumstances, of which we ALL experience, that brings reproach unto God but our mouth…for out of our mouth flows the abundance of our heart (Matthew 12:34).  That motivational lie confessed in front of the mirror every morning will not change one’s heart or their circumstances.  It is KNOWING in Whom they have believed and praising Him for Who He is and what He has done to bring Redemption to the Lost and deliverance to the bound that changes the heart of man, brings glory to our God and puts us in a position to be used by God.

The God called preacher will point us to the source of Life, not to man made methods and vain philosophies, namely humanistic psychology.

“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

Do not focus on the supply…look to the Supplier.  Jesus Christ and Him crucified, be determined to know nothing else.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁴² And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

⁴³ And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus says the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.

⁴⁴ So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the Word of the Lord.” 2 Kings 4:42-44

The Lord sent a man from Baalshalisha with food for the people.  The man of God, Elisha, told his servant to “Give the people, that they may eat…” and his servant thought the supply insufficient for the hundred men.

How often have we looked at God’s supply as insufficient?  Instead of receiving His blessings and believing them to be sufficient we scoff at the perceived lack.

The Child of God was redeemed at a great price, namely the Sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  Our Lord Jesus sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.  Redemption’s price was paid for whosoever will believe and the power of sin broken.

If our Redeemer does not have the power to keep that which He has redeemed, the price paid on Calvary’s Cross was in vain.  God forbid no!

“³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in Heaven for you, ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

The keeping power of God unto Salvation is through faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  This faith is not a one time event but a daily fight…it is the “good fight of faith” in HIS Work and not ours. No, the Child of God doesn’t get saved daily but we do fight the good fight of faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ daily because we trust in the Power of God to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  This is the POWER of our Redeemer to possess that which He has redeemed.

Why then do we render God’s blessings as insufficient?  In our doubt and unbelief what have we deemed inadequate; our Redeemer or His Power to keep that which He has redeemed?

“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

The power of God is in the Cross of Christ. Jesus Christ is the Source and His cross the means by which we receive anything and everything from God.  The miracle of the supply is not insufficient but our belief that the supply is enough is that of Elisha’s servant…unbelief.

No matter the circumstances, our Redeemer will author and He will finish our faith when we look unto Him – Jesus Christ and Him crucified, be determined to know nothing else.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And they (Priests) shall teach My People the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

It is the duty of the God called preacher to teach God’s Children the difference between holy and profane and cause them to discern between good and evil.  This duty includes discerning between good and that which appears good but has an evil root.  The spirit behind the appearance of good is the discerning factor hence the problem with the “modern” proclaimed Christian music.  Much of this music appeals to emotions and has nothing to do with the worship of Jehovah God even though they mention the name Jesus and speak of God.

“¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The plumb line is and will always be the Word of God…not our emotions or feelings.  ALL Scripture, not just some, is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.  Recognize whether or not the preacher is causing you to discern between the good and almost good.  That which goes under the banner of Christianity but has nothing to do with the work of God and in fact corrupts the work of God by causing God’s Children to be swept to and fro with every wind of doctrine often appears good but in reality plants seeds of death in the Believer.  Remember, it is no great thing if satan’s ministers be transformed as the ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

“² Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-3

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will always and without doubt lay waste every wind of doctrine coming down the pike.  Lifting Jesus up, Who He is and what He has done, for Salvation to a lost and dying world and deliverance from the besetting sin that has the Saint bound will have It’s effect.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will always have an effect; whether it be a softened heart or a hardened heart, Christ and Him crucified will take us to a point of decision to receive or reject His Truth.

“⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

⁹ Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wheresoever you go.” Joshua 1:8-10

-Donna Clark Warren

Who am I?  I’m a born again Child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Who HE is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for “whosoever” will believe, I chose to actually believe and was born of the Spirit of God.  I was indeed spiritually alive unto God but truthfully speaking I had not yet reckoned myself to be dead unto sin.

You see, it is true, I did become a new creature in Christ Jesus.  I was zealous for the Lord.  Old things had passed away and all things became new.  However, being born again didn’t make me a “theologian”.  There were precepts upon precepts and lines upon lines that the Lord continues to reveal to ALL of His Children.  Jesus Christ is alive; He is the Word incarnate, therefore the Word is alive.  Because Jesus is alive and His Spirit dwells in us to guide us into all Truths according to the Word of God – this daily walk we now have with our Lord is inexhaustible.  There is no graduating class with the Child of God on this side of glory.  Whether we have been born again 5 days or 50 years, we are all growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

“⁴ Nicodemus said unto Him (Jesus), How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (natural child birth) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:4-5

Once I then believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I was called to follow Him…just as every born again Believer is called to follow Him.

“And He (Jesus) 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

The Cross of Christ was a place of great suffering for Jesus but for the Believer, it is a place of great blessing.  Jesus is the Source and His Cross the means by which the Believer’s blessings flow from the Throne Room of God.  Our faith exclusively in Jesus and His atoning work, gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do – free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  It is the Cross of Christ which made the indwelling of the Holy Spirit possible for the Believer.

Then came the religious.  Many with good intentions who sincerely loved the Lord and others who were somewhat arrogant and prideful.  These were the “elite”; the highly spiritual folk who were quite seductive with their philosophies and methods.  Blood Moons, Harbingers and Shemitahs were the studies of that day.  Evidently everyone in that group had already graduated from the “40 days of purpose”  for their purpose driven lives and had moved on…just as they had moved on from the Cross of Christ.  Seeing, I saw not.  Hearing, I heard not and neither did I understand (Matthew 13:13).

“And when she came to the man of God (Elisha) to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi (Elisha’s servant) came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord has hid it from me, and has not told me.” 2 Kings 4:27

Religion will thrust vexed souls away from the Cross of Christ but Grace will draw them. As I sat under these schemes of prideful man and their vain philosophies, my soul became vexed as well.  Sinful temptations became more seductive.  I would soon realize my will power was not stronger than the law of sin and death.  As I leaned more and more on my own understanding and began depending on my willpower instead of denying myself…I had left my place of blessing, the Cross of Christ, and found myself following man and not Christ.

Did I know during this time what was happening?  Absolutely not. Can I look back now and see where the Lord Jesus Christ brought me from?  Can I see how religion had thrust me away from God?  Yes – yes I can and I give God the glory.  However, I feel sure I will have a similar testimony in the years to come for I have not yet graduated either.

No matter where we are in this walk with our Lord, He is constantly drawing us nearer to Him.  Some will heed the call and sadly others will dismiss. For those who continue to dismiss the drawing and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, their light will eventually be taken from them and given to those with an abundance of light.  This is the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-27 .

Religion will thrust us away from God.  Grace draws us to the Cross of Christ where our efforts for increase are laid waste.

“So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

Seek God’s increase….not religion’s.  God’s increase is born of the Spirit; not vanities.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that hear say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

The clarion call of the Spirit of God and the Redeemed is “Come”…Come and let him that is athirst take of the water of life freely.

“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher?” Romans 10:14

If the Redeemed will not call the broken, the thirsty, the discomfited and discontent…how then will they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?

Worldly statutes cloaked in Scripture to deceive the Believer, social gatherings in place of Gospel preaching and recruitment classes to enlarge the congregation is not the clarion call of the Redeemed.

The clarion call of the Redeemed is “Come”…come unto Jesus and drink of His Cup.  Lift Jesus up, Who He is and what HE has done for whosoever will believe, and the Holy Spirit will draw them (John 12:32).  Point the lost and the bound to the Source of life…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“..If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

-Donna Clark Warren