“Woe unto you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered.” Luke 11:52

Woe unto those who take away the key of knowledge, the Word of God, and substitute their own vain commandments for biblical doctrine.   Woe unto those who received not the love of the Truth and entered not in themselves.  Woe unto those who hinder the  Body of Christ from knowing Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe and choose to seduce the lusts of their flesh with talent shows, movie nights and various methods of humanistic psychology to deliver the bound from the sin which so easily besets, the basis of which is nothing more than distraction from sin.

Let me be clear, distraction does not deliver one from the bondage of sin.  If such were so, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  Man cannot deliver man.  Man’s methods cannot deliver man.  Furthermore, cloaking man’s methods in Scripture will not deliver man.

^“13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross; ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15

Jesus Christ delivered us from the wiles of the devil on Calvary’s Cross.  Our faith there, in His finished work, gives the Holy Spirit latitude to superintend that which He is commissioned to do…quicken us together with Jesus whereby we are free of the power of sin.  IN Christ Jesus we are free from the Law of Sin and Death and given dominion over the sin which so easily besets us.  The Holy Spirit will not superintend the work of man’s methods to overcome sin, no matter our level of sincerity. 

The movement of the modern church to remove the Bible from the services, exhorting them to not even bring a Bible to church, is akin to the “lawyers” of which Jesus spoke of in Luke 11:52.  Many have sat silently while the Word of God has been removed from the church and replaced with the thoughts of man through the various translations deemed as more relevant.  Man’s thoughts of God’s Word are not more relevant than God’s Word.

^“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

Woe unto those who sit silently while the doctrines of biblical Christianity are being hindered and exhorted not to the people.  We must contend for the faith which was given unto us and refuse to be a door mat for the devil.

^“3 Beloved, when I 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 1:3-5

There are those who will turn the Grace of God into a license to sin and deny the power of God to overcome.  Why? Because the devil wants to hinder our faith in the Cross of Christ to break the power of sin which leads to the destruction of one’s faith in the Cross of Christ to pay the penalty of sin.  The devil corrupts the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and when we Christians, those who are called by His Name, fail to try the spirits and search the Scripture to see whether these things be so, we fall into the snare of satan and are deceived.  Seeing we see not. Satan’s purpose is to kill, steal and destroy our testimony of faith in the Cross of Christ to deliver us from the wiles of the devil…but Jesus Christ came so that we may have life and life more abundantly.

“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 10:10

Choose life.  Hinder not.  Earnestly contend for the faith.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that He (Jesus) entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.

³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His Word.

⁴⁰ But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: ⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Many years I spent toiling in the world.  Then the day came that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Still daily was the grind after I was saved until I almost lost everything I toiled over.  My business was gone.  My boyfriend of many years gone and there I sat.  Not understanding what was going on nor what was going to happen, I chose the “Good Part”….Jesus Christ.  Months on end I spent in His Word, looking unto Him and He would author and finish my faith.  Months on end, He would supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Months on end, I chose to seek Him first.

Those months have now turned into years.  Since then the Lord has given me so much more than I could ever imagine.  A God fearing husband and a home filled with love.  Family and friends who have blessed me; both young and old. There are still troubles but the peace of God is my strong tower and I will not be shaken.  He is my refuge.

^“28 Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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

Choose the “Good Part” and you will find rest unto your soul.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Religion has led untold millions to hell because they have declared unto the people another gospel and another Jesus.  Many have a false sense of Salvation because they partially believe in the Atonement.  For example, many believe in the Cross of Christ AND water baptism for Salvation.  Others believe in the Cross of Christ and speaking in tongues are the only requirements for Salvation; being a member of a particular church may be a condition of their Salvation…the list goes on and on of man made doctrines added to the Cross of Christ for Salvation.

What happens in these particular instances is their faith is in the Cross of Christ for partial Atonement and their “part” (whatever it may be) for complete Atonement.  No where in the Word of God does it teach that the Cross of Christ was a partial Atonement.  God forbid no!

^“8 For by Grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Partial belief is in fact no belief at all.  Ask those who believe in the partial Atonement if they believe in the Cross of Christ and they will vehemently declare their belief.  Sadly they don’t understand that their partial belief is in reality no belief at all.  We either believe the Cross of Christ is sufficient unto our Salvation or we don’t.

^“17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

¹⁸ He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:17-18

We either believe in the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God Who took away the sins of the world for whosoever will believe and broke the power of sin for whosoever has freely chosen to believe and nothing else…or we don’t, partial belief is no belief at all.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2

-Donna Clark Warren

We have too many professing Christians who profess “God” yet they do not study His Word. The god they know is the god being preached to them from behind the pulpit or declared in the world throughout the week in a vain attempt of “goodness”.  This god turns a blind eye to evil and calls it good.  This god is not holy nor righteous.  These professing Christians do not know the difference between the God of the Bible, the only TRUE God, and the god of whom they have heard because they have not searched the Scriptures to see if those things which were declared as doctrine were indeed so.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

Sadly, the majority of the Church do not understand the Atonement, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  They have been taught that Jesus died spiritually and went to hell, fought the devil and won.  God forbid NO!  Jesus was not saved in hell, which is what this doctrine teaches without actually saying such.  There was no fight in hell. Resurrection power was not manifested in hell. Redemption was not met in hell when Jesus “won” some supposed fight.  That is utter heresy but that is what many believe.  The resurrection power of which they seek, they are looking for it in hell…literally, where they believe the battle for our soul was won.  Friends, this is not the Jesus of the Bible.

 ^“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 Cor. 1:18.

The Resurrecting Power of God is found in the Cross of Jesus Christ.  If we are not spiritually buried with Jesus in His Death on Calvary’s Cross, where the penalty of our sin was paid (NOT in hell where many have been taught the penalty of sin was “won” or earned), our faith has been redirected, the Gospel corrupted into another gospel, Jesus into another Jesus and we are cursed (Galatians 1:8-9).  This is the devil’s purpose; the leaven which leavens the whole lump.

^“3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death?

⁴ Therefore we are buried with Him by Baptism into Death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His Death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:3-6

As a believing sinner accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are planted together in the likeness of His death where the penalty of sin was paid. They believe and understand the Atonement for Salvation.  They believe and understand Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for whosoever will believe, He was Resurrected 3 days later and now sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.  The believing sinner believes all of these facts about Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done, and because of such they are planted together in the likeness of His Death.

Then comes the sincere religious mouthpiece the devil uses to direct our faith anywhere but the Cross of Christ to now break the power of sin in our lives.  Remember, the penalty of sin was paid by Jesus Christ on the Cross but now they want to help us “live right”, which is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  You see, the same work of Jesus which paid the penalty of sin on Calvary’s Cross as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, also broke the power of sin in the Believer’s life.  The Cross of Christ has a two fold victory for the Believer.

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

When our faith is placed in the Resurrection to break the power of sin in our lives, our faith is misdirected.  In other words, faith in Jesus’ Resurrection for the resurrected life we are promised in God’s Word is not where the power of sin was broken.  Remember, the Power of God is in the Cross of Christ (1 Cor. 1:18).

This does not mean we do not believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  God forbid no, no, no!!  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a GIVEN because of Who He is, God manifest in the flesh.  Jesus’ Resurrection is proof that every sin was paid in full and it’s power broken.  However, our faith isn’t in the proof of the “Act”, if I can use that word for the Atonement, but it’s in the Act itself…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  If our faith is in the evidence of things seen, it’s not faith.

The Atonement for our Salvation was made by Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross as the Sacrificial Lamb of God.  It is there that we are planted at Salvation and it is there that we remain.  Daily denying ourselves and reckoning ourselves dead unto sin, crucified with Christ; no longer a servant of sin but a partaker in God’s Divine Nature, walking in newness of life.  This is our cross to bear.  It is not a curse but a blessing.  Jesus bore the curse for us who believe…now we follow Him.

“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

-Donna Clark Warren

^“44 And He (Jesus) turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, See you this woman? I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My Feet: but she has washed My Feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

⁴⁵You gave Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss My Feet.

⁴⁶ My Head with oil you did not anoint: but this woman has anointed My Feet with ointment.

⁴⁷ Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  Luke 7:44-47

Just as Simon the pharisee was offended at the actions of the woman with the alabaster box, many will be sitting on the pew this morning offended at the worship of those who understand they too have been forgiven much. When we realize just much we have been forgiven and the price paid for our Redemption, we too fall daily at the feet of our Lord and Savior…Jesus Christ, unto Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“And why call you Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46

Many who call Jesus Lord prophesy in His Name, cast out demons in His Name and do many wonderful works in Jesus Name, yet they do not the things which He says.  They call Him Lord, Lord but He knows them not.

^“21 Not every one who 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 Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful works?

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

Instead of doing that which Jesus said, they worshipped Him with their mouths but their hearts grew farther and farther away from Him.  They substituted the vain philosophies of man to gain victory in their daily living for God instead of simply believing the Cross of Christ, God’s Grace, gives us dominion over the sin that so easily besets us according to Romans 6:14:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under Grace.”

The same Grace which saves us, keeps us.  The problem arises when we begin to “gain” instead of “maintain” that which was freely given to whosoever will believe…Grace.  Most don’t realize they are in fact trying to “gain” Grace.  I didn’t.  If you don’t believe me, try not doing that which you feel you must do and see how “saved” you feel.  For me, it was my writing, something God has called me to do.  There came a time when the Lord showed me my faith was being placed in my writing.  In other words, if I didn’t write something that day I felt unworthy.  The fact of the matter was (and is), what I do (writing in this case) in no way makes me “worthy” of anything.  No matter my alms, my worthiness fell short.  It is only through the Blood of Jesus Christ that I am cleansed and made worthy of God’s Grace.  This fight of faith is indeed daily.  The leaven is always there for the taking, tempting us to believe in that which we do.  For many, this is the weekly sermon heard on Sunday mornings…believe in yourself.  Exhorting them to NOT do the things which Jesus said but to do that which seems natural to the carnal mind which is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7).

^“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Do that which He says…Trust Him.

-Donna Clark Warren

Law vs. Grace Part 1

Law vs. Grace Part 2

Law vs. Grace Part 3

Law vs. Grace Part 4

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

Death and life ARE in the power of the tongue.  Sadly though many do not understand what “speaking doubt” and “speaking life” are according to the Word of God and have taken this Scripture to twist it, just as satan twists the Word, into their motivational doctrine.

Ten of the twelve witnesses, who went up to the land promised by God to the Israelites, spoke death.  Once they saw God’s Promise, they did not believe His Promise was efficient.

^“31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

³² And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.” Numbers 13:31-32

While Joshua and Caleb spoke life; they spoke that which was true according to what the Lord had promised them.

^“6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: ⁷ And they spoke unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

⁸ If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk and honey.” Numbers 14:6-8

The modern motivational doctrine, which is cloaked in Scripture, is widely heard among the masses in the world and has infiltrated the church as Scriptural doctrine which in reality is nothing more than commandments of man.  These worldly motivational systems deceive the people into lying about themselves through the positive confession of their words, aka “speaking life”,  which they sincerely believe has the power to change their reality.  In the church, this is nothing more than white witch craft trying to manipulate the righteous spirit world.  However, in the world this is their “wisdom” which the Word of God declares as evil.

^“14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:14-15

Lying against the truth will not change the truth.  Once we confess the truth of our reality, and begin to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS Righteousness, HE WILL supply our needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  All of these things WILL be added unto us; NOT when we are seeking these things but seeking HIM, Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE did.

^“31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

³³ But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-33.

I know the worldly system’s vain attempt to manifest greatness in ourselves through sheer will and determination.  Many spend their entire lives in this devilish cycle of unprofitable wisdom while the teachers of such nonsense make millions of dollars.

God’s Prescribed order for daily living is by Grace (the Cross of Christ) through faith (in the Cross of Christ) and He will order our footsteps.  Someone said “we’re not talking about Christianity, we’re talking about how to succeed in this world”.  Ok, I can accept that…don’t agree with the philosophy but one can believe how they wish.  The problem comes when these professional motivators begin twisting the Scripture to seduce God’s Children into their vanities.

As a Believer, I understand the world has their statutes.  However, my problem is when the world begins cloaking their statutes in God’s Word in an attempt to appear “good”.  Even worse is the fact that most of the modern church has warmly embraced this form of “goodness” and preaches it from the pulpits.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

In order to follow God, we must deny ourselves; deny our intellect, abilities, emotions, education, etc..  Worldly wisdom encourages our dependence on these very things.

“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.”

As for me, I will choose to follow Jesus.  Through Him all of my blessings flow.  At times the circumstances are not pleasing, yet there remains peace beyond all understanding. As I look unto Him, He authors and finishes my faith and confirms His Word…His Promise.  I will not speak death in these unpleasant circumstance but neither will I speak a lie denying the circumstances presuming my lie change my circumstances.  I will continue to fight the good fight of faith and look unto Jesus.  He and He alone will deliver me from this pilgrim land.

-Donna Clark Warren