January | 2019 | Living in The Spirit

“10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me (the Apostle Paul), as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

My Roman Catholic friends are taught that Peter was the founder of the church. However, according to Scripture the Apostle Paul laid the foundation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“15 He (Jesus) said unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in Heaven.

18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter (no longer Simon Barjona [vs 17]), and upon this rock [the revelation of Who Jesus is] I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:15-18

Peter was not the Apostle to the gentiles and there was no record of Peter ever going to Rome. Sadly, the entirety of the Roman Catholic system was not built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and Him crucified but another foundation…a foundation of traditions and ceremonies rooted in Babylonian rites and rituals.

There are many evangelical churches today that are aligning themselves with these rituals in order to seduce the masses. The harlot on the corner has enticed many a Christian into her snare.

If the cornerstone of the church is not Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it is built upon another foundation. Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church. The “Message of the Cross” of which we teach is not new but is that which was revealed to the Apostle Paul for Salvation and Sanctification. The Sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit is not afforded to one who renders the Cross of Christ as insufficient and chooses membership in a church as the only means of Salvation and renders all others lost. The Holy Spirit does not superintend the work of God in one who believes their eternal Salvation is bought in purgatory and not through the precious Blood of Christ Jesus.

Many do not understand what they believe because the Truth has not been the measuring stick. A crooked stick is best revealed by the laying down of a straight stick beside it. When that straight stick, the Word of God, lays waste the doctrine of man be declared as biblical and the Believer chooses to ignore, there is a death that takes place…a hardening of the heart. We must recognize how we receive the preaching of the Cross of Christ ALONE for Salvation and daily living for God. If we think it to be foolish, we are perishing. God forbid no!

“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

-Donna Clark Warren

The sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost is not afforded to the Believer via prayer, reading your Bible or attending church. ALL of those things are good and every born again Believer SHOULD do those things…they should WANT to do those things. However, the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost is only afforded the Child of God through faith in the Cross of Christ, WHO He is and WHAT He has done for whosoever will believe. When we believe our consecration yields us power over sin, whether it be our sin or the sinful fallen world we live in, that which we have consecrated unto the Lord turns into ambition to earn more from the Lord.

The sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost is afforded the Believer as we look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Precept upon precept and line upon line, old things fall away and everything becomes new as we are made a new creature in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit will never speak of Himself but will always point us to the Cross of Christ for it is there that death died. It is there, at Calvary’s Cross that Jesus paid the penalty of sin and broke the power of sin.

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13

When this Scripture was written, the Jesus had not yet gone to the Cross. The Holy Spirit, at that point in time, showed the early Christians He Who was to come, their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit today, shows us today He Who HAS come, He Who is sitting at the Right Hand of the Throne of God…Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit.

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” Romans 8:16

40 days of purpose, 21 days of fasting or prayer shawls do not afford us the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost…Jesus Christ and Him crucified alone affords us this power. The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to superintend the work of God in the Believer’s life when our faith is in anything other than the Cross of Christ…be determined to know nothing else among you.

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

-Donna Clark Warren