Monthly Archives: September 2019

UTTERMOST

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“25 Wherefore He is able also to Save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.
 
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
 
27 Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 7:25-27
 
It is Jesus and Him alone Who can come near to God. Only when we who believe are submitted unto Him; when we are “in Him” through faith in His redeeming work, that we too draw near to God.
 
When God looks down, He sees in fallen man the broken Law UNLESS we have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. It was and is Jesus’ shed Blood that redeems fallen man unto God…there is no other way.
 
Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross that we who believe may be Saved…Saved to the uttermost. It is His Work on Calvary which affords the Believer the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our faith in His Work, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do a might work in our heart. There is a circumcision of the heart without hands. Old things pass away and all things become new and the Holy Spirit removes that which is not pleasing unto God and replaces our desires with His desires.
 
When God looks down from Heaven and sees the Blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, there is no devil in hell who can stop God’s Grace from reaching those who call on the Name of Jesus as their Lord. I’m not speaking here of those who like to use the Name of Jesus as some type of good luck charm as they speak out their incantations. Sadly, there are many who are taught this type of white witchcraft is Scriptural. I’m speaking of those whose faith is in the shed Blood of Christ Jesus for all that they need for life and living.
 
When those who believe in the Cross of Christ ALONE (not the Cross of Christ plus water baptism, church membership, etc.) we are IN Christ Jesus; fully submitted unto God’s Prescribed Order of victory, and the Promises of God are yes and amen. No matter the circumstances, whether pleasant or not, His Grace IS sufficient. Because we know that we know that we know in Whom we have believed and He alone has defeated death, hell and the grave.
 
Jesus Christ and Him crucified is not a “slogan”, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life for us who have believed. The Cross of Christ is the Power of God that keeps us who are Saved…keeps us to the uttermost.
 
“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

PECULIAR INDEED

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“5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
 
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded.
 
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.” 1 Peter 2:5-8
 
The peculiarity of the People of God come because we are not confounded by the things of this world. We are good stewards of this world but not confounded by it’s wicked ways. Because we have believed the Cross of Christ Jesus is sufficient to Save us, keep us and carry us through to the banks of the Promise Land where our faith will become site and we meet our Lord and Saviour face to face, there is a rest…a peace beyond all understanding as we are just pilgrims passing through.
 
This rest sets the Believer apart from the world but it is a rest we must daily choose to partake in. Our sacrifices are spiritual, not physical. They are the praises on our lips as we see this world waxing worse and our redemption drawing nearer. These things the world cannot understand. Forever learning, they will never come to the knowledge of the Truth until the accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
 
“12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
 
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:12-14
 
Merely ‘knowing’ the story of Jesus Christ and Him crucified does not constitute Salvation. Accepting this ‘story’ as Truth, of which it most certainly is, allows the Holy Spirit to come in to the heart of the believing sinner and create in us a new heart…we become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Man’s words cannot create in us a new heart. Our willingness to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified gives the Holy Spirit latitude to come in to our hearts and superintend the work of God. We are able to discern the things of the spirit and the things of the world. The things of the Spirit of God will always and without fail line up with the Word of God.
 
The rest of which we have in Christ Jesus is a daily fight of faith to maintain but it is this rest which sets us apart and glorifies the Lord. It is this rest in the Cross of Christ, which allows His strength to be made perfect in our weakness.
 
It is this rest that makes us peculiar. Jesus Christ and Him crucified…be determined to know nothing else. His Yoke is easy and His burden is light. We shall find rest unto our soul if we can only believe. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief!
 
“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 marvellous light;” 1 Peter 2:9
 
-Donna Clark Warren

ALIVE UNTO GOD

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“10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
 
11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.” Romans 8:10-11
 
Being born again, born of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus…the Holy Spirit, this mortal coil of which we dwell is dead and dying because of sin but our spirit is alive unto God.
 
Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of our sin which is death and break the power of sin. Adam’s fall afforded all of mankind eternal death. Having turned from God in unbelief, Adam ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and brought death unto all who are born of water (natural child birth).
 
Even as our hair turns gray, our eyes grow dim and our mortal body decays, our spirit which is quickened and alive unto God flourishes. The joy down deep in our soul begins to rise up as we hear of the One in Whom we have believed. As His Name is lifted up before us, the Name above all Names, there is a stirring that we just can’t contain. At times we may weep. While at other times we may shout for joy. No matter the case, we know in Whom we have believed and we are persuaded He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him. THIS is what JESUS CHRIST afforded us at Calvary…life and life more abundantly; prosperity and health even as our soul prospers.
 
This quickening of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us because we are now born again, the world does not understand. With their carnal minds (and sometimes our own carnal minds), others can’t comprehend the life which we now live we are literally living by faith in the Son of God. So many forever seek this knowledge intellectually but will never come to the Truth until they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
 
Sure, they may in fact know the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The devil himself ‘knows’ the Gospel…it was then and there that he was made a show as death and hell was utterly defeated. However, these who know the Gospel but have yet to submit to Jesus as Lord, cannot understand being spiritually alive unto God. Death has an entirely knew meaning.
 
A friend of mine asked not too long ago about when do you start and stop living, or something to that nature. Some answered when you stop learning. Others replied with a simple ‘never’ and in between there were many philosophical answers. My answer was pretty simple yet I knew not all would understand. We are born dead and dying. We are born spiritually dead unto God in a decaying flesh that will one day die.
 
Knowledge is knowing what you don’t know. Ignorance is not knowing what you don’t know. Many know they don’t know this great Truth…they’re not ignorant but continually seeking other methods vainly attempting to learn.
 
“20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
 
21 I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21
 
Coming to this knowledge, to this understanding of living by the faith of the Son of God, Who He is and what He did, can only be found after self is denied and the Cross of Christ embraced for all that we need for life and living.
 
There is life and life more abundantly in the Cross of Christ Jesus. His Death was not in vain but many of our religious works are…seek Him. Be determined to know nothing else among you.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

THE REST THAT COMES

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“13 Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found Grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You, that I may find Grace in Your sight: and consider that this nation is Your People.
 
14 And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:13-14
 
Our rest as a Child of God is not in a day but in a Person, Jesus Christ. Resting in the finished work of Christ Jesus, knowing that in Him we are hidden from the power of sin; dead unto the power of sin through baptism into Jesus Death (Romans 6:3-5; 7:1-4), we are able to resist the devil and the devil will flee (James 4:7).
 
We do not fight the devil in our own might. No, not at all. We fight ourselves, the faith in our flesh; our intellect, talents and abilities we’ve always depended on to gain the victory of which we seek and we look unto the Cross of Christ for that victory. This is a victory that is not ‘gained’ but maintained by Grace through faith in WHO Jesus is and what HE did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe. It is the dominion over sin we are promised in Romans 6:14 that we are maintaining by Grace through faith, not by greatly devised philosophical methods of man being taught as Biblical doctrine which appeal to our flesh through faith.
 
THIS is the rest that comes. Knowing in Whom we have believed and being persuaded that HE is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him (2 Timothy 1:12).
 
Finding Grace, God’s Divine Grace, only comes as we are hidden in Christ. Humbly submitted unto His Lordship; seeking His Will and His Ways, we are guaranteed the Promises of God. His very Presence shall go with us all the days of our lives and He shall give us rest in the darkest of days and the roughest of storms.
 
As the world waxes worst, we will see the manifest Presence of God move on behalf of His Children. We will see the lame walk, the blind see and signs and wonders will FOLLOW those who believe. It is His same Presence which blesses those hidden in Christ Jesus, our corruption covered by Jesus’ Blood, that will bring judgment to this fallen world.
 
“28 Come unto Me, all you who 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
 
There is a rest for the Child of God but it’s one of the hardest battles we will ever fight; a daily battle of faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Oh but the rest…once we decide this day to rest in Him; to commit unto Him all of our needs according to His riches in glory, the rest that comes is beyond all understanding…the joy is unspeakable.
 
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2
 
-Donna Clark Warren

LUKEWARM LAODICEANS

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“14 And unto the Angel (Pastor) of the Church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the Creation of God;
 
15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot.
 
16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth.
 
17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:14-17
 
One of the problems with the Ladicean church, the church age of which we now live, is it’s lukewarmness. Being lukewarm doesn’t refer to Christians who are merely slothful in their walk with the Lord. No, not at all.
 
God says He would rather the lukewarm be cold (or hot) instead of lukewarm. The lukewarm will be spewed out of His mouth.
 
“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, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23
 
The lukewarm do many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus. They cast out devils and prophesy in His Name…yet He doesn’t know them and would rather spew them out of His mouth. Why?
 
The Lord would rather the lukewarm be cold or hot because with their lips they worship Him but their hearts are far from Him. They bring reproach to His Name. The cold, those who don’t claim the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, do not bring reproach to His Name as they don’t acknowledge Him in the first place.
 
“18 I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.
 
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
 
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:18-20
 
The Endtime Church does not show a great revival but a great harvest. It shows the Lord on the OUTSIDE knocking, calling for those who hear His Voice to repent (vs.19) and He will come to them.
 
The Lord will bring those whose hearts are perfect toward Him out from the Endtime Apostate Church IF they want to come out from among them. As with everything in our Christian walk, Jesus has made a way of escape but we have to choose that path; the narrow path that we walk with Him and Him alone.
 
“10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be Saved.
 
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
 
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
 
If we do not choose to walk this narrow path with the Lord, the path which requires the denial of ourselves (our abilities, talents, etc.) and the picking up of our cross; the cross which Christ afforded us at His Cross that He may be glorified and follow Him, we will be sent a strong delusion and believe a lie.
 
“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
 
The Cross of Christ was a place of great suffering for our Lord but for the Believer, Calvary’s Cross is a place of great blessing. It is the blessings Jesus afforded whosoever will believe that we must pick up but are unable to do so until self is denied.
 
Jesus is standing at the door knocking because He loves His Children. Those He loves He rebukes and chastens. Are we going to please God or man? That’s a choice we all have to make…no one else can do this for you.
 
The Cross of Christ is God’s answer, the ONLY answer, to man’s dilemma. Everything that we need is in the Cross. If you think that I’m referring to a wooden beam, you are foolish. No, I’m speaking of the finished work Jesus Christ accomplished at Calvary. The Person (Jesus) and the place (Calvary’s Cross), where our Redemption was paid…the Source and the means by which we receive anything from God IS the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This IS the power of God unto us who are Saved but unto the lukewarm it is foolishness and they are perishing.
 
“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 Salvation of the Saints is drawing nearer and nearer. Soon and very soon that trump is going to sound. Will you be found wanting? Are you lukewarm? Does He know you?
 
There’s still room at the Cross for you. Jesus stands at the door knocking, will you let Him in? Choose this day in Whom you are going to serve. Be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

DAYS OF ELIJAH

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“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17
 
The only thing that stands between man and eternal Hell is the Cross of Christ Jesus. As the modern church entertains the people, keeping them occupied by directing their attention to the entertainers and away from the only answer to our dilemma, the people are perishing without ever realizing it because they are eating what the church is dishing out.
 
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17
 
If the rightly divided, full counsel Word of God is not being proclaimed, faith of the Son of God does not come…living by the faith of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is not possible.
 
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32
 
It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will deliver the captive. This faith which comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, is the very thing that affords the Believer the effective work of the Cross of Christ. I dare not frustrate the Grace of God for if righteousness comes by the law, the Cross of Christ was in vain (Gal. 2:21). If righteousness comes by entertainment, the Cross of Christ was in vain. If it comes by partaking of religious ceremonies, the Cross of Christ was in vain.
 
The vanities man can conjure up as ways to ‘honor’ God are nothing more than Cain’s sacrifice. Lifting up Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE has done to the people, the Holy Spirit will draw the sinner to Salvation and the Saint too Sanctification. This is what He does! The Holy Spirit does not stop calling us to Righteousness and Holiness once we are Saved. No, not at all.
 
However, it is the preachers and teachers who have stopped lifting up the Cross of Christ to the Saved and allowed the corruption of the Gospel to infiltrate the church which has led to it’s current condition as the church who needs nothing and is increased in goods.
 
“So shall they fear the Name of the Lord from the west, and His Glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:15
 
The enemy has come into the churches. He has killed, he has stolen and he has destroyed the faith of God’s children through corruption. God’s people have perished because of lack of knowledge of the Word of God.
 
“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
 
Like a flood, the Lord is raising up a standard against him and it is His Cross. The finished work that He there did, is once again being lifted up to the people, both the Saved and the sinner, drawing them ever closer to Him as they decide this day in whom they are going to serve.
 
God is not coming back for a weak, emaciated church who is fornicating with the world and it’s precepts for victorious Christian living. No, no. The Lord is coming back for a church who is without spot or wrinkle. One Who is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. One Who will stand flatted footed and contend for the faith; one who is daily fighting the good fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified – be determined to know nothing else among you.
 
“Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Rev. 1:7
 
-Donna Clark Warren

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

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“18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
 
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” Romans 7:18-19
 
This flesh of which we dwell, and I’m speaking of/to Believers, is bent toward law. It has been espoused to law since we were born (Romans 7:1-4). Give it a method or rule unto which to abide and it is quickened.
 
“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Romans 7:5
 
This rule of which we place is often good. It is with good intent that we declare our allegiance to this rule or method to gain that which we are seeking but it will bring forth fruit unto death…not God.
 
“Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” Romans 7:13
 
The dead fruit brought forth by that which seemed good, that good intention, became exceedingly sinful. Why?
 
“20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
 
21 I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21
 
The flesh which lusts after and is bent toward laws to do that which is good, is not denied but embraced for it’s good intention. Our self will and will power is deemed sufficient to overcome the flesh. Our faith is not placed in the Cross of Christ for the victory, but in our own abilities and our own abilities do not, cannot and will not produce fruit unto God. THAT is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We, in our carnal minds, take the position of the Holy Spirit…we usurp His ministry and take it upon ourselves to create in us a new creature.
 
To be sure, this commandeering of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, does not “create” anything. We are not co-creators. As we attempt in vain to take the place of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives, we are attempting in vain to rehabilitate that which is old. God doesn’t rehabilitate, He RECREATES. The ministry of the Holy Spirit removes that which is old; they pass away and all things become new.
 
Our flesh is quickened by law. Our emotions are often used by the devil to draw us to law…to that which produces exceedingly sinful ways and fruit unto death.
 
Our spirit is quickened by hearing the Word of God as the Holy Spirit bears witness to Truth. Proudly declaring our allegiance to the latest method coming down the pike for victory over sin is not humbling ourselves before the Lord; submitting unto Him.
 
Denying ourselves and choosing to follow Jesus is a daily fight. Our flesh wants to lead us into faith in laws being taught as Biblical commandments.
 
To pick up the cross Jesus has afforded whosoever will believe, we must first deny ourselves. We must allow Him to be Lord of our lives even when the laws seem ‘good’ and ‘right’. If it is not of faith, it is not pleasing to God.
 
Choose this day to live by faith of the Son of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified…be determined to know nothing else among you.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

INTERCESSION

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“But this Man (JESUS), after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the Right Hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one Offering He has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:12-14
 
The mere presence of Jesus at the Right Hand of God IS the Believer’s intercession. IN Him, believing in Who He is and what He has done to pay the penalty of sin and break the power of sin in our lives, He is our intercession.
 
There is nothing else required for the Lord to do then what He has already done at Calvary’s Cross. His Work is finished and our Redemption sure for those who have believed.
 
Remaining IN Him through faith in the Cross of Christ, the Believer remains under the Government of Grace. Freed from the Law of Sin and Death, the Holy Spirit has the latitude to pour out Grace upon Grace…and God’s Grace is always sufficient.
 
When the enemy comes, and he always will, he tries to corrupt the faith of which we have been given. The devil will present something ‘we’ can do, something ‘we’ can add to the simple faith in the Cross of Christ given unto us at Salvation. This addition we add, that which we do on our own accord as a way to ‘honor’ the Lord, is a strange incense to God. It is a ‘blessing’ that the Blood of Jesus did not purchase; a vain attempt to break the power of sin in the heart of man which was not evidenced by faith in the Son of God…Jesus Christ.
 
He Who sits at the Right Hand of God forever making intercession for us because of Who He is and what He did, Jesus Christ, we unknowingly render insufficient by our strange offerings conjured up by the vanities of man’s mind to ‘honor’ God. Our sacrificial offerings that are not in spirit and in truth but are in the flesh and corrupted are an abomination unto God.
 
We honor the Lord in spirit and truth by offering a sacrifice of praise. Praise is what we do as the Holy Spirit in us is forever pointing us to Jesus Christ and Him crucified as the answer to our dilemma. We can’t help but praise the Lord when we see the work He has done and is doing in our own hearts and lives! The change that is produced by simple faith in the Cross of Christ, is our witness to the world. When they ask us, we can’t wait to tell them He will do the same for them!!
 
Are we zealous? Probably. Are we sincere? Surely. Are we always perfect in our presentation? Maybe not. One thing is for sure though for those whose hearts are perfect toward the Lord, He is forever seeking to show Himself strong in our weaknesses.
 
Do not hide behind your weakness. Remember in Whom you have believed. He sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God making intercession for you. He has redeemed you with a price…a high price. Stand still this day and see the Salvation of the Lord. Fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Be determined to know nothing else among you!
 
“Wherefore He is able also to Save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.”Hebrews 7:25
-Donna Clark Warren

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

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“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
 
The love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance of which we all desire is Fruit OF THE SPIRIT, not of ourselves. We cannot on our own accord manufacture or conjure up such fruit. Some can fake it until they make it but inside they are and will remain spiritually defeated.
 
I do not say this with any gladness of heart. It is a miserable life of religious bondage that many lead trying to produce such fruit in vain. Declaring and decreeing sinless perfection in an exalted and self righteous, religious pride leaves one in denial of their true condition.
 
As religious philosophies are presented to the people for victory over sin, faith is moved ever so slightly. The devil isn’t going to hold up a red flag when he comes to kill, steal and destroy. He is deceitful…just ask Eve. That which he presents seems ‘good’. The one who is presenting it is often sincere. They truly love the Lord. Just like so many, they too are simply deceived.
 
A little leaven is not ok. So many claim no one has it all right. Let me tell you something friend, if they don’t have the Cross of Christ right, the very basis of which all doctrine is formed, RUN. If they, whoever they may be, do not lift up Jesus Christ and Him crucified as the only answer to sin’s penalty AND sin’s power, there is poison in the pot. That poison will corrupt that which is true; while Truth, will expel that which is evil.
 
“38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.
 
39 And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.
 
40 So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
 
41 But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.” 2 Kings 4:38-41
 
The ‘meal’, being a type of the Word of God, will expel that which is poison when it is properly applied.
 
Religion has given us many formulas and vain philosophies to produce fruit unto God but they have all fallen short; as they should. If mankind was able to produce such fruit on our own, the Cross of Christ was in vain. We could just obey the rules put out in front of us and become ‘holy’…not so.
 
The reality is the Fruit of the Spirit is that which the Holy Spirit is commissioned to do. It is HIS ministry, not ours. It is HIS power which expels hate as His love is placed in the poisoned pot. It is HIS power which expels bitterness as He places the joy of the Lord in our hearts. I could go on and on but you get the picture.
 
If the Fruit of the Spirit is not produced, the problem is the object of our faith. If our faith is placed in our own abilities and willpower and not in the Cross of Christ, we are not giving the Holy Spirit latitude to perform His ministry in our lives. It’s easier to believe this for someone else than it is for ourselves.
 
Taste and see that the Lord is good. At Calvary’s Cross, Jesus afforded us the Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is jealous of the other objects of our faith as we continue looking unto them to do that which He is commissioned to do but will not do until we look to Christ.
 
Taste and See. Seek and ye shall find. Be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

BELIEVING GOD

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‘Belief’, a verb, is the action part of ‘faith’, which is a noun. At Salvation, when the believing sinner comes to Christ, there is a mustard seed of faith placed in their heart. Whosoever wills (wants) to believe in Christ Jesus, Who He is and what He has done, the Lord places in their heart the faith they need to believe. He creates in us a new heart. We become a new creature in Christ Jesus.

“20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by THE faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21

It is ‘THE’ faith of the Son of God by which we live. Everyone has faith. Even an atheist has faith in their vain philosophies but it is not the faith which God will accept.

“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, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:15-18

It is this “action” of belief when Jesus Christ is revealed unto us. Because of the believing sinner’s will to believe upon hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, He is given the faith to believe. THIS is the Rock of which The Church is built. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ in the heart of man by God’s Divine Grace through THE faith in the Son of God that we are able to live unto God.

“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 12:2

This mustard seed of faith is increased as we continue believing the Cross of Christ for all that we need for life and living. The faith which was given unto all who have believed, is authored and will one day be finished as our faith becomes sight and we meet our Lord and Saviour face to face.

The faith we are given at Salvation because of our will to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, must be contended for…it must be fought for after our Salvation. Our initial belief at Salvation is probably the easiest part of our living for Christ. The devil quickly comes to kill, steal and destroy the faith of which we have been given. He knows if we fail to exercise our belief in the Cross of Christ after our Salvation for our Sanctification, our daily living for Christ, our growth in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be hindered and the Grace of God will be frustrated.

“Take heed, Brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the Living God.” Hebrews 3:12

It is the evil heart of unbelief that hinders our walk with the Lord. We do not realize it is unbelief in the Cross of Christ because it is in fact belief in something seemingly religious which is being taught as Biblical doctrine. This is the deceit of the devil. It is the corruption results in spiritual death.

This fight of faith in which we fight, the faith of which we contend for, is the faith which was given unto us at Salvation when we willed to believe upon Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. When we say “be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified”, it is because Jesus Christ has been revealed to us, just as He has to all who are born again, and we are fighting to believe; to believe in HIM, in Christ and the Cross, and not our own wiles of which we are oh so familiar with. We aren’t fighting to ‘remain’ Saved…that’s silliness. We are Saved to the uttermost as long as we continue believing in the Finished work of Christ Jesus for our Salvation. We are fighting to believe Him and not our own abilities to attain the Promises of God and follow Jesus Christ. We are fighting to submit ourselves unto God’s Will and not our own because we know, that we know, that we know that we have been bought with a price and the Lord has a purpose for our life.

For so long I didn’t understand the Scripture “Lord I believe, help my unbelief…”. To be frank and honest, I thought that would be only for unbelievers. Of course I believe…I’m Saved, right?

Yes, I believed in the Cross of Christ at Salvation…but I also fight to believe in the Cross of Christ for ALL that I receive from the Lord because I know that if I can simply believe; that if I can simply rest in Who He is and what He has done, all things are possible.

“23 Jesus said unto him, If you cant believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24

Lord, I believe…help my unbelief.

-Donna Clark Warren