Not understanding the Cross of Christ for Sanctification, many will make other things the object of their faith. 40 days of purpose, 21 days of fasting, feasts and festivals are presented to the Believer as methods to gain righteousness. I have been told it is their way of “honoring” God but is in fact an abomination unto God.
“12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to tread My courts?
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts My Soul hates: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide My eyes from you: yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:12-15
In all sincerity and zealousness we enter into these methods seeking to please the Lord…but they don’t. Whatever is not of faith (faith in the Cross of Christ) it is not pleasing unto God (Hebrews 11:5-6). Unknowingly, the majority of the church world is committing “spiritual adultery” (Romans 7:1-4), because they have been led down a path of destruction; a path of the power of self will to gain righteousness as Scripture is presented to show Jesus as our example. To be sure, Jesus IS our example but He is also our Source and His Cross the means. These vain philosophies make us the source and our works the means and the fruit produced is always and without fail fruit unto death, not God.
“12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12-13
The armor of which we put on at Salvation is God’s Armor. This is not something we take on and off everyday. The problem of which we have is having done all through faith; having denied ourselves and purposefully placing our faith in the finished work of the Cross of Christ, we do not stand. These methods presented us exhort us to fight against the principalities, powers and rulers of darkness through specific incantations against specific spirits that will supposedly make them flee.
Let me be frank and clear, there is but one way to resist the devil and that is submitted unto God (James 4:7) and HE tells them to flee.
This Salvation of which we have been afforded through Jesus Christ and Him crucified is a CONSCIOUS SALVATION. We know the only fight we’re called to fight and the only fight we are able to fight is the fight of faith in the Cross of Christ. Those who are Saved, are consciously Saved because we KNOW in Whom we have believed. We stand, we watch, we listen and we BELIEVE because our HIGH PRIEST has completed His Work and now sits at the Right Hand of the Throne of God. This Armor of which we have been granted is sufficient. Even in our weakest of moments, this Armor keeps us and is in fact made perfect as we continue looking unto Jesus to author and finish our faith.
This Armor of which we are afforded by the Cross of Christ is God’s Divine Grace. It is His Grace which enables us to STAND against the wiles of the devil. We are not under law but under GRACE and sin’s dominion is laid waste as we continue standing, continue watching and continue hearing what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches.
Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Be determined to know nothing else among you. Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 