Monthly Archives: January 2020

SPIRITUAL CONDITION

Refusing to recognize our condition does not change our condition. The Believer’s position in Christ is secure as our faith remains in the Finished Work of Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. To be sure, ‘knowing’ the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified does not constitute Salvation.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3
The believing sinner who chooses to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour…the ONLY Saviour God will accept, is Born Again; a new creature in Christ Jesus. We are baptized into His Death and the penalty of our sin is paid in full. (Romans 6:3-5) Glory be to God, we are now free to live unto God!!
“3 Know ye 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.” Romans 6:3-4
Then comes the religious with their vain philosophies taught as Biblical doctrine in order for the ‘new creature’ to break the power of sin. The problem is, their doctrines are doctrines of the devil birthed in the pits of hell which produce fruit unto death because they are ministering to the old man; seducing the lusts of our flesh to depend upon self. Sure, they will put a religious face on their erroneous direction but nonetheless it is error.
“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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:5-7
These vain philosophies being taught, even though they are draped in Scripture and presented as Biblical, does not quicken our spirit to the things of God but feeds our flesh to the things of the old man; the one who was bound by sin. Our old man is not crucified with Christ in our daily walk with the Lord so that the body of sin might be destroyed but is instead fed by our utter dependence on self will, will power, talents, abilities, intellect, etc..
“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 Believer cannot follow Christ unless self is denied…DAILY. While our position in Christ as a Born Again Believer remains the same, when we go about depending on our own strengths to live this Christian life, our condition is deteriorating. The spiritual defeat which is the result of such daily living is a heavy yoke to bear…such is the devil’s design. Satan wants us to throw off the heavy yoke and deny Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Sadly, we all know those who have said they “tried that Christian thing”. No, no they didn’t. They tried that religious thing which caused their hearts to harden towards the Lord. Regrettably, the fruit unto death they were eating, did what it was intended to do and caused their faith in Christ to be destroyed.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified cannot be corrupted. It is a fact and reality that Jesus Christ is the ONLY Way, the ONLY Truth and the ONLY Life. However, our faith in Jesus and His finished work alone can be corrupted. Evil corrupts righteousness but righteousness expels evil.
“But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life.” John 4:14
Cast away the religious rites that have been feeding the old man and come drink of the Water of Life. There is freedom in the Cross of Christ. The new creature created in you so long ago needs to be fed. Walk by faith and not by sight.
-Donna Clark Warren

IN THE WAY OF CAIN

“10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
 
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” Jude:10-11
 
In the way of Cain there are many wonderful works but they are works that the Lord does not recognize.
 
“21 Not every one that 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 My Name? and in My Name have cast out devils? and in My 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
 
Sadly, in the way of Cain there are many workers of iniquity. Their sincerity and good intentions are in fact unbelief in the Cross of Christ. They go by way of the Sacrificial Lamb of God for Salvation and praise God for such but they are going in the way of Cain for daily living for God and are spiritually defeated…sincere yet defeated.
 
In the way of Cain the Believer is under the Government of Law and not the Government of Grace because their faith has been placed in their many wonderful works. These will be part of the great falling away who did not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they have heaped unto themselves false teachers and preachers (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
 
“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; And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
 
Because they did not have a love for the Truth, they have been sent a strong delusion (2 Thess. 2:10-12).
 
“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 These. 2:10-12
 
The way of Cain leads to death. The spiritual adultery occurs slowly. It does not come waiving a banner of deceit but seems good to the Believer. All the while it is ever so slyly leading the Believer away from the only Sacrifice God will accept, Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary, and to our many wonderful works. Boldly we declare the Name of Jesus. Boldly, we cast out devils in the Name of Jesus. But we are nothing more than workers of iniquity as we point people to the prayer they must pray and the work they must do.
 
When the Lord sends someone to point us back to Calvary, we either dismiss them or speak evil of them. To accept such doctrine, we would have to turn away from the many wonderful works we have done in the Name of Jesus.
 
The fact of the matter is, in the way of Cain, there is no victory. The lie lived is a heavy yoke. The bondage is blinding. The heart is deceitful. I speak here from experience. It is scary how “right” something seems to the carnal mind and on the other hand how wrong something good seems that is right. Cloak it all in Scripture and the Believer equates it with righteousness and runs greedily in the way of Cain; heaping unto themselves false teachers corrupting themselves one sermon at a time.
 
If we don’t believe these things to be true; if we don’t believe these things can happen to us, then we believe the Word of God is a lie. The majority of the Word of God is a warning to Believers not to be swept away…swept in the way of Cain.
 
God has furnished our Sacrifice; It is the only Sacrifice He will accept for Salvation AND for daily living for Him. The Sacrifice was and is Jesus Christ. His flesh paid the penalty of sin for the believing sinner and broke the power of sin for the believing Saint. The problem is, there are too few believing Saints; Saints who believe the Cross of Christ is foolishness and they are perishing. Jesus Christ stands at the door knocking. He’s not among the false teachers and preachers pointing down the way of Cain; He’s at the door knocking; seeking whosoever will believe to show Himself strong.
 
Do you hear? Can you see? The Endtime Apostate Church is among us…but still the harvest is great. There remains a lost and dying world who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified; my loved ones and yours. Come out from among the religious reigns and follow Jesus by way of His finished work and see the glory of the Lord as the signs and miracles FOLLOW those who have believed.
 
Jesus Christ and Him crucified…be determined to know nothing else.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

SABBATH BREAKERS

“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 ye shall find rest unto your souls.
 
30 For My Yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
 
Christendom is full of modern day Sabbath Breakers. Is it because they work on Saturday or Sunday? No, not at all. As a matter of fact, those who point the finger at others working on such days are in fact the true Sabbath Breakers.
 
“25 And He (Jesus) said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
 
26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
 
27 And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:
 
28 Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:25-28
 
The Sabbath is not a day but a Man – THE Man Christ Jesus and our rest is in Him.
 
Sadly, the great sin of the Sabbath Breakers, both old and new, is the sin of indifference…not ignorance but indifference. The sin of indifference is brought to you by the lukewarm; those on the fence of Christendom who worship Christ with their mouths but their hearts are far from Him. Their religion brings much reproach to the Work of God as they go about waving His Banner to a lost and dying world but making the Cross of Christ of no effect for daily living for God because their faith is directed to another method for victorious Christian living. They do not rest in the finished work of Christ Jesus and depend on Him to meet their every need according to His riches in glory but instead rest in their abilities…their intellect, talent, willpower, etc..
 
“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
 
Just as the Israelites in Egyptian bondage, their labor is without end and their burden too heavy to bear. As the Cross of Christ is lifted up to them for the victory in which they seek, some will look and live…and praise be to God for EVERY soul that is delivered from bondage. As they look unto Christ, their First Love, and the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to the rest that is only found IN Jesus, the Divine Grace of God flows uninterrupted into their heart and into their lives no matter the circumstances.
 
Still, and regrettably so, their will be those who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified presented unto them for daily living for God and merely nod. They do not mind if someone else lives by means of the Cross of Christ alone but in their hearts, that ‘doctrine’ is not sufficient. The unbelief in their heart hinders the ministry of the Holy Spirit and makes the Cross of no effect so they work…work without end. The conscience is soothed by their many wonderful works but their’s is a sin of indifference and they are in fact Sabbath Breakers.
 
“17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
 
18 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 1:17-18
 
Prayerfully consider if you are a Sabbath Breaker yourself. As for me, I have to fight daily not to be one. It is the fight of faith…the only fight we as Believers are called to fight. There is peace beyond all understanding and joy unspeakable but it is only found when we rest; when we stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord. Seeing His mighty Hand moving in your heart and your life is an amazing thing. Often, we don’t recognize His Hand until we look back and remember where He has brought us from and we realize He is still leading us forward…like a Good Shephard; He will lead us and never forsake us. He has gone before us and prepared a place for us. Where He is, we will soon be. Rest in Him.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

PRESUMPTION

“40 And they rose up early in the morning, and got them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord has promised: for we have sinned.
 
41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do you transgress the Commandment of the Lord? but it shall not prosper.
 
42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you; that you be not smitten before your enemies.
 
43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword: because you are turned away from the Lord, therefore the Lord will not be with you.
 
44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
 
45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.” Numberss 14:40-45
 
Presumption will cause you to transgress the Commandment of the Lord. It will lead us to places where the Lord is not with us and we are overtaken by the enemy.
 
The Promise Land was indeed promised to the Israelites but it was conditional…just as all of God’s Promises are conditional. The condition of God’s Promises are faith; faith in the Cross of Christ; in His Redemption Plan to secure us according to His Will and His Ways. There may be giants in the way but they are bread for us. If the Lord leads us to them, their defense has departed as He is with us.
 
Presumption does require faith in God but presumes His Promises are yes and amen without the condition of faith in His Prescribed Order of victory. God’s Promises ARE yes and amen to those who follow His Will and have believed the Cross of Christ paid a high price for our victory over the world, the flesh and the devil and that no matter the circumstances, Jesus Christ will be glorified. Sometimes those promises will reveal our weakest parts so that His strength may be made perfect. No matter the case, it is our job to believe God; to believe the Cross of Christ is sufficient for ALL of our needs according to HIS riches in glory…not just those things that our carnal mind can comprehend.
 
Because of presumption, the Israelites marched up to the Promise Land in disbelief and the Lord was not with them; the cloud had not moved from the Ark of the Covenant. Their presumption caused their defeat.
 
Consider the report of which you hear. Is it a report of faith or a report of unbelief? Has the Lord told you to go there or has your carnal mind presumed God’s Will because you could intellectually comprehend the circumstances?
 
If you have found yourself in the wilderness, presumptively following your own will, it is not too late to repent and turn back to God…to His Prescribed Order of faith in the Cross of Christ Jesus. It is not too late to see the Hand of God move on your behalf. The Holy Spirit wishes to overtake those parts of our lives we have not yet surrendered to the Lord but will not do so until we willingly give Him the latitude to do so by purposefully placing our faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified to supply our needs according to His riches in glory. He is able to supply. He will send the ravens and supply us the manna. He IS the Bread of Life for us who believe.
 
Presumption is not faith. God cannot honor presumption. He honors His Son. He glorifies Christ Jesus. Submit unto His Redemption Plan and see the glory of the Lord. His Arm is not shortened.
 
“23 Jesus said unto him, If you cant believe, all things are possible to him that believe.
 
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help You my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24
 
The Cross of Christ is sufficient. Trust Him no matter the circumstances.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

THE EVIL REPORT

The Evil Report registers unbelief in the Cross of Christ to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. The Evil Report will tell you that you have no choice. It will cause you to focus on your abilities and not the Lord’s.
 
The Evil Report of faithlessness sees the Giants in the land and disregards the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God Who was and is and is to come. The Evil Report of faithlessness deems the Cross of Christ as insufficient.
 
The modern day Evil Report may not see literal giants in the land but instead register their unbelief in the impossibility of the current circumstance and direct the Believer’s faith toward their own abilities to overcome. Their good works and abilities are the way to overcome their current situation. Some have even called this ‘worship’. What? So said Cain as well.
 
21 Not every one that 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
 
Performing many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus is not a condition of seeing the Promise Land. They are in fact an Evil Report of faithlessness when they are done as a means of ‘worship’.
 
“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.” Isaiah 11:12-14
 
The motivational gospel of the modern church is nothing more than an exhortation to believe an Evil Report…a report of unbelief in the Cross of Christ and belief in one’s self to overcome. It exalts one’s own ability, talents, intellect, etc. and dismisses Grace through in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. These sermons cloaked in Scripture do not point one to the place where the overcoming power of God expels that which is not pleasing to God (the Cross of Christ) and places in our heart the desires of God but instead points us to our own abilities and then labels such abilities ‘worship’. Such is blasphemy to say the least.
 
“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
 
We are not able to follow Jesus until we DENY ourselves…not depend on ourselves. Depending on ourselves is an Evil Report of faithlessness. To call such ‘wonderful works’ a form of worship is downright heresy.
 
“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
 
At Calvary Jesus Christ broke the power of sin for the Believer. Too many who have seen the power of God for Salvation are giving an Evil Report for victory over sin. They are lukewarm and bring reproach unto the Work of God. The cold do not claim the Lord as their Savior so no reproach is had but the lukewarm claim Jesus Christ as their Savior but do not believe Him for daily living for God. The faith is in their wonderful works and their report is evil.
 
Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ; Who HE is and what HE did for whosoever will believe. He is fully capable to do exceedingly and abundantly all that we can possibly imagine. The Eyes of the Lord search to and fro for those whose hearts are perfect toward Him…those who seek Him for His glory and not their own.
 
Consider your report. Have you depended upon your wonderful works? Have you looked to your abilities to overcome? We all have at some point…until we realize this report is evil.
 
Look unto Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He wants to show Himself strong in your weakness. His Arm is not shortened. Turn to Him and live.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

TWO EDGED SWORD

“3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
 
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
 
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
 
6 Lest you should ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that you cannot not know them.
 
7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
 
8 Remove your way far from her, and come not near the door of her house:
 
9 Lest you give your honor unto others, and your years unto the cruel:
 
10 Lest strangers be filled with your wealth; and your labors be in the house of a stranger;
 
11 And you mourn at the last, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
 
12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
 
13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” Proverbs 5:3-13
 
False doctrine which drops as an honeycomb from the lips of the strange woman is as sharp as a two edged sword. It hardens the heart, blinds the eyes and mutes the hearing of the Believer who refuses to remove themselves from her ways. Far too many Believers have filled and continue to fill her house with their wealth and their labors.
 
The seduction of this strange woman is real. The lusts of our flesh are pricked and our intellect engaged so that we may intellectually understand her…but her feet go down unto death and take hold on hell.
 
“11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
 
12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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 4:11-12
 
There is but one thing that is SHARPER than a two-edged sword and that is the Word of God. When the Word of God is applied to the heart of the unbelieving Believer; the Believer who came too close and did not remove themselves from her, the Believer is brought to a point of decision. I speak here from experience.
 
As my husband and I were sitting under a word of faith church in our area, we began to search the Word of God to see if those things which were being taught to us were true…literally. The Scriptures given, we would read them in content and see that wasn’t exactly how that particular was meant. Then we prayed and asked the Lord to open our eyes to His Truth and to not let us be caught up in any false doctrine. Let me warn you right here…you ask for the Lord to open your eyes to His Truth and not some religious philosophy that you may be highly invested in, He will do just that and you are left there with His Truth and a lie and YOU have to decide whose ways you are going to follow. He will give it to you but you have to choose to follow Him.
 
Once we chose to follow Jesus, His Word, rightly divided, and we came out from among the strange woman’s home by the power of God and His power alone, there remained the extra curricular church activities that we loved so. The strange woman remained on the corner calling us. I remember distinctly hearing the voice of the Lord saying to me, “I got you out of here once”. I knew at that point that if we went back and fellowshipped with those who dwell in the strange woman’s house, we would be sent a strong delusion because we did not receive the love of the Truth when the Lord gave it to us.
 
“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
 
I KNOW the draw of the strange woman. I know the two edged sword that leads to death hell.
 
But this too I know, I KNOW in Whom I have believed. I KNOW at Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ broke the power of sin and that there is no vain philosophy conjured up that can set one free from the bonds of religious pride. Personally I have seen the Holy Spirit do the work of God in my heart as He pierced asunder and discerned the thoughts of my own heart. The power of God and the power of God alone is the only power that is STRONGER than the two-edged sword of the strange woman.
 
When you hear so many of us who are determined to know nothing else save Jesus Christ and Him crucified, it is often because we have known the strange woman…we have known the effects of her seduction but now know the Cross of Christ and praise be to God, we choose Christ. There is NO power stronger than the power of God. The seduction of the strange woman is laid waste when the Cross of Christ is given and the Holy Spirit begins His Work in the heart of the Believer whose heart wills (wants) to turn away from the strange woman’s ways and unto God’s way.
 
Jesus is at the door knocking. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches. Religion is laid waste by the power of God. Come out from among them and be ye separate. Fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Stand still and see the power of God in your life. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we had ever hoped.
 
-Donna Clark Warren
 

PREACH THE GOSPEL

“17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
 
18 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 1:17-18
 
It is the purpose of the Five Fold Ministry, no matter their calling, to lift up the Cross of Christ Jesus to the people, to put the Promises of God in the mind of His People and to tell them the Promises of God are only through the Cross of Christ.
 
It this seems foolish to the people or to the preacher, the fact of the matter is that they are perishing because they are under law. Grant you, it is a religious law which seems right but it’s not of faith in the Cross of Christ and can therefore not be accepted by God to invoke Grace. God responds to faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
The price was high for our Redemption. It took God becoming man; manifesting in the flesh, to pay the penalty of sin and break the power of sin. If our religious works were sufficient to break the power of sin, then the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid no!
 
If the Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet, Preacher or Teacher is not lifting up the Cross of Christ to draw God’s Children to Holiness and Righteousness, they are preaching another gospel, another Jesus and they are accursed. If someone continues to follow such teaching, they might as well bear with them. Because they have chosen to tolerate such false teachers and have not contended for the faith that was once given unto them, their mind has been corrupted.
 
“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
 
The promises of God are yes and amen to those who believe. His Grace IS sufficient. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us . He knows our name and wants to guide us through this pilgrim land if we will only look unto Him and believe that no matter the circumstances, He is able to keep us; to keep all that we have committed unto Him.
 
Jesus Christ is alive. He is sitting at the Right Hand of the Throne of God looking to and fro to show Himself strong on those whose hearts are perfect toward Him.
 
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Put the Cross of Christ in the minds of the people. Invoke them to believe…put them on the path to Canaan. Whether they stay or not is between them and the Lord. Keep planting and keep watering. The harvest is great. Be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
 
-Donna Clark Warren
 
 

AND SO IT WAS

“20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the Commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the Commandment of the Lord they journeyed.
 
21 And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
 
22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the Tabernacle, remaining thereon, the Children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.” Numbers 9:20-22
 
When the cloud is gone, we journey. When the cloud remains, we occupy. Always looking to the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit will move us when we must journey and He will still us when we must stand. There are no questionnaires necessary nor foolish tests able to discover our personality type. God made us in His image. We are a new creature in Christ Jesus as we live by faith of the Son of God and there is no man made doctrine that can measure the power of God’s Grace to change the heart of man…sorry counselors.
 
As the modern church embraces psychology, the cloud has long gone. Appealing to emotions and entreating the intellect of man, they have not yet realized Jesus is on the outside knocking. His Presence left when they began looking to another way to draw man unto Him. When there focused turned from His Way and to the world’s precepts for ‘church growth’, the very foundation changed from the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the sinner AND the Saint to Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the sinner and humanistic psychology for the Saint. Because the humanistic psychology was and is cloaked in Scripture and presented as biblical doctrine, too many have equated it with Truth but it is far from such.
 
The cloud of glory remains on the outside…outside waiting on the Children of God to look and journey with Him in spirit and in Truth. For us who are born again, He is our First Love. He Redeemed us and wants us to follow HIM…not vain philosophies presented as biblical doctrine.
 
Jesus Christ paid a high price for whosoever will believe. He came to die so that we may have fellowship with HIM; so that He may guide us, protect us and keep us through out this pilgrim land until the day we are called home and our faith becomes sight. He is fully able to do all that He has promised to do if we who profess to believe will simply believe and trust His Work is sufficient. His Work is the power of God for us who are Saved.
 
“17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
 
18 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 1:17-18
 
-Donna Clark Warren

THE BLOOD

Redemption by blood is the foundation of the Christian experience. The Old Testament Saints were redeemed by the Blood of Christ Jesus…just as the New Testament Saints. The difference being is at the time of the Old Testament Saints Jesus was still to come. It was the blood of bulls and goats, which was symbolic of their coming Messiah (Jesus) and the work He would do on Calvary’s Cross to redeem whosoever will believe, that restored fellowship with God.
 
“37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the Ghost.
 
38 And the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Mark 15:37-38
 
At Calvary the veil was removed. Why so many would choose to go back the feasts and festivals of the Old Testament which symbolized, typified and foreshadowed the Cross of Christ in order to somehow ‘honor’ Jesus Christ is beyond this writer. That would be akin to me supping and communing with my wedding band in order to honor my husband while he stands at the door knocking wanting to come in and sup with me himself. My husband is my love, not my wedding band and it is he whom I desire to commune with daily.
 
The Blood of Christ is not merely a doctrine but the very foundation of our Salvation AND our daily living for God. It is through the Cross of Christ that we are afforded access to the Throne of God. This access does not change after our Salvation but all too often our way to obtain this access is changed by various religious methods.
 
“For by Grace are you Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
 
When our faith is moved from the Blood of Jesus to another method to live a victorious Christian life, we make the Blood of Christ of no effect in our lives. The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to superintend the work of God in our heart when we are looking to methods of man for victory.
 
It is the Blood of Christ which redeems fallen man and the Blood of Christ which keeps redeemed man. It is sufficient and it is finished. The Blood is enough.
 
-Donna Clark Warren

SECTARIAN SAINTS

“15 Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only.
 
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity.
 
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” Philippians 4:15-17
 
You will know them by their fruit; the fruit which abounds to their account.
 
Many professing Crossing preaching churches no longer communicate with those who the Lord has used to bring forth the Message of the Cross concerning their giving and receiving. They have neglected the work of Paul and the fruit which abounds is sectarian, legalistic Christians with no love in their heart for the harvest but a belly full of bitterness for the Brethren.
 
Quite frankly, if they understood the Message of the Cross they would be sure to tend to the work which is bringing this message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified to a lost world and a dying church. This message is life to us who are Saved…it is the breath which we breathe and want others to know.
 
Granted, you may not speak openly ‘against’ said ministry but your flock is full of those who do and they are your fruit.
 
“18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
 
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
 
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:18-20
 
Beware of the tares. Discern the fruit. The understanding of the Cross of Christ for daily living for God does not bring forth bitterness. That bitterness is just what the Holy Spirit desires to remove but it is the root of the ministry; a root that is held tightly by those whose heart is hardening toward the preaching of the Cross of Christ.
 
I do not say these things to be ugly but we all need to search our heart. The Apostle Paul said to follow me as I follow Jesus. There were those who were against Paul’s teachings and sought to align themselves with like minded believers in order to gain strength. You will know a ministry by their fruit and we best better judge such fruit lest a root of bitterness take hold in our own hearts.
 
“14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
 
15 For though you have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.
 
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be you followers of me.
 
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” 1 Cor. 4:14-17
 
The Message of the Cross will change the heart of man if we seek the understanding necessary and humble ourselves before the Lord. The Holy Spirit wants to remove those dead branches and cut right to the root of the bitterness but we must look to Jesus Christ and His finished work to see the condition of our own heart.
 
-Donna Clark Warren