“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” Leviticus 10:1-2.

The Altar  of Incense received the fire from the Brazen Altar which symbolized God’s judgment was diverted to mercy.  Instead of fire from the Brazen Altar, where the Sacrifice for sin was made, Nadab and Abihu put strange fire on the Altar of Incense and died.

Divine origin does not and will not ever need human intervention and Divine intervention will never be from human origin.  Anytime we intervene with Divine origins, we are bringing a strange fire to the Altar.  Strange fire brings death.  The fire we have must always come from the Brazen Altar, the Cross of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.   That fire will always point us to the Cross of Jesus.  The fire we have comes through the inflammatory touch of the Holy Spirit and that is the only fire the Lord will accept.  Don’t be consumed by strange fire, it brings death.   -Donna Clark Warren

Here’s the thing…there is a line drawn. By default we are born on the wrong side of the line. I’m not judging anyone for being on the wrong side of the line; we have all been there at one time. But I do want to tell you God has already judged the line. On the one side there is sin. God has already declared sin as sin and the wages of sin is death and hell. On the other side there is life, eternal life. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the wages of our sin so we can have eternal life with Him in Heaven with no more sorrows and grief. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 6:23.

This line is drawn for everyone equally; our daughters, our sons, our parents, our brothers and sisters…everyone must choose which side of the line they will stand. The choice we make today can have an effect on the choice our loved ones make. Why? Because the “…effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

I don’t judge the line but I just want you to know about the line. There is only one way to cross the line and that is to come by the way of the Cross, the Cross of Jesus . That’s it, it’s that simple. Just believe in your heart that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

My problem before my Salvation was I didn’t really understand there was a line. I didn’t understand that I was a sinner by default. I talked to God, I had knowledge of God but I was living like the devil. Even the demons know God and tremble. Furthermore, all of my prayers were getting no further than that line (the “effectual prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man availeth much.” James 5:16)…I wasn’t righteous.

There is a line drawn – I just want to be sure you know about this line. It is the line that divides the Saints and the sinners, the wheat and the tares and the goats and the Sheep. That line is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The “action” of His sacrifice for our sin drew the line. Please understand, His Gospel is not what made a sinner a sinner, Adam’s fall made us all sinners by default. It, the Gospel of Jesus, gave/gives the opportunity for the sinner to become a Saint.

There is life on the other side of the line; life more abundantly. Prosperity isn’t financial success. I know plenty of financially prosperous people who are miserable. Prosperity is being able to stand in the midst of the storm with no fear in your heart. Prosperity is coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and understanding you were spiritually dead as a sinner but are now spiritually alive in Christ. The resurrected life is a dead spirit come to life through the saving knowledge of Jesus.

“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. I just want you to know there is a line. The line is a good thing, the only good thing…it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. – Donna Clark Warren

“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. 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.

Isn’t it interesting that the Apostle Paul did not have to use manipulation or coercion when preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified?  Jesus Christ is alive and active as the Head of His Church and their is no manipulation needed when He is lifted up.  The devil is not scared of psychology, promise keepers, harbingers, shemitahs and Daniel fasts…he is scared of the Blood of Jesus.  Lift Jesus up to the people!   Preach deliverance to the captives…not 40 days.  God’s people remain in bondage because the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is no longer proclaimed.  Don’t twist the Word of God to fit into your doctrine but twist your doctrine to fit into the Word of God and you will find there is no coercion necessary…Jesus Christ is active in His Church!  – Donna Clark Warren

Sin is the reason for poverty.  I am not saying someone living in poverty is a sinner, they may or may not be.  Nor am I saying it is because of their sin that they are in poverty; again, it may or not be.  What I AM saying though, is poverty is a symptom of sin.  NOT necessarily the individual persons sin but sin in the world.  Poverty is an oppression straight from the pits of hell.

All of that being said, I pose this question to the social justice and seeker sensitive churches…If sin is the problem, how does an oil change or mowing their yard defeat sin?  Are the social justice and seeker sensitive churches merely treating the symptom?  These people who are living in poverty need deliverance that can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ, not manipulation by the local mega churches to promote their good works and self righteousness.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:18.  The 5 fold ministry is spent for the  perfecting of the Saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12) and for the Saints to go out into the world and “PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR…”, not mow their yard and serve them water.

All of these are good works indeed but understand that is not the love of Christ being shown to them but the manipulation of the devil.  Love them enough to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Love them enough to tell them the Good News of the Gospel.  Love them enough to tell them Who can deliver them from the darkness they are in and what HE has done…don’t pity them, love them!  Take the focus off of what the church institution is doing and put it on what Jesus Christ has done.  Instead of the church seeking to be a reflection of the community, it should be a reflection of the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ as the Head.

I am thankful to God for the ministers who are spent for the perfecting of the Saints and pray for God to continue to strengthen and comfort them.  We should all pray for discernment.  Are you being pushed by religion to do the work of the Lord or are you being led by the Holy Spirit to do a work in which HE will equip you to do?  The church today can’t wait to give you an evaluation to determine your spiritual gifts then place you in the appropriate ministry according to the results of said evaluation.  This is flesh birthing things of the flesh and has absolutely nothing to do with the leading of the Holy Spirit.  “And He gave some, Apostles and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers;” Eph. 4:11.  Jesus does the calling.  He gives the appointment, not man.

Sin is the problem in the world today and many of the churches are treating the symptoms of sin (poverty, crime, etc.)  instead of preaching deliverance from sin…Jesus Christ and Him crucified, be determined to know nothing else. – Donna Clark Warren

The Mosaic Law never saved anyone.  As a matter of fact, the day the Law was given 3000 people perished.  The Old Testament Law was indeed holy and righteous but it is not what saved the sinner.  From Genesis to Revelation it is faith that saved the sinner.  Before Christ, it was faith in the sacrifice which was a symbol of our coming Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  After Christ, it is our faith in the actual Sacrifice, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us once and for all.  As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are a Covenant people, justified through faith in His finished work on the Cross.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of God’s People is their involvement in His rest.  Under the Mosaic Law, on the seventh day “…there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.” Exodus 35:2.  Death was the penalty for dishonoring the Sabbath and rest the reward.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Hebrews 4:9-11.  Our rest today is in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  Their (the Israelites of old)  “works” is what kept them in fellowship (redeemed) to God, the Father but it is their faith that saved them.  Without their continued fellowship with God, their faith would fail.  Without their works (sacrifices, feasts, Sabbaths, etc.), they had no fellowship because of sin. 

We rest in Jesus because our Redemption Plan is complete.  We do not work for our redemption any longer, we have faith in the Sacrificial Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who redeemed us.  This is why it is so important for our faith in Jesus Christ and HIS finished work not to fail, be redirected or misappropriated…it is our faith in HIM that keeps us redeemed to our Father.  The power of God is through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. “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.  It is not faith in our works, our feasts or our decrees and declarations which redeem us to God.  It is and always has been faith in the Sacrifice, the Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ that redeemed us to God.

Are you resting in God’s redemption plan through Jesus Christ’s finished work?  Has your faith in Jesus and His finished work been replaced by faith in the schemes of man for victory over sin?  To dishonor the Sabbath results in death and to honor the Sabbath results in rest.  A Child of God is distinguished, separated from the rest, set apart from the world by their rest in Jesus Christ….not their programs, methods and schemes of man.  – Donna Clark Warren

As Moses descended from Mt. Sinai with the 10 Commandments, he was greeted by the priest Aaron who had made a golden calf for the Israelites to worship.  Moses could not understand what the people had done to him (Aaron) that he would bring such a sin upon them (Ex. 32:21).  Aaron’s response was classic,  “…Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” Exodus 32:22-23.  Aaron accepted no blame for the situation but instead blamed it on Moses for being gone so long. 

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord‘s side? let him come unto me….” Ex. 32:26.  Who is on the Lord’s side? If we engage in or see no fault in those who are not on the Lord’s side it is because we are not on the Lord’s side.  If we see no fault in the spiritual adultery that has defiled the church (12 steps, 40 days, 21 days,100 ways, wooden saint bracelets, etc.) , we are against the Lord.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” Romans 1:18.  The idolaters in todays church are the same as idolaters in yesterday’s church, satan simply rewrapped the package.  The wrath of God was preached to these idolaters as the object of their idolatry was burned.  Today the church has found it more proper to preach the love of God, which is for His own people, to the idolaters as well, instead of preaching the wrath of God to them for repentance.

I see many condoning the harlot in the name of love.  Please understand, if you are condoning the harlot, you too have been seduced by the harlot.  I ask those who see no fault in the false teachings, what did the people do that you would bring such sin upon them?  – Donna Clark Warren

The seeker sensitive churches care more about reflecting the community than they do reflecting the Kingdom. Satan won’t draw the sinner to the Cross of Jesus but he will draw the religious to a form of worship which appeals to the flesh. Religious idolatry in the church today may not be a golden calf but it consist of the rituals, ceremonies, harbingers, shemitahs, 40 days and 100 ways being preached from behind the pulpit. Some churches will attract the religious and other…s will draw the sinners, it all depends on the head of the church. Only the Holy Spirit can draw the sinner to the Cross of Jesus and He can do so only under the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…” John 6:44. Lift the name of Jesus up and He will draw the sinner. Lift the name of man up and he will draw the flesh. We don’t need oil changes, we need heart changes. Be determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. – Donna Clark Warren

“And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.” Joshua 3:3.

Don’t allow those who are led by the flesh to tempt your flesh.  We stand in our faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified until we see the Hand of God in the situation.  Too many move from where the Lord told them to stay because of others who are led by the flesh pushing those led by the Spirit of God.  It is only when we hear the sound in the top of the mulberry trees that we move (2 Samuel 5:24).

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6.  The Glory of God can only rest upon that which is born of the Spirit of God.  It is only when we are led by the Holy Spirit that we can put our feet in the Jordan and be assured it will part.  The flesh will push us toward the Jordan and cause us to presume it will part.

Being led by the Spirit of God does not involve written evaluations to determine our spiritual gifts or our work in the church…that is flesh.  The Spirit of God will lead us into all Truths but only if we allow Him.  Be determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and keep your faith on the only Sacrifice God will accept, His only begotten Son.  Our good works done in the flesh will be consumed by fire.  It is the Sacrifice (Jesus) that sanctifies the Altar (the Cross).  When we are led by the flesh we are adding our works to the Altar.

God does not intend for us to have to presume His will for our lives but He will guide us through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Author of our faith and He will strengthen our faith if we will just believe.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14.  Believe Him and be led by the Spirit of God!  – Donna Warren

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.  For it is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace; not with meats, which have not profited them who have been occupied therein.” Hebrews 13:9.  God will not accept the strange doctrines we bring to the altar.  These divers rituals are not what establishes the heart in grace.  The 12 steps, 40 days, prayer shawls and shoffars can’t  defeat sin, no matter how holy and righteous they appear.   God has supplied us with everything we need to overcome sin…His name is Jesus Christ.  Simple faith in Who God sent to the Altar for us will establish a heart in grace and empower us through, the Holy Spirit, to be raised a new creature and to live the resurrected life.  ANYTHING else brought to the Altar is not faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified but faith in a corrupt sacrifice.  Donna Clark Warren 

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,”  Colossians 2:18-20.

When we think of cults we usually think of purple jello and compounds.  Please allow me to share some of the characteristics of a cult according to Scripture and you discern the modern day cult.

The first characteristic of a cult is self imposed fasting and self denials of many things to appear religious.  Please don’t think I just said fasting was a cult activity!  Fasting is scriptural and an important part of the Christian life. However, when done with the wrong motives it is works. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8.   Fasting is a personal thing, where we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and draw closer to the Lord, not a group activity where we are encouraged by our brethren.  “That you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.” Matthew 6:18.  Fasting within itself is not holy.  In other words, our action is not holy but the One in Whom we are seeking is Holy – Jesus Christ.  Fasting is personal, between the person and their Saviour, Jesus Christ.  It is not a method nor a means to an end.

Another characteristic of a cult is a religion of demons or angels.  “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels…” Col. 2:18 speaks to worshipping of angels while 1 Timothy 4:1-2 warns of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” .  Doctrines of devils includes any doctrine that does not line up with the FULL counsel of the Word of God.  A little leaven, leavens the whole lump.  Man is infallible but the Word of God is not.  Test all spirits against the Word of God.  “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25.  Any form of worship man chooses apart from the true worship of God only feeds self righteousness and has is completely and miserably powerless over sin.  Such is the reason we will know them by their fruit…do we have power over our sin nature or does it have power over us? 

Activity based on superior knowledge, new revelations outside of the Word of God or sensuous feelings is cult activity.  “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith…” 1 Timothy 6:20-21.  To say there are new revelations outside of the Word of God is to say God’s Word is insufficient for today…avoid these profane and vain babblings. 

Lastly, ANY religion that is not Christ centered and Gospel true is cult activity.  When we see the winds of doctrine waving to and fro, we should also see the doctrines of demons waiting to deceive.  The Word of God doesn’t change but the sand washes away.  “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. 

There are many who are walking around condoning sin, condoning false teachers and doctrines of devils all in the name of love.  I praise God that He loves us enough to give us the Holy Spirit and His Word to discern the difference, instead of just condoning our ignorance.  – Donna Clark Warren