^“44 And He (Jesus) turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, See you this woman? I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My Feet: but she has washed My Feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

⁴⁵You gave Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss My Feet.

⁴⁶ My Head with oil you did not anoint: but this woman has anointed My Feet with ointment.

⁴⁷ Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  Luke 7:44-47

Just as Simon the pharisee was offended at the actions of the woman with the alabaster box, many will be sitting on the pew this morning offended at the worship of those who understand they too have been forgiven much. When we realize just much we have been forgiven and the price paid for our Redemption, we too fall daily at the feet of our Lord and Savior…Jesus Christ, unto Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“And why call you Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46

Many who call Jesus Lord prophesy in His Name, cast out demons in His Name and do many wonderful works in Jesus Name, yet they do not the things which He says.  They call Him Lord, Lord but He knows them not.

^“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, you who work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23

Instead of doing that which Jesus said, they worshipped Him with their mouths but their hearts grew farther and farther away from Him.  They substituted the vain philosophies of man to gain victory in their daily living for God instead of simply believing the Cross of Christ, God’s Grace, gives us dominion over the sin that so easily besets us according to Romans 6:14:

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under Grace.”

The same Grace which saves us, keeps us.  The problem arises when we begin to “gain” instead of “maintain” that which was freely given to whosoever will believe…Grace.  Most don’t realize they are in fact trying to “gain” Grace.  I didn’t.  If you don’t believe me, try not doing that which you feel you must do and see how “saved” you feel.  For me, it was my writing, something God has called me to do.  There came a time when the Lord showed me my faith was being placed in my writing.  In other words, if I didn’t write something that day I felt unworthy.  The fact of the matter was (and is), what I do (writing in this case) in no way makes me “worthy” of anything.  No matter my alms, my worthiness fell short.  It is only through the Blood of Jesus Christ that I am cleansed and made worthy of God’s Grace.  This fight of faith is indeed daily.  The leaven is always there for the taking, tempting us to believe in that which we do.  For many, this is the weekly sermon heard on Sunday mornings…believe in yourself.  Exhorting them to NOT do the things which Jesus said but to do that which seems natural to the carnal mind which is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7).

^“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Do that which He says…Trust Him.

-Donna Clark Warren

Law vs. Grace Part 1

Law vs. Grace Part 2

Law vs. Grace Part 3

Law vs. Grace Part 4

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

Death and life ARE in the power of the tongue.  Sadly though many do not understand what “speaking doubt” and “speaking life” are according to the Word of God and have taken this Scripture to twist it, just as satan twists the Word, into their motivational doctrine.

Ten of the twelve witnesses, who went up to the land promised by God to the Israelites, spoke death.  Once they saw God’s Promise, they did not believe His Promise was efficient.

^“31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

³² And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.” Numbers 13:31-32

While Joshua and Caleb spoke life; they spoke that which was true according to what the Lord had promised them.

^“6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: ⁷ And they spoke unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

⁸ If the Lord delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which flows with milk and honey.” Numbers 14:6-8

The modern motivational doctrine, which is cloaked in Scripture, is widely heard among the masses in the world and has infiltrated the church as Scriptural doctrine which in reality is nothing more than commandments of man.  These worldly motivational systems deceive the people into lying about themselves through the positive confession of their words, aka “speaking life”,  which they sincerely believe has the power to change their reality.  In the church, this is nothing more than white witch craft trying to manipulate the righteous spirit world.  However, in the world this is their “wisdom” which the Word of God declares as evil.

^“14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:14-15

Lying against the truth will not change the truth.  Once we confess the truth of our reality, and begin to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS Righteousness, HE WILL supply our needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  All of these things WILL be added unto us; NOT when we are seeking these things but seeking HIM, Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE did.

^“31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

³³ But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:31-33.

I know the worldly system’s vain attempt to manifest greatness in ourselves through sheer will and determination.  Many spend their entire lives in this devilish cycle of unprofitable wisdom while the teachers of such nonsense make millions of dollars.

God’s Prescribed order for daily living is by Grace (the Cross of Christ) through faith (in the Cross of Christ) and He will order our footsteps.  Someone said “we’re not talking about Christianity, we’re talking about how to succeed in this world”.  Ok, I can accept that…don’t agree with the philosophy but one can believe how they wish.  The problem comes when these professional motivators begin twisting the Scripture to seduce God’s Children into their vanities.

As a Believer, I understand the world has their statutes.  However, my problem is when the world begins cloaking their statutes in God’s Word in an attempt to appear “good”.  Even worse is the fact that most of the modern church has warmly embraced this form of “goodness” and preaches it from the pulpits.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

In order to follow God, we must deny ourselves; deny our intellect, abilities, emotions, education, etc..  Worldly wisdom encourages our dependence on these very things.

“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.”

As for me, I will choose to follow Jesus.  Through Him all of my blessings flow.  At times the circumstances are not pleasing, yet there remains peace beyond all understanding. As I look unto Him, He authors and finishes my faith and confirms His Word…His Promise.  I will not speak death in these unpleasant circumstance but neither will I speak a lie denying the circumstances presuming my lie change my circumstances.  I will continue to fight the good fight of faith and look unto Jesus.  He and He alone will deliver me from this pilgrim land.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“15 And He said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

¹⁶ He that believes and is baptized (Baptism into Jesus’ Death, not water as some claim, Romans 6:3-4) shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

¹⁹ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat on the Right Hand of God.

²⁰ And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and CONFIRMING THE WORD with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:15-20 (emphasis added).

Sadly, many will travel hundreds of miles to see signs and lying wonders because they have pleasure in such unrighteousness.   The Pharisees and Sadducees required a sign and Jesus called them a wicked generation (Matthew 16:4).

^“9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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 2:9-12

Modern day pharisees and sadducees come cloaked as “ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) to the unlearned and seduce those who give heed to signs and lying wonders.  Because they do not love nor seek the Truth, God has sent them a strong delusion and they have indeed believed a lie.

^“31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, then are you My Disciples indeed; ³² And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

Miracles, signs and wonders which are of God will FOLLOW those who go out to all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and continue in His Word.  They will CONFIRM God’s Word, not distract from His Word. Those who preach the Cross of Christ to a lost and dying world will see broken hearts healed and satan’s captives set at liberty because those who actually love the Truth, the Truth will set them free…but those who do not will believe a lie.

By lifting JESUS up to the people as the Source and His Cross the means by which whosoever will believe shall be healed, people shall be healed.  When Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done, is lifted up to a lost and dying world as the Savior of their soul, the Holy Spirit will draw the hungry heart and bear witness to their spirit.

The convicting power of the Holy Spirit under the anointing of a God called preacher lays utter waste the vanities of man’s manipulation to “draw” the sinner.  Too many preachers, called of their mamas, vainly attempt to assume the ministry of the Holy Spirit by seeking to please men and not God.  The Holy Spirit is commissioned by God to draw the lost when Jesus is lifted up (John 12:32), not man’s ideas which are nothing more than vain philosophies to increase attendance with no attention given to the eternal souls of men.

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

If it is not HIS Righteousness imputed to us by Grace through faith, it is unrighteousness.  Fight the good fight of faith…faith in the power of God unto us who are saved; faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Be determined to know nothing else among you.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

-Donna Clark Warren

^“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

The “Message of the Cross” which so many refer to is NOT the following:

• 40 days of purpose PLUS the Cross of Christ
• 21 days of fasting PLUS the Cross of Christ
• secret power of speaking God’s word PLUS the Cross of Christ
• harbingers, shemitahs and blood moons PLUS the Cross of Christ
• prayer shawls and yamakas PLUS the Cross of Christ
• hail Mary’s and rosarys PLUS the Cross of Christ

All of these philosophies of men being taught from the pulpits as doctrine is vanity.  They are the leaven which leavens the whole lump because they corrupt the Truth and seduce man into placing their faith in what they have done (fasting 21 days, hail marys, etc.) or lying signs and wonders (harbingers, shemitahs, oil secreting Bibles, etc.).   This little bit of leaven is that which leads to the pride and self righteousness which comes before the fall…the destruction of one’s faith which is satan’s purpose.

^“8 This people draw nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. ⁹ But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9

For the preacher to wave in front of their congregation the silliness of such commandments and preaching them as doctrine is an abomination unto God Who gave His only begotten Son in order to reconcile us to Himself and our faith in Him, Jesus Christ, and what HE has done on Calvary’s Cross, is ALL that is required of man to be reconciled unto God.  With our faith placed in the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit is commissioned to superintend the work of God in our heart and lives.  Precept upon precept and line upon line, old things pass away and all things become new as we become a new creature IN Christ Jesus.  By partaking in all of the other commandments of men in order to be closer to God, we deem the Cross of Christ as insufficient.  Our consecration to the Word of God is morphed into ambition and our faithfulness into greed. God forbid no!!   These wisdom of words being given as doctrine makes the Cross of Christ of no effect.

^“6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him: ⁷ Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

⁸ 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 2:6-8

Beware…lest any man spoil you through vain philosophy.  The power of God is the Cross of Christ plus NOTHING.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He (Jesus) had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first Commandment of all?

²⁹ And Jesus answered him, The first of all the Commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the First Commandment.

³¹ And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other Commandment greater than these.

³² And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, You have said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He:

³³ And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

³⁴ And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, He said unto him, you are not far from the Kingdom of God. And no man after that does ask Him any question.” Mark 12:28-34

The Scribes who had a great intellectual knowledge of the Scripture were not far from the Kingdom of God but yet they were still not there.  Irregardless of the religious ceremonies and man made traditions, the spiritual condition of many have left them short of the Kingdom of God.  There is no oil in their lanterns.  They have indeed prophesied, cast out devils and did many wonderful works in the Name of Jesus, yet He does not know them (Matthew 7:21-23).  Their alms have not earned them their way into the Kingdom of God.  They had an intellectual knowledge of the Word of God but no fear of God.

^“13 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross to lead us through the narrow way…the way which leads unto life.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jesus is the Door by which all who enter the Kingdom of God shall enter.

“I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

No one comes unto the Father but by Jesus Christ.  It is because of  Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe that affords us this ability.  Buddha, Mohammed or Mary for that matter have no ability to reconcile us unto God.  Today Buddha and Mohammed are in hell because of their unbelief.  Praise be to God, Mary herself is in Heaven because she too claimed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior…but the fact remains, Mary cannot reconcile us to God.  She too was a sinner in need of her Savior (Luke 1:46-47). Praying to her or other dead Saints in necromancy which God declares is an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man comes unto God but by Him; not because this writer says so but God Himself has declared:

“Jesus said unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

Set your face like a flint and not be ashamed. Be DETERMINED to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  God the Holy Spirit will guide you, precept upon precept and line upon line, through the narrow way unto the Kingdom of God where we will one day behold, face to face, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

GLORY!!  GLORY!! GLORY!!

“For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”  Isaiah 50:7

-Donna Clark Warren

^“21 Then Jesus beholding him (the rich, young ruler) loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.

²² And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus looked round about, and said unto His Disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!

²⁴ And the Disciples were astonished at His Words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:21-25

It is not sinful to have money.  The problem is most who have riches trust in them for their best life now instead of the Cross of Christ for life and life more abundantly.  Many professing Believers believe in the Cross of Christ for their Salvation but trust in their abilities, intellect, talents, etc. to supply all of their needs according to their riches.  We are not slothful.  Our work, whatever it may be, is unto the Lord and we may or may not have large bank accounts.  The point is, our faith is not in that which we have but in He from whence it came…the Cross of Christ.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

It is hard for those who have or have once had riches to forsake it’s proposed ability to supply our supposed needs. The fact of the matter is, those earthly riches which are gained according to worldly means have absolutely zero to do with the Kingdom of God.  The Cross of Christ was a place of great suffering for Jesus but for us it is a place of great blessing.  In order for the Believer to follow Jesus, we must pick up our cross which are the blessings afforded us by Jesus on Calvary’s Cross and deny ourselves.  We must deny our abilities to supply our needs according to our riches and look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

The one thing the rich, young ruler lacked was the denial of himself; his abilities, intellect, talents, etc. to supply his needs.  The rich, young ruler’s faith was in his abilities as the source and his riches as the means of all good things he had gained in this life and sadly he was unwilling to forsake them.

The Believer’s faith placed in the Cross of Christ affords them the blessings of God as they follow Jesus.  This is our cross we must bear; the denial of self and contentment with God’s blessings afforded us by the Cross of Christ.  It is not a burden but a blessing.  To complain and murmur about what the Lord has given us is an abomination in the eyes of God for it is His Son’s death that affords us these blessings.  To complain about our circumstances is evidence of where our riches are laid up.  Too many stay busy rebuking the place the Lord has brought us and never understand what He is authoring and finishing in our hearts.

The hard part, the part most do not understand, is the denying of one’s self.  To be frank and honest, “one’s self” is where our faith is placed up until our Salvation.  After our Salvation, we quickly turn back to ourselves in order to gain the abundant life God has promised which is wrong. We fight the good fight of faith DAILY.  That fight of faith is daily denying ourselves and maintaining faith in the Cross of Christ for God to supply all of our needs according to HIS riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit does not superintend the work of God in our lives when our faith is placed in our riches and abilities.

This abundant life isn’t found in earthly riches but in peace beyond all understanding, joy unspeakable and full of glory…in spite of the unpleasant circumstances we may be placed in.

“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 one thing we often lack is the denial of self.  Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel’s, the same shall save it.

³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:35-37

I am saddened by the utter disregard of the condition of one’s eternal soul by many professing Christians.  Daily I see, as I’m sure all of you see as well, unbelievers and their children attempting in vain to save their own lives. The devil whispers his lies in their ears daily and they believe him.

We as Believers  must understand that the lost are not lost because they reject Jesus but they reject Jesus because they are lost.  Spiritually they are dead and not alive unto Jesus.  The lost is not able to partake in God’s Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4).  They have not escaped the corruption of this world because they have not yet decided to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Unbelievers have not come to the understanding that they are in fact a sinner in need of a Savior and that the atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is the ONLY way in which they can truly be Saved.

How we react to these lost souls, trying in vain to save their own lives, could determine  how they will one day respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  “We” are what they view/perceive as Christians…which of course we are.  Does our action harden their heart or soften?  Are we prideful or are we meek? Are we long-suffering or impatient?  The lost are watching us as we respond to others.  Are we a respecter of persons?  Religion will have us toiling in the world vainly trying to save the world ourselves.  The Church is commissioned to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified which will change the hearts of the lost and they themselves will then understand that whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for Christ’s sake, shall save it.   They too will be buried with Christ Jesus and resurrected into newness of life.

^“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

It matters not their lot in this life.  Jesus Christ came to save whosoever will believe.  If we are not moved to compassion for the condition of their eternal soul and would condemn them to hell ourselves if given the opportunity, our hearts are defiled with bitterness, anger and hate and we need to get on our face ourselves before the Lord.

Quite simply, the lost cannot overcome the powers of darkness that has encased them until they turn to the Cross of Christ for their Salvation and Sanctification.  If they could defeat these principalities and powers on their own, the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid no!  Encouraging them with a little humanistic psychology, draped in Scripture with a pat on the back and a bottle of water will not break the power of sin’s dominion which has them bound because they are under the law of sin and death.

 ^“For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of Sin and Death.” Romans 8:2

The only law greater than the Law of Sin and Death is the Law of the Spirit of Life IN Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to superintend the work of God in the Believer’s life when our faith is placed vain philosophies and sincere intentions.  The lost cannot overcome this law by means of their intellect, abilities or self efforts…and neither can the Believer by the way.  Many professing Christians believe in the Cross of Christ for Salvation but follow the same methods as the lost for their Sanctification.  The only difference is now these methods are draped in Scripture to deceive the very elect.

Consider your witness before the lost.  When the gates of hell close on one’s eternal soul, there are no second chances.  Sorry my Catholic friends.  Will they wonder why…why you didn’t tell them of this blessed hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ?  Will they spend eternity wondering why you didn’t tell them it would profit them nothing to gain the whole world and still lose their eternal soul to a devil’s hell? Go tell.  Tell them Jesus loves them.

If you want to see a move of God, go and tell the people the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Contend for the faith.

“Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.” Luke 7:22

-Donna Clark Warren