“And they (Priests) shall teach My People the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

It is the duty of the God called preacher to teach God’s Children the difference between holy and profane and cause them to discern between good and evil.  This duty includes discerning between good and that which appears good but has an evil root.  The spirit behind the appearance of good is the discerning factor hence the problem with the “modern” proclaimed Christian music.  Much of this music appeals to emotions and has nothing to do with the worship of Jehovah God even though they mention the name Jesus and speak of God.

“¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The plumb line is and will always be the Word of God…not our emotions or feelings.  ALL Scripture, not just some, is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.  Recognize whether or not the preacher is causing you to discern between the good and almost good.  That which goes under the banner of Christianity but has nothing to do with the work of God and in fact corrupts the work of God by causing God’s Children to be swept to and fro with every wind of doctrine often appears good but in reality plants seeds of death in the Believer.  Remember, it is no great thing if satan’s ministers be transformed as the ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

“² Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

³ 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; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the Truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-3

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will always and without doubt lay waste every wind of doctrine coming down the pike.  Lifting Jesus up, Who He is and what He has done, for Salvation to a lost and dying world and deliverance from the besetting sin that has the Saint bound will have It’s effect.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified will always have an effect; whether it be a softened heart or a hardened heart, Christ and Him crucified will take us to a point of decision to receive or reject His Truth.

“⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

⁹ Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wheresoever you go.” Joshua 1:8-10

-Donna Clark Warren

Who am I?  I’m a born again Child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Who HE is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for “whosoever” will believe, I chose to actually believe and was born of the Spirit of God.  I was indeed spiritually alive unto God but truthfully speaking I had not yet reckoned myself to be dead unto sin.

You see, it is true, I did become a new creature in Christ Jesus.  I was zealous for the Lord.  Old things had passed away and all things became new.  However, being born again didn’t make me a “theologian”.  There were precepts upon precepts and lines upon lines that the Lord continues to reveal to ALL of His Children.  Jesus Christ is alive; He is the Word incarnate, therefore the Word is alive.  Because Jesus is alive and His Spirit dwells in us to guide us into all Truths according to the Word of God – this daily walk we now have with our Lord is inexhaustible.  There is no graduating class with the Child of God on this side of glory.  Whether we have been born again 5 days or 50 years, we are all growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

“⁴ Nicodemus said unto Him (Jesus), How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water (natural child birth) and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:4-5

Once I then believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I was called to follow Him…just as every born again Believer is called to follow Him.

“And He (Jesus) 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 Jesus but for the Believer, it is a place of great blessing.  Jesus is the Source and His Cross the means by which the Believer’s blessings flow from the Throne Room of God.  Our faith exclusively in Jesus and His atoning work, gives the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He is commissioned to do – free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  It is the Cross of Christ which made the indwelling of the Holy Spirit possible for the Believer.

Then came the religious.  Many with good intentions who sincerely loved the Lord and others who were somewhat arrogant and prideful.  These were the “elite”; the highly spiritual folk who were quite seductive with their philosophies and methods.  Blood Moons, Harbingers and Shemitahs were the studies of that day.  Evidently everyone in that group had already graduated from the “40 days of purpose”  for their purpose driven lives and had moved on…just as they had moved on from the Cross of Christ.  Seeing, I saw not.  Hearing, I heard not and neither did I understand (Matthew 13:13).

“And when she came to the man of God (Elisha) to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi (Elisha’s servant) came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord has hid it from me, and has not told me.” 2 Kings 4:27

Religion will thrust vexed souls away from the Cross of Christ but Grace will draw them. As I sat under these schemes of prideful man and their vain philosophies, my soul became vexed as well.  Sinful temptations became more seductive.  I would soon realize my will power was not stronger than the law of sin and death.  As I leaned more and more on my own understanding and began depending on my willpower instead of denying myself…I had left my place of blessing, the Cross of Christ, and found myself following man and not Christ.

Did I know during this time what was happening?  Absolutely not. Can I look back now and see where the Lord Jesus Christ brought me from?  Can I see how religion had thrust me away from God?  Yes – yes I can and I give God the glory.  However, I feel sure I will have a similar testimony in the years to come for I have not yet graduated either.

No matter where we are in this walk with our Lord, He is constantly drawing us nearer to Him.  Some will heed the call and sadly others will dismiss. For those who continue to dismiss the drawing and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, their light will eventually be taken from them and given to those with an abundance of light.  This is the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-27 .

Religion will thrust us away from God.  Grace draws us to the Cross of Christ where our efforts for increase are laid waste.

“So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:7

Seek God’s increase….not religion’s.  God’s increase is born of the Spirit; not vanities.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that hear say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

The clarion call of the Spirit of God and the Redeemed is “Come”…Come and let him that is athirst take of the water of life freely.

“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a Preacher?” Romans 10:14

If the Redeemed will not call the broken, the thirsty, the discomfited and discontent…how then will they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?

Worldly statutes cloaked in Scripture to deceive the Believer, social gatherings in place of Gospel preaching and recruitment classes to enlarge the congregation is not the clarion call of the Redeemed.

The clarion call of the Redeemed is “Come”…come unto Jesus and drink of His Cup.  Lift Jesus up, Who He is and what HE has done for whosoever will believe, and the Holy Spirit will draw them (John 12:32).  Point the lost and the bound to the Source of life…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“..If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under Grace.

¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under Grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:14-15

We either believe the Word of God to be true or we believe It to be a lie.  If we believe that by Grace through faith we are given dominion over sin, we believe the Word of God to be true.  Many are walking on the sidelines of Christiandom because sin, whatever that sin may be, has dominion over them.  In their hearts they feel inferior to the self righteous because whose sin they cannot see because it is, well…self righteousness.  Let me be clear, self righteousness and condemnation by a professing Christian will not lead the sinner or the bound to repentance.

Simply stated, if the Believer does not believe the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross (Grace) broke the power of sin in their hearts and lives, they believe the Word of God to be a lie.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 1:17

Man made laws from humanistic psychology are nothing more than wisdom of words that make the Cross of Christ of no effect.  12 steps of celebrating recovery, 40 days of purpose or 100 days of favor will not give the Believer dominion over sin. If we believe this, we believe the Word of God to be a lie and the Cross of Christ was in vain.

On Calvary’s Cross Jesus Christ redeemed man to God.  His redeeming work IS the power of God to Save the sinner and Sanctify the Saint.  Before our Salvation, when we were still a sinner, we did not have the power within ourselves to willingly yield ourselves unto God.  The lost are spiritually dead and not alive (spiritually) unto God.  They are not lost because they reject Jesus but reject Jesus because they are lost.

However, for the Child of God who remains in bondage, sin has dominion over them in some way, the condemnation from the religious and self righteous too often keep the bound from yielding themselves unto God as servants of obedience unto righteousness. They feel like they must perfect themselves before yielding unto God.  Friend, Brother, Sister – you can’t.  Sin will continue it’s dominion until we yield unto God.

“Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”  Romans 6:16

Please allow me to repeat this simple yet powerful Truth.  Before Salvation, we are not able to willingly yield unto God as servants of obedience unto righteousness.  If such were so, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  Through His Work on the Cross, Jesus Christ made a way for us to yield unto God…to partake in HIS Divine Nature and allow us to be His servants of obedience unto righteousness.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4

It is time for many to jump into the River of Life.  The devil has tried his best to kill, steal and destroy you.  He has whispered lies of condemnation and death in your ear but God is calling you out.  The Lord has not left you there to die. He has made a way to follow Him…to follow Him as a servant of obedience unto righteousness and it is truly not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit alone that you will be delivered.

The Cross of Christ has not lost it’s power but we have made it of no effect through our unbelief.  The methods freely provided through the various and vain programs and groups at the modern church plainly shows our unbelief in the power of God.

“And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” 1 Kings 18:41

I hear a sound of abundance of rain raining down on the discontented, the disheartened and the bound.  The prodigals who have been discarded and dismissed by the self appointed “King Sauls” whose heart is truly set to destroy God’s Work.

Pray Church.  Pray for the harvest.  https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsonlifebroadcastingnetwork%2Fvideos%2F1727671560584843%2F&show_text=0&width=560“>Pray Now!

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁰ And the Commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the Commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

¹² Wherefore the Law is holy, and the Commandment holy, and just, and good.

¹³ 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 7:10-13

It is much easier to discern evil when it appears evil.  It is the good things we do, even the Scriptural ordinances, that work death in us when our faith is placed in those ordinances, commandments and laws for our righteousness.  Our consecration becomes ambition to gain righteousness instead of our faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified maintaining our righteousness when our faith shifts from what Jesus has done to what we must do.

Religious man has written many books, taught many programs and given many methods and formulas to “gain” righteousness that are nothing more than laws.

“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.” Romans 6:5-6

These methods (laws) are the poison in the pot.  They are satan’s methods to corrupt the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make the Cross of Christ of no effect. These laws, the methods and formulas that are often Scriptural ordinances, cause the old man…the unregenerate who was crucified with Christ to arise.  The unregenerate man who faith buried is now awakened with the giving of methods.  They are “good” so we don’t recognize their intent to corrupt our faith….but make no mistake, corrupting our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ is the sole intent of these methods.

“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

Freedom from the law of sin and death is only found when we are planted together in the likeness of Jesus’ death through faith in His finished Work.  It is only then, when our faith is placed solely and exclusively in Jesus’ atoning work, that we are made free by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and shall also be in the likeness of His Resurrection.  This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit and He is more than capable to do that which He is commissioned to do in the Believer’s life.  These vain methods are an attempt to usurp His ministry and replace it with our willpower.

“³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4

Walk not after the flesh…but after the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“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

-Donna Clark Warren

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13

The entrance of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the Believer is made possible by the Cross of Christ.  The is the “born again” experience (John 3:3).  When the repentant sinner chooses to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, the Spirit of God comes to dwell in their heart bearing witness to them that they are a Child of God (Romans 8:16).  This is not an intellectual occurrence but a spiritual birth.  We are spiritually alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11).

The Spirit of Truth (the Holy Spirit) will not speak of Himself but of Whom He represents, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us declares the Work of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, which at the time John 16:13 was given the New Covenant was yet to come.

It is the atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross that made the indwelling of the Holy Spirit possible for the Believer and it is exclusively within this framework that the Holy Spirit is commissioned to operate in the heart of the Believer.   Once we are born again, spiritually alive unto God through the Blood of Jesus, we need not look to worldly statutes, humanistic psychology or vain philosophies to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to give us victory through the multitudes of methods offered by the religious.  If such were so, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  God forbid no!

On Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ redeemed whosoever will believe and He has the POWER to possess that He has redeemed.  A 10 year old may have the money to buy a pick up truck but he does not have the power to possess that truck.  The power of God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, is the same power of God that possesses the Child of God whose faith remains exclusively in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

“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 through THIS power, the power of God…which IS the Cross of Christ (Who Jesus is and what He has done) that the Believer keeps God’s Statutes…not our willpower.  The entrance of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is made possible solely by Jesus Christ and His atoning work.  When our faith is placed elsewhere, we hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives resulting in a defeated Christian life.  This is the devil’s purpose for corrupting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  If satan can redirect our faith to “our part” and what “we” must do to overcome, he has successfully redirected our faith and made the Cross of Christ of no effect in our lives.  Make no mistake, satan’s greatest weapon is deceit and he uses the religious to spread his poisonous corruption.

“¹⁵ If you love Me, keep My Commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:15-17

Everything we receive from God, including the Spirit of God, is made possible by the Cross of Christ. Be determined to know nothing else among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified and see the Salvation of the Lord in your heart come to fruition…bearing fruit onto God for His Glory and His Honor.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁸ That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: ¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which enters into that within the Veil; ²⁰ Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Hebrews 6:18-20

As a Believer we have fled the worldly statutes for refuge.  Our High Priest, Jesus Christ, has atoned for our sin on Calvary’s Cross and entered into the Holy of Holies on our behalf.  The Veil was rent and we enter into the Throne Room of God through faith in the finished work of our High Priest…the Perfect Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our High Priest was Himself the Sacrifice, the only Sacrifice God could accept to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer.

This hope is the anchor of our soul. It is indeed a sure and stedfast hope in spite of our present circumstances. Our hope is an everlasting hope, not after the order of man but Melchisedec.   Jesus Christ is our High Priest forever.

“¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

-Donna Clark Warren

“No man can come to Me (Jesus), except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44

I remember that Saturday morning like it was yesterday.  Sitting on my sofa, lost and empty.  Truth be known I had probably been out playing poker all night the night before and lost every dime I had worked for that week.  You see, I had given up smoking and drinking so I thought I was doing “pretty good”.  I can’t say for sure if that’s what had happened the night before because honestly, I don’t really remember.  If you know me, you know my memory is horrible.  However, that would be a likely scenario at any given point at that time in my life.

That particular morning though the Lord began to draw me.  I thought to myself I would surprise my Dad and his wife and show up at church the next day.  Out of the blue, that next morning came and my Dad called and invited me to church…ruined my surprise but I happily obliged.  I didn’t understand then the drawing of the Holy Spirit.

At the time I was living in sin; living with my then boyfriend…but again, the Lord was drawing me to Him.  God ever seeks to be closer to His creation and for us to know of Him.  I didn’t understand theology and to be frank and honest, I didn’t really care about theology at that point.  I had a yearning deep in my soul to go to this church and so I did.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and this church had a revival.  I was excited!  There was a breath of life being seen; a hope I had never had…but again, then I didn’t see, know, understand or seek to understand what this was drawing me.  As far as I was concerned, just with everything else in my life, I liked, I wanted it and I began following it…whatever “it” was, was pleasing.

“Then shall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.” Ezekiel 36:31

Revival lasted through Wednesday night.  I was there every night but had not yet given my life to the Lord.  The conviction of the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance my own evil ways.  Such is the effect of Grace.  Grace does not exalt self but Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross.  The righteousness of Jesus Christ reveals our unrighteousness and results in self judgment.  If Jesus’ righteousness reveals our own righteousness, the result is self righteousness and we in fact have another Jesus…NOT the Jesus of the Word of God; the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of man.

That last night of revival, living in sin, far from perfect, I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  I accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour.  His life for mine.  The only thing I understood about theology was that I was a sinner and  Jesus Christ died for my sin.  If I accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour, I would have eternal life…and so I did; and so it began.  I was born again.  Baptized into His death, I receive the promises of His Life.  The penalty of sin paid and the power of sin broken through His shed Blood which now covered all of my sins. Glory! Glory! Glory!

Then came the next day, the next week, and life resumed and “I” had it all figured out.  My then boyfriend would accept Jesus, we would get married and live happily ever after.  The only problem was, this wasn’t happening and praise be to God, it didn’t happen.  When the Lord finally dealt with me about praying for HIS Will and not mine, I realized my error.  Once I began praying for God’s Will in my life, it was painful.  Remember, I was still new in the Lord and didn’t understand why the Lord was removing things and people from my life…but I knew God.  I had touched His Garment and was not letting go.

Suddenly, with everything stripped away, I was more like Mary than I was Martha.  All of the busy stuff was gone and all I had was Jesus.  That is when I learned, Jesus is all I need.  It is there that I found that He does supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.  Precept upon precept, line upon line, He has added to what He has wrought in me.  There are times I try to help.  Other times, I make a mess of it all.  Martha will at times creep in unaware but when I stop and remember in Whom I have believed, a peace beyond all understanding comes.

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour.  In all reality, we are all just passing through this pilgrim land and I’m thankful to know in Whom I have believed.  Salvation is mine because of Jesus and what He did on Calvary’s Cross.  The power of sin (Sanctification) is mine because of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done.  It was Him drawing me that morning….drawing me from a life of wasted years.  If I would have waited until I was perfected to accept Him, quite frankly I would never be perfected.  To be sure, I won’t be perfected this side of glory…and neither will you.

There are others the Lord is drawing but because they don’t intellectually understand the theology of the Message of the Cross, they feel inferior or shamed.  I want you to know my friend, there are many theologians that intellectually understand the Message of the Cross but are in fact farther away from God than you are.  You see, in your heart you seek to understand but in their heart they think they understand but don’t.  Seeing, they see not.  Hearing, they hear not and neither do they understand (Matthew 13:13).

“¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Keep pressing.  Keep praying for those lost loved ones.  The Spirit of the Lord is drawing.

-Donna Clark Warren

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6

If the watchman, the true preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, refuses to keep the world’s statutes and systems from the doors of the church, the world’s statutes and systems will enter in through the door, corrupt the Truth and make the Cross of Christ of no effect.

“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.” 1 Corinthians 1:17

There remains a people who truly love God but are sitting under ministries who have allowed the worldly systems, namely humanistic psychology, through the doors.  These philosophies have succeeded in moving the Believer’s faith from the atoning work of Jesus Christ to break the power of sin in our life to worldly ways for victory.  Because they go under the banner of Christianity and quote Scripture, the Believer equates this philosophy with Truth.  However, make no mistake, this philosophy turns the Truth into a lie…it is corrupted.

“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 11:4

Sadly, there are many watchman who have allowed worldly systems into their church, their ministries and their hearts.  They have turned back to Egypt to join the unity crowd and compromised the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pray for the watchman, the true God called preachers….pray for their faith. Pray that they know nothing else among them, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Egypt tempts them daily with another way.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

Pray they fight the good fight of faith….faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you.” Ezekiel 28:17

The king of Tyrus (who was symbolic of satan) was lifted up because of his beauty and wisdom.  His kingdom was prosperous and they rejoiced at the fall of Jerusalem.  King Nebuchadnezzar would be God’s instrument of destruction for Tyrus in all it’s splendor.

“The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

Satan’s wisdom, who transforms into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), was not taken away, it was corrupted.  He was lifted up by reason of his brightness.

It is the devil’s purpose to corrupt our wisdom; the wisdom that is from above which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy (James 3:17) and begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).  This wisdom comes from first believing God is God…not you are a little god.

“⁵ By your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches: ⁶ Therefore thus says the Lord God; Because you have set your heart as the heart of God; ⁷ Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon you, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they shall defile your brightness.” Ezekiel 28:5-7

Success, even in things of the Lord, can lift up the heart of man and cause our hearts to turn from Him.  Instead of setting our hearts toward God, we set our hearts AS God. This is the devil’s purpose….to kill, steal and destroy and he uses religion to corrupt our wisdom.

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13

The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truths…

“¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

…and the Word of God is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.

God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth according to Scripture.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the story of our redemption.  From Genesis Chapter 1 to Revelation 22, we see our instruction for our Redemption…by Grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).  Our Redemption is not of ourselves but a gift of God in the person of Jesus Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb of God, Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay sin’s debt for whosoever will believe and break the penalty of sin for those who have believed.  Knowing Who Jesus Christ is and what He did, there is no doubt as to His Resurrection.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof that the sin debt is paid in full.  He is alive!!

This is the wisdom from above, given us in God’s Word and witnessed to us by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:16).  This is the wisdom satan attempts to corrupt through the deceit of vain philosophies using his minister’s who are transformed into ministers of light.

Just because something seems good, doesn’t mean it is good.  We can easily recognize evil when it appears as evil.  It is the “good” that takes the Spirit of God in us to quicken our hearts to the Truth.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

-Donna Clark Warren