“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

When we are born again, we are a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Old things pass away and all things become new when are faith is placed solely and exclusively in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit of regeneration (the Holy Spirit) we receive upon Salvation does not rehabilitate the old creature but regenerates a new creature.

The outward circumstances of the regenerated Believer may or may not change.  Our circumstances are not the fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Job’s friends are a dime a dozen.  Be certain to never judge the circumstances of a Brother or Sister and consider that their “fruit”.

“² For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

³ And you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool:

⁴ Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4

One thing is for certain when we are born again, there is a change on the inside…regardless of our outward circumstance.  Discern the new creature. Recognize the fruit when the circumstances are not pleasing.  Look for the out of season fruit…THAT is the new creature in Christ Jesus bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁹ What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

²⁰ For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We were created by God in His image.  With the first man, Adam, the fall of man came.  By the Second Man, Jesus Christ, came God’s Redemption Plan for mankind. Adam was created God conscious and freely communed with God.  However, once Adam willingly ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he lost God consciousness and gained self consciousness.

Throughout the Old Testament we see the types and shadows of the coming Messiah as the blood of bulls and goats was shed to restore communion with God.  The sin offering of bulls and goats could not redeem mankind to God. The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Jesus Christ came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for mankind.  As awesome and wonderful as His miracles and healings were (and are) during our Lord’s earthly ministry,  they did not redeem mankind to God.

The Child of God was bought with a price.  Our Redeemer lives and He has the power to possess that which He has redeemed, namely us (Believers). However, when we separate Jesus from His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross, simply stated, we have another Jesus.

“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.

The psychological Jesus that so many modern churches have embraced presents many vain philosophies to overcome oppression, none of which includes preaching the Gospel to the poor, healing the brokenhearted or preaching deliverance to the captives which points the lost and bound to their Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and gives the Holy Spirit latitude to deliver that which our Lord has redeemed with His precious Blood. This psychological Jesus offers other methods to overcome but the Jesus of the Word of God was offered up once and for all for sin and His redeeming work is the only answer to man’s problem…which is sin.

“¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has 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,

¹⁹ To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

The Lord cannot anoint another gospel preaching another Jesus. In turn, the captives remain bound, the brokenhearted remain sick and the blind remain blind.  They are just temporarily distracted from the ties that bind as the self righteous sincerely attempt to deliver through their kind words.  These words have NO power…zero, zilch, none.  When the bound look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, the POWER of the Holy Spirit, comes to possess that which Jesus Christ redeemed.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ violently took sin’s dominion away from satan.  The price was paid in full.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalm 107:1-2.

Say so Saints!  Say so! Believe in the power of God forcefully take sin’s dominion from satan.

“¹⁸ Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

¹⁹ But with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁵ Wherefore I (Apostle Paul) also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the Saints,

¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him:

¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints,

¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

²⁰ Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His Own Right Hand in the Heavenly places,”  Ephesians 1:15-20

With our faith placed in Jesus Christ and the price He paid for our redemption, we give the Holy Spirit latitude to do what He is commissioned to do in the hearts and lives of the Child of God…free us from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  Through the eyes of our understanding illuminated by the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation because of our faith properly placed in the price of our redemption (Jesus Christ and Him crucified), we will see, know and understand the power of God to possess that which He has redeemed by His Blood.  We will indeed know what the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance is in us by the exceeding greatness of His power.

This understanding does not come by might, nor by power of our efforts, philosophy or intellect but by the power of God alone (Zechariah 4:6) through our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Many Believers attempt to separate Christ  from His atoning work on the Cross after Salvation to seek after vain philosophies.  Jesus, The Man, becomes the example of how to live with our source being our self efforts; while Jesus Christ and Him crucified is merely something that happened 2000 + years ago.  We are expected to live according to Jesus’ example because the Holy Spirit is now living in us.  However, if our faith is in our self efforts to achieve this “level” of righteousness, the Holy Spirit is not involved in these vain philosophies.

We all tend to easily forget our weaknesses but will quickly remember our sin that God has forgiven and forgotten.   If only we remembered our weaknesses and allowed the power of God to rest upon us through faith in Jesus Christ, the Jesus Christ that is alive and sitting at the Right Hand of God Who paid in full redemptions price and has the power to possess that in which He has so greatly redeemed to the uttermost.

“²⁴ But this Man, because He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

²⁵ Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:24-25

-Donna Clark Warren

“³ Know you 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.

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 6:3-6

When the Cross of Christ is merely incidental, we do not understand the Atonement afforded whosoever will believe by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  I am sure the horrible suffering of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is considered more than a “doctrine” in the eyes of God.  The price paid by the Lord to redeem mankind to God is not merely “incidental”.  It is life to the Believer.

“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.”  Galatians 2:20

Now, if there be no power to redeem…to resurrect and take possession of that which has been paid, the Cross of Christ was in vain.  God forbid no!  On the other hand, if there be power but no price paid for Redemption, that would be unrighteous.  Both the price (Jesus Christ and Him crucified) and the power (Power of God) are necessary for Redemption.

Many will give a nod to the price paid for our Redemption, and turn right around and attempt to pay the price through good intentions. They are sincere but sincerely wrong. For some religions it is sacraments, others it is 40 days of purpose, 100 ways of favor, speaking things into existence, fasting 21 days, celebrating Jewish feasts, wearing prayers shawls and yamachas and the list goes on and on.  Allow me to be perfectly clear, none of these activities produce righteousness.  Righteousness is imputed to the Believer when we are redeemed…redeemed with a price; Jesus Christ and HIS atoning work on Calvary’s Cross.

“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 1:18

Without the price paid for our Redemption properly understood, the power of God that raised Jesus Christ up from the dead…God’s Resurrecting power the Believer needs for newness of life and dominion over sin is made of none effect.

Let me say it again, when the Atonement is not properly understood by the Believer, Who Jesus Christ is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, the price He paid for our Redemption, the Power of God that allows us to walk in the newness of life is of no effect.  The power of God to possess the Redeemed cannot be utilized without the price of their Redemption being understood.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2.

Walking in the Spirit is not “doing” spiritual things.  It is the understanding of the Cross of Christ for our Redemption and allowing the Power of God to take possession of that which His Son has Redeemed (the Believer) through faith…not works, lest the Cross of Christ be made of none effect.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

-Donna Clark Warren

“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

Throughout the ages there have been numerous false doctrines that made the circuits throughout the church.  Many, if not most, are the same, only rewrapped in a new packaging for the modern Believer.  One thing is for certain, ALL are designed to transfer the Believer’s faith from the atoning work of Jesus Christ to another source.  Below is a list of some but certainly not all that are making the circuits today in no particular order.  Please keep in mind, if we as a Believer get the Atonement of Jesus Christ wrong, we get the entirety of the Gospel wrong.  The Cross of Christ is the dividing line between the true Church and the endtimes apostate church.  For one, the Cross of Christ is foolishness and for the other, It is the Power of Almighty God.  Here we go:

1.  Hebraics Roots Movement – Prayer shawls, yamachas and celebrating Jewish feasts are not Scriptural.  No where in the Bible does it talk about prayer shawls and Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law…It is finished.  “Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17.
2. Jesus died spiritually – One of the main proponents of this doctrine is Joyce Meyer.  For one to claim that Jesus died spiritually; that He became a sinner to take our place, is utter nonsense and shows that the teacher has absolutely no knowledge of the types and shadows of the Old Testament Sacrifices.  Jesus Christ was a Sin Offering for mankind.  The Sin Offerings of the Old Testament did not become sin…they atoned for sin.  The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin from our account but restored fellowship with God.  Only the Blood of Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God”,  washes away our sin.  If Jesus Christ did in fact “become a sinner” on the Cross, then someone would have to atone for His “sin” as well.  God forbid no!
3. The Blood of Jesus did not atone for sin and that Jesus redeemed man, not on the Cross but in Hell.  “When His Blood was poured out, it did not atone.” are the words of Kenneth Copeland.  These words are blasphemy spewed from the mouth of Kenneth Copeland, along with many other vanities from his own mind.  Denying the Blood Atonement of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all sin and declaring that some kind of fight in hell between Jesus and satan erupted and that the atonement was won in hell or that Jesus was tortured in hell for 3 days, is again, utter heresy and most dangerous.  Allow me to repeat, if we get the Atonement wrong, which is what we also refer to the Cross of Christ, is to get Salvation wrong and can lead to our destruction.
4. Word of faith movement is actually no faith at all.  Kenneth Copeland leads the way with this doctrine as well.  Not only does it declare the Blood of Christ was the greatest defeat in human history but it proclaims the Believer to be “little gods” as they practice witchcraft, superstition and mysticism.  If you don’t believe or have faith in their incantation or if you don’t say the cantation just so, you are cursed.  White witchcraft, meaning witchcraft for the good, is still witchcraft.  Let me be perfectly clear, only God has the power to create…not man.
5. Soul ties – once a person comes to Salvation, all “soul ties” are broken.  Jesus Christ broke all bondages when we accept Him as Lord and Saviour. There is no need for a ceremony to break these ties again.  The Blood of Jesus was enough.
6. Positive confession – If you are sick, this doctrine says do not confess this sickness.  In other words, if the problem is confessed, it becomes true.  How are we going to get healed if we don’t ask the Lord to heal us?  That is just one example but there are many.  Any negative in our life confessed, makes that negative true.  The fact of the matter is, that negative is already true and the Believer needs deliverance.  Yet this doctrine denies the Believer the ability to ask God for His help.
7. Deliverance ministries – While deliverance is indeed needed for many, the Child of God cannot be demon possessed.  They can certainly be oppressed but not possessed.  The deliverance ministers often have their script (incantation) and will often use the name of Jesus as a lucky trinket if you will to deliver this demon from a Christian.  It is the demons fault that the person sins and once it is cast away, the person is free from sin.  While part of this is true, the fact remains that if a Believer is bound by sin, repentance is necessary…true repentance for turning away from God, not just sorrow for their current circumstances.
8. Blood Moons, Shemitahs, Harbingers and the “Lady of Revelation” – All of this is numerology, sorcery and clear superstition.  The Word of God clearly states no one knows the day or the hour.  Why not just preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)”  Philippians 3:18-19.

Many get offended when false doctrine is discussed.  However, when we read our Bible we are repeatedly warned against false doctrine.  The Word of God tells of the endtimes apostate church and Jesus Christ is on the outside knocking.  The Cross of Christ is the dividing line between the apostate church and the true Church.  Ask the Lord to show you which side of the line you are standing and supporting.  You may be surprised…I was certainly shocked.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

The Word of God says because of the fall of man, we are all born sinners and the wages of sin is death.  Unless something was done about this situation, we were all condemned to an eternal hell.  Just to be sure, it is a conscious hell.  In other words, we know who we are, where we are and what we have done…just ask the rich man in Luke 16:20-31.

“¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

¹⁷ For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Being born a sinner, we cannot save ourselves.  God Who became man, the Man Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary, came into this fallen world to redeem whosoever will believe.  The Blood of Jesus Christ redeems us because He loves us…He does not love us because He redeemed us – let that soak in a minute.

“⁹ That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

Until we grasp the worthiness of what Jesus Christ did on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, we cannot realize our unworthiness.  Knowing Who Jesus is (God manifest in the flesh) and what He did on Calvary’s Cross to redeem mankind (pay the penalty of sin which is death), there is no doubt as to His Resurrection.

Millions believe on the Lord Jesus Christ but are not saved.  Because they have given mental assent to Jesus as the Son of God does not mean they have accepted His as their Lord and Saviour.  Sadly, many believe they are saved because they said a prayer and joined a church.  Now they attend the weekly meetings to satisfy their conscience, not worship the Lord.

To believe in our heart, not our mental faculties, the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and accepting His finished work on the Cross as our substitute to pay the penalty of sin, we are Saved…we are born again, a new creature in Christ Jesus.

All that is required for our Salvation is to believe in what Jesus did and accept His work for yourself.  Salvation is very personal.  We must understand first that we need a Saviour and then accept Jesus as our Saviour and the Lord of our life.

Now it is time.  If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, please repeat this prayer after me.  Please understand, repeating this prayer will not save you. You must believe in your heart on Jesus Christ and you are instantly saved.

“DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A LOST SINNER.”

“I AM ASKING YOU THAT YOU SAVE MY SOUL AND CLEANSE ME FROM ALL SIN.”

“I REALIZE IN MY HEART MY NEED OF SALVATION, WHICH CAN ONLY COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”

“I AM ACCEPTING CHRIST INTO MY HEART AND WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE MY REDEMPTION.”

“IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD, I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.”

“YOU HAVE SAID IN YOUR WORD WHICH CANNOT LIE, ‘FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED’ (ROM.10:13).”

“I HAVE CALLED UPON YOUR NAME EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE SAID, AND I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW, I AM SAVED.”

If you have sincerely prayed these words and believed in your heart upon the Lord Jesus Christ, you are at this moment a saved to the uttermost!

Congratulations!

Some things you should now begin to do are a daily Bible study.  The Word of God is alive and therefore, it is inexhaustible.  From the moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit now abides in your heart.  Because of His Divine Nature on the throne of your heart, you are able to willingly submit to the Will of God.  Before Salvation, the sinner cannot willingly submit to God because satan can overcome our will if we are not submitted to God.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

Remember, the devil won’t flee unless we are submitted to God.  The bondages that overcome so many, especially the lost, are because the person is not submitted to God.  As previously stated, the sinner cannot willingly submit, however, at times the Saint chooses not to willingly submit.

“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

We cannot follow Jesus unless we deny ourselves…daily.  Just as we denied our efforts for Salvation, we must also deny our efforts daily for dominion over sin (Romans 6:14).  Our fight is the fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and His redeeming work, not our self efforts to deny sin. If we could simply deny sin, the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid no!

The Cross of Christ was a place of horrible suffering for our Lord Jesus Christ but for us it is a place of great blessing.  Pick up your cross and continue following the Lord Jesus Christ…daily.

God bless.

-Donna Clark Warren

^“22 You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for Salvation is of the Jews.

²³ But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” John 4:22-23

All true praise is worship but not all worship is praise.  Some worship and know not what.  True praise comes when the Believer truly understands the worth of Jesus and His redeeming work between mankind and God.  Only when we realize the worthiness of Jesus Christ, God manifested in the flesh, who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin in order to redeem whosoever will believe and to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life, can we realize our unworthiness.

“⁸ This people draws 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

Worship is an attitude not an act and it is the spirit behind the attitude which effects true praise.  Recognize the attitude to realize the spirit behind the acts of worship in many modern churches.  With their mouth, they glorify the Lord but their hearts are far from Him…they worship in vain.  The spirit behind their attitude, not their words, is not of God.  The acts of worship are worldly, not holy.  Sadly, many worship another Jesus and know not who they worship.

Recognizing the attitude will reveal the spirit behind the worship and will solve the issue between modern day so called worship services and true praise and worship.

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

-Donna Clark Warren

,

“24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I know you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that which is Yours.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, you wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which has ten talents.

29 For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.” Matthew 25:24-29
Each and every Believer is given a proper ministry.  It is our faithfulness to the ministry, not our success, for which our rewards are given.  Now I’m going to preach to my preacher friends for a minute.  Sadly, many of look you to only those in the laity as the wicked and slothful servants, and by all means some certainly are lazy and disrespectful.

However, with all due respect, I would like to speak to those of you who are called by God to preach His Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Some of you have become slothful.  You are not multiplying your ministry (your talents) through faithfulness to what God has called you to do but have become content with preserving your ministry through your own successful measures.  The preservation of your ministry has become your satisfying portion because of your success, while God reckons your rewards according to your faithfulness.

“But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

Instead of growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour yourself, you have unknowingly become slothful and disrespectful toward the Lord.  Please don’t misunderstand, I realize you are sincere and zealous in your ministry…but your attempt at success is negating your faithfulness.  When God comes to reckon with you regarding the light you have received of Him; the light which you have vainly and enthusiastically preserved in an attempt to succeed, what else can you declare unto Him other than “THERE You have that which is Yours!” when He demands, because of your lack of faithfulness, for you to give your ministry to someone whose ministry has multiplied due to their faithfulness.  Your consecration to the Work of God has been replaced with ambition in the Work of God. The sad fact is, soon your light will be taken away and given to those with an abundance of light…those who were faithful in their ministry and you will be considered a hireling.

I don’t mean this disparagingly but pray that some will take heed and realize their own slothfulness in growing in the Grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Beware of simply trying to preserve your ministry in order to succeed but continue growing in Grace through faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.  The Word of God is alive and therefore inexhaustible.  There is no graduating class…not even for you my preacher friends.  When the Lord illuminates His Word, precept upon precept and line upon line, our faith grows…it multiplies.

The message of the Cross of Christ to break the power of sin in the Believer’s life is not new.  The Holy Spirit gave us this message through the Apostle Paul in Romans 6, 7 and 8.  It is there that Believers are told how to live for Christ.  So many know the what to do’s but don’t know how to do the what to do’s and remain bound by satan.  The sin in their life is the devil’s legal right to them.  They are saved but continue to live a defeated Christian life and their faith is in danger of destruction.  These are my Brothers and Sisters in Christ preacher friend; those you have been called to lead to Christ for life and life more abundantly, not methods of man from the vanities of their minds for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil or to teach them social justices.  My Brothers, Sisters and myself, NEED the victory only Jesus Christ afforded us on Calvary’s Cross to survive this life, not your condolences for repeated failures.

Friend, don’t be slothful and disrespectful.  Seek to be faithful to your calling…your ministry.  Don’t dismiss the growing in Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ yourself.  The preaching of the Cross of Christ is the power of God to those who are saved…but it is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Prayerfully consider.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalms 139:23-24

-Donna Clark Warren

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16

Interesting how the Lord would rather the lukewarm be cold than lukewarm.  To be sure, the Scripture says He would rather the lukewarm be cold OR hot but when given the choice between lukewarm or cold, Jesus says he would rather them be cold.  Furthermore, the Lord says He will vomit them out of His mouth.  What an indictment for the lukewarm.

The cold do not claim Christ, therefore they do not bring reproach to His Name.  However the lukewarm, the pseudo Christians, claim Christianity but do not follow Jesus Christ and bring reproach to His Name.  The lukewarm do not deny Jesus but have changed Him to another Jesus.  Their self conscious and self efforts to improve and motivate self has become their satisfying portion.  This other Jesus is presented as a miracle worker and healer but the Cross is completely eliminated.

We can never separate Jesus Christ from His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross.  Jesus is the source and His Cross the means by which the penalty of sin was paid and the power of sin broken.  To claim the Cross of Christ was a defeat, as the word of faith doctrine claims, is utter blasphemy.  The majority of those sitting under that doctrine do not even know the Jesus of the Word of God and are not saved…they are lukewarm.

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

Prophesying in Jesus’ Name, casting out devils in Jesus’ Name and doing many wonderful works in Jesus’ Name are not the requirements to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Knowing Jesus Christ, the Jesus of the Bible, Who HE is and what HE has done and accepting HIM as your Lord and Savior is the requirement for Salvation.  Our faith in Jesus’ redeeming work is the saving faith that causes God to incline His Ear to us…not our works but our faith.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

The seed that is planted by the false prophets take root in the hearts of individuals and they are deceived.  Sadly they are lukewarm and bring reproach to God because they are following another Jesus.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“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.

³³ They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say You, you shall be made free?

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.

³⁵ And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever.

³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:31-36

Mankind does not like to accept our absolute judgment of death upon our sin nature, our religious activities and our moral values.  Now, read that again and let us all think of our own sinful nature, religious activities and moral values and understand that they are condemned to annihilation.

Now that we have swallowed that pill, we must also understand that once we have denied ourselves, we are commanded submit to and trust in God’s Plan for our redemption.  Accepting Jesus Christ as our LORD and Saviour is not just a mere phrase us Christians use.  It is a reality.  Jesus Christ is our LORD because He redeemed us to God the Father.

God’s love for mankind demanded our redemption but His Plan for our redemption has never been very popular.  It wasn’t attractive to Cain and it hasn’t gained in popularity ever since.  The reason for this lack of “popularity” is because it pronounces absolute judgment of death upon “our part”.  Our sin nature, religious activities and moral values are laid waste at the Cross of Christ.  They are buried with Him, crucified with Him so that we may be in the likeness of His Resurrection.

“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.

⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him:” Romans 6:5-8

What the modern church needs is not a touch from God but the Truth of God and they shall be made free.  The Atonement made possible by the Blood of Jesus Christ is accepted by the church for Salvation and praise God for such.  However for Sanctification and daily living for God, the church quickly falls into apostasy.  The Cross of Christ is the dividing line as carnal efforts are brought forth as the method for victorious Christian living.  Another gospel and another Jesus is lifted up to the congregation as they are deceitfully led away into apostasy. Little by little their faith is transferred into their works for righteousness and holiness and not His Work.

There is freedom in the Cross of Christ.  This freedom results in holiness and righteousness, not because of what we do but because of what Jesus Christ has done.  By Grace through faith, the Holy Spirit will lead us into all Truth and it will set us free…and if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Do not place your faith in fads and phenomenons.  Place your faith in Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He did on Calvary’s Cross to break the power of sin, and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in you according to God’s Will and God’s plan for your life.  Let your life be a living sacrifice unto God.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

Submit to God and be free…free indeed.

-Donna Clark Warren