“²⁴ For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

²⁵ Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the High Priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others;

²⁶ For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

²⁷ And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

²⁸ So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:24-28

It is appointed unto all men once to die.  Jesus Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many on Calvary’s Cross. The Lord shall “appear the second time without sin unto Salvation”, not to atone for sin…that has already been done on the Cross for whosoever believes and is born again.  Jesus shall appear the second time (the Second Coming)  to bring all of the results of our glorious Salvation to the world. Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) but the full portion of our Salvation will not come until our Lord’s Second Coming.

“²² For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?” Romans 8:22-24

Until then…until our appointed time comes to die we must occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13).  Yet for a little while is the Light with us this side of glory.  We must walk in that Light, the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctify Him to the world.

“35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes.

36 While you have Light, believe in the Light, that you may be the Children of Light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.” John 12:35-36

Sanctifying your church to the world is not walking in the Light.  Sanctifying your denomination is not walking in the Light.  Sanctifying whatever fad is coming down the pike in the modern church is not walking in the Light.

“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 after the Spirit of Life, the Holy Spirit, and being free from the law of sin and death sanctifies Jesus Christ in the sight of others.  Being free from the sin that so easily besets us through our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ to give us dominion over our sin nature, sanctifies our Lord to the world.  At Calvary’s Cross 2000+ years ago, Jesus Christ came to die to redeem us from a condemned world AND give us dominion over sin (Romans 6:14).  Our Lord was Resurrected 3 days later and is now sitting at the Right Hand of God.  He is alive and His Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:16) IF you believe in Him.  To put it quite simply….as it should be, you either believe the Word of God to be true or you believe it to be a lie.  Now if we believe the Lord made a show of every demon in hell and has freely given us dominion over sin, NOT  a license to sin, likewise reckon you also to be dead indeed unto sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11).

Yet for a little while the Light of Jesus Christ is with us this side of glory.  At the appointed time, unless we are caught up with the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17) and raptured out of here, these earthly vessels will die and go back to the dust from which they came.  All of our worldly goods will remain as either the angels carries ours spirits off to be with our Lord Jesus for eternity or satan lays claim to those who rejected Jesus Christ (Luke 16:19-31).  There are no second chances once our appointed time to die arrives.  There is no purgatory and we can’t pay to get our loved ones out of hell (purgatory).  If that was so, Jesus Christ did not have to go to Calvary’s Cross to save us from hell.  Filthy lucre (money) cannot save us from hell…sorry my Catholic friends.

“ And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20:12

Brothers, Sisters – Preachers, Teachers….SANCTIFY our Lord Jesus Christ to the World. Believe Him.  Declare Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross, to the four corners of the world.  We are all appointed a time to die.  Walk in the Light, in Jesus Christ…occupy until He comes.  Today is the day of Salvation.

-Donna Clark Warren

“²⁷ Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

²⁸ Father, glorify Your Name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

²⁹ The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to Him.

³⁰ Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of Me, but for your sakes.

³¹ Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.

³³ This He said, signifying what death He should die.

³⁴ The people answered Him, We have heard out of the Law that Christ abides for ever: and how say you, The Son of Man must be lifted up? who is this Son of Man?

³⁵ Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes.

³⁶ While you have Light, believe in the Light, that you may be the Children of Light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them.” John 12:27-36

But for this cause came Jesus to the world, to suffer the Wrath of God when the judgment of fallen man’s sin would come upon Him as He was lifted up on Calvary’s Cross.  For this reason did Jesus come to shed His Blood on Calvary’s Cross to atone for our sin. He was and is the Sacrificial Lamb of God…the ONLY Sacrifice God will accept to cleanse the sinner and the Saint from their sin.  Saint, if you say you have no sin you are deceived and the Truth is not in you (1 John 1:8-10).  Knowing this, Who Jesus is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe, there is no doubt as to His glorious Resurrection.

When the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is proclaimed to the sinners AND the Saints, the Holy Spirit will draw them; He will compel them through the weight of His convicting power which will reveal to us WHAT we are and WHO He is…sinners who need a Saviour, Saints who need Sanctifying and a Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who will set the captives free, heal the broken hearted and set at liberty them who are bruised.  A Saviour Who came for this cause – to suffer the judgment of this World.

“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.

¹⁸ He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Begotten Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:16-19.

A righteous God must judge righteously and sin will ultimately be dealt with by God.  This is not hate speech but fact.  The penalty of sin is death; eternal hell.  Mankind cannot fellowship with God when there is no repentance of and cleansing from sin through the Blood of Jesus Christ.  The Wrath of God for sin was dealt with on Calvary’s Cross by Jesus Christ for whosoever will believe.  We are then born again and become a new creature in Christ Jesus.  Old things pass away as we are given dominion over our sin nature and able to submit to holiness, to righteousness…to God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We are alive unto God through our faith in Jesus Christ…the One Who came for this reason.

Sin is either judged on Calvary’s Cross for those who are born again or at the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ where all will be declared guilty and thrown into the eternal lake of fire.  No Child of God will be at the White Throne Judgment.  Again, this is not hate speech, this is a fact.  Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save the world.

Yet a little while the Light is with us.  Walk in the Light.  Redeem the time.  Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and behold the convicting power of the Holy Spirit as the weight of the sin is revealed to the bound. The Lord is raising up a people who will bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinners and back to the Saints who have been tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.  Light has come into the world, the Light of Jesus Christ.  Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness come upon you.  While you have the Light, believe in the Light that you may be Children of Light (John 12:35-36) and sanctify the Lord Jesus to the world.

“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 25:29.

Walk in the Light, lest the Light be taken away and given to those who have an abundance of Light.  Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him – Jesus Christ.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and NO MAN comes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁷ And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

⁸ Take the rod, and gather you the assembly together, you, and Aaron your brother, and SPEAK you unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock: so you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink.

⁹ And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him.

¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

¹¹ And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he SMOTE the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

¹² And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because you believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”  Numbers 20:7-12

When we, God’s Children, believe God – when we trust Him to be our God and we His people, we sanctify Him in the eyes of others.  Through our faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (the Source) on Calvary’s Cross (the Means), the Holy Spirit is commissioned to do in our lives that which He will not do in the unbeliever’s life – dethrone our sin nature (which we are all born with due to Adam’s fall) which enables us to yield unto God IF we so choose.

Until sinners and Saints are exposed to the Wrath of God and the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ (the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified) to reveal to us WHAT we are, sinners who need a Saviour and Saints who need sanctifying, which both come through the same Gospel message by the way, cleansing and forgiveness are not effected.

“⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us.

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 1:6-10.

Our distrust in God’s Redemption plan…maybe it is better said like this – our trust in 12 steps to recovery, 40 days of purpose, harbingers, 21 days of fasting or whatever the latest fad is in the modern church, to overthrow sin does not establish us as God’s Children.  These schemes of man from the vanities of their own minds do not sanctify God in the eyes of others but in fact makes our position in Christ Jesus less secure and brings reproach on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just to be clear, our position is less secure because we are looking for another way of victory over the world, the flesh and the devil instead of submitting to God’s Way…faith in Jesus and His finished work.

The Believer’s sanctification is manifested every time we submit to God…precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little,  God is sanctified in the eyes of others through our belief in Him.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the only way to awaken the church from its apathy and stir them into repentance.  We must understand what we are in order for true conviction to occur.  We, the church, God’s Children…those who are to sanctify Him in the eyes of others, are spiritually weakened by our unbelief in Him and HIS Redemption plan, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.  Not only do we no longer consider the Hand of God in our lives, many do not believe nor understand the threat of satan – he has them deceived.  We, God’s Children, proudly smote the rock as we believe in the frail arm of our flesh.

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?”  1 Peter 4:17.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8.

It is not very often that I have such a vivid dream as I had last night.  In my dream I was looking out of the window of my childhood home.  In the field below I could see two lions walking about the tall grass.  It was dark out and I kept desperately trying to warn this person about the lions.  However, they nonchalantly kept coming and going in and out of the house.  Finally, I was in the basement and the lions were sniffing around the door.  As they jumped on the door, I realized the door was made of card board.  This scared me so badly I woke up.  Once awake, the Lord immediately reminded me of Daniel in the lions den (Daniel 6:16-23).

“My God has sent His angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel 6:22.

Once I dozed back off into sleepy land, along came the lions again in my dream. The exact same scenario, exact same urgency but different person.  The only difference in this dream and the other was we did not go into the basement (the den) and there was no cardboard door.

When the Lord gives you a dream, you best take notice.  When He gives it to you twice…you best behold what the Spirit of the Lord is saying, and I am speaking of myself here.

There are many Christians who are bound, as the person in my first dream.  They are slaves to darkness.  Their eyes have been opened to the bondage but they lack the understanding as to how they are delivered from this bondage.  To overthrow this bondage they will listen to the world, the flesh and yes, the devil to deliver them out of Egypt.  Instead of letting their requests be made known unto God through prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:4-6), they are driven to let their requests be made known unto the oppressor through bitterness and anger.

We cannot reason with the oppressor for relief from the oppression or use the world’s methods for victory.  We must be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God for deliverance (Philippians 4:6).  Our obedience to God’s Word, will reprove and reveal the works of darkness to the oppressor.  It is their decision as to receive or reject.  The Holy Spirit is the Revelator, we plant and we water and we do so by being a living epistle and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe.

“¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever does make manifest is light.

¹⁴ Wherefore He says, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷ Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is.

Then there was the second dream.  The person who seeing, sees not, who hears hear not and lacks understanding.  They have knowledge of much but do not understand the difference in that which they know.

For instance, most know of glass and of diamonds but they do not understand the difference in the two.  It is not until we understand the difference that we seeing see and hearing hear.  Too many are walking about their daily walk with the Lord not understanding the difference between religion and the Truth of the Word of God.  Again, the Holy Spirit is the Revelator.  It is not until they start seeking the Truth that the Truth is revealed to them.  Once the Truth is revealed, they are then able to understand the difference between the Truth and religion.  Until that time, God will allow the delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).

“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: 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.

There is life and life more abundantly.  There is joy unspeakable.  There is strength in our weakness.  There is contentment when we are abased.  Unbelievers do not have the strength to deny themselves but we do through our faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on Calvary’s Cross.  Stop carelessly walking in and out among the lions which seek to devour you.  Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).  Stop looking to man and method’s of man for victory over death, hell and the grave.  Look to the only answer God has given us for dominion over sin – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Be determined to know nothing else among you.  Seek to understand.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹¹ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? says the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

¹² When you come to appear before Me, who has required this at your hand, to tread My courts?

¹³ Bring no more vain oblations (offerings); incense is an abomination unto Me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

¹⁴ Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.”  Isaiah 1:11-14

The worship which God Himself had ordained was made of no effect by the Israelites.  The appointed feasts, calling of assemblies, sabbaths and new moons were an abomination to Him.  The Israelites began looking to the ceremony for the cleansing of their sin (sanctification).  They drew near to God with their mouth, and with their lips honored the Lord, but their hearts were far from God (Isa. 29:13, Matthew 15:8).

The Hebraics Roots movement has swept through the modern church causing Christians to run around in prayers shawls with yamakas (skull caps) on their heads, blowing shoffars.  Their favorite scripture is “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

I want to tell you Brothers and Sisters, if you love Jesus Christ, you will keep His Commandments because love compells us to obedience.  Law forces or constrains us to obey.

“This is the Covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put My Laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;”  Hebrews 10:16

A feast, festival or ceremony cannot be written on our hearts.  The 4th Commandment was the only Commandment not spoken of by Jesus in the New Testament because it was a ceremonial law.  All of the other Commandments are moral laws.  We now have the Holy Spirit to convict us of right and wrong and to guide us into all Truths according to the Word of God.

Furthermore, whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).  When asked where they perform their annual sacrifices, as required by all under the Law, they reply Jesus is their Sacrifice.  No my friend, this cannot be so.  We cannot mix Law and Grace.  This is clearly and emphatically taught throughout the New Testament.

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law to do them. But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:10-11.

The Blood of Jesus Christ, which was symbolized by the blood of bulls and goats, is the only way in which sin can be taken away.  Just to be clear, the blood of bulls and goats, could not pay the sin debt of fallen man but atoned for and restored fellowship with God. It did not remove sin from man’s account.  The Blood of Jesus Christ, paid our sin debt in full and completley removed any and all debt owed to God for our sin (Salvation) and gives us dominion over our sin nature (Sanctification).

The modern church no longer trusts in the Sacrifice God has provided to atone for our sin and reconcile us to Him through faith in HIS Redemption Plan through the Blood of Jesus Christ but prefers the ceremonies, appointed feasts and vain oblations.  Sadly, many in the modern church is looking to the mere form as they stand at the altar of Cain. They are forced by law to be obedient instead of compelled by love.  The law is lifted up from the pulpit, instead of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross.

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

Repent and  find grace.  Sanctifying grace.  Grace that will write His Laws on our heart and compell us to obey His Word.  Grace that will give us victory over the sin that so easily besets us.  God has given us the only Sacrifice He will except to reconcile us to Him and His name is Jesus Christ.  Jesus is standing at the door knocking.  He is jealous of the mere forms and vain oblations in which God’s Children are offering for sanctification.  Jesus’ finished work is of no effect for those standing at Cain’s altar.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to give us victory over the world, the flesh and the devil when we no longer trusts the finished work of the Sacrifice God has given but rather the ceremony.

If you don’t believe your faith is in the ceremony, don’t partake in the ceremony and you will feel the pressure…the compulsive drive to follow that law.  This is because your faith is in that law and that is what the law does…pressures, condemns, forces us to obey.  Love compells.  Love writes His Law on our hearts.  Not my love, not your love but the love of Jesus Christ.  Learn of Him; for He is meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29).

“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

God is a Spirit and we worship Him in spirit and in truth.

-Donna Clark Warren

“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

The devil wants to steal your increase.  He wants to kill and destroy the life you have and your more abundant life the Lord has promised. That is who satan is and what he does – kills, steals and destroys.

“⁶ I (Apostle Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

⁷ So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.

⁸ Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-8

He who plants and he who labors are one…but God gives the increase.  The planter nor the laborer are the Revelator, the Holy Spirit reveals – He gives the increase.  I remind you, the devil wants to steal your increase.  We receive our reward according to our own labor. However, we must be sure to understand the reward and the labor required to receive the reward.

Spiritual growth, drawing nearer to God through faith in His Redemption plan, is the increase. Knowing the Living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible, is our reward.  Learning of Jesus, Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe, brings the increase.  Jesus IS life and life more abundant.  Fighting the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ as the source and His Cross as the means…the ONLY means by which the promises of God are yes and amen…that is our labor, not outward ordinances of religion.

Outward ordinances of religion are not labor.  They do not plant nor do they water but are in fact nothing more than lustful desires of the flesh.  The religious ceremonies are an abomination to God (Isaiah 1:14).  They are a mere form which are emptied of significance that religion exalts as “labor”.  This labor will always leave the Believer looking for the increase which never comes. Their increase has been stolen by satan, who is the source, and religion is his means. The devil has many means to steal our increase and all too often, for the Believer, religion is the means.

“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 25:29.

The slothful and unprofitable servant did not labor, he did not plant nor did he water his talent.  Satan not only stole his increase but was allowed to take that which he had been given.  For every one that has labored, fought the good fight of faith and desires more of Jesus for Who He is and what He has done, they shall have an abundance…they shall have life and life more abundant.  However, for those who have not the desire to fight the good fight of faith but labor in the outward ordinances of religion, that which they have shall be taken away.

“¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;

¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (fight), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
steadfastness.

¹⁸ 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 3:14-18.

The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.  Don’t let him steal your increase.  Don’t allow him to destroy your reward.  Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…He will give the increase in abundance.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

¹³ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man comes.”  Matthew 25:1-13

The five foolish virgins began to live outside of the Holy Spirit’s domain when they took no oil with them.  They were slothful and yet they religiously trimmed their lamps.

Sadly, many foolish Christians today who are religiously trimming their lamps but lack oil. They are bound by the compulsion of the law of sin and death because their faith is placed in the trimming of their lamps.  The irresistible urge to behave in a certain way cannot be overcome.  Their religion is steeped in superstition and mysticism.  Instead of the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus which requires faith in Jesus and His finished work, their yamakas, prayer shawls, rosarys and traditions of man have become the law that sets them free from the law of sin and death.   These laws will not free the Believer from the law of sin and death but will indeed keep them bound (Romans 8:2).

“¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:

¹⁵ That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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.” John 3:14-16

This may come as a surprise to many “mature” Christians but I want you to know dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is for us as well…not just the sinner.  The finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross paid our sin debt AND gives us dominion over sin.  It frees us from the law of sin and death DAILY.  We deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Jesus DAILY.

Religion will have us trimming our lamps even though they lack oil but the Gospel of Jesus Christ will compel us to follow Him for Who He is and what He has done for whosoever will believe.  Shemitahs, harbingers, blood moons, 40 days or 12 steps will not evoke us to follow Jesus but instead seduce us to follow man and their vain imaginations.

“²² Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:22-23.

Hear me friends, the Lord does not recognize our religious and foolish “lamp trimming”, He responds to our faith in Him…without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man comes.  Are your lamps full of oil or are you trimming an empty lamp?  The answer is between you and God…prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” asked King Nebuchadnezzar.

“¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter.

¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not careful to answer King Nebuchadnezzar.  They knew the God in Whom they believed and were persuaded that He could keep that which they had committed unto them – their lives.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12.

These three Hebrew boys knew, in whatsoever state they were, to be content.  They knew both how to be abased and how to abound (Philippians 4:11-12) because they knew the God in Whom they had believed.  

The modern church has been careful to answer. They have served golden images at the altar of Cain.  Superstition, schemes of man, human psychology, 40 days, 12 steps, ceremonies and traditions have been the answer given to gain victory and righteousness in the eyes of God.  The power of God, which IS the Cross of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 1:18), is not sufficient to deliver the modern Christian out of the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar, they must “do their part” and fight battles the Lord Jesus utterly defeated at Calvary’s Cross.

There is but one battle the Lord has called His Children to fight and that is the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12) – faith in HIM, in Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross for whosoever will believe.  Sadly, there are many Christians who are praying to a God they do not know.  They pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but they don’t know the small still voice.  Their flesh responds to the wind, earthquake and fire but God is not in them (1 Kings 19:11-12).  These Christians are being swept to and fro by every wind of doctrine because they are praying to a God they do not know.

There comes a time in every Christian’s walk where they find themselves in the wilderness. When we understand the Lord has delivered us out of Egypt and into the wilderness to commune with Him – to learn His Voice and His ways, we will find the promises of God are yes and amen.  However, as long as we continue looking back into or living in Egypt, we cannot commune with Jesus Christ in the wilderness.  We are praying to Him but we don’t know Him…we don’t know His Voice.  He hasn’t authored our faith according to His Will and His Ways…we have.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  Philippians 4:6.

Be careful for nothing Brothers and Sisters.  Remember in Whom you serve.  Be determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).

“11 And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13

Sadly, many of God’s Children seek the wind, earthquakes and fire instead of beholding God’s still small voice. Although God indeed caused the wind, earthquakes and fire, they were not the manner in which God chose to speak to the prophet Elijah.

Be careful not to forsake the still small voice of the Lord for the wind, earthquake and fire that He may cause as He passes by.

“12 For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has.

13 Therefore speak I (Jesus) to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matthew 13:12-13

Whosoever has and wants more of the righteousness of God which only comes through the Cross of Jesus, will have more. Whosoever has but does not care for more, will not receive more and what they have will be taken away.

Those who reject the finished work of Jesus on the Cross for victory over the world, the flesh and the devil, will lose what righteousness they would have had and what they currently possess. However, those who seek for more of God’s righteousness because of Who HE is and what HE has done and not the experiences as He passes by, to them will be given more abundance. They will see, they will hear and they will understand because they are not seeking the “experience”, they are seeking Jesus Christ and following Him daily – not just on Sundays.

While seeking the experience, we too often miss God’s still small voice. As a result, not only do we seeing see not or hearing, we hear not but we don’t understand. We are tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine because we don’t understand…we can’t hear the still small voice.

“2 But He that enters in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep.

3 To Him the porter opens; and the sheep hear His Voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.

4 And when He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:2-5

The religious lack understanding. They do not have ears to hear. They look for and point to the wind but God is not in the wind. Religion will not hear the still small voice of the Lord asking…what are you doing here, Elijah? Behold the still small voice.