“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” Matthew 23:23-24.

Many have turned the Grace of God into a law of man.  They are quickly offended when one refuses to condone their compromise but will just as quickly excuse the compromise with other beliefs.  They are friends with the world and at enmity with God.  When sin is mentioned, they fervently pronounce your judgment for being judgmental and declare you the Pharisee.  They are blinded by a religious spirit. Their favorite scripture is Matthew 7:3,  “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”  Proudly they stand with the beam in their own eye judging those who point to sin and say it is sin. The Word of God has already declared sin as sin, not the one pointing to it saying that’s a sin.  They would rather sympathize with the enemy than to help win victories for the Lord.

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:16-20. 

People grow angry when their idols are touched and religious men most of all.  “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24.  Christians are suppose to judge those who claim to be Christians according to the Word of God.  We know them by their fruit.  The Pharisees in the modern church are the first to reject God’s grace by calling good evil and evil good.  They condone the doctrines that embrace the world and see nothing wrong with something God has called sin.  The world is filled with religion because the modern church would not righteously judge doctrine.  They have attempted to unite what Jesus came to divide.

“They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:5-6.

Judge but judge righteously.  Pray for discernment.  Test the spirits.  Do all of this according to the Word of God, not man made doctrine.  The world doesn’t like for one to touch their idols…especially the religious.  You will know them by their fruits.

-Donna Clark Warren

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. ²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:23-29

When our faith is placed solely and exclusively in what Jesus accomplished on Calvary’s Cross by paying our sin debt and giving us dominion over our sin nature (which we were all born with due to Adam’s fall), the Holy Spirit develops righteousness and holiness in a Believer’s life.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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 8:1-4.

Please understand, this righteousness and holiness does not come from standing in front of a mirror declaring such…that is self righteousness.  It does not come from serving the lost hot dogs and water.  The righteousness and holiness that comes from God, begins in the heart and comes out as good works- not the outside in.  There is no graduating class either.

This righteousness and holiness that I speak of comes solely and exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work.  Through our faith, not works lest any many should boast, the Holy Spirit is commissioned to isolate the reigning monarch in our life, our sin nature, and begins His sanctifying work in the Believer’s life.  The Holy Spirit’s work in the Believer’s life when their faith is properly appropriated in Jesus’ finished work will in turn fulfill the moral law of God.  It is the change on the inside, this circumcision of the heart (Romans 8:28-29) that enables the Believer to be obedient to the moral law without it having to be addressed.

This does not condone disobedience but enables obedience.  There are those whose heart is not after the ways of God and are disobedient to the moral law.  They claim God has not dealt with them regarding their sin of choice when His Word has clearly already judged their sin as sin.  In all reality, God has not “dealt with them” because their heart is far from Him and closer to their sin of choice.  “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9.  Their heart is not enabled to be obedient because their sin is the idol that stands between them and God. 

Then there are those who are in bondage to sin.  They hate their sin but do not know how to overcome their sin.  Their faith is in Jesus Christ for Salvation but they reject God’s grace for victory over their sin. Time and time again they try to overcome and time and time again they fail.  The strength of their self effort is laid waste by the strength of their sin nature.  Their faith is placed in their strength and not Jesus’ finished work on Calvary’s Cross, therefore they are not enabled to be obedient.  As much as they want to be obedient, they cannot.  We do not have dominion over our sin nature when our faith is placed on anything other than Jesus for our deliverance.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to endorse faith in our self efforts or our works to overcome sin, no matter the religious connotation of our works (positive confession, hail Mary’s, 40 days of purpose, 21 days of fasting, etc.).  By relying on our self effort to overcome sin we are rejecting God’s grace.  In our heart we just don’t believe God will enable us to be obedient because we have tried and failed time and time again.  I speak this from experience. 

Finally, praise God, there comes a day when we cry out and say “Lord help me, I can’t do it” and He does…He enables our obedience. We quit asking Him to strengthen us to overcome and yield ourselves to Him.  “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:13-14.  Sadly, we do not realize nor understand, we are rejecting God’s grace because of unbelief.  Instead of saying yes to God, we are still saying no to sin.  By saying this, I am not condoning disobedience but simply stating facts as to why so many Believer’s remain in bondage.  Religion has swept them to and fro, from one scheme of man to another to overcome their sin nature which in reality keeps them focused on their sin nature, as all law does, and not Jesus.  All the while, the One they need to overcome their sin nature is knocking on the door – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Instead of saying “yes” to Him (yielding to Him) they are saying no to their sin.  The same faith that got us in to the Kingdom of God, is the same faith that allows the Holy Spirit to develop righteousness and holiness in the Believer…it comes from the inside.  By yielding ourselves to God’s plan of sanctification , which we were unable to do before our Salvation. 

This faith I speak of, faith in Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done, breaks the bondage of sin.  It births a new creature in our heart that allows one to be obedient to God.  This does not mean we will not fail, nor does it mean that we are sinless perfection.  This faith in Jesus Christ creates a humility that can only come through the Cross of Jesus.  It will humble those whose religion works from the outside in and lays waste the unprofitable works of the flesh.  Is your form of doctrine working from the outside in or the inside out?  The difference is law and grace.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. 

-Donna Clark Warren

“And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the Lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God He shall fight for you.” Deuteronomy 3:21-22.

Is the Lord fighting your battle or are you?  Are you resting in the shadow of the most High or is He in your shadow?  Are you walking in obedience to God’s Word, fully trusting in what Jesus has done on Calvary’s Cross?

“Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain (the Jews and the gentiles) one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” Ephesians 2:15-17.

If we fully believe the price Jesus paid as the Lamb of God paid our sin debt and gave us dominion over sin, then we also believe Jesus fully and completely abolished in His flesh our enmity with God.  Why then do we remain at enmity with Him?

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7.  Our enemies may remain our enemies but they will realize no weapon formed against us will prosper when God is fighting the battle.  If we keep God in the shadows, how will our enemy know it is God fighting them?

If you have never seen God fight for you, maybe it is because you are doing all of the fighting.   What is it that you don’t believe?  Do you not believe Jesus abolished our enmity with God?  Maybe you don’t trust God to make your enemies at peace with you?  “Oh, but yes I do believe Sister Donna!”…well, get up and go give the Lord a praise.  Kiss the wave that threw you against the Rock of your Salvation!  Put on “…the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:3.  Too many glorify the trees instead of the Planter, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We, as Christians, all too often create our own battles.  Once we realize the battle was our own creation and not God’s, we still try to fight.  We reject God’s Word when we do not believe that He can turn all things to good for those who love God.

If you truly believe in your heart that the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh to reconcile us with God the Father and you then trust in Him to do all that His Word promises…you will then be able to rest in God’s peace, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. 
-Donna Clark Warren

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, Who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;” 1 Timothy 6:11-13.

Far too many Christians fight battles the Lord did not design.  The only fight we are called to fight is the fight of faith – faith in Jesus, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross.  Our faith in Jesus for our victory over sin is satan’s bulls eye.  If the devil can get our faith in anything other than the power of God, which is Jesus’ finished work on the Cross, we will perish (1 Corinthians 1:18).  The Word of God says to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.  There are classes upon classes in todays church’s which spend hours studying how to fight the devil…I have an idea, submit yourself to God!  These classes make up rules upon rules and go further and further into bondage.  There is a formula for soul ties, another for family curses and another for casting demons out of Christians.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified lays waste their formulas.  The only requirement for deliverance is repentance from our sin and turning back to Jesus.  Jesus broke all of those soul ties and family curses the moment we accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour.  If we have picked them back up, the problem is on our end.  We must repent and seek God for deliverance.  Religion blames the sin on the demon and will go to battle with it.  The Word of God says “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, TO STAND”. Ephesians 6:12-13.  Please understand, standing in front of a mirror pretending to put on your armor is NOT putting on your armor. 

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?  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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5.

Somehow, many believe we can put on the armor of God without first being baptized into His death.  It is as if they want to bypass the crucifying of the old man because that may be painful and put on some imaginary armor and take hold of their resurrected life.  Understand this, unless you have been baptized into His death, you are not raised from the dead by the glory of the Father.  We need to quit listening to those who promote Christians lying to ourselves and submit to God’s plan for our Salvation and our dominion over sin…faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  That is the only fight we are commissioned to fight.

As a Child of God, we need to quit blaming every demon in hell for being demons, that’s what they do.  We must admit to ourselves that our problem is our sin nature having dominion over us – the problem is on OUR end.  Jesus has given us victory but instead of choosing His victory, we prefer to fight a fight the Lord has not commissioned for us to fight.  “And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them. Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies. So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill.” Deuternonomy 1:42-43.  We are going presumptuously up into the hill. 

.Submit to Jesus, the One Who gives us dominion over our sin nature.  Humility is found when we confess we can’t obtain power over sin but at the Cross Jesus did.  This is the rest we have in Jesus, He is our Sabbath not those rituals.  The Sacrifice for our sins and dominion over sin was made on Calvary’s Cross by Jesus…it was Finished. If anyone actually thinks I’m talking about a wooden beam, I urge you to read again with spiritual eyes and not self righteous eyes. Quit fighting fights that are not designed for us to fight…fight the fight of faith, faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  -Donna Clark Warren

^“Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” Matthew 27:50-51.

The Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh to die on Calvary’s Cross.  His physical body was prepared by God as a Sacrifice to redeem fallen man.  The miracles Jesus performed while on this earth,  although wonderful, were not the reason Jesus came.  Jesus came as the Perfect Lamb of God to redeem man to a Holy God.  The Roman soldiers did not execute Jesus, He laid down His life willingly.  “Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My Life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” John 10:17.   Jesus freely laid down His life.  The reason for His Incarnation was to purposely lay down His life.  Through the Holy Spirit, He offered Himself “without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14) for all; for whosoever will accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.

By understanding this great Truth, we also understand that Jesus’ Resurrection was a given.  Please don’t misunderstand, I am in no way dismissing the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, God forbid no.  I am simply saying, when we understand the single purpose for Jesus’ birth was to be our Sacrifice to God, the ONLY Sacrifice God will accept, to pay the debt for our sin and give us dominion over sin, we also understand His Resurrection was never in question.  There was no “fight” in hell with the devil.  Jesus did not die spiritually as many teach.  He came to die on Calvary’s Cross to redeem man.  As soon as Jesus gave up the Ghost, the veil of the Temple was rent.  This means, and I say this in no uncertain terms as clearly as I know how…When Jesus gave up the Ghost and the veil was rent that nothing, and I do mean nothing else is required to be born again, regardless of what one’s religion teaches.  Furthermore, there is also no other way we have dominion over our sin nature except through the same faith that brought us in to the Kingdom of God, faith in Jesus and what He did on Calvary’s Cross.   Jesus paid the price for our sin in full.

When we are taught about Jesus, Who He is and what He has done, our faith is in Him.  Sadly, the modern church cares more about Shemitahs, harbingers, 40 days of purpose and spirits of python which directs our faith in schemes of man.  There is nothing we can do in the flesh to have victory over sin.  It is our faith in the power of God, which is Jesus and His finished work on the Cross, that gives us dominion over sin.  Far too many spend far too much time fighting a fight they are not called to fight.  We are called to fight the fight of faith…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  When our faith is placed on our works, no matter how religious they seem, the veil is not rent for us. Don’t misunderstand, it is rent, just not to us when our faith is moved from the One Who destroyed it, Jesus.  It is us that is the problem, not Jesus’ finished work.  The Holy Spirit only isolates our sin nature and gives us dominion when our faith is in the One Who gave us dominion, Jesus.

Only when we are totally and completely dependent on what Jesus has already done and our faith is in Him, can the Holy Spirit give us dominion.  Many of us Pentecostals place our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit for our deliverance.  May gently remind my Pentecostal Brothers and Sisters, the Holy Spirit will always point us back to the Cross of Jesus and never to Himself.  “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 shew you things to come.” John 16:13.  We cannot access the power of the Holy Spirit with our faith in the Holy Spirit.  He, the Holy Spirit, is only commissioned to honor faith that is in Jesus, not man made schemes or self efforts (Romans 8:2).

It is only the Cross of Christ that makes humility possible.  When we understand there is nothing we can do to accomplish what Jesus has already done, we are either humbled or hardened….the choice is ours.  The church must repent and return to the Cross of Jesus for both Salvation and sanctification.  They have frustrated the Grace of God and caused many to stumble.  The Cross of Jesus lays waste man made schemes…He is not a method, He is our Lord and Saviour, Who is sitting at the Right Hand of God.   Jesus is alive and active in His Church.   We will all give an account for our stewardship of the Gospel of Jesus.  Choose carefully.  – Donna Clark Warren

“For what have I (Apostle Paul) to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13.

As Christians, we do not judge the sinners for sinning…that’s what they do.  Someone who is not born again through the Blood of Jesus Christ cannot help but sin.  Some may have a stronger will than others but make no doubt, even the strongest will of man cannot over come satan’s power.  If it (man’s will power) could over come sin, there would have been no need for Jesus to go to Calvary’s Cross to give us dominion over sin.  Sinners are going to sin and we need not waste our time judging, complaining and debating over their sins.

However, we do tell them there is freedom from their bondage through the Blood of Jesus Christ.  We do preach deliverance to the captives so they no longer have to sin.  They are condemned to an eternal hell and in a bondage they cannot overcome…and we complain about them.  Complaining about them will not change their hearts.  Condemning them of their sins does not bring a sorrow that will lead to repentance, they are already condemned – literally.

The only One Who can change their hearts is the Lord Jesus Christ.  How many times have they already rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  I ask you this…how many times did you? I praise God for His mercy and grace He showed me.  If He would have kicked me to the curb the first time I rejected the Gospel of Jesus, I’m scared to think of where I might be.    We don’t judge the lost.  We preach to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  We lift up the name of Jesus to the lost and the Holy Spirit draws them.  If they reject the draw of the Holy Spirit, we shake the dust from our feet and pray for God to send His laborers to cross their path.

“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.

How have we, God’s children, been faithful to the Word of God?  How have we been good stewards to this Good News of Jesus Christ and Him crucified?  Has not the modern church taken the Word of God and used it as a license to form “their doctrine” and build their empires? “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18. 

These are not sinners that I’m judging but Saints.  As good stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are required to be found faithful to the full counsel of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 4:2).  The more popular a religious organization is the further away from God it usually is.  As a church feeds the flesh, the more flesh it will gather.  A church who is feeding the spirit with the Word of God, will only attract those who are seeking to feed the spirit.  It is not hard for those who are led by the spirit to discern the difference.  Discernment is a Gift of God and, as with all gifts from God, it is not by merit.  There is nothing we can do to earn God’s gifts.  Simple faith in Jesus and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross is the only reason we are afforded these gifts.  That faith of a mustard seed in the power of God allows the Believer to reckon those promises in God’s Word are for them and that He will give the promises to the Believer at His Will and for His purposes…NOT our presumption or I will – sorry, word of faith folks.

“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.

The problem is that few understand the power of God is in the Cross of Jesus.  Their faith is in the Cross of Jesus for Salvation, praise the Lord, but for victory over their bondage, they place their faith in the power of man.  The schemes of man preached by the modern church to overcome sin using their will power through the psychological and motivational gospels has forsaken God’s power for victory and seduced God’s children to another bridegroom.  They have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5.

God’s people need to turn away from form’s of godliness and seek holiness through the power of God to change the heart of man.  Sorrow which leads to repentance is never a loss.  God will no more honor the disobedience of the church anymore than He will honor the disobedience of the individual.

“If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Turn back to the power of God – Jesus Christ and HIS finished work.  Trust Him.

-Donna Clark Warren

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ³ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1-6.

I have had many conversations with people regarding Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”.  Some use that Scripture to discount the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, while others claim it is evidence that water baptism is a requirement of Salvation.  Sadly, there seem to be few who truly understand the meaning.  There is of course One Lord and that is Jesus Christ.  There is one faith, faith in Jesus Christ and what He did on Calvary’s Cross.   Jesus paid the wage of sin for all but not all will accept His free gift.  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Jesus also broke the power of sin over every Believer’s life. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14.   Many who have fallen under false doctrine continue to try and break these curses after their Salvation, when in reality repentance is necessary.  The religious spend more time rebuking demons than they do seeking God.  It is easier to blame the demon for their sin nature having dominion over them than it is to admit their failure.  They lie to themselves and declare and proclaim their dominion over those demons.  “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?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23.  These are those who use the name of Jesus but don’t know Jesus.  They use the His Name as a means to an end and do not have or seek a relationship with our Lord and Saviour.  The name of Jesus is used as an incantation and not with His Authority.   

Then there are many who do not have “one faith” but two faiths.  Their faith is in Jesus for Salvation but in their spiritual warfare (their works) for their victory.  They are fighting battles Jesus has already won but won’t look to Him for their victory.     Faith in anything other than the Cross of Jesus for Salvation and sanctification destroys the Believer’s peace and engages their sin nature…usually in the form of self righteousness. 

“One baptism”, what then was the Apostle Paul speaking when he said there is but one baptism?  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?  ⁴ Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:” Romans 6:3-5.  Our baptism into Jesus is the one, the only baptism necessary for our Salvation.  Believing in Jesus, Who He is (the Son of God) and what He did on Calvary’s Cross (pay our sin debt and give us dominion over sin) is the only requirement for our Salvation.  We are baptized into Him, we are buried with Jesus in the likeness of His death and are raised up (here is where so many fail) BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.  We, our flesh starts helping.  Religion starts showing us how to help.  The harlot seduces us to another.  We simply cannot wait to be raised up “by the glory of the Father”, through our faith solely and exclusively in Jesus, so we add a little leaven to the lump – we try to do “our part”.  

Our faith is in Jesus for Salvation and we are baptized into Jesus.  However, our faith is in that leaven (our part) for dominion over our sin nature.  We are never “raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father” because we do not have “one faith” as the Scripture teaches.  Our spiritual growth is stunted, we are not raised up by God but by man who attempts to use psychology to convince us this is the “resurrected life”…not so my friend, not so. “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12.

The glory of the Father will glorify Jesus…not a person or a religious organization.  God’s glory will glorify Jesus in one’s own heart and change their heart.  He will become real to them as He begins to reveal Himself.  Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith, we don’t have to try and conjure it up.  We don’t have to fake it to make it.  Jesus is no respecter of persons.  He will do for one what He has done for others but we must look to Him and not the harlot for our victory.

Too many put on a façade of “love” to show the lost their “Jesus inside”.  They believe doing so will change the hearts of man.  It may make the lost like them, but if they don’t know the Jesus of the Bible Who died for their sins, instead of the “Jesus in you” and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour, they are still going to bust the gates of hell wide open.

The social gospel teaches an evolutionary Salvation.  It lifts up the religious organization in hopes to draw the lost to the church to hear the Gospel.  Instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified being proclaimed, we are told to recite a prayer and we are saved then directed to the various self help classes we use to call Sunday school where we studied the Word of God to learn about Jesus, not Purpose Driven Life, Shemitahs, Harbingers and Grace Revolutions.  The lost believe that because they recited the sinner’s prayer that they are saved, while in reality their Salvation never made it to their heart because they did not believe in their heart the words they just spoke.  They honor Jesus with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. “This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:8-9. 

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Ephesians 4:5…just one.  There is only one plan for Salvation and sanctification that is God’s plan…Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a completely different occasion, just as water baptism.  “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:” Luke 3:16.

There is just One, learn Who He is and what He has done – Jesus Christ.

-Donna Clark Warren

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:1-4.

Instead of God’s way of true repentance, the modern church strives to make peace with the world.  I saw a prayer yesterday for “Christians who live in disagreement and discord with various faiths or church denominations”.  I ask you, how can a Christian live in agreement and accord with other faiths?  Furthermore, denominations are not recognized by God.  As long as one believes the ONLY way to God is through the Blood of Jesus Christ, they are a Christian.  Please understand, I’m not talking about Jesus plus anything (water baptism, baptism in the Holy Spirit,  sacraments, etc.) – Jesus and Jesus alone is the only way for our Salvation.  Water baptism is an outward showing of our inward change the day we are saved but it is NOT a requirement of Salvation.  Baptism in the Holy Spirit, as in the Book of Acts, endues the Christian with power for service but is not required for Salvation.  I would encourage everyone to seek the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and I am thankful for this gift…but not even the mighty infilling of the Holy Spirit is a requirement for Salvation.   The sacraments the catholic religion requires…well that’s just man made adornments added to the Cross of Christ.

The peacemakers are constantly trying to justify what the Blood of Jesus has not cleansed.  They offer up their sacrifice before God.  Their good works and formal rituals are their idols.  ” I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. ²² Though ye offer Me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. ²³ Take thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. ²⁴ But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” Amos 5:21-24. 

The peacemakers attempt to multiply what Jesus came to divide.  They are at enmity with God and the Cross of Jesus is the division.  It is There that morality meets immorality and the choice is made to accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour or reject Him.  It is also There, at the Cross of Jesus, that morality will continue to offend.  “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O LORD…” Psalms 94:12.   The Peacemakers will quickly comfort the offended and hinder the Lord’s chastening.  They will offer up fruit of the flesh  in the form of a program or man made method to soothe the offense and direct the Believer to another bridegroom for comfort.

Beware and be warned of the Peacemakers.  “¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:16-20. 

 They have turned the Grace of God into a law of man.  You will know the Peacemakers by their fruit.  They will quickly be offended and war with their members (James 4:1) when you won’t condone their compromise but will quickly excuse the compromise with other beliefs…they are the Peacemakers, they are friends with the world and at enmity with God. 

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:” Luke 12:51.  Jesus Christ IS peace.  He is the Prince of Peace.  It is only in Him that the lost will ever find peace…not in man’s methods of making peace by hindering the conviction of sin in a Believer’s life.  Upon our Salvation and we are baptized into Him, we are immersed in a peace that surpasses all understanding.  If you are a born again Believer and have lost that peace, you have probably been seduced by the harlot to another bridegroom, another comforter.  It is never too late to repent and turn back to Jesus Christ.  He remains at the door knocking…He is the division between rest and rituals.  Turn to Him, Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross and allow Him to give you peace.  Quit fighting for peace, yield to Peace – His peace, Jesus. 

-Donna Clark Warren

“ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Romans 7:18-21.

We all have friends and/or loved ones who we want to “do right” but they just won’t.  We beg, plead, get mad, get glad and to no avail.  To their credit, they try for a day or so but fail…that is usually the point where we consider strangulation (insert sarcasm).  We fuss and they fail.    The vicious cycle continues to roll on.  The problem is no one can do right until they get right with the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of one’s nagging and the other’s self efforts.  If we could “do right” and by doing right I mean overcome our sin nature, then Jesus would not have had to pay the terrible price He paid on Calvary’s Cross to pay our sin debt and give us dominion over sin.  Let me be clear, an unbeliever cannot do right…they cannot gain victory over their sin nature because they are relying on their self efforts.  They may say no to sin and yes to their self efforts and self will but their sin nature is stronger than their self will.  Again, if this was not so there would have been no reason for Jesus to go to the Cross to save us from sin.

This why we pray for the Lord’s mercy on them instead of strangle them.  Knowing the Lord wants them to come to the saving knowledge of Him so much more than we can imagine, we trust Him and His ways and do our best to stay out of His way.  God is the only one Who can change their heart.  It is not until they are born again that they are able to have dominion over their sin nature.

What about the born again Believers who are under bondage?  Those who sincerely love God but cannot over come their sin nature.  Their sin nature has dominion over them as well.  Why can’t they overcome their sin nature?  A born again Believer should have dominion over their sin nature, right?  Sadly, there are many born again Believer’s who are fighting their sin nature the same way they did before they were saved ….they are relying on their self will.

Upon our Salvation our faith is placed in Jesus Christ for what He accomplished on Calvary’s Cross – pay our sin debt and give us dominion over our sin nature.  The Holy Spirit dethrones our sin nature and gives us authority over it…this is a glorious moment.  Immediately, religion steps in and points us to methods of man for victory over our sin nature which the Lord has already delivered us from, and our faith is placed in our efforts, once again for victory.  The Saint loves God and their faith is in Jesus for their Salvation but in another bridegroom (methods of man) for sanctification. This is spiritual adultery.  When our faith is in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ for our deliverance, we will have the same results…failure.  The vicious cycle continues.  Our sin nature is no longer isolated when our faith is in our self efforts.

“ If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

There are far too many Christians who need to humble themselves and realize there are brothers and sisters who truly love the Lord that are under bondage.  They hate their sin as much as they hate others.  I’m not talking about the ones who are bellied up to the bar claiming to be a Christian with a cocktail in their hand – no, they need to get saved.  I’m talking about the Christian’s who don’t know why their sin nature reigns in their heart and don’t know how to live for God.  We, those who are called by God’s Name, need to turn from our self righteousness and get on our face and pray for His children who are under bondage.  We need to pray for their understanding and deliverance.  Again, I’m not talking about those who are comfortable in their sin.  I’m talking about those who are seeking deliverance of their sin and are relying on their self efforts.

We must pray for the saved and unsaved.  We must pray for God’s mercy on the unsaved in hopes they will come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We must pray for God’s deliverance of those who are in bondage.  We also must pray for discernment to understand the difference between the two.  Pray for the lost but understand, they cannot over come their sin nature.  Pray for the saved who are in bondage but understand as well, they cannot overcome their sin nature either BUT they CAN say yes to Jesus and HE has already overcome sin…HE will deliver them from the dominion of their sin nature when their faith is in Him and not their efforts.  The unsaved do not have the ability to say yes to God, they are spiritually dead – they have no hope until they are saved by the Blood of Jesus.  Pray for the lost. – Donna Clark Warren

“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” Romans 7:1.

The majority of the church world understands grace for Salvation but revert to law for sanctification.  When we begin talking about the Cross of Jesus for sanctification, they think we’re talking about our Salvation.  Upon our Salvation we are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ.  We are declared a Saint of God by God…sorry to disappoint you pope but your declarations are mere titles of man.  However, our position as sanctified is not yet our condition.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the new Believer, to sanctify the Saint and bring them into all Truths. “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 shew you things to come.” John 16:13.  I’m not speaking here of sinless perfection but of dominion over sin.  Jesus did not come to save us in sin but from sin.

At Salvation every bondage, family curse and soul tie; EVERY sin is forgiven, forgotten and tossed into the sea.  It is now up to the Saint to maintain, not gain, their victory.  Sadly, many will be swept to and fro by different winds of doctrine.  The harlot stands ready to seduce the new Believer into 40 days, 21 days and 100 ways of religious activity.  All of these various activities become a law to achieve what the Believer needs.  There is a program for any and all “problems” the Believer may encounter and not a one of them involve faith in Jesus and His finished work for deliverance…His (Jesus’) work was for our Salvation now it is up to us to “gain” our sanctification according to the programs, we must do “our” part.

Doing “our part” has just become a law, whatever our part may be.  Our part now has dominion over us.  Make no mistake, our part is a sin and we have just allowed our sin nature to reign once again in our heart.  When our faith is on our part for sanctification, we have just crossed over into law and are no longer under grace.  “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21.

The law incites our sin nature, whether it be the Mosaic Law or any other law man gives to overcome sin.  We are all born with a sin nature because of Adam’s fall.  It is not until we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, that the Holy Spirit comes in and dethrones our sin nature.  We are now dead to our sin nature through our baptism into the death of Jesus and alive unto God (Romans 6).  Upon Salvation our faith is in Jesus, our condition as a sinner is understood and the Holy Spirit quickens our spirit that we are a Child of God – we are born again.  However, as soon as the harlot comes to seduce us with her schemes of man for sanctification, we are swept away into a path of failure.  Are we still saved? Absolutely! I’m not talking about Salvation but sanctification.  Can this path destroy our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour? Sadly and regrettably, yes.  The Holy Spirit will continue working with us, convicting us of our sins but religion will tell us that is condemnation from the devil…which is dangerous territory.

We can be guaranteed the harlot’s path leads to failure because it is not the Holy Spirit pointing us to all Truths but man pointing us to schemes of man.  The Holy Spirit can only isolate our sin nature when our faith is in Jesus, not “our part” (self efforts, self will and religious works).  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2.  We are not free from the law if the Holy Spirit has not made us free and He (the Holy Spirit) cannot make us free as long as our faith is in our part (our works).  Religion will tell you to look in the mirror and declare we are free when we are not free because our faith is not in Jesus for our deliverance.  In all reality, our faith is in that lie we just declared to ourselves in the mirror.  Christians will lie to themselves much quicker than they will each other. Just because we don’t “claim it” doesn’t mean we don’t have it and if we want deliverance from it, we best look to the One Who can deliver us from it, Jesus Christ.

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24.

If you want your miracle, get on your face before the Lord and cry out to Jesus for your miracle.  Stop lying to yourself about your condition, stop listening to the world about your condition…confess your condition to Jesus Christ and receive your miracle.  The Lord WANTS to bless you…turn away from the harlot and back to Jesus Christ.  – Donna Clark Warren.