“…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?⁴ Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 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.” Romans 6:2-7.

Until we are baptized into the death of Jesus, we cannot be in the likeness of His resurrection.  We are not born again into the newness of life until we are planted together in the likeness of His death.  The body of sin, our flesh, is not destroyed until we are crucified with Him.

We are all born with a sin nature because of Adam’s fall, his original sin.  It rules and reigns in our flesh until we are born again.  Once we are born again, we are dead to our sin nature because we are baptized into Jesus’ death.  Jesus paid the price for our sin debt and our dominion over sin on Calvary’s Cross.  Those who want to just talk about the Resurrection of Jesus, which was a given and I’m oh so thankful for It, are missing the baptism into His death where the debt was paid and dominion afforded.  They are crucifying their own flesh trying to overcome their sin nature, which they cannot do.  We cannot have dominion over our sin nature unless we are dead to our sin nature.  Once we are dead unto our sin nature, we are now alive unto God.

“¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:11-13. 

We are not even alive unto God, until we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ.  It is only, and I do mean only, through Jesus’ shed blood that we are alive unto God.  It is only then that we have dominion over our sin nature – when we are dead to it and alive unto God.

All of this happens upon our Salvation.  We are saved from sin and death by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  Sadly, what happens many times is religion steps in with their various programs to now help with your “spiritual growth”, or more accurately called your “sanctification”.  They grab the new Believer’s attention and take them down a path of failure.  For the bondage the new Believer once had before their Salvation, they now have a class to help maintain their new found freedom afforded them by the Blood of Jesus.  You see, and make no mistake about this…they (many of the churches) are now pointing the new Believer to another bridegroom.  “³ So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. ⁴ Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Romans 7:3-4.

As a Believer our Bridegroom IS NOT dead.  When we turn to schemes of man for deliverance, we are committing spiritual adultery and this is EXACTLY what the modern church is doing.  They point the Believer to 40 days, 21 days, 100 ways and what ever other doctrine is coming down the pike.

“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.

As soon as our faith is directed to another, the law of the Holy Spirit when we are IN Christ Jesus, because of our faith in Christ Jesus, will no longer free us from the law of the sin nature.  Our sin nature once again reigns in our heart.  We do not have dominion over sin.  The law of sin incites our sin nature.  We were once dead to our sin nature through Jesus but because our faith has shifted to our self efforts, self will or 40 days, the Holy Spirit cannot give us dominion over sin…He is not commissioned to endorse faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus.

There are many defeated Christians out there who truly love the Lord but live a defeated sinful life.  They have tried every program the church organization has to offer but their sin nature still reigns.  They have left their first love for another bridegroom and all the power and dominion they claim, they do not have.  Christians frown on lying to others but they will quickly lie to themselves about their circumstances.  They somehow think this will change things.  Faith in Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross remains the only way to have dominion over our sin nature.  The same way we gained our glorious Salvation the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, is also the same way we maintain our dominion over our sin nature…simple faith exclusively in Jesus.

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

-Donna Clark Warren

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. ¹³ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. ¹⁵ Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matthew 23:12-15

The scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites because they claimed to know God but were far away from Him.  They performed many religious acts and prayed long prayers while pretending to be something they were not – close to God.  They earnestly sought new converts (proselytes) to teach these same religious acts.  Jesus said these hypocrites would receive “greater damnation”.  Religious wickedness is the greatest wickedness of all.

There are many who stand at the gate directing God’s children to another gate for spiritual growth/sanctification.  They shut up the Kingdom of Heaven to God’s children for their deliverance and send them to another bridegroom. This other bridegroom offers many religious acts to overcome sin but all with the same result – a proselyte that is twofold more the child of hell.  “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.  Look at what some of the churches are doing today and see yesterday’s proselytes, many are indeed two fold.

There is only one way to have dominion over our sin nature and that is through faith in Jesus.  I know as a Believer we have faith in Jesus for our Salvation but where is our faith for our deliverance from that bondage, our victory in this life?  Our faith should be in the same place as it is for our Salvation – Jesus Christ and His finished work.  Sadly, however, we (the church) are being directed to another bridegroom.  Jesus’ death on Calvary’s Cross not only paid our sin debt but as well broke the dominion of sin in a Believer’s life.  That dominion is only afforded the Believer when our faith is in the One Who broke the dominion…Jesus Christ.  When our faith is in our self efforts, self will or schemes of man, that dominion is not broken.  The Holy Spirit does not reign in our heart to isolate our sin nature when our faith is not in the One Who paid the price, Jesus Christ.  He, the Holy Spirit, is only commissioned to dethrone our sin nature when our faith is in Jesus.  “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.

The Holy Spirit will prick our hearts when we head toward the gate of the other bridegroom and the Pharisees and scribes will tell you “condemnation is of the devil”.  Our faith is shifted to the other bridegroom and we are blinded.  I dare say, if you don’t think you  could be blinded, there is a high possibility you are blinded…I was.  Our spiritual adultery, just as all sin, is fun for a season but the yoke gets heavy.  Just as a frog in boiling water, we don’t realize the weight of the yoke.

“Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. 

Did you blindly follow man to the other bridegroom?  Is your yoke heavy?  Do you feel as though the Kingdom of Heaven is shut up to you?  Jesus remains at the door knocking.  Don’t allow religious pride to keep you out of the Kingdom of Heaven.  His yoke is easy, seek Him, Jesus Christ, for your deliverance – not schemes of man.  – Donna Clark Warren.

“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 hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ” Romans 8:1-2.

When our faith is placed on what we have done for our sanctification, we are not free from the law of sin and death.  Faith that is placed in our self efforts, self will, schemes of man, rituals and/or ceremonies allows the law of sin and death to blind the Believer of their error.  It is a spiritual law.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to free someone from sin and death when their faith is not on the finished work of Jesus for their deliverance.

There are many who truly love the Lord and have been taught many different ways to have victory.  Even the most scriptural doctrines profit us nothing when our faith is placed on US doing those doctrines.  We believe in Jesus’ finished work for Salvation but we turn to schemes of man and self efforts for sanctification.  Suddenly, our free gift is no longer free but we feel we earn it by merit.  We begin to believe if we merit enough, God will give the increase and our sanctification becomes more about our works than Jesus’ work.

Before we are born again by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are led by the flesh.  The flesh has been rebuking the devil for a long time.  As soon as the season of “fun” is over and we start saying no to the sin we once enjoyed, we are utilizing our self efforts and self will to fight sin.  Sin is not stagnant, it will eventually overcome both the Believer and unbeliever if our faith is not properly placed on Jesus.   We, as an unbeliever OR a Believer, cannot overcome our sin nature.  If this was so, Jesus would not have had to go to the Cross to defeat sin.  Sadly, it seems as though many accept Jesus as their Saviour, in which He absolutely is, but few accept Him as their Lord.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” Once we are born again, we are baptized into His death and alive unto God.  Before our Salvation, we were dead unto God.  We could not worship God because satan was our god…whether we like it or not.  The Holy Spirit is a Gentelman and will not overtake our will unless He is invited into our heart and still we must yield our will to Him.  satan on the other hand, will overtake our self will and has the ability to do so – again, otherwise there would have been no reason for Jesus to go to the Cross to give us dominion over sin.

“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.” Romans 6:13.  Once we are baptized into Jesus’ death upon Salvation, we are now dead to our sin nature.  We were all born with a sin nature because of Adam’s fall, no matter how “good” we think we are.  If we are not baptized into the death of Jesus at Calvary’s Cross, we are not dead to our sin nature.  Our sin nature is not dead but we are dead to it and we are now ALIVE unto God.  We are now able to seek God and resist the devil.  We don’t go around fighting satan ourselves.  We have been doing that all of our lives.  We now rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ and He handles our fight.  Jesus Christ is our rest, HE is our Sabbath.

“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.” 1 Timothy 6:12.  Our fight is the fight of faith.  Faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for our Salvation AND our sanctification – our victory in this life to have a good profession before many witnesses.  Please understand, if you think victory is a pocket full of $100 bills, you are seeking filthy lucre and not Jesus.  The Lord Jesus Christ can give you peace in your circumstances and guide you out of them…we just have to LOOK to Him and not method’s of man.

With our faith as a Child of God placed on Jesus finished work on Calvary’s Cross for our sanctification as well as our Salvation, the Holy Spirit sets us free, He gives us dominion and liberty from the spirit of sin and death.  If the sin nature is still on the throne of a Believer’s heart, it is because the Holy Spirit is not authorized to set the captive free whose faith is not in Jesus but in their self efforts.  They are blinded by the spirit of sin and death.  Will God still bless them?  He blessed the Israelites in the wilderness in hopes they would see His mercy and grace.  God led them out of Egypt to teach them to believe in Him but many never did and perished.  He showed some the promise land and they slandered it to their brethren.  “And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,” Numbers 14:36.

We can’t measure one’s spiritual maturity by the amount of time they have served the Lord, nor can we measure it by their circumstances.  However, we can see in whom their faith lies for sanctification.  Many believe the Cross of Jesus is Christianity 101 and have “moved on”.  I had a friend tell me once there is more to Christianity than the Cross of Christ.  These are those who are constantly trying to grow in the Lord by their works and are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.  They truly love the Lord but don’t understand how to live for the Lord.

“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. For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18.

If your faith is in anything other than the Cross of Christ, you are perishing.  The Holy Spirit is not on the throne in your heart but your sin nature remains the monarch.  Even though you love the Lord, it is entirely possible for your faith to be in your own self efforts for victory and this is spiritual adultery.  We are warned of this over and over in the Word of God and it is entirely possible that you have been blinded.  Pray and ask God.  Repent of your spiritual adultery.  God chastises those He loves.  Once our eyes are opened to our faithlessness and His mercy and grace, we are humbled and grateful for His chastisement…at least I was.  To God be all the glory!  – Donna Clark Warren.

“And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18.

Today’s social gospel does not seem to understand the Great Commission.  We no longer preach the Gospel of Jesus to the sinner which will lead them to church but we lift up the church in hopes they will come and hear the Gospel.  These good works they are doing are indeed good but let us be clear, they are not evangelistic.  They glorify the organization and not The Lord Jesus Christ.

Religion is often used as an instrument for oppression but because it is religious we don’t discern who or what is being glorified.  Make no mistake, self righteousness is oppression in its ugliest form.  “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5.   Am I saying all of the people partaking in the community event are self righteous, absolutely not.  I am saying, however, they are headed down the path of a social gospel and not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is not fulfilling the Great Commission given by Jesus, it is fulfilling the commission given by the organization/church.

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32.  It is only the Holy Spirit who can draw the sinner but the name of Jesus, Who He is and what He has done, must be lifted up.  Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross.  He had the purest motive for doing such and that is love for His creation.  Because of Adam’s original sin, we (His creation) were cut off from fellowship with the Lord.  Blood of bulls and goats reconciled the fellowship but could not take away the sin.  It took the shed Blood of the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, to take away our sin and pay our sin debt.  Jesus made a show of every demon in hell when He paid the price for our sin.  For us to lift up anything other than the name of Jesus Christ to a lost and fallen world is another gospel and another Jesus.  “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:9.

Discern who is being lifted up and who is being glorified when we get busy doing all of these good works.  Yes, they are good works but don’t mistake them as evangelistic.  The devil wants to keep us busy doing things that do not lift up the name of Jesus to the lost but he doesn’t mind us lifting up the name of a church or organization.  These churches and organizations have never saved anyone, nor do they have the ability to change someone’s heart.  Our Great Commission is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ which will set the captives free…not another gospel.  – Donna Clark Warren

“²⁸ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. ²⁹ He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. ³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. ³¹ Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John (John the Baptist) came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” Matthew 21:28-32.

I wonder how many of God’s people spent time sitting on the pews in “church” learning about the blood moons, shemitahs and harbingers all in the name of “worshipping” Jesus?  How about those who worship Jesus in ceremony and sabbaths?  We have Christians running around in prayer shawls like they are Jewish Rabbi’s.  We are instructed to pray in the Name of Jesus, not in a prayer shawl.  To be sure I haven’t missed anyone, let’s talk about the 40 days of purpose.  What happens the other 325 days without purpose?  Have you taught or have you been taught we must break those soul ties and family curses after we are saved?  I thought what Jesus did on the Cross broke those curses once I accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour.  If I go back and partake in that sin again, don’t I repent and ask the Lord to deliver me from that bondage?  Or do I just cast that demon out?  It’s not my fault, right?

I have heard it said we need to put Christ back in Christianity.   Can you see how all of those different methods can confuse and deceive a Believer?  Do we even want to discuss how they appear to unbelievers?  Did not the blood moons and shemitah debacle make a mockery out of what the world views as God’s people?  They see us running around in our prayer shawls and we appear as the Orthodox Jewish people who don’t even believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.  I by no means wish to insult my Jewish friends and that is EXACTLY why I don’t pretend to be Jewish.  40 days of purpose tells us how to grow spiritually in 40 days without ever placing our faith in Jesus, Who He is and what He has done, to have victory in our life.

Yet, we, who still believe in the sanctifying power of the Lord Jesus Christ and refuse to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, are the ones who are bound up in religion.  We are legalistic and do not understand God’s mercy because we don’t follow schemes of man.  While those who follow schemes of man have in fact mistaken God’s mercy for approval of their sin.  I present the Israelites wondering around in the wilderness for 40 years, did God approve of their rebellion?  I think not.

^“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth 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 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 7:21-23.

Do you ever wonder who the Lord was speaking of in that passage?  I have.  Christians have encompassed the tares and wheat as unity.  In the name of love they have embraced the tares.  While in reality if they loved the tares, they would tell them they are tares and what happens to the tares.  “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” Matthew 13:40.  How is embracing them, so as not to offend them while knowing what will happen to them loving them?  “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16.

Religion has always twisted the Word of God to fit their doctrine and directed our attention and faith away from what Jesus has done on Calvary’s Cross…pay the full debt of sin for whosoever will accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.  He, Jesus Christ is the One Who broke the curse of sin and He is the One Who will deliver us from that bondage.  We don’t have to seek all of those schemes of man for victory over sin, we seek the One Who made a show of the demons openly for our deliverance. We hold His Name, the Name of Jesus Christ up for our deliverance.  All of those schemes of man are spiritual adultery and are not of God.

There are many out of Covenant teachers, preachers and prophets who have set up their altars before God and sacrifice their works in the name of Jesus.  “And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen,  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” Genesis 4:6-7.  Many of the out of Covenant preachers, teachers and prophets now see their error and repent not.  Why art thou wroth?  If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted?  Repent and be accepted…be determined to know nothing among you accept Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Hold His name on high and testify of His power to set the captives free.  – Donna Clark Warren.

“”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2.

I have attended teachings where we were told to repeat scripture over and over until our faith builds.  Please don’t misunderstand, we all memorize scripture, especially our favorite but the repetition of it is not what builds our faith.  I mean, if we believe what Jesus accomplished on the Cross is true, then that Scripture we are repeating over and over to build our faith, is a given fact or else we are calling God a liar.  I’m not talking about when the Lord puts a certain scripture on your heart and you stand on that scripture, by all means no.  I’m talking about taking a particular scripture, many times out of context, and repeating it over and over convincing one’s self this is how we build our faith.  More often than not, this is presumption.  We presume God does not want us in a particular situation because it is not pleasing to us.  Instead of seeking Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for the lesson, we are actually resorting to a type of witchcraft…yes, witchcraft to build our faith.  Our deliverance of our situation becomes dependent on us authoring our faith according to our will and not God’s will.

Many times it is easier to pray for our will than it is God’s will.  We want God to bless our will, while never seeking His.  The Lord will sometimes bless our will but please don’t misunderstand His blessing for His approval.  Remember, He blessed the Israelites in their error as well, all in hopes they would one day see His mercy, which most never did and perished in the wilderness.

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Corinthians 1:5-7.

It is not the amount of faith but the object of our faith, Jesus Christ.  When we understand what Jesus accomplished for us on Calvary’s Cross for our Salvation and our victory over sin and our faith is exclusively on Him, Who He is and what He has done, then we also understand the entirety of the Word of God, including every promise, is a given.  This is why we fight the fight of faith, faith in Jesus and Who He is…because when we know Who He is and what He has done, we also know the Word of God is true.  We don’t have to do all of these vain repetitions to build our faith.  The Lord Jesus Christ authors our faith.  When our faith is in Him, God gives the increase.  The faith of a mustard seed soon becomes the faith of a mustard tree!

These vain repetitions become a form of works and our faith becomes placed on OUR self efforts.  Our religion becomes about us, who we are and what we must do. Prayerfully discern “who” your religion is about.  As scriptural as it may “seem”, deceit does not come with a red flag warning.  We must know the Word of God for our selves and pray for discernment.  “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.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about Jesus – Who He is and what He has done…not about us and what we must do.  Trust Him to build our faith and guide us into all truth.  -Donna Clark Warren

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29.

As Children of God, we are the first to declare Israel’s fate as a nation.  Among all of her enemies, we know to Whom Israel belongs and have faith that every knee will bow when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Why then, when faced with our own tribulations, do we, as Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise, doubt God’s provision?  Is the Lord‘s Hand waxed short? “Behold, the LORD’S Hand is not shortened, that It cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that It cannot hear:” Isaiah 59:1.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same God yesterday, today and forever more.  It is by our faith in Jesus Christ that we are reconciled to God.  Because of Jesus Christ’s work on Calvary’s Cross are we saved to the uttermost…not allah, not Buddha and not the pope – JESUS CHRIST.  
                                                                                                                       “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.
We don’t have to look any further than the Cross of Jesus for our Salvation and victory over sin.  It is at the Cross that the power of God is found, all others are perishing.  While many are busy preaching harbingers, shemitahs, 40 days of purpose and observing feast, their flock is perishing. “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.

A Child of God who is following the path of obedience through faith in Jesus, not in their will, self efforts or schemes of man, cannot be cursed.  So why do we not believe in God’s providence?  Are you in His will? Are you seeking His will?  Have you mistaken God’s blessings for condoning of a sinful lifestyle?  Are you committing spiritual adultery by seeking schemes of man for victory, no matter their religious overtones?  I don’t know the answer to these questions, nor do I want to know.  However, you should.

We don’t receive the blessings of God through merit, they are a gift that we receive freely through Jesus Christ’s work on Calvary’s Cross.  Faith in anything other than Jesus’ finished work hinders the Holy Spirit from isolating the sin nature, which we are all born with due to Adam’s fall.  These are the Christians who believe in Jesus for Salvation but are seeking schemes of man for victory over sin, which is spiritual adultery. Their faith becomes focused on their works, self efforts and self will. One of the works the Holy Spirit has in a Believer’s life is to isolate our sin nature (which IS our deliverance) when our faith is placed on Jesus, Who He is and what He has done.  When our faith is placed on our merit for victory over our sin nature, our faith is in our works and we are perishing…our faith is not in the power of God, which is the Cross of Jesus.  God may bless us while we are performing these works, just as He did the rebellious Israelites in the wilderness.  However, don’t mistake that for His approval of our spiritual adultery.

There is deliverance in the Cross of Jesus.  We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise of God.  Look to Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith – Jesus Christ.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.

We cannot divide our allegiance.  If our heart is double and of this world, so too will we lay up our treasures in this world.  The Lottery, which is now up to $1.4 billion dollars has tempted many to drive miles and stand in line for hours for a chance to win this massive amount of money.  Let me start off by saying this post is to Believers, not the unbeliever.  For the unbeliever, I have another story to tell you…it is the story of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The story I have for you is “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.  I would much rather be talking to you, the unbeliever, about Jesus but instead, today I’m going to talk to the Believer about the Lottery.

“Thou shalt not covet…” (Exodus 20:17) is the Tenth Commandment.  Gambling is one of the worst forms of covetousness.  The definition of covet is to “desire, yearn or have one’s heart set on”, in this case, gambling or more specifically, the Lottery.  The basis of gambling is luck which has it’s roots in witchcraft, signs, omens and magic.  The Word of God says “…The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17 – not luck.  Luck and karma are led by demon spirits, not the Spirit of God.

Furthermore, anything that can lead one to addiction is of the devil.  Addiction is a form of bondage that goes against the Gospel of Jesus Christ which sets the captive free.  There are many who never become addicted to gambling but just to be sure, those who do not become addicted to gambling serve as bait to those who do.  The alcoholic starts with their first drink and the gambler starts with their first bet.

Gambling is based on the losses of the losers and the losers are more often then not, the very ones who can least afford to gamble; those on welfare, old age pensions or work a minimum wage job.  The poorest of the poor, the very ones America is suppose to protect, are the ones who are baited into the Lottery and often become addicted.  For a Christian to say the poor have no business playing the lottery if they cannot handle or afford to participate is cruel.  Christians are the very ones who should recognize and discern the bondage and certainly should not support that which could make their Brother stumble, we are our Brothers Keeper.

Are Christians refusing to protect the weak and helpless by supporting gambling?  You see, I use to be one of those poor who was weak and helpless.  You probably would have never known I had been awake all night playing poker.  No one knew when I left my home at midnight to drive the hour drive to the casino to try and win money to pay that power bill the next day.  I was what you call a “functioning” addict.  I was both bait for others and addicted at the same time.

I am thankful to God for delivering me from that pit of darkness.  It is quite revealing to me writing this and looking back now seeing the difference in the light and the darkness.  At the time I couldn’t see the darkness because there was no light.  No, I couldn’t afford to gamble but I couldn’t see the destruction until the Lord came and delivered this captive and all of the glory goes to Him and Him alone.

While the hype is in overdrive regarding the Lottery, if you are a Child of God, ask the Lord for guidance before partaking.  Every addict begins with a first.  Will you be the bait or addict…or will you be the one who comes out from among them and separates?  Don’t answer…that is between you and God, but do ask yourself those questions and be ready to give an answer to the Lord when the time comes.

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:21-25. 

-Donna Clark Warren

Reference:

1. Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary Romans 13:3.

God’s goodness is not relative to “our goodness”. The Lord’s blessings are not earned and they definitely do no constitute approval of actions. After the fall of Adam, communion with God was no longer available because of sin. God’s desire is to be our God and for us to be His people but He cannot be the God of a people not consecrated to Him through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

“For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth.” Hebrews 9:16-17.

Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to be the Testator of His New Covenant. He came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay our sin debt to God and restore our fellowship with Him. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

What Jesus accomplished on Calvary’s Cross is the means by which all blessings are given. God’s goodness has never wavered. Once we taste the goodness of God, we often begin to attempt and “earn” more of His goodness. In our heart and mind, we want more of God’s blessings and therefore begin attempting to consecrate ourselves more through various scriptural doctrines which, at that very moment, we have just turned to religious works. As soon as our faith is placed on what we have done for the blessings of God or for our consecration to God, we have rejected Jesus’ work as not enough. We have just made God’s goodness relative to our works for consecration which leads to self righteousness. The yoke of religion is the most deceiving. Memorizing scripture, fasting, reading your Bible are all scriptural and every Christian should do these things. However, as soon as we do them for deliverance from the bondage of sin or victory over sin, consecration or sanctification, we have just turned these scriptural things into religious works. The blessings of God humble a heart consecrated through Jesus and leaven a heart attempting to consecrate themselves with pride in their works being the fruit.

God’s goodness is not relative to “our” consecration. God’s goodness is the definition of good. He is the scale by which we know good. Someone once said the best way to reveal a crooked stick is to place it next to a straight stick. We are the crooked stick. It is our faith in what Jesus did on Calvary’s Cross that restores our communion with God and HIS goodness, no matter how “good” or consecrated we are. It is our faith in Jesus, Who He is and what He accomplished by paying our sin debt which consecrates us to God. If we are trusting in our level of consecration to allow us more access to God’s blessings, His goodness, please understand this is not God’s plan for our consecration to Him and He does not approve…even though we are blessed by Him. Remember God blessed us as sinners in hopes we would come to the saving knowledge of Him. God also blessed the Israelites in the wilderness who rebelled against Him.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus, ²⁰ By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; ²¹ And having an High Priest over the House of God; ²² Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:19-23.

We are consecrated through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and from His work on Calvary’s Cross is where all blessings from God flow…for He is faithful that promised. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,…” 1 Timothy 6:12, faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. –Donna Clark Warren