“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:” Isaiah 45:2.

I woke up this morning with this scripture on my heart.  Immediately I grabbed my coffee and my Bible and commenced to reading the entirety of Isaiah 45.  Imagine my surprise when I read a little further…

” Thus saith the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; ² I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: ³ And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. ⁴ For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. ⁵ I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:1-6.

God’s anointed, whose right hand He held “to subdue nations before him”, was the heathen king Cyrus, whom did not know God (vs.4).  God chose a heathen king to deliver His people.  King Cyrus knew of God, his mother was Queen Esther, but he did not know God.  King Cyrus did mighty things for God’s people that was prophesied 200 years earlier. He was anointed in the sense that he was appointed by God to carry out God’s righteous purposes of delivering the Hebrew people from captivity.

“Woe unto him who strives with his Makers! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the Earth. Shall the clay say to him who fashions it, What do you make? or your work, He has no hands?”  Isaiah 45:9. Who are we to question God’s way?

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:22-23. 

Let us never forget, God moved on the heart of a heathen king to deliver His (God’s) people.  Many of us need to get our eyes off the heathen king’s heathen ways and look to God to see what God is doing through the heathen king.  God’s people were delivered because they were God’s people, not because of the king.  What do you think killed Goliath?  The stone or God?  – Donna Clark Warren

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 4:11-12.

The Lord is the Judge of good and evil, not us.  There is a difference in judging good and evil and knowing the difference between good and evil according to the Word of God.  Just because a Christian points to evil and calls it evil does not mean they are judging evil, God has already done so.  Knowing the difference between what the Word of God says is good and evil and judging good and evil are two entirely different things.

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24.

Righteous judgment is knowing the difference between what God has judged as good and evil; not what we, our religion, our denomination or our traditions declare as good and evil.  “…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8. Whatsoever things are true requires righteous judgment according to the Word of God to determine if they are “true”.  Whatsoever things are just requires righteous judgment to determine if they are “just”.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

Fornication is evil according to the Word of God.  “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16.  No one seems to mind when someone says “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, which is by all means just as true.  It is easy to tell someone they are blessed but not so easy to tell them they are cursed. This is not to judge them but to hopefully point them to repentance.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

We must understand that recognizing those who are covetous, boasters, proud and blasphemers or recognizing those who have a form of godliness but denies the power thereof, is not judging the law or judging the brethren as in James 4:11-12 but is in fact righteous judgment according to John 7:24.  Lack of righteous judgment has birthed hyper grace, word of faith and many other false doctrines that have come down the pipe.  If we are going to know them by their fruit, we must know how to judge their fruit righteously…otherwise we will be taking a bite of that bad fruit as well. – Donna Clark Warren

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20.

Dead faith, lack of faith, misappropriated faith – faith in anything other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified results in dead works.  The result of dead faith is faith without works.  Works does not result in proper faith but proper faith will always and without fail result in proper works.  These works will be profitable to the Kingdom of God and glorify HIM; not us, not our church nor our denominations…they will glorify our God.

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Cor. 3:13.

Religion will keep us busy in unprofitable works…discern who or what is being glorified – the church, denomination, organization or God? – Donna Clark Warren

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:13-16.

The temptation is not the sin, everyone is tempted when they are drawn away of their own lust. It is when we initially mentally engage the lust that has drawn us away that lust is conceived in our hearts which brings forth sin.  The lust, which is now conceived in our heart, is the sin. “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28.

An unsaved person is unable to say no to satan, if we could overcome him there would have been no reason for Jesus to pay our sin debt.  We are born servants of satan…no matter how good a person is or their good works.  Sin is not static.  Sometimes it is even fun for a season but it always leads to death.  The weight of a sin will eventually crush the unbeliever.

“The thief cometh 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.

As soon as we engage the lust we are no longer engaging the Lord.  These lusts do not come with a red flag.  The only way we recognize these lusts is by conviction of the Holy Spirit and discerning by with the Word of God.  The best way to show a stick is crooked is by laying a straight stick beside it…the straight stick will always lay waste the crooked stick just as the Word of God will always lay waste the lust.

When our faith is placed solely and exclusively on Jesus’ finished work on the Cross, we know that we know that we know that Jesus’ gave us victory over that lust and that we no longer have to engage the lust.  When the lust rears its ugly head we retreat to Jesus and He rebukes, we stand in His Armor.  Many of the religious may be giving a big amen right now because they think I’m speaking of “fleshly” sins, those we can see, without realizing I am also speaking of their self righteous sin.  When the religious engage in the lust of spiritual warfare such as soul ties, family curses and trying to “cast” sin out instead of telling the Saint they are sinning and in need of repentance, they (the religious) are just as much engaging lust as the person who is lusting after that drink.

There is deliverance from that temptation.  “Blessed is the man who endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of Life, which the Lord has promised to them who love Him.  If we love Him, we will keep His Commandments, not because we have to but because we want to and the Holy Spirit will empower us to do so when our faith rests solely on what Jesus has done…not on what we have done, can do or will do but on Jesus, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross.  Seek Him, learn of Him and He will deliver you from your temptation.  – Donna Clark Warren

“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.” Matthew 11:29.

Jesus said “learn of Me”.

“ 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.

Please understand, until we learn of Jesus Christ, of what He did and Who He is, and our faith is placed on what His death accomplished on Calvary’s Cross, victory over sin and death, we will never be planted together in the likeness of His death.  As long as we think the written Word of God is about us and not the Living Word, Jesus Christ, we will never see the righteousness of Jesus but the “righteousness” of ourselves…self righteousness.

Until we learn of Him, Jesus Christ, it is not possible to be in the likeness of His resurrection.  Just as our guilt as a sinner is a fact and not a feeling, so too is our forgiveness.  Being forgiven does not constitute perfection but it also doesn’t constitute permission…permission to sin.  Once we realize our guilt, we understand the reason for His death.  Society would have us think we are instinctively good but the Bible tells us we are filthy rags without Jesus. The written Word of God tells us the Living Word, Jesus, came to give us life and life more abundantly for those who believe in Him.

“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.

If our faith is not placed solely and exclusively of Jesus Christ, until we learn of Him and what He has done, we cannot and will not be in the likeness of His resurrection.  The Holy Spirit can only free us from the law of sin and death when our faith is placed in Jesus’ finished work.  It is then that we experience the likeness of His resurrection.  Learn of Him, Jesus Christ…His yoke is easy and you will find rest for your wary soul.  – Donna Clark Warren

“ But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” Galatians 1:11-16. 

When the Living Word, Jesus Christ, reveals the written Word the response is one of love in which hearts are changed.  When the written Word is revealed by the traditions or schemes of man, the response is one of works which provokes self efforts.  Preaching anything other than Jesus Christ and Him Crucified (positive confession – “I’m not claiming it”, 21 days, 40 days, pythons, shemitahs, rituals, traditions, etc.) engages our flesh not our faith.

“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.  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: 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. 

Victory is found in the Cross of Jesus.  The promises of the written Word are given to us by the Living Word, Jesus, and our faith in Him is what allows us access to those promises…not our self efforts.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5.

Carnal Christians walk after the flesh teaching traditions of men with an appearance of godliness but deny God’s power, not by their words but by their actions.  Their words are their “godliness” but their actions deny His power. They walk after schemes of man provoking flesh not faith, lifting up every name other than the name of Jesus Christ for victory over sin…from such turn away.  – Donna Clark Warren

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:14-19.

Unbelief – what many Christians say and what they do oppose one another.  It is easy to say we believe God until the rubber meets the road and we have to believe.  “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Exodus 32:26.  Those who were not on the Lord’s side perished that day due to unbelief.

The problem I see is that many Christians misunderstand the term “unbelief” in regards to God.  We believe IN God but sometimes we don’t “trust” God or in other words, we may not believe God.  All we can see is the storm and the sinking boat and never recognize the boat has yet to sink.  The Israelites unbelief was because Moses had been gone too long on Mount Sinai, they no longer believed God – they believe IN Him but did not believe Him.

Far too many times we do not believe God’s Word will perform what It says and because of OUR unbelief, we are provoked, at which point we blame God for provoking us.   All of the while, we are provoking God because of our unbelief in Him, in His ways and His abilities. God’s mercy and longsuffering is not realized until we realize our unbelief in God’s plan…not God but His plan for our Salvation and our sanctification which requires faith in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on Calvary’s Cross.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19.

We all need to do a heart check…we believe IN God (as do demons) but do we BELIEVE God?  Do we believe He is able to do all His Word says It will do?  If we do believe the power of God is in the Cross of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:18), why are we placing our trust anywhere other than what Jesus has done (40 days, 100 ways, etc.)? Do we not believe the Lord will deliver us?  Who is on the Lord’s side?  – Donna Clark Warren

“ And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.   For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 5:2-5. 

When is the last time you heard this preached in church?  According to this Scripture an unrepentive Brother or Sister who has fallen into sin should be delivered unto satan for the destruction of the flesh so the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Please understand, this Scripture does not say to deliver such a one unto satan for sin but for unrepentive sin.  We should mourn for our fallen brethren because they “might be taken away from among” us if their sin is unrepentive.  If we are obedient to the Word of God, we are to withdraw all fellowship with them.

What many don’t seem to understand is we cannot bring our Brothers and Sisters to repentance.  Repentance is a condition of the heart.  Physical affliction can not save one’s soul unless it brings them to repentance.  While todays apostate church tries to love them into repentance, the Word of God says to turn them over to satan in hopes that their spirit may be saved.

“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;  Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:9-11.  There is another nugget the worldly church seems to overlook.  After admonishing someone of their false doctrine twice, we are to reject them.  The Lord says to “come out from among them, and be ye separate,…” 1 Cor. 6:17. 

Sadly, and I mean this with all sincerity, many in the church do not realize their vain attempt at “loving them into repentance” is in fact a hindrance because our “love” does not want their flesh to be destroyed so their soul will be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our “love” is in fact not love at all but instead selfishness because we don’t want to see them turned over and unbelief because we are scared the Lord will not deliver them once their flesh is destroyed.

Ironically, and I am unsure if that is the correct word, it appears as if those who are sitting under false doctrine and have been warned time and time again but are unrepentive are the very ones who are to be turned over to satan for the destruction of their flesh.  I do not say those words with any kind of joy but sadness.  In my flesh I want to shake them and tell them to wake up but my spirit knows I, Donna, cannot give them a repentive heart.

“Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.” 2 Corinthians 2:6-8.

In 1 Corinthians 5, the Saint was put on trial for his sin and turned over to satan for the destruction of his flesh.  In 2 Corinthians 2, the church of Corinth was on trial for their obedience to the Apostle Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 5.  It appears as though this man’s punishment was sufficient and the church was instructed to forgive and comfort him lest he be swallowed up in sorrow.  It appears as though God’s Word did not return to Him void…it appears as though the unrepentive sinning Saint’s heart was changed when their flesh was destroyed.

As Christians, many claim to believe the Word of God but are too scared to be obedient to the Word.  If we are not obedient to what the Word of God says, we do not believe what It says or else we would be obedient.

Before anyone walks away from this believing I’m saying the Bible says to turn away the sinner from the church doors, please read again.  I am speaking to the Saints who are oppressed by sin, those whose sin nature has dominion over them and do not see this, recognize this or care about this.  I am speaking to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour but remain in sin and are unrepentive.   The world calls them hypocrites and the apostate church calls them Brothers and Sisters.

However, to those who are under the bondage of sin and hate their sin as much as they hate other’s sin but cannot maintain victory over their sin nature, the Word of God has an answer for them too.  It starts in Genesis 1 and ends in Revelations 22 and it tells you the story about the One who defeated sin and gave us the victory and His name is Jesus Christ.  If we will simply believe that the Cross of Calvary gave us that victory, that Jesus paid our sin debt, not so we could comfortably sin but so we could go and sin no more, the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver us.  You see my friend, deliverance is in the Cross of Jesus, He will perform His Word but we have to have faith in His finished work in order for the Holy Spirit to dethrone the reigning monarch – our sin nature.  We have to believe His Word and trust His ways.  No one wants to turn anyone over to satan in order for their flesh to be destroyed but we have to love them enough to be obedient to the Word of God and trust God enough that He is going to do everything short of overriding their will to bring them to repentance.  And understand this, once their flesh is destroyed, their heart will either be softened or hardened and it is their choice, not God’s fault.

40 days of purpose, 12 steps or 100 ways does not have authority over the devil.  Jesus Christ and Him crucified is where satan was utterly defeated.  If you reckon that to be so, quit wavering to and fro and believe what the Word of God says…Jesus Christ will deliver you from your bondage, look to Him.  The answer in which you seek is in the Cross of Christ.  Your deliverance is dependent on Whom you believe…Jesus Christ.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Psalms 34:19.   Do you believe that?  – Donna Clark Warren

“Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4.

It is our job to preach the Word, whether they accept it or not is between them and God.  We, under no circumstances, change the Doctrine to meet their approval.

Light rejected is taken away and given to one with an abundance of light. “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” Matthew 6:29.

Be “…determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2.  There is only One Way, One Truth and One Life – Jesus Christ.  Faith in Jesus and what He has already done on Calvary’s Cross is the only way sin is defeated.  The power of God is in the Cross of Jesus (1 Cor. 1:18).  Under no circumstances can we circumvent  or “recreate” the power of God by preaching 40 days, 100 ways, shemitahs , harbingers, Hebraic roots, psychology, sociology or any other gospel coming down the pipe.

If sin is your problem, in which it is (it is mankind’s problem), there is only one way to have victory over sin…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Until we let go and believe that the Cross of Jesus made a show of every demon in hell and that Jesus Christ will deliver us from that bondage, we are not believing God but instead believing the lies of the devil.

Preach the Word, preach deliverance to the captives and trust God to deliver them if they too believe.  Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not changing the gospel to another gospel that they will accept.  That is called apostasy.  Preaching anything other than the Cross of Jesus is apostasy – repent.  – Donna Clark Warren

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.   Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.   Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19.

Many want to argue about the Word of God.  They always want an opportunity to rationalize their wrongly dividing the Word of God so they need not be ashamed.  Once their vain babblings have been heard they want condolences and understanding.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:2-4. 

A good soldier of Jesus Christ will always strive to rightly divide the Word of God and have nothing to do with vain babblings of false teachers.  Those who get upset when the soldiers of Christ mention the names of those whose vain babblings are teaching anything other than the Cross of Christ,  should take note of the Apostle Paul who did indeed “mark them which caused divisions and offences contrary to sound Doctrine” (Romans 16:17) when he called out Hymenaeus and Philetus and said their word will eat as does a canker.

There is a lost and dying world out there who desperately need to hear and want to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.  They need deliverance preached to them.  While there remains others, who fill up the pews on Sunday morning listening to a preacher who no more rightly divides the Word of God than the devil himself.  “Don’t touch God’s anointed” you say….these are NOT God’s anointed and if you don’t know the difference it could be because you are sitting under them and you are deceived my friend.

While these words may sound harsh to some, those are the very ones I am speaking to.  I may not be saying it as eloquently as you would like to hear it but I’m telling you the best I know how…the vain babbling of the false teachers of this day and time are just as much as a canker today as they were in verse 17.   Canker worms consume the buds and leaves of trees.  The words of these false teachers are doing that very thing to God’s children and His “good soldiers” are scared to say anything because they themselves don’t know the Word of God rightly divided.  Do I claim to know everything about the Word of God?  Absolutely not!  But I am blessed enough to have a Bible, several as a matter of fact, and I do test the spirits.  Does it take me a while sometimes?  Sure it does.  Do I miss it all together at other times? Of Course.  But the Lord is faithful and He will always guide us back to His Truth when we are seeking His Truth.  If we are seeking something else, something that appeals to our flesh, we will find that too but it won’t be of the Lord.    A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

If you are indeed a soldier of Christ, study to show thyself approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God.  If you are a soldier of a false teacher…your babblings are vain and profit us nothing.  Playtime is over and it is time to get off the fence.  My loved ones and your loved ones need deliverance from bondage and strongholds and there remains only One Way, One Truth and One Life who can deliver them – Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Preach to them their deliverance and if it hurts their feelings, I will remain thankful to God for my faithful fellow soldier of Jesus Christ. – Donna Clark Warren.