My wife and I watched and listened to Barry Meguiar [of Meguir car products fame] sit down and talk with pastor Jack Hibbs, and that video is included at the end of the article below. Mr. Meguir’s heart on fire for the Lord, his love of God and of people, his enthusiasm, and how important it is to reach out continually, to tell others of Jesus, God, and about salvation is something we all need to adopt, emulate, and partake of. Daily. Just as the Lord we say we follow commanded us to do. Why He came to earth and died for the sin of the world. Shed His blood and conquered death. Not to have rummage sales, bake sales, basketball, and committee upon committee, busyness upon busyness within a church thinking we’re doing the Lord’s work. Making our priorities God’s priorities when we ought to be making God’s priorities our priorities.

This posting is certainly one of the most important postings I’ve ever put on A Crooked Path. I hope and pray if you’re here right now that you will scroll down and slowly read and allow the words below to absorb into you. Watch and listen to the video.

My wife and I bought Mr. Maguir’s book, Ignite Your Life, and if you’re going to buy and read one book, other than the Holy Bible today, this week, this month? Mr. Maguir’s book is highly recommended and you will not go wrong, Christian, in ordering it, reading it, enjoying it, being moved by it, and implementing it into your daily life.

Far too many folks are under the illusion America can or will be changed by an election outcome. A certain politician, or politicians from a certain political party, or an opinion passed down from the Supreme Court, or a bill becoming an Act, a law in America.

While it is important to be paying attention and voting, wisely, according to the Word of God — the only thing that will truly alter the course of our nation, and truly change America is true Christ following revival.

And this always, always, always begins on an individual level. One on one. A believer who has come to know what the Lord Jesus Christ, God, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God has done for a sinner such as they, and how as a result of being saved from God’s wrath and condemnation, how miraculous the free gift of grace through faith and obedience to the Lord, Jesus Christ, Yeshua, in His being truly fully God while for a time on earth being truly fully a man and teaching us, going to the cross to die as the Sacrificial Lamb for the sin of the world, to shed His precious sinless blood, to then conquer death on the third day according to God’s promise, being the First Fruit of what is to come for all those who submit and faithfully commit their lives to Him…to no longer be under wrath, darkness, but to be forgiven and to be assured of eternal life in heaven with Him!

Is this not more important what God and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the Word of God has done for us than anything else on earth, in this life? And ought we not then spread this Good News to others, showing the love of God, showing others the way to eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ? The only way to the Father, the only way to heaven?

Can we begin to make this our priority and focus? Daily? While our Good Good and Great Sovereign God blesses us with breath, a beating heart — hopefully one on fire for the Lord and the Word of God, and to tell others about the greatest Friend and life possible in their life, leading them, hopefully, by the working of the Holy Spirit then after the seed has been planted, to eternal life.

What the world needs now? What America needs now? Isn’t a quick election and change of administration, or love as the world defines it and falls short. No, what the world and America needs now is the Lord Jesus Christ. The truth. The Way to heaven and eternal life. The Way to the forgiveness of sin and to enter upon a journey unlike any other a human being can embark upon.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.

Proverbs 1:7; 2:1-9

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 16:26

There is only one everlasting treasure. Do we not all value, treasure our lives above all else? Place our health and how we feel above the balance in an investment account, or how much gold or silver you may own. Then why do we not treasure our eternal life more so, and out of such compassion and love as He Who we profess to follow tell others of this everlasting treasure far greater than anything else on earth?

Okay. Enough of me.

Read on. Seriously consider getting Mr. Maguiar’s book. Take some time to watch and listen to the video.

May God richly bless you [He already has even if we continue to fail to see it!] and may each of us truly be that light unto the world, not hidden, not fearful, but bold in and for the Lord. In thankfulness for what He did for us. And can do for others.

Thank you, as always, for your time and finding this place.

A Clarion Call to The Church

Reprinted from Ignite America

 
VIDEO

God’s Love Is “Impeccable”!

God’s love for us is at the nth degree of perfection . . . pure, faultless, without blemish and never-ending!  It’s “impeccable.”  It’s all but impossible for our minds to comprehend without divine inspiration!

Listen to what God tells us in I John 4:16-21 when personalized:  God is love, and when you abide in love, you abide in God and God abides in you . . . and when this love is perfected in you, you will have confidence for the Day of Judgment . . . there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear . . . whoever fears has not been perfected in love . . . you love because He first loved you . . . when you love God you must also love your brother.

You see, sharing your faith is not optional for Christians.  When Jesus said, “Go ye,” there were no qualifiers.  He didn’t limit His call to those who were gifted, or trained, or paid.  He also didn’t say, “Go ye into the world and pray, or read your Bible, or be a good person.”

Most Evangelicals now believe being a good person is being a good faith sharer. But being good doesn’t get you or anyone else into Heaven. There’s only one prerequisite for Heaven and it’s not knowing who Jesus is. It’s accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord . . . living for Him and no longer yourself.

Being Good Doesn’t Get You Into Heaven!

Over the last 50 years, most Christians have sat under “feel good” messages requiring nothing more than setting their lives on cruise control. That’s the polar opposite of how God made us, to be in-sync with Him, and why the American Church is now silent at this epic moment in human history.

The current trend is for Christians to define their spiritual health by the depth of their devotion to a critical issue of our day like elections, abortion, human trafficking, or caring for the poor.  Clearly these are battles to be fought for right thinking Christians.

In His letter to the Church at Ephesus, God admonishes faithful Christians who have left Him as their “First Love” and are no longer doing the “First Work” (telling people about Him). Instead, we have “faithful” Christians making their issues their god and attracting others to worship their “god.” With the best of intentions, Christians have become more focused on winning issues than winning the lost. God help us!

God’s letter to the Church at Ephesus concludes by calling the Church (us) to Repentance and return to honoring Him as our First Love, AND doing the First Work (telling people about Him). And if we don’t, God will remove the candlestick, being our Testimony. If you want to know why the American Church has lost its Testimony, its influence in America . . . this is it!

Most Unbelievers Are Unbelievers Because Of BELIEVERS! 

Unbelievers don’t want to be like us! A contributing factor is that most believers who are fighting the great issues of our day believe their war is against those who oppose them. But Satan wins when we forget that he’s our enemy.

Those who oppose us have an excuse.  They’re blinded by Satan and see evil as good and good as evil.  They’re not evil. They’re lost!  And they’re going to stay lost until we tell them God loves them. When you hate those who oppose you, you’re hating people Jesus died for and loves just as much as He loves you. This is true no matter what they’re saying or doing. And because of your hate, they may be lost for Eternity.

For perspective, we need to look more closely at the depth of God’s love for you. Listen to how Psalm 139:1-24 (excerpted) describes God’s love for you: O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me . . . you know what I’m going to say even before I say it . . . such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand . . . I can never escape your Spirit . . . I can never get away from your presence . . . to you the night shines as bright as the day . . . you knit me together in my Mother’s womb . . .  you watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion . . . every day of my life was recorded in your Book . . . every moment laid out . . . how precious are your thoughts about me . . . they outnumber the grains of sand. 

Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you . . . and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Not Sharing Your Faith Offends God  

While it’s Old Testament Scripture under the Law, God never changes. And in Ezekiel 33:1-6, God tells us if you fail to warn those under your influence the enemy is coming, and they die in their sins, their blood will be on your hands.

This brings us back to God’s impeccable love that He gives to you in abundance. This makes it supernaturally possible for you to love Him back, and everyone around you, with impeccable love . . . blameless, faultless, pure, and unaffected by how others treat you. It’s extremely hard for people to hate you long term when your love for them is “Impeccable” and never-ending.

As He hung on the Cross, Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34). In our own strength and emotions, we want to react to the world with equal negativity. But Jesus gave us the Ultimate Example for responding to those who hate Him.

When you see and respond to the lost through God’s eyes, you’ll satisfy all the Commandments by doing everything you can to move everyone, every day, closer to Jesus. God ordained this to be the singular focus of your life – for Eternity. He sanctifies you and your message through your ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18).

This is YOUR “Great Commission” and your overwhelming focus when you understand the depth of God’s love for you and for everyone around you. There’s no separation between loving God and loving your neighbors as yourself. This includes those who oppose you AND God AND America! We hate sin and love sinners!

This Message Is For You!  

It doesn’t matter if you’re in politics, an activist in the battle, or an arm-chair quarterback shaking your fist at the TV screen! This message is for you! The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results (James 5:16). We need to get over our anger and start praying for the lost!

Perhaps the second most luxurious promise in the Bible is in Romans 8:28, where God promises to make everything in your life work for good from now until you get to Heaven. It sounds too good to be true and most Christians believe it is. But this is God’s promise to you when you do the very same things described in the two most important Commandments.

God’s telling you when you live to seek and save the lost . . . to move everyone, every day, closer to Jesus, He’ll make everything in your life work for good. That’s the end of fear and worry, and the launching of Wholehearted Faith! Who doesn’t want that for their life?

As wonderful as this message may sound and how powerfully it will impact the rest of your life, it’s only half of God’s promise to you.  What you may not know is that God’s mandate that you share their faith is secondarily about winning the lost . . . and primarily about winning you!

God Wants to Love Everyone Through You!  

It’s true!  God loves you and people know you’re His Disciple when His impeccable love flows through you, to them.  It’s way beyond the normal human experience and psyche when the Holy Spirit leads you into conversations you don’t expect and gives you the words to say.

The instructions in Mark 13:11 tell you not to prepare in advance what you should say.  Doing that puts your words instead of God’s words in your mouth. Then Luke 12:12 adds that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say when you need them.  This transforms every faith sharing experience from high drama to an adventure that changes your life forever!

Unless, and until, you experience the intimacy of having God ignite a conversation, giving you the words to say, and watching a life being transformed in front of you, you have no idea what being a Christian is all about. This is when your desire to be in the Word and on your knees becomes insatiable. It Ignites your life!

In Jeremiah 1:5, God explains that before He placed you in your mother’s womb He set you apart to be His Spokesman. Isaiah 43:10 tells you why: I appointed you as My witness so that YOU WILL BELIEVE!  Notice He didn’t say that you will believe more. In essence, God is telling you that sharing your faith is how you achieve Wholehearted Faith in God’s impeccable love.

This is what being a Christian is all about!

IGNITE YOUR LIFE — By Barry Meguiar: About the book. About the author

Link to the video for anyone unable to open it by clicking on the image.