John Shirk

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20/20 Insight-Wisdom of God’s Counsel

john : June 12, 2020 5:05 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the wisdom of God’s counsel.

In Isaiah 48:17, This is what the LORD says-your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

God has a plan for our lives. His instruction is for our benefit. He made us, so He knows how we are wired, and what is ultimately for our good. Trusting in God’s guidance is foundational for being teachable. Why would we follow someone if we thought they were leading us to a dead-end? God’s plan is NOT a dead end. He is leading us somewhere good. God supplies us with His sufficient grace for our journey of faith. He leads us by His Word, in His will, and for His glory.

If we don’t know where God is leading us in the present time, we can start with a prayer like this recorded in Psalm 143, verse 10: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”

Focusing on the wisdom of God’s counsel gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-God’s Love Breaks Down Racial Barriers

john : June 11, 2020 5:44 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the love of God to break down racial barriers.

In the early church, there were racial divisions. But God worked through the apostles to show how His love broke down those barriers.  Peter was especially influential. At a church conference, in Acts 15, there were divisions between Jews and Gentiles. 

Peter spoke up to recall an experience he witnessed, saying, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

Revelation 5:9 tells us that it was the blood of Jesus that purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Focusing on the love of God for people of all racial backgrounds gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Good News Focus-Belonging to God and His Church

john : June 10, 2020 5:37 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Galatians 3:26.

“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

Each member of God’s family has many spiritual blessings to celebrate. We are connected to the people of God. He places us in a spiritual family with His believers. That spiritual family is called the church. There are times of rich fellowship together as we share what God is doing in our lives. 

The most precious blessing is that we belong to God as one of His children. He is our Father. Jesus is our Savior. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. We live with an awareness that the One who made us is the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of belonging to God and His spiritual family in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-The Holy Spirit-Assurance of Identity

john : June 9, 2020 5:49 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to assure us that we belong to God.

Romans 8:14 tells us that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father”. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit casts out our fear with God’s perfect love. He reminds us of our identity as a child of God. One of His roles in the believer’s life is to assure us of our salvation in Christ. 

To those standing firm in Christ, the Apostle Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 1:22 that God set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Focusing on our identity as a child of God gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-The Origin of Bible Prophecy

john : June 6, 2020 9:59 am : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to tell us of things yet to come.

Second Peter 1:21 says, “Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The prophecies in the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we take the words of the prophets to heart, they have an impact on our lives in a number of ways. Here are two of them.

The words of the prophets build faith. Jesus Himself said, “I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.” When we see a connection between a prophecy and its fulfillment, we are moved to a greater confidence that God’s word is trustworthy and true, and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Another impact of prophecy is that we are moved to worship. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, which directs us to view Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Focusing on the prophecies of the Bible gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Good News Focus-How We Can Be Strong In The Lord

john : June 4, 2020 5:40 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on Ephesians 6:10.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to this church: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and sometimes the battle gets intense. The devil has declared war over our souls, and he wants to deceive us into believing his lies. He tempts us, and then accuses us. But the good news here is that God is stronger, and He makes His mighty power available for us to fight the good fight of faith.

He provides us with weapons of righteousness. These are not weapons used by the world.  These weapons include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

These are a few of the helpful tools for building our faith and taking our stand against evil influences in the world.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of having a strong faith that resists the devil in the Year of Vision.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-The Holy Spirit-Reminding us of Jesus’ Words

john : May 29, 2020 5:57 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to remind us of Jesus’ words.

In John 14:26, Jesus told His disciples, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Some of those disciples went on to write letters in the New Testament that were inspired by the Holy Spirit, namely Peter, John, and Matthew.

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate too, guiding us in the truth, and reminding us of the teachings of Jesus. When we read the Bible and take the teachings of Jesus to heart, we open the door for the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth. The Holy Spirit is the holy Presence within us, moving us to do what is right in the eyes of God.

Focusing on the teachings of Jesus gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.   

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-The Work of the Holy Spirit-Righteousness

john : May 28, 2020 5:36 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit to lead us to righteousness.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His followers that He would not leave us alone. The Heavenly Father would send the Spirit of truth.  

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did come and does reside in those who follow Jesus. As a result, spiritual fruit flows from our lives. Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”

The Holy Spirit directs us to the holy example of Jesus and inspires us to be more like Him.

Focusing on the righteousness of Jesus Christ gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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20/20 Insight-Growth in Godly Character

john : May 27, 2020 5:40 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on God’s purpose for our lives to grow in godly character.

God works through times of adversity and discipline to accomplish character in our lives. He will let us struggle with questions or struggle in our pain, but He does not leave us or forsake us. He is right there with us, providing His grace in our time of need.

James 1:3 explains that the trials that we face are tests to our faith. These tests are meant to produce perseverance. When perseverance finishes its work, we have the opportunity to become mature and complete, not lacking anything.   God works through the character qualities of our lives to enable our faith to thrive for Him.

Focusing on the fruit of godly character gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Ascension Day

john : May 21, 2020 1:34 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – This is Ascension Day, when we reflect on the day that Jesus was taken to heaven. It happened in Acts 1:9.  “He was taken up before the eyes of his disciples, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

Ascension Day explains where we are at the present moment in a number of ways.

First, the Holy Spirit is actively working in the church today, among followers of Jesus.  Jesus said to His disciples, “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” And on Pentecost Day, just 10 days later, that promise was fulfilled.

Secondly, Ascension Day explains what Jesus is doing now. He told His disciples, “I am going there (to my Father’s house) to prepare a place for you. That is one thing Jesus is doing. Another thing He is doing is interceding for us. He is our Mediator. He reconciles us to God the Father, so that we can live in peace with God.  Hebrews 9:24 tells us that He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. He prays for us and pleads our case for our innocence because of His blood that was shed for our sins. Because of Jesus, we can go to the throne of grace with our prayers and petitions. 

And thirdly, Ascension Day reminds us that Jesus will come again. In Acts 1:10, two men, who appear to be angels, tell the disciples, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

For a closer look at the Ascension of Jesus, read more about it in Acts 1, verses 9 to 11.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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