John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – From Acts 4:20.

Words from Peter and John, who said, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

These early church leaders were under pressure to not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. The authorities were attempting to clamp down on their expression of faith. Peter and John knew what Jesus had told them to do. They knew that if they kept silent, they would not be keeping the word of the Lord.

When we are placed in a position where we are urged to violate principles of the Bible, courage is needed. Peter and John had it. So did the other disciples of Christ. Daniel withstood pressure to compromise his prayer life. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo stood tall in the face of pressure to bow down to a false god.

The LORD honors those who honor Him. He brings encouragement through various statements in the Bible, such as Isaiah 41:10, which says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Courage is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Deuteronomy 3:22.

Moses commanded Joshua, concerning opposing kingdoms, “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.”

Before uttering these words, Moses reminded Joshua of how the LORD had helped the Israelites to defeat two kings. He used past victories to encourage Joshua that more victories were coming.

For Joshua to move forward, he needed to have faith in God. That is what keeps us moving forward in the face of adversity too.

Faith gives us courage to overcome fear.

Faith keeps us moving forward in God’s plan for our lives.

Faith relies on God in the midst of our battles.

Today, our struggle may not be with an opposing army, but we are engaged in spiritual battles day after day. That is why the words of Moses to Joshua are relevant for us as well. “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you.” Ephesians 6:10 urges us to “be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power.” This will happen as we use the full armor of God in the midst of our spiritual battles.

Courageous faith is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – from Isaiah 35, verse 10.

“The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

This happens when the glory of God is revealed, and people’s limitations are lifted. The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The mute will speak. The land also will bloom with thriving vegetation. God will save His people.  Tears of pain will be replaced by songs of joy. The Lord is able to do this, and will act in the future to make this happen for those who have been redeemed by Christ.

Until that day comes, we can offer words of encouragement to those with fearful hearts that God is still on the throne. He has not forgotten His people or His promises. He will be back, and when He returns, He will defeat His foes, and establish a new world for His followers.

Confidence in God’s promises is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Galatians 6:9 and 10.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

There are a number of factors that might cause us to become weary in doing good:

Working long hours.

A feeling that our best efforts are not making a difference.

Discouragement from criticisms of others.

Having a complaining spirit.

The Apostle Paul is saying to us that there is purpose to our activity, and the good that we do for the glory of God is making a difference whether we see it or not. If we keep on doing the things God is calling us to do, we will eventually reap the blessings that come with faithful service. The Bible challenges us to go beyond our own interests to consider the interests and needs of others, and then enter their world with a helping hand.

Faithful service is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Jeremiah 7, verse 3.

“This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel says: ‘Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.’”

This was a message to people who gathered to worship at the temple.

They felt that there was some kind of protective hedge around them. Since they were God’s chosen people, nothing bad would happen to them. However, they were more vulnerable than they thought. Their hearts were in need of revival. Reforms were needed in their society. God was not only telling the people that they needed to reform, but He was also getting specific with where the reforms were needed. He said, “If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place.”

Sometimes when we cruise along through our daily schedule, it’s easy to start taking God’s blessings for granted, whether they be  relationships, or the things God has provided for us. Taking God’s blessings for granted paves the way for squandered opportunities. But if we can remember to be thankful to God for His blessings, we will be in a much better place to take care of what God has given us.

Actions that express respect for people and reverence for God are vital signs of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Second Corinthians 4:16.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet, inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

What is it that motivated Paul to keep going? He was motivated by the love of Christ to bring glory to God through changed lives by the Gospel. That word, “therefore” is a connector to the previous statement made by Paul. In that previous statement, he said, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to face obstacles, and at the same time, looked for the opportunities that God was giving him to preach the Gospel. He said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” So, the application for us is to keep our focus on Jesus. Let His grace be the spark that energizes our faith. Let His glory be the purpose for our activity. Let the evidence of changed lives be a moment of celebration that offers praise to God for the good things He has done.

Perseverance through hardship is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From First John 1:8 and 9.

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

According to the Bible, sin separates us from God, but the grace of God is able to restore what sin has broken. If we claim to be without sin, then we are disagreeing with the word of God, which says that we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. To live in denial is to remain in spiritual darkness.

However, confession faces reality, agreeing with God where we have broken His commands. Confession comes out of the darkness and into the light about our need for God’s forgiveness. Confession is an honest place and a humble place before God. The grace of God is a precious gift, made available through the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. His grace is free, but it is certainly not cheap. It came through the shedding of Christ’s blood. God invites us to come into the light and enjoy fellowship with Him through confession. Verse 7 in that same chapter says that “if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Confession is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From Daniel 6:26 and 27.

King Darius said, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

If there is one book of the Bible that emphasizes the endurance of God’s Kingdom, it’s the book of Daniel. There are some powerful kings in this book, who are greatly feared by their authoritative leadership. Darius was one of them. He made a decree that if anyone prayed to someone other than to Darius, they would go to the lion’s den.  Since Daniel prayed to God, and was found out, he was led to the lion’s den, but was supernaturally delivered from harm. After witnessing the power of God, Darius made another decree that honored the God of Daniel. The words of Darius’ earlier decree are a reminder to us that while earthly leaders may at times, seem very intimidating, their power and their time is limited. God is Sovereign. The book of Revelation describes Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His Kingdom is coming and will never be shaken. He alone is worthy of our worship.

Fear and Reverence for God is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – From First Corinthians 15:57 and 58.

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves full to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

This is clearly a message for those who belong to Christ. In light of the fact that He gives us victory, there is a purpose to our activity. As we are led by the Lord to do His will, that purpose is not wasted. Discouragement may sometimes settle in to tempt us to stop the work God has for us to do. Maybe people don’t seem to appreciate what we do, or we grow tired and weary. There is a proper time to take a rest, and to simply enjoy time with God.  In light of eternity, no task for God is too small or insignificant. If He can turn a mustard seed into a huge plant, He can take our small, planted seeds of faith and turn them into a fruitful garden that blesses the lives of others.

John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

Consistent labor in the Lord is a vital sign of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

JOHN SHIRK – From I Corinthians 9:25 through 27.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

As we watch the Olympic games this summer, we see athletes who have prepared most of their lives for this moment. They have worked and trained hard to see their dream come true. They have personal ambitions, and they also want to represent their nation with dignity. They have made personal sacrifices to compete in the games. The Apostle Paul says that we can learn from the dedication and discipline of these athletes and apply those qualities to our service for Christ. The gold medal is a temporary prize, but the rewards for faithful service in Christ are eternal. Heavenly rewards give us purpose and a sense of mission to live for Christ with pure devotion.  The Bible is a dependable training manual to prepare us for effective service that brings honor to Jesus.

Dedication and Discipline are vital signs of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com