John Shirk

JOHN SHIRK – God is passionate about forming godly character within us.  He wants us to grow mature in the faith and produce fruit for His glory. His intention to make us holy fills the pages of Scripture in places like Second Peter 1, verses 5 to 7.

“For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.”

These are qualities that form the building blocks of faith.  It is God’s will for our faith to be expressed in love.  These qualities are highly effective in representing Jesus to the world.  Verse 8 says, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – The Bible says that we are God’s workmanship.  A good way of viewing that is through the making of pottery.   

Isaiah 64:8 compares us to the clay and God as the potter.  He makes the pottery in ways that reflect His beauty and glory.  “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

God is still working on each of us as long as we have breath.  For best results, stay tender before God.  We are His masterpieces, designed and shaped by God to be useful in His kingdom and to reflect His glory while we live on the earth.  The clay does not deserve credit for its design.  The potter does.  Perhaps that is why David said in Psalm 139, “I praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Psalm 37:5 urges us to commit our way to the LORD. “Trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Between dawn and noon, the day gets brighter and brighter and brighter.  This is what it’s like for the person who follows Jesus with a trusting heart.  Our witness for Jesus shines brighter.  As we walk with Him, He teaches us His ways and shows us the way to go so we that we will represent Him in the world. 

When we have the desire to do something, it’s good to pray about it. Maybe God gives us a desire to lead a Bible study, or organize a community outreach for our church.  Maybe we are concerned about the poor among us and want to help in some tangible way. We can  say something like this: “Lord, is this something you want me to do?” Prayer is a significant way to commit our way to the Lord.  This will put us in a better position to do God’s work in God’s timetable with the attitude of Christ.  Righteousness and justice will shine brightly through out witness for Jesus when we commit our way to God.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – David wrote in Psalm 32, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

The path to forgiveness comes through confession; agreeing with God that we are sinners who need a Savior.  With a humble heart we plead for His mercy.  In His faithfulness, God answers our prayers.  Some people try to sweep their sins under the rug, but we are called by God to place them under the blood of Christ. This requires utter dependence on God, trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus to pardon us from the death penalty that we deserve.  First John 1:8 says that “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.”

So, if there is something to get right with the Lord, now is a good time to bring it out into the open at His throne of grace.  He does not despise a broken and contrite spirit.  David said in Psalm 32:5, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’-and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”  Confession breaks down the barriers that interfere with God’s purpose for our lives.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – When we rightly apply God’s Word in our lives, it never leads us down the wrong road, never breaks a promise, and never grows outdated. It does have the power to set us free from sin and change us from the inside out so that we become more like Jesus in the way we live and love. As we grow mature in the faith, God increases our platform to become an effective witness for Jesus.

Second Timothy 3:15 and 16 says that the holy Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The words of Scripture are more than just words on a printed page.  They are words of truth that become our spiritual food, compass and lifeline.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – The mission of Christ is found in places like John 3:16, which says that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

God’s love is a big picture love that reaches out to the world, and it is also a personal love, which has the power to transform individual lives like you and me.  It’s the kind of love that gives great attention to the details of our lives like the number of hairs on our head. His love is in tune with all our needs and familiar with all our ways. He knows what is best for us and teaches us and guides us with that in mind.  His love enables us to have a personal relationship with Him, whereby we can be called His friend.  This is made possible by the gift of Jesus to the world to become a sacrifice for our sins.  

This emphasis on the personal love of God for us was highlighted by A.W. Tozer, who said, “God does not love populations; He loves people.  He loves not masses, but men.” God’s love is vast and personal.  It is true that God loves the people of the world.  It is also true that God loves you.  This challenges us to be personal in the way we reach out to others.  First John 4:11 says, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Second Kings 17 is a rich chapter that helps us to understand the captivity that follows false worship and the freedom that is connected with true worship.

Verse 12 talks about the Israelites in the times of the kings in this way: “They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, ‘You shall not do this.’ The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”  One of the saddest verses of the Bible comes next.  “But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.”

The message of the Gospel has been delivered to us so that we might be delivered from the captivity of our sin.  The truth of the Gospel has the power to give us a freedom that is a testimony of saving grace.  That testimony is this:  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  When we are restored to God, we are right where we belong.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Christians have been called by Jesus to represent Him while we live on the earth.  That is why the Bible says we are ambassadors for Christ.  When we consider that God has a mission for us, we are sensitized to the souls around us who live apart from God’s grace, and need Him desperately.  One of the ways we can be a witness for Jesus is by listening carefully to the questions people are asking.  What are they searching for?  Are there indications that they are open to following Jesus as the Lord of their life.

This is what Philip faced in Acts 8:34.  An Ethiopian official was reading the Bible, from the pages of Isaiah.  He was reading, but not understanding.  So, he asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  Philip used the question of the Ethiopian official to explain the relevance of Jesus to his searching heart.  This is one way we can be a witness for the Lord in 2010.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-In Second Thessalonians, chapter 1, verse 11, Paul the Apostle said to the church, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

God is the One who can take our good intentions and turn them into redemptive opportunities.  His strength is the key to opening up those doors of opportunity.  When we walk through those doors of service, people see the love of Jesus in us.  God can use our labor of love to help someone respond to God’s love for them.  It happens when we represent Jesus in our words and deeds.

Paul prayed for God’s power to fulfill the purposes of the church, so that the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified in our lives.  Every act of faith is an expression of worship that tells the world what a mighty God we serve.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Moving forward in God’s plan requires faith in His Word more than fear of unfavorable circumstances. In Numbers 13, the Israelites were faced with that choice.  Heed the voice of God or listen to their fears.

12 spies were sent out to explore the Promised Land. After 40 days of exploration, 10 of the spies came back with the report: We can’t attack these people; they are stronger than we are.” Joshua and Caleb dared to disagree.  They said, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.”

As it turned out, the people embraced the viewpoint of the 10 spies, and in their unbelief, that generation of adults perished in the desert with the exception of Joshua and Caleb.  They never made it to the Promised Land.  The people in Canaan were not the major hindrance for the Israelites.  Their lack of faith was.  God has a plan for our lives to glorify His name.  That plan is exceedingly good.  We can go forward with that plan by trusting and obeying God.  Our faith in God is strengthened when we remember His words and His miracles of the past.

That’s today’s Mission Statement for representing Jesus in the world today.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com