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Posts Tagged ‘Holy Spirit’

Light Reflection-Acts 2:37 Pentecost

November 7th, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – This week’s Light Reflections examine some of the bright spots in the book of Acts when God was on the move in the hearts of people.

One of those places was Acts chapter 2, as the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church. Peter preached a sermon to explain what was happening.

Acts 2:37 says, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words, he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This Light Reflection inspires us to turn from sinful ways and follow Jesus faithfully in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Light Reflection-James 1:17 Brilliant Blessings

August 2nd, 2023 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from James 1:17.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

The blessings of God are expressions of His love for us. These blessings enrich our lives in various ways and reflect God’s goodness toward us.

His good gifts consist of resources that we need to survive, the things that He provides for our enjoyment, and the precious people in our lives that we know as “Friends.”

His perfect gifts are Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and His amazing grace. Jesus is the perfect remedy for our sin. The Holy Spirit is the perfect power source for living out the Christian life. And grace is the perfect plan of redemption that God designed before the world began.

This Light Reflection inspires us to marvel at the brilliance of God’s blessings in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Word of Encouragement-Blessed

November 10th, 2021 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is “Blessed.”

One definition of “Blessed” is a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

To be blessed by God is to receive His favor.  His face is turned toward us in relationship, and we enjoy the benefits of His grace.

While God will bless us with material things, His spiritual blessings have far greater value that last forever.

Ephesians 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

What follows is a list of specific blessings: Adoption, Redemption, Forgiveness, Acceptance, and the promised Holy Spirit. These are blessings that reflect God’s unfailing love for us.

Find encouragement in the blessing of being united with Christ in the Year of Endurance.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Good News Focus-Truth and Godly Character

July 20th, 2020 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Good News Focus is on John 16:13.

Jesus told His disciples, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Jesus was assuring His followers that after He left them, He would not leave them alone. He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with them and to guide them in the truth.

The Holy Spirit gives us counsel that will move us in the direction of pleasing God. His influence moves us toward the fruitful qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Jesus is our Source of Good News, leading us to a place of truth and godly character in the Year of Vision. 

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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

June 9th, 2020 No comments

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

20/20 Insight-The Origin of Bible Prophecy

June 6th, 2020 No comments

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

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

May 29th, 2020 No comments

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

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

May 28th, 2020 No comments

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

Focus On God-His Good Gifts

August 24th, 2017 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His good gifts.

According to Matthew 7:9, God knows how to give good gifts to His children.

Jesus said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

So then, if it is human nature for moms and dads to want to give good gifts to their children, how much more valuable will God’s good gifts be for His children? God the Father sent Jesus to the world 2,000 years ago, and today, He gives the Holy Spirit to His children. Those are two precious gifts that the world cannot offer us.

He also blesses us with tangible gifts like rain from the sky, crops from the earth, and good friends with whom we can share the journey.

God’s good gifts are reasons to thank God and to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Focus On God-Holy Spirit

June 2nd, 2017 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

It happens in Acts 2 when the believers were all together in one place. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Peter then preached a sermon explaining why this was happening. Peter used this opportunity to talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus, and invited the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. About three thousand were added to their number that day.

Jesus told His disciples this would happen. He said in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The coming of the Holy Spirit to the church at Pentecost is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Reason To Believe-God’s Provision for a Godly Life

October 10th, 2016 No comments

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the provision of God to live a godly life.

Second Peter 1:3 says that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him, who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Life is a spiritual battlefield. There are sinister forces that work against our soul, seeking to destroy us and separate us from God’s love. But God has resources too, to help us overcome those forces that wage war against our soul. Three of those resources are the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the Church.

The Holy Spirit fills us with love and hope. He reminds us of Jesus’ words, and guides us in the truth.

The Bible is the word of God, encouraging us with the message of grace and making known His will for our lives.

The church gives us a support structure in the Christian life and a place of belonging in His family of believers.

God’s provision for us to live a godly life is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com