Author: amerrill

God will always make a way when it seems as though there is no way. In the midst of so much uncertainty and fear in 2020, it’s easy to believe that things will never change for the better. It can seem impossible for life to go back to “normal”—or even to adjust to a new normal. For some, the healing of a loved one seems impossible. For others, a job or financial situation appears hopeless. It may seem as though reconciliation and peace in a relationship, or in society, will never ever happen. Many of us are wondering if this virus will ever go away and if we will be sheltered at home forever.

But I want to encourage you with the hope we find in the Scriptures, because nothing is impossible for God. In fact, throughout the New Testament, we see that despite all odds, God makes a way. And what is even more reassuring—especially in these times of quarantine—is that Lord moves and often does His best work in homes.

In a house, the Church was birthed. In Acts 2:2, believers in Christ gathered together when all of a sudden, the sound of a rushing wind “came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” This is when Christians first received the Holy Spirit and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. They were emboldened to spread the Gospel, share generously with others, and praise God. The Church of Jesus Christ started in a house.

In a house, God can redirect your life. We learn in Acts 9:10-11 that the Lord appeared to a disciple named Ananias and told him to go to a man named Saul of Tarsus and heal his blindness. This is the same Saul who persecuted Christians before Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Ananias went to the house where Saul was staying, laid hands on him, and Paul’s sight was restored. Paul then went on to preach the Gospel fearlessly and wrote nearly half of the New Testament.

In a house, the Holy Spirit can fall. Acts 10:44 details the account of when Peter was preaching the Gospel within a large gathering of people in a house, and “the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the message.” This happened in an average home likes your and mine!

In a house, racial barriers can be destroyed. This same event also featured an important moment in Church history because the Holy Spirit had been poured out not only on the Jews, but also Gentiles. Astonished, Peter instructed that they become baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus breaks down racial barriers and calls us all into one family—God’s family.

In a house, prayers are answered. King Herod had Peter arrested and thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel, “but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Miraculously, an angel of the Lord set Peter free the night before his trial, and Peter immediately “went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where many people had gathered and were praying” (v.12-15). Can you imagine the joy that filled that house when their prayers for their brother Peter had been answered?

In a house God will make a way. This same account details how a servant named Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice when he arrived at the house, but she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the door for him. She ran back to everyone and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” But they replied, “You’re out of your mind.” When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” The people of the house thought it was absolutely impossible for Peter to be there, but we know from Mark 10:27 that all things are possible with God!

In a house, your family can be saved. Lastly, in Acts 16:30-34, a violent earthquake freed Paul and Silas from prison. Seeing this miracle and their faith, their jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they shared the Word of God with the jailer and his family, and they were baptized right away.

God’s church began in a house, and He still redirects people’s lives inside houses all over the world. God’s Spirit moves and does the impossible in houses. God answers prayers inside homes everywhere, and He brings salvation to homes even in the midst of trouble and uncertain times. God makes a way!

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

There is no room for racism in the heart of the Christian. All racism is hate directed towards someone created in the image of God. The sin of racism is in the very fabric of this nation—its painful ripple effect is still felt, seen, and experienced today—but we must reject all forms of racism at every turn. Jesus shed His blood for all mankind, to bring peace and forgiveness, and to break down the walls that divide. When one comes to the cross, where the ground is level and where grace is freely given, we are then able to love all people with the grace we have been shown.

We as a church have worked for decades to carry on the Lord’s request in Philippians 2:3 to value or consider others above one’s self. That is the opposite of racism—to look at others and not see them as equals, but as greater than yourself. Jesus was our example. Jesus was in no way our equal. He was far greater than us because He was the Son of God. Yet He humbled himself and came to this earth and died upon a cross (Philippians 2:5-8) so that we, in our sinful state, might find salvation. Then we live with Him in His heavenly abode forever and ever.

We must adopt Christ’s attitude of humility and love with everyone we know and meet, and it should go without saying that this includes our brothers and sisters of color. After the death of George Floyd, we have seen—like never before—people of all races from all over the world standing together as one, in support of racial justice and equality. In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of his longing for unity and peace and declared that it would take both black and white men and women standing together to make this dream a reality. Did you know that within the huge crowd of 250,000 people that gathered on August 28, 1963 at the Washington Monument, many Caucasians stood side by side with their African American brothers and sisters? Addressing this, Dr. King said:

“The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.”

Indeed, we cannot walk alone. Here are three reasons why Christians must live out Dr. King’s dream each and every day:

1. Heaven will be diverse.

So, you might as well get used to it now! We learn from Revelation 7:9 that people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will be in Heaven, worshipping God together. Shepherd Church is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multigenerational church. So are many others; however, 300,000 churches in America still remain one color. This must change because a diverse church is a reflection of what Heaven is going to look like.

2. Jesus came to break down the walls that divide.

From Jesus’s eye-opening conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4, to Philip’s conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch, the Gospel crosses cultural and racial barriers and unites people in Christ’s love. Galatians 3:28 declares that in Christ, every wall is broken down, and we are all one family. That doesn’t mean we don’t see and appreciate our differences; it just means we don’t allow them to divide us. (See also Galatians 2:11-16 and Isaiah 52 and 53.)

3. When the world sees us lovingly care for all people…then they will see Jesus!

In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed to Father and asked Him to make believers one, just as He and the Father are one. In verse 23, Jesus goes on to say, “…so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” The world will see Jesus when they see us as believers loving others. Ephesians 4:2-5 implores us to, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.^”

This is how we carry the baton of Dr. King’s dream, become ambassadors of reconciliation and peace, and win hearts for Christ. Amen and amen.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In times of uncertainty, there is one thing that we can be assured of, and it is that God’s love never fails. Our nation has been brought to a standstill by something unseen and unknown. During this time, we have seen so many people living in fear and filled with all kinds of worry. I personally observe so many people living without hope, living with anxiety, and living as though their problem is greater than God’s ability to save them. What is it that is bothering you? What is the real source of your pain? Your grievances? Have you forgotten the grace that God has shown to you? The provision that God has given to you? The mercy and kindness that God has washed over you? Oh, my dear friend, God has not changed. He is still on the throne. He is large and in charge.

Take, for instance, what happened in Mark 4:35-41. One evening, Jesus and His disciples decided to depart from the crowd, and they went by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. The Bible says that a sudden and furious squall came upon them and huge waves broke over the boat. In the midst of all this, asleep on a cushion on the boat’s stern, was Jesus. His disciples woke him up and shouted, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus got up. He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind died down, and it was completely calm. (vv. 38-39)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The Bible says that the disciples were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

This account in Mark chapter 4 isn’t very long, but it contains seven important points for us to take to heart during difficult and uncertain times:

1. Following Jesus does not exempt you from storms.

(v.35-36) The disciples followed Jesus—the Son of God who had healed the sick, fed the hungry, and performed astonishing miracles—into the boat and across the sea. And yet, still a storm came.

2. Storms are a part of life.

Every single person on this planet will face a storm at some point. Jesus said in John 16:33,“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this wrld you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This truth is echoed in 1 Peter 4:12 which says, “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

3. Jesus will be with you in the storm.

Jesus was there in the boat with the disciples in the midst of that furious squall. God never promised that there wouldn’t be storms in your life; He promised to be with you in the storm.

4. Eventually, Jesus will calm the storm!

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. Be patient and trust in the Lord.

5. Faith is developed in the storm, not during the calm.

In verse 40, Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Storms are often a test of your faith. They strengthen our character and our walk with Christ.

6. If Jesus is in your boat you have nothing to fear.

It’s almost funny that the disciples had seen Jesus’ power demonstrated through so many miracles—and that same Jesus was in their boat—and still they were afraid. Is Jesus in your boat? Then you have nothing to fear.

7. Only in the storm do we truly understand who Jesus is.

He calmed the storm in Mark 4. In the very next chapter, He healed a demon-possessed man and raised to life a dead girl. He proved His authority over creation, over demonic forces, and over death. Colossians 1:15-17 declares, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Make sure this Jesus, our wonderful Lord and Savior, is in your boat. Lay your worries and your stress and your pain at His feet. God has never forsaken you, and He will be the last man standing. Trust in Him. Make Him your Lord and King. If you do so, whatever it is that’s worrying you will seem so small and petty in light of His grace upon you. His love for you never fails!

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

By Pastor Dudley Rutherford

In difficult and uncertain times like we’re experiencing right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with fear and worry. Fear often stems from a lack of trust in the Lord’s faithfulness, love, and ability to provide. If we trusted in these unwavering qualities of our ever-present God, we would never entertain a single fear. And yet, everyone in the world fears the exact same thing: losing. Think about what scares you the most. What keeps you awake at night, wrestling with worry? Right now, it’s probably this serious and widespread virus…but whether it’s your health or the health of a loved one, concerns about school or your job, the fear of death, or not having enough money, we all fear losing something that we value. These are all valid concerns, but they wilt and wither in the light of God’s greatness and His promises.

Lloyd Ogilvie, former chaplain of the United States Senate, once noted that there are 366 passages in the Bible that direct us not to worry or fear. That’s an encouraging verse for every day of the year, including leap years! For example, Psalm 27:1 says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?”  And I love Isaiah 41:10, in which our heavenly Father said, “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.”

Of course, there are hundreds of other verses in the Bible that admonish us not to fear besides the two that I highlighted above. I think the Word is filled with so many of these bold reminders because God knew that His beloved children would easily lose sight of the fact that He is in control.

John Ortberg, in his book If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, discussed another reason. He wrote:

The single command in Scripture that occurs more often than any other — God’s most frequently repeated instruction — is formulated in two words: Fear not. Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous. You can trust me. Fear not. Why does God command us not to fear? Fear does not seem like the most serious vice in the world. It never made the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. No one ever receives church discipline for being afraid. So why does God tell human beings to stop being afraid more often than he tells them anything else? My hunch is that the reason God says ‘Fear not’ so much is not that he wants us to be spared emotional discomfort. In fact, usually he says it to get people to do something that is going to lead them into greater fear anyway. I think God says ‘fear not’ so often because fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do.

We learn from Scriptures like Joshua 6, Esther 4:14, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 6:8, and Isaiah 14:27 that God’s plans always will succeed, and that He uses willing and trusting people to bring His plans to fruition. But fear tries to immobilize us from doing what God has purposed for us. Fear is our enemy. It sabotages our good intentions and paralyzes us from doing what the Lord has called us to do. In the midst of this pandemic, we absolutely must follow the recommendations of medical experts. We must be wise, look out for others, and stay at home. But in the meantime, don’t allow yourself to be gripped by fear.

We discover in the Word of God that love is the secret weapon for combating fear. First John 4:18 reveals, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”  Stop focusing on what you’re seeing on the news, or doubting that God is working in the middle of all of this chaos around us. By focusing on the purity, perfection, and strength of God’s love, you will be able to cast aside your fears and be reminded to trust in the One who always keeps your best interests at heart. Fear not, my friend.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of “Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith” (available on Amazon) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area—Porter Ranch, Woodland Hills, and Agua Dulce. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I have been preaching for more than 40 years, and my calling to become a preacher goes all the way back to the ninth grade. I went forward during the altar call at my father’s church. I told my dad that I wanted to lead a “great church” someday — not just any church, but a great church. Why would I, or anyone else, want to build something great for God? I’m going to share seven reasons why this has been my life’s mission, and how you can build something great for the Lord with whatever He has placed in your hands.

1. God is worthy of our best.

In Malachi 1:6-8, God’s people broke His covenant by offering blemished sacrifices back to Him. Imagine if your mother gave you an orange tree that produced delicious, juicy oranges. Once that tree was mature, she asked you for a few. You obliged, but you gave her all the bruised, half-rotten ones. How would that make her feel—she, being the one who not only gave you the orange tree, but also gave you life? God has given us everything we have, and sometimes we give Him back our leftovers, our worse, or nothing at all. God is worthy of our best.

2. God has done great things for us.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God has done so much for us. He has given us life, health, the ability to work and to enjoy our free time. He has given you your family, your freedom, your job, food to eat, and clean water to drink every day. On top of all this, God gave you the ultimate gift of His Son Jesus, who died for your sins (John 3:16). The Lord has done great things for us, which should lead us to want to do great things for Him.

3. God doesn’t want us to be lukewarm about anything.

In Revelation 3:15-16, God says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” God wants us to be on fire for Him—passionate for His holy character; the Bible, His Word; His heart to serve the poor, the sick, widows, and orphans; and His command to share the Good News about the hope and eternal life available through His Son, Jesus.

4. To whom much has given much is required.

We must always ask ourselves, “What am I doing with the blessings—the time, talents, and treasure—that God has given me? Am I using it to serve Him and to bless others?” Luke 12:48b says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

5. I never want to be outworked by the devil.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” And 1 Peter 5:8 describes the devil as a prowling, roaring lion who is looking for someone to devour. Satan is working overtime to destroy lives and spread darkness. I never ever want to be outworked by him, so I must keep building and working so that my life and faith will glorify God (Romans 4:18-21; 1 Peter 4:11).

6. If others will build upon our foundation, then let’s build a great foundation.

King David was not God’s chosen vessel to build His temple. But 1 Chronicles 29:1-5, we see the incredible contributions David gave for the building of God’ temple—gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and more. Then he says in verse five, “Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the Lord today?” This challenges us to ask ourselves what we are willing to give back to God. Even if we don’t get credit. Even if someone else comes along and builds upon what we have built (as David’s son, Solomon, ended up doing), it’s all for God’s glory.

7. The greater the light the more the darkness disappears.

In John 8:12, Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Then in John 12:46, He declared, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” When we work for the light, darkness diminishes more and more. And that is a very good reason to build our lives for God.

It’s these little steps of faith—the small decisions we make each and every day—that accumulate, brick by brick, until at the end of your life you look back and see that you have built a great life for God’s glory.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of “Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith” (available on Amazon) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area—Porter Ranch, Woodland Hills, and Agua Dulce. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

They say hindsight is 20/20, but what if you were able to look into the future? What would you see for your life? Perhaps you’d like to see yourself with a better job or finishing school. You might be hoping to be married or to know your children are living blessed lives. Maybe you’d like to lose weight, get stronger, or build up your endurance so that you’ll be able to run five miles or even a marathon. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to write a book or start your own business. Many of us set goals or resolutions for the New Year, but what about 10 years from now? We’ve entered into a new decade with so much possibility. How are you going to reach your goals or attain that which you hope for in the future?

According to U.S. News & World Report, the failure rate for New Year’s resolutions is approximately 80 percent, with most people abandoning their resolve by mid-February. How can you be a part of that rare 20 percent who sets goals and goes after them with commitment and tenacity? I’m not just talking goals for 2020, but for the entire next decade! Your future, your destiny, is in God’s sovereign hand. At the same time, the choices you make, your faithfulness and intentionality, are also an important component. So, I’d like to offer four steps you can take each and every day to ensure that this decade is different—and better—than the last.

Trust in God

In order to finish each day one step closer to your goals, you must start the day by determining that you are going to fully trust God…that you will entrust Him with everything you will encounter—the good and the bad, all your cares and worries. Psalm 33 is a beautiful passage of Scripture that tells of God’s might and trustworthiness. It declares that His “Word is right and true, and that He is faithful in all he does” (verse 4). He alone is full of unfailing love (verse 5). The Lord made everything, and everything is under His command (verses 6-9). He alone can bless our nation (verses 10-12). He alone can save (verses 16-19). Each morning, declare, “God, you are so worthy of my trust. Come what may today, I’m going to trust and not get thwarted by something I don’t understand or that which may frustrate me. I’m not going to give up today because you never give up on me.”

Set Spiritual Goals

Most people focus on the physical when setting goals for the future—their weight, their fitness, their career or money, or some habit they want to break such as smoking or spending less time on social media. But how many of us set spiritual goals? Our spiritual health sets the foundation for everything else we do. Second Corinthians 4:16 says, “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day,” and in verse 18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” What good is it if you obtain your dream career, but your spirit is starved of time spent with God, your Heavenly Father? What good is it if you’ve lost 20 pounds, or can bench press twice as much as you could last year, or complete a triathlon, if inside you are losing a battle with anger, fear, selfishness, lust, greed, or impatience? Spiritual disciplines, like spending time every day in prayer and reading the Bible, are far more important than physical goals. Let spiritual goals be your number-one priority, and the rest will follow.

Pray

Proverbs 29:18 says, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” We must seek God’s will for our lives by praying and asking Him what He would have us do each day. Are you asking God to show you His plan for your life? Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Are you praying to God throughout the day? When you are frustrated at work or school, I want to encourage you to pray. When you don’t feel like forgiving someone, pray. When you are feeling lonely or in need of an accountability partner, pray. When you need help staying the course, pray. When you don’t know the next right step or what to do, pray.

Write it Down

Lastly, write down your God-directed goals and put them somewhere you will see every day. Keep the plan in front of you. Read your plan, goals, or resolutions out loud each day. With every goal, ask yourself, “What small step am I going to take today to reach my goal?” Ask God to help you. I have no doubt that the Lord will encourage you and strengthen you to reach your goals that are in accordance with His will. He will meet you with abundant love and grace if you mess up, and He is honored and glorified when you succeed. So, if you fall short, dust yourself off and rejoice because each day carries with it 86,400 seconds—that’s 86,400 chances—to begin again.

Your destiny is dependent on a loving God and right choices each day. It’s a divine partnership that will lead to a decade you can be proud to look back on and clearly see God’s grace and provision every step of the way. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of “Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith” and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area—Porter Ranch, Woodland Hills, and Agua Dulce. You can connect with Dudley on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @pastordudley and @dudleyrutherford