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Hope for All

Written by amerrill on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Hope for All

If you’ve spent much time in California during the past few years, you know how desperate we’ve been for rain. Thankfully, the long-awaited downpour we’ve had this winter seems to have quenched our state’s five-year dry spell. We needed the rain because our land is dry and thirsty. This is true spiritually for our state—and our entire nation as well.

We are a dry and thirsty land spiritually. We have the highest percentage of people who do not believe in God in this country than we’ve ever had before. More people are atheist or agnostic than ever before, which means there are more people who have no understanding of the presence of God in one’s life. Many of our institutions mock God. We have people whose needs go unmet every single day because of apathy and greed. Pornography and abortion are like a plague in this country. Religious liberties continue to be stripped away from people of faith. And instead of “In God we trust,” it has become “In man we trust, or “In self we trust.”

We have lost our way politically—as we can clearly see from the unprecedented vitriol and ugliness of this past election, on both sides equally. Moreover, I’ve never seen our nation so divided racially. Just look at the comments section of most news articles on social media and you’ll see how quickly people begin to spew hateful prejudices against one another. It must grieve the very heart of God who has made us all in His image (Genesis 1:27). He has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31) and to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).

We’ve lost our way economically and morally; we are a bankrupt nation. Our federal government is close to 20 trillion dollars in debt. That’s $170,000 per tax payer. But we are not just bankrupt economically; we are bankrupt morally. There is the breakdown of the family unit, which causes us to be relationally challenged. We have more people who are being engulfed and enslaved by addiction to drugs, alcohol, and pornography. And we are living in times of terrorism. There seems to be a tragic attack just about every week somewhere in the world or on American soil.

Because there is so much discouragement around us, God put it in my heart that “Hope for All” would be our theme this year at Shepherd Church. Last year, our theme was “Love God, Love People.” This year is about offering hope to a broken world. The year 2017 at Shepherd is for people who are lonely, lost, confused, broken, disenfranchised, discouraged, afraid, or empty. It’s for people who are addicted and hopeless, desperate and searching. I want people know that they are loved. I want people to know that they are valued and important—that they matter; that they are respected, cared for, wanted.

The parables in Luke 15 demonstrate how much God cares for those who are lost and without hope. A shepherd loses a sheep. A woman loses a valuable coin. A father loses his son. Each of these people did whatever they could to find that which was lost, and they serve as pictures of Jesus Christ’s love and compassion for the lost. In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. In Matthew 9:35-36, Jesus went through the towns and villages and—

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Our Lord has great compassion for those who are sick, hungry, thirsty, naked, and oppressed. We see throughout the Gospels that everywhere Jesus went, He offered hope to the hurting. He came to this earth to love and forgive; heal and redeem; restore and save. We need to model Christ’s example.

I want people to look at our church and say, “There’s a church that cares for people. There’s a church that doesn’t throw aside someone who is addicted, but helps them. There’s a church that’s willing to sacrifice for others. There’s a church that has the best volunteers in America—they serve and they welcome everyone. They hold no prejudices. They see others as better than themselves. There’s a church that offers hope to all people. There’s a church that strives to love like Jesus.” If you would like to learn more about the hope that is found in Jesus, please join us at Shepherd Church.

Let Freedom Ring

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The New Year offers the promise of fresh beginnings. There is something about January 1 that gives us the motivation we need to start making changes or commitments we’ve abandoned the previous year. We tell ourselves this year is going to be different, and we feel confident and hopeful.

But sometime around mid-February or March, we lose focus. Perhaps it’s all those Valentine’s Day chocolates or Easter eggs! But we find ourselves making the same old choices and feeling discouraged or defeated. What we long for is freedom from bad habits and mindsets, and yet we come up empty.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, I want to encourage you today with a passage of Scripture from Galatians 5:1, which reads, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

In this letter, the apostle Paul addresses a group of churches in ancient Galatia, a region in modern-day Turkey. Some legalists had crept into the church and tried to convince Christians that in order to receive salvation and eternal life, they must also observe certain Old Testament laws such as circumcision. Paul wants to set the record straight that God’s grace comes from faith in Christ alone as he wrote this epistle to the Galatians. He outlined two important truths—freedom from the law and freedom from sin. And these two points are equally significant for believers today:

1. Freedom from the law. Have you heard the expression “fallen from grace”? It is often used to describe what happens when a celebrity or politician has been caught in a scandal, but the expression actually originates from the Bible. In Galatians 5:1-12, Paul warns Christians not to attempt to be justified (to be made right with God) by the law. He says that whoever does so has “fallen from grace,” meaning they are not relying on the grace of God for salvation but the work of the law. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love,” Paul writes in verse 6b.

The reason why the law cannot save a person is because it’s burdensome and heavy. It’s impossible to obey it all because there are 613 laws in the Old Testament. It’s kind of like the links in a chain—if one link is broken, you’re sunk. You are obligated to obey the entire law (v. 3). The religious law is restrictive and keeps you from running a good race (v. 7). Paul makes the point that those who wish to steal our freedom in Christ are persuasive and cancerous (v. 8-9).

2. Freedom from sin. In verses 19 through 21, Paul lists various sins. There are sexual sins, religious sins, and relational sins. The law points out these sins, but Jesus provides freedom from all sin. Paul writes in verse 13-15:

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

God’s grace—and our faith in Jesus Christ—is not a license to sin. Paul warns that the spirit and the flesh are in constant conflict with one another, and those who gratify their sinful nature will not inherit the kingdom of God (v. 21b). Instead, he beckons us to walk, live, and be led by the Spirit of God. That is where we find true freedom—the chance not only to start over but also to transform our minds and hearts for good.

If you would like to learn more about the freedom we have in Christ, please join us for weekend services at Shepherd Church. We would love to have you!

My True Love Gave to Me…

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In the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the writer enumerates the increasingly grand gifts received during the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Though the carol was written in England in the late 1700’s, many of us still sing it at Christmastime today. Do you remember the lyrics? “On the First day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, a partridge in a pear tree…”

This timeless and catchy song highlights the lengths to which one’s “true love” will go in order to express his or her love. But what is true love? Is it gifts that increase in grandeur with each passing day? Our world sends mixed and confusing messages about love, but what is God’s truth on the subject? We find the answers to lasting, loving relationships in the Bible, especially in the book of Ephesians.

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The Apostle Paul begins Ephesians 5:1-20 by instructing believers to “be imitators of God as dearly loved children.” In examining these verses, I noticed three important pillars that show us how we can decipher what true love is:

1.) True love. Verses one and two read, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The word of “love” here in the original Greek is agape. It means unconditional love, and it conveys giving, not receiving. Jesus Christ showed us what true love is when He willingly gave Himself up for us—dying in our place for our sins and the sins of the world. First John 4:8 tell us that “God is love.”

2.) False love. In verses three through seven, Paul warns believers about false love. He is concerned about their purity and personal testimony. He wants to help prevent them from being deceived or from falling into such sins as sexual immorality, greed, and idolatry “because these are improper for God’s holy people” (v. 3). Paul’s words are a striking reminder that God has called us to be holy, not happy. Yes, there is much joy in the Christian walk, but the mistake many people make is believing that the end goal is happiness at any cost—when God’s goal is to make us holy. The pursuit of happiness over holiness leads to accept false forms of love.

3.) Savior love. Verses eight through 10 read, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Our goal in life is to find and to do what pleases the Lord. Paul wants believers to wake up, “having nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,” (v. 11) and allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine in and through them. Our Savior’s love is sacrificial. It is God-honoring. It shines a light on anything and everything it touches.

This is the standard of love that Christ set forth. I beg you not to accept any counterfeits or substitutions. If you would like to learn how to imitate God’s unconditional love and watch it overflow into worship and thankfulness, please join us for worship services at Shepherd Church!

Don’t Lose Hope This Political Season!

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Every four years, our country goes through a season in which it seems every effort is made to divide Americans and separate them into two major categories: red and blue, Republican and Democrat, right and wrong. I am, of course, talking about election season. Sadly, Americans are exposed to round-the-clock news coverage of divisive attacks and mudslinging—and this presidential election has probably been the worst in the history of our nation.

The attempt to build walls of discord and disunity is as old as the creation of the world. When Satan deceived the first man and woman, which caused them to disobey God, their sin separated them from a life of fellowship and unity with God in the Garden of Eden. The Lord still loved them. No doubt about that. However, there is always a consequence to our sin.

Sin—wrongdoing by disobeying God’s Word—not only separates us from God, but it also separates us from each other.

It’s the root cause of the hatred and “us versus them” mentality that is so rampant in our country today. This division—these walls of hostility—exist all over the world. Between brothers and sisters, neighbors, churches, political parties, husbands and wives, parents and children, coworkers, and former friends.

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It must grieve the very heart of God when He looks down upon people who were made in His image, and yet despise each other and create barriers between one another.

In Ephesians 2:11-22, the apostle Paul talks about the division that existed between Jews and Gentiles. He uses this to build upon and to illustrate the separation we have from God before we accept Christ. He says that before we become reconciled to God through His Son, Christ Jesus, we were “excluded from citizenship” in God’s Kingdom; “foreigners to the Covenants” (God’s truth); and without hope. (See verse 12.)

The good news is that peace is possible!

In this passage of Scripture, we find the word “peace” three times. Here is what we learn about peace…which is the key to bringing down the walls of hostility in our hearts and in our nation:

  1. Jesus is our peace. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the bringing together of two entities to become one. Peace means being whole—nothing broken or missing; inseparable. Through Christ’s selfless act on the cross to die for the sins of the world, He has become our peace.
  1. Jesus is making peace. Ephesians 2:15b-16 says, “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” The Bible teaches that we are one in Christ. The problem is that Satan loves to create division and prejudice. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate peacemaker and reconciler. He abolishes enmity and hostility. Hallelujah!
  1. Jesus preached peace. Ephesians 2:17-18 says, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Jesus preached peace no matter how close a person was to God through their observance of the Law, or how far away they were from Him through their sin. He went through the towns of Israel to share the good news of His coming. And in fact, the prophet Isaiah preached about Jesus long before He arrived, saying, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

In this political season and always, don’t lose hope! Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations, and the only way to break down impossible walls and to usher in peace.

5 Things Every Believer Needs to Know

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If you are a parent, you probably know what it is like to have a persistent son or daughter continually ask you for something they want. It could be a brand new toy or an athletic shoe that just came out on the market. It could be permission to go to a party or a concert with friends. Right or wrong, the child can become relentless in asking because they feel that the desired item is important.

In Ephesians 1:17-23, the Apostle Paul begins his letter to believers living in the city of Ephesus with the words, “I keep asking God…” He wants God to bless them with five important things. Paul was a man whose life had been radically changed by an encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. He became a great leader in the Church, authored nearly half of the New Testament, and was imprisoned and killed for the faith.

So when Paul wrote about how he unceasingly asked God for something, much like a child petitions his or her parent, our ears ought to perk up. We ought to investigate what it is he found so important that he asked and asked God to give it Christians living at that time.

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When we examine these five requests, we find that all five are still immensely pertinent for modern-day Christians. So without further ado, here are five things every believer needs to know, according to the Apostle Paul:

1.) To know God better.

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul wrote, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” The spiritual wisdom and revelation we receive are for the purpose of knowing God better. If you want to get to know someone better, you will spend time with that person. You will also spend tough times with that person. The best marriages are two people who remained lovingly committed to each other through thick and thin. The same is true for our relationship with God. Don’t give up on Him when the going gets tough. He is the one who will see you through it!

2.) To know our hope.

Verse 18 says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” The hope Paul spoke of does not mean “hope so”—like if someone asks you if you are going to heaven when you die, and you say, “Uh, I hope so.” This word in the Bible comes from the Greek word elpis, which means “confidence” and “expectation.” It is a motivating force to purify our lives and hearts before the Lord. (See Ephesians 2:12-13, 1 Peter 1:3, and 1 John 2:28ff.)

3.) To know we are God’s inheritance.

As verse 18 continues, Paul mentions “the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…” He wants the Ephesians to know that they are God’s inheritance. In worldly terms, we wait patiently to receive an inheritance from a relative, but this verse tells us that we are God’s inheritance! God is waiting for you! He sees you not for what you are now, but for what you’ll become.

4.) To know God’s power.

In verses19-20, we see that Paul wants believers to know “[God’s] incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” The same power that rose Jesus from the grave can resurrect a dying marriage, relationship, or impossible situation. If you understood this truth you’d never live another day in defeat (see Philippians 3:10).

5.) To know that everything is distant second to Jesus.

Lastly, Paul wrote, in verses 21 and 22 that God raised Jesus Christ “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church…” Nothing compares to Jesus. He is above every nation, ruler, celebrity, and political candidate. No accomplishment, accolade, or achievement comes close to what Christ did, in love, for us on the cross. Let this truth take away any worry you may have today, and put your trust in the name of Jesus.

If you would like to know God better and the hope we have in Jesus Christ, please join us at Shepherd Church. Visit www.shepherdchurch.com for services times and locations.

5 Keys to Kindness

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The phrase one another appears 59 times in the New Testament of the Bible as it pertains to how we ought to treat each other. Forgive one another, love one another, honor one another, live in harmony with one another, and serve one another— just to name a few.

Two particular instances I’d like to focus on in this article, due to their timeliness and relevance, are accept and be kind to one another.

First, Romans 15:7 reads, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Acceptance is often quoted in today’s culture. It’s a hot topic, politically correct, and usually synonymous with “tolerance.” What people usually mean by acceptance and tolerance is that we should approve of everyone’s life choices and behaviors. To “live and let live.” This mentality instantly shuts down correction or speaking the truth in love, respect, and gentleness (see Ephesians 4:15, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, and 1 Peter 3:15). Yet we cannot be silent about what we know to be true from God’s Word.

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So what is the biblical definition of “acceptance” as seen in Romans 15:7? To accept is to welcome and invite in. The context of this, which is evident in the next verse, is that Jews and Gentiles are now one—united for God’s praise and glory—through Jesus Christ. So the Apostle Paul was encouraging all believers to welcome each other. Despite their backgrounds. Despite cultural differences.

Second, Ephesians 4:32 reads, “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” It’s one thing to accept one another. It’s something else altogether to be kind to someone you disagree with. Some of us carry past hurts, fears, and stereotypes that only serve as roadblocks and hindrances to us fulfilling the biblical command of kindness. However, Jesus Christ’s love, grace, and forgiveness enables us to let down our guard—making unity possible.

Here are five ways we can be kind to one another, which will lead to harmony not only in our churches, but also the world:

  1. Fight first impressions. We like to draw conclusions quickly when we see someone. But we need to realize that every person we see has been made in the image of God—no matter how different they are from us. (See Genesis 1:27 and James 3:9.)
  2. Love, don’t label. We’re very good at labeling people. Labels and lazy, and they only serve to divide us. Choose love instead because love brings unity and peace.
  3. Recognize all people have wounds. When I see someone who is racist or mean or angry, I can’t help but think, Something’s going on in that person’s life—the way he was raised, something in his home or in his life. There are people all around us who are hurting. Let’s show understanding, compassion, and grace.
  4. Let Scripture be your standard. Mother Teresa lived by the Scripture, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). In every single detail in this culture and the battles that are being waged, let Scripture be your guide in your response.
  5. Make mercy your message. God is holy, righteous, and merciful. He is also just. God will bring judgment when He wants to bring judgment. That’s not your job, and it’s not my job. As James 2:13 reads, “…because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

May God help each of us to apply these keys to kindness in our daily lives, in order to transform the world. May the world take notice and ask why we do the things we do. And may our answer always be bold when we say: Jesus.

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By Dudley Rutherford, senior pastor of Shepherd Church and founder of LiftUpJesus.com