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Boldness to Share Your Faith Begins with Humility

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When you become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), God wants to give you a brand-new perspective, a promising future, and an everlasting hope. One important byproduct of this awesome transformation is a new wardrobe as well! What I mean is this: You exchange your old, dirty, raggedy clothes—which represents your former and sinful ways—for clean, gleaming, new clothes—which represents your justification and sanctification through Christ.

But instead of trendy styles or expensive fabrics, Colossians 3:12 explains what your new clothes are made of: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

As a new creation in Christ with a new mission in life—to share Jesus and the Gospel with others—you now are to be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These qualities are worth far more than an entire closet filled with designer suits or fancy dresses. I want to focus on humility because I believe it is a huge precursor to having the boldness to share your faith with others.

Where does humility come from?

When we as human beings are so prone to pride and egotism, how do we cultivate true humility in our hearts? James 3:13 reveals that “humility comes from wisdom.” You might be thinking, Okay, so how do I get wisdom? We find this answer in the book of James as well:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (1:5)

It’s surprisingly simple: pray for wisdom and it will be given to you—and out of that wisdom, humility springs forth.

C. S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” When we think of ourselves less, it takes away the concern for our possessions, our reputation, and our safety when we endeavor to share Jesus Christ with someone. Paul’s declaration in Acts 20:22–25 is a beautiful example of this truth. He wrote,

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.

After Paul spoke these words to the Ephesian elders, he got down on his knees and prayed with them as they wept. What a heart-wrenching scene! Paul said good-bye to beloved friends and fellow workers in ministry, knowing he would never see them again. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that hardships and prison awaited him. And yet he forged ahead with his God-given task, unconcerned for his own future or safety. He considered his life worth nothing; his singular mission was to share the Good News.

Paul is an astonishing example to us all of humility and total surrender to the Lord’s will in order to bring the Gospel to lost souls. May we as Christians become completely humble as we endeavor to share our faith with those around us.

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 in Porter Ranch, California, which has four campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Why God Chose Us—Not the Angels—to Deliver the Good News

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If God were to ask me, “Dudley, who do you think should carry the message of salvation to the world?” my answer would be an easy one. “Angels!” I’d say.

Why not? Angels have been used by God throughout the Bible to bring very important messages to people. In fact, the Greek word for angel can also mean “messenger.” In Luke 1:13, an angel delivered a message to Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to John the Baptist, even in their old age. An angel told Mary she was going to conceive and bring forth a Child (Luke 1:35). An angel warned Mary and Joseph about Herod’s plot to kill their child and instructed them to leave the country (Matthew 2:13). The night sky lit up as angels announced the Messiah’s birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:13).

From the beginning of creation, angels have been very busy carrying God’s messages. Today books are written about them. Hollywood has put angels “in the outfield” and imagined people in crisis being “touched by” them. There’s even a baseball team in Los Angeles named after them! With all of their experience and fame, it just makes sense that angels would be the obvious choice to herald the message of redemption to the world.

But think about it. How many people do you know were saved because of an angelic visitation? Probably none. And I think there are two very important reason why God has chosen us—not angels—to share the Gospel with the world.

First, angels are busy with their own tasks.

Ephesians 6:12 reveals that there is a spiritual battle going on in the heavenly realms, dark against light. God’s angels are very likely involved in this battle (2 King 6:17; Jude 1:9; Revelation 7:1). Angels serve God (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9). They are also busy praising and worshipping Him (Psalm 148:1–2; Isaiah 6:3; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8–13).

The second and perhaps greater reason angels are not modern-day messengers of the Gospel is because angels do not have a testimony.

God has chosen us, not angels, to be His ambassadors of the Good News because angels have never experienced the weight or consequences of sin. They have never heard a sermon on salvation and then felt the convicting Spirit of God tugging on their hearts. An angel could never sing, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” Why? Because they have never been a “wretch.” They’re angels—not humans who live in a fallen world.

We, on the other hand, have a testimony and an ability to say to others, “Hey, my life used to be a wreck. I was trapped in sin just like you. Then one day I met Jesus Christ, and He changed my life. The same way He changed me, He can change you too.” This is important because people tend to be more receptive to someone they can relate to—someone who has been in their shoes. This is empathy, and it serves as an amazing bridge between two people.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of this:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Though we are not perfect like our Savior, the sin and struggles He saved us from are all part of our testimony. Jesus said that those who have been forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:47). Because of this, I believe forgiven sinners are powerful witnesses for God’s grace. David Wilkerson, the late pastor and writer, once said, “God uses people. God uses people to perform His work. He does not send angels. Angels weep over it, but God does not use angels to accomplish His purposes. He uses burdened broken-hearted weeping men and women.”

You and I may never be able to open up prison doors like the angels have done, or speak to prophets, or shut the mouths of lions, or ascend and descend on a ladder from heaven, or minister to Jesus in His darkest hour. But we have a song that the angels cannot sing! We have a message they are not qualified to deliver. As much as they probably would love to, and as much as they would obey, the Bible says God has given us—not angels—the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). God deemed it our responsibility to deliver His message to the world. You and I are called to be the spokespersons on His behalf and on behalf of His precious Gospel!

 

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 in Porter Ranch, California, which has four campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

How Christians Can Live a Life with No Regrets

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Life is full of many different pursuits and possible achievements, but as followers of Christ, how do we live our lives to reach our full potential so that, in the end, we will have no regrets? I will never forget something an elder in our church told me right before he died. He had served the congregation faithfully for sixty years, and as his frail body prepared to step into eternity, he told me, “Dudley, one of my biggest regrets in life is that I cannot recall actually leading someone to Jesus Christ.”

My heart grieved along with his. This man had knowledge of the Scriptures. He knew the Lord. He had likely sat in more than three thousand church services in his lifetime, sang worship songs, tithed, and served others. But one thing was missing: he never used what he knew to bring salvation to one person. Not one.

Friend, this does not have to be the deathbed regret of any Christian. With every fiber of my being, I believe we serve a mighty God who invites us into a powerful partnership with Him and will equip us to do His will here on earth.

Hope of the World

As believers, we have the hope of the world living inside us. The most pressing crisis at hand is that there are people who are lost without Jesus—prisoners to their sin, searching for answers, lonely, hurting, confused. Some are suicidal, thinking there is no way out of the situation they’re in currently. Many need healing spiritually, physically, and relationally. The message of the cross is lifesaving, and I’m convinced beyond any doubt that the best life anyone could possibly live is one that serves God and obeys His Word. This includes sharing His Word with others.

My passion is to see this current generation of believers become so compelled by the love of Christ that we cannot help but try to persuade our fellow man that He died for all. I want to see the modern-day church more closely resemble the early church, which was fearlessly and singularly focused on spreading the Gospel—to the degree that the early disciples were accused of turning the world upside down by those who opposed them (Acts 17:6). With all my heart I believe that same boldness can be mustered in the church today to transform the world for Jesus!

Life and Death

For these loved ones and acquaintances of yours, hearing the Gospel is a matter of life and death. Paul explained unequivocally in Ephesians 2:1–3 that without Christ, we are dead in our transgressions and deserving of God’s wrath. That’s bad news—a tragic reality for everyone on this planet who has not put their faith in Jesus Christ. Now let me show you what Paul wrote in the very next few verses, because it is unfathomably good news:

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (vv. 4–7)

Paul also explained this same idea more simply as this: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

We have been saved by the excessive love, mercy, and grace of God. And since it exceeds us, we should not keep it to ourselves. The greatest assignment we have ever been given by Almighty God is to grab a hold of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in front of us—which is sharing the Gospel with others before they enter into eternity.

Extravagant Grace

Our God wants everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:4–6). Through His extravagant grace, your heavenly Father has made a way for everyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ to have everlasting life. Even the difficult people in your life.

Yet many people have never heard a clear and simple explanation of how forgiveness and redemption take place through faith in Christ alone. It’s our obligation to tell them. Paul left no room for debate when he wrote,

How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14–15 NLT)

You have a once-in-lifetime opportunity to pick up the Gospel and take it to desperate souls. No one is out of God’s reach, and He uses Christ followers like you to carry His message of truth.

This is how Christians can live a life with no regrets!

Starting today, may you look around and truly see those around you, asking the Lord for the courage and the opportunity to share the Good News with them.

A Picture of Heaven

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From the beginning of time, people young and old have wondered what Heaven will be like. Is Heaven real? If so, what does it look like? Who will be there? What will we do there? Thankfully, we find the answers to these questions in God’s Holy Word. The last two chapters of the last book of the Bible, Revelation, have more to say about Heaven than the rest of the entire Bible.

Revelation 21:5 declares, “He [God] who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’”

Here is what we learn about Heaven from Revelation 21 and 22:

The splendor, size, and structure of Heaven

Heaven is beyond anything we could ever imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9), but we get a picture of its magnificence from Revelation 21:11-12, which says, “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates.”

This new city is about 1500 x 1500 miles long. (For reference, the city of Los Angeles is 22 x 22 miles long.) “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone… The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass” (Revelation 21:11-21).

Isn’t it amazing to know that God has reserved the most precious and beautiful materials for our heavenly home? He truly has spared no expense for the wondrous place He is preparing for those who love Him.

Who will be in Heaven?

We learn from Revelation 21:3 that God Himself will be in Heaven. “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Just like in the Garden of Eden before the fall of man, God will once again live and walk among His beloved people. Revelation 22:4 says God’s servants “will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

We also learn from Revelation 21:7 that “those who are victorious” will inherit the new Heaven and be children of God. Who are these victorious ones? We learn from Scriptures such as Matthew 10:22 and Romans 8:4-6 that they are the people who have put their trust in Jesus Christ, followed His ways, lived according to the Spirit and not the flesh, and endured trials until the very end.

What will NOT be in Heaven?

The Bible reveals that there will be no tears, death, or disease in Heaven. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:8 makes it clear that sinners and evil will not be found in Heaven either. “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Every heartache, every tear, and every pain in our body is a reminder that this world is not our true home (Hebrews 13:14; 1 Peter 2:11). Each story of crime, corruption, evil, and injustice you hear about on the news is a reminder that this world is fallen due to sin. “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him” Revelation 22:3. I’m looking forward to that great day, aren’t you?

 

Hope for Relationships

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Relationships are the building blocks of humanity. They can elicit overwhelming joy, such as the special bond between parent and child or the enduring love between a husband and wife.  However, the breakdown of relationships—seen across the ages and across the world—can cause unbearable devastation. Couples divorce, family members become estranged, siblings fight, and longtime friendships dissolve bitterly.

Yet, God has created within every man and woman the desire to form lasting, loving, and meaningful relationships with those around them. So, in order to nurture healthy relationships in the future, how does one obtain healing for a heart that has been broken by hurts from the past? We find hope for relationships by looking to God’s Word for answers.

Here are four things we can do when our relationships need to be revived with hope:

1. Surrender to the proper authority. God is the Creator of the universe. The Bible says He heals, restores, and gives life—even to relationships that seem dead and hopeless (Romans 8:11). The devil, on the other hand, aims to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). In every decision you make, you are either submitting to God or to the devil. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” How do you submit to God? By obeying His word, the Bible. Make a commitment to read the Bible every single day, even if it’s just one chapter. Pray and ask God to help you to obey Him.

2. Confess and let go. James 4:8 says, “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Take an honest assessment of your heart and what role you may have had in the demise of a certain relationship.  First John 1:8-9 says, “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.” When you confess your sin to God and ask Him for forgiveness, you are able to forgive others and let go of resentment and bitterness you may be harboring within your heart.

3. Don’t slander. Whenever we are hurt, it is very tempting to complain to anyone who will listen about the person we feel has wronged us. James 4:11 admonishes us not to engage in this kind of slanderous speech. Jesus Christ suffered the cruelest injustice in all of history—His undeserved death on a Roman cross—but He did not protest or slander His accusers. Instead, He said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Let us follow Jesus’ humble example.

4. Give grace instead of judgment. When others fall short of your expectations, choose to show them grace, which is defined as mercy, favor, and pardon. Jesus showed you and I grace rather than judgment when He died to pay the penalty for our sins. He says in Matthew 7:1-2: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Trust the Lord to examine the heart and motives of those who may have hurt you, and leave all judgment to Him. You will find that letting go of this responsibility is tremendously liberating, and it will allow God to fully heal and restore your heart.

We will be starting a series at Shepherd Church soon called, “A Living Hope.” Please join us for this important study through the Book of 1 Peter as we learn about God’s plan to bring hope for all!

5 Ways to Honor God Today

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Revelation chapter 4 describes a remarkable scene in heaven. Twenty-four elders are gathered around the throne room of God, worshiping God and laying their crowns down before Him. They proclaim,

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:10-11).

The Bible says that one day all people will bow down to the Lord. And no matter how powerful someone might be (or think they are), we will all lay our crowns at God’s feet—because there is only one King in heaven. He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.

To honor is to hold in high respect, reverence, and distinction.

We honor certain people because they have a perceived value and because of their position. There are biblical instructions for whom we should esteem in this manner. For example, Deuteronomy 5:16 states that we are to honor our parents. Leviticus 19:32 encourages us to honor the elderly. And 1 Peter 2:13 admonishes us to honor those who rule. But there are dozens of Bible verses that tell us to honor God. Not only do they instruct us to honor Him, but they also show us how to do so!

Here are five ways that you can honor God today:

  1. Honor God with your time –How are you using the precious time you have been given to glorify God? See Psalms 144:4, Isaiah 58:13-14, and Colossians 4:5.
  2. Honor God with your talents – These are your God-given gifts and abilities. See Matthew 25:14-30.
  3. Honor God with your temple – This means your body. See 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.
  4. Honor God with your treasure – This means your finances. Every resource we receive is an opportunity to practice biblical stewardship. Whether your income flows from your standard weekly paycheck, an unexpected family inheritance, or a legal online casino, honoring God means recognizing that every financial blessing ultimately comes from Him and choosing to be generous. As Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). See Proverbs 3:9 and Malachi 3:10.
  5. Honor God with your ticker – This means your heart. There are many Bible verses that encourage us to make God number one in our heart. See Isaiah 29:13, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:26, and Psalm 51:10.

The biggest takeaway is this:

God wants to be the sole proprietor of your heart. Matthew 6:24 makes it clear when it says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Exodus 20:2-3 commands us not to have any other gods before the Lord, and Jesus said in Mark 12:30 that the greatest to commandment is to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

God wants to be the Lord of your life—not just with your words, but also with your actions. (See Matthew 7:21). And we see from Malachi 1:6-14 and Colossians 3:23-24 that He wants you to carve out time for Him and commit your best to Him.

Every morning when you wake up, I pray you will ask God, “How can I honor You today? Please help me to honor You with the time, talent, temple, treasure, and ticker You’ve given me.” Jesus Christ gave His life for you, and He promised to give you the Holy Spirit to help you in all things. The Holy Spirit lives inside every believer—to counsel, comfort, and guide us. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 declares,

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

We belong to the Lord, and may we honor Him 100% with every gift He has given us.