Get Behind Me Archives - Lighthouse 805 Church

Is Your Faith Reliable?

Janell Marshall — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 18:22:19 +0000

Have you ever been expecting or needing something from someone who is not reliable? We all know what it feels like to hope this time they will come through. And we all know what it feels like when they don’t… again. Today’s Faith Check message is titled “Reliable Faith”. We’re going to look at the difference between putting our faith in something that’s unreliable verses what is reliable – God. Because He is always reliable.

Jeremiah 1:11-12

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”

And I replied, “I see a branch from an almond tree.”

12 And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”

There is a play on sounds here in the Hebrew text. The word translated almond (shaqēd) has the same root as the word hasten (shōqēd). As the early blossoming almond tree gave promise of the later spring fruit, so God would watch over His word to bring it to fruition.

God will always carry out His plans – God is always reliable.

Todays message is called ‘Reliable Faith.’

Unreliable faith is:

Unreliable faith is when we place our faith in anything but Jesus. When we establish idols and put our hope and trust there. (Social media, news, other people like family, our job, ….)
Unreliable faith is actions without relationship. (I’m a good person I volunteer, I serve, I give…. but I don’t know Jesus.)
Unreliable Faith is a relationship without actions. (I’m saved, but I don’t do anything with it)

Matthew 7:12-27

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Reliable faith is only through Jesus.

**Underline or circle all the times YOU or YOUR is mentioned in this scripture…**

Jeremiah 29:10-14

10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Are we keying into the fact that Faith Check is all about “your relationship with Jesus”?

Babylon represents earth…. home is heaven.

When your mind focuses on the future and hope that is Jesus in Heaven – nothing else compares:

frustrations
situations
health
telling people about Jesus

Reliable faith is…

When you pray He listens
If you look with your whole heart you will find Jesus

Jesus has to be found by you – just because your grandma prays doesn’t give you an automatic get into heaven card. This is a two-way relationship.

Let’s talk about the coronavirus for a second.

Do a faith check right now… Do you hyper-focus more on the conspiracy theories, the political climate, or even dwell more on what used to be…. Or do you allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you for a second about the uncertainty of this world and realize the urgency for Jesus?

How is your relationship with Jesus? Genuinely asking. Will you be the one that gets to heaven and says Lord Lord, and hear from Jesus? or I don’t know you?

Next Steps: Make this the Sunday that you start, build, or strengthen your relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is Reliable!

But it starts with your reliable faith.

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How to Find Peace in a Crisis

Janell Marshall — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:52:29 +0000

Finding peace in an extended crisis… is that even possible? Today we find ourselves in unprecedented times; stuck behind closed doors. How are you coping with the extended timelines? Does fear overwhelm you? Do you look for things to occupy your time? Do you turn to humor and try to laugh it all away? We all have a default coping mechanism we use, but there usually comes a breaking point. Today, in the last message of our Get Behind Me series – “Behind Closed Doors, Going Beyond Social Distancing” – we’ll look at the disciples in the midst of crisis.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

John 20:19

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Fear – Fear placed the disciples behind closed doors, instead of behind Jesus.

Suddenly – Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! This is a promise of God. Wherever you have locked yourself up, or barricaded your self in; Jesus is there with you.

Peace be with you and evidence – “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side.

Revelation – They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Until they were filled with joy they were filled with fear.

Peace be with you – He repeats himself. Jesus repeats himself again because for whatever reason the disciples didn’t catch it the first time…

Sent – Jesus is calling us to give what we got. The peace and revelation we have needs to be shared.

Empowerment – Receive the Holy Spirit. We have gotten so that we can give.

peace, empowerment, revelation…

This series is entitled Get Behind Me. Are you behind Jesus following after Him or locked up in fear behind closed doors? In this moment of social isolation, if you do not have peace, and joy and empowerment; I challenge you to reach out for prayer right now through our contact form here: lighthouse805.com

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How to Let Go of the Past and Move Forward

Janell Marshall — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:27:17 +0000

Let go of the past and move forward is the topic behind this weeks Lighthouse 805 Church message. This is the third episode in our Get Behind Me series, titled – Carry Your Cross. This series focuses on our position with Christ Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that Matthew 16:24 tells us to “pick up YOUR cross”? and Follow!

You can also watch this message here on our website, or on YouTube – search Lighthouse 805 Church.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

1 – Give Up Your Way

A – I like when people Do things my way

B – I like when things Go my way

C – And I definitely don’t like things In my way

2 – Take Up Your Cross

A – Worry, Fear, & Anxiety

B – Past Hurts

C – Know Everything Already

3 – Follow Jesus

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

A – Leave Our Baggage Behind

B – Move Forward

C – Don’t Stop

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Hope Under Pressure

Janell Marshall — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 01:04:40 +0000

The second installment in our Get Behind Me series at Ventura Lighthouse 805 church, is so timely for the new unchartered season we all find ourselves in right now. This message will look at what it means to be positioned behind Jesus when we’re in a time of pressure, things are beyond our control, we feel overwhelmed, and burdened.

This week starts something new – maybe you’d like to watch the live recording of this message? If so, head over to YouTube and search on Lighthouse 805 Church and the message title Hope Under Pressure. Or follow the link here https://www.youtube.com/user/lighthousevta

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

Luke 23:26-31 – As they led Jesus off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on.

What came to break you is really your breakthrough in disguise.

1 – When We Are Derailed

A – Know Your Placed – You’re not derailed, you’re placed behind the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is leading you

B – Know Your Destination – Your destination is the same as Jesus’. We need to keep our mind focused on where Jesus is headed with us behind him

2 – When We Lose Control

A – God’s In Control – Guess what? We have never been in control. God is in complete control, we will not live in fear and worry we will live in peace and comfort knowing Jesus is in control and He is in front of us.

John 16:31-33 “Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

B – Reclaiming Control – We are only in control of our position in relation to Jesus.

3 – When We Feel Crushed

The weight of the world has been crushing people.

When situations feeling like they are weighing down on you and hope is being choked out. Know that you are not the only one under the weight. Jesus is sharing the weight too.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Our greatest position in finding rest strength and hope is following closely behind Jesus.

I challenge you to spend extra time following Jesus:

this is extra worship time…praying time…listening time…reading your Bible time… And take time to message someone that pops onto your mind a word of encouragement.

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The Way Back

Janell Marshall — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 18:50:29 +0000

Welcome to the first episode in our new series, at Ventura Lighthouse 805 church – Get Behind Me; where we will study what positioning ourselves behind Jesus does in life.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

The Way Back

Matthew 16:23 “But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

1 – Get Behind Me, Satan

A – Bad Decisions
B – Emotionally Lead
C – No Movement

2 – Opiso Means Behind

A – Position
B – Following
C – Timing

3 – Life Starts Behind Jesus
Matthew 4:19 “Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

A – New Life
B – Acceptance
C – Purpose

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