Pastor Matt Russell Archives - Lighthouse 805 Church https://www.lighthouse805.com/tag/pastor-matt-russell/ Church in Ventura Tue, 27 Oct 2020 22:24:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.lighthouse805.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-805-ventura-church-32x32.png Pastor Matt Russell Archives - Lighthouse 805 Church https://www.lighthouse805.com/tag/pastor-matt-russell/ 32 32 “I Got This!” https://www.lighthouse805.com/podcast/i-got-this/ Tue, 27 Oct 2020 22:24:17 +0000 https://www.lighthouse805.com/?post_type=podcast&p=2698 The post “I Got This!” appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

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What the three little words you hear right before someone does something crazy? “I got this” – is typically the attitude, mantra, or phrase uttered moments before something crazy or awesome happens. In changing your city, there will be obstacles – fear, nerves, distractions… we need to have an attitude of “I got this”  that takes us beyond our comfort and into our calling.

Mark 2:1-12 – 2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Changing your city starts with going beyond your comfort..

Capernaum means village of comfort. Here, in the middle of comfort… was a group of 5 friends. And one of those friends was paralyzed.

Here we are back to those 3 groups of people around Jesus – 

  1. The friends placing complete faith in Jesus above their own comfort, taking next steps.
  2. The crowd listening and not doing anything – not taking next steps
  3. The Pharisees – watching and judging and pushing back trying to stop any next steps.

We need to have the attitude of “I Got This”.

When you begin changing your city – you will face obstacles on the way. Here’s 4 we see in this passage:

CROWD – people will unknowingly or unconsciously block you or prevent you. Have you ever had someone say something like oh thats dumb. or why would you do that. They never give what they said a second thought, but for us its something we can dwell on. Wow, they don’t think I can do it, maybe I shouldn’t.

ROOF – every year had to be redone right before winter. It was something that was easily removed and replaced. I see the roof as our own self worth, or insecurities. Something that only blocks you and no one else. 

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Doing Life Together –

What is your roof? How are you going to trust Jesus? How are you going to place confidence in Jesus? What does the verse Jeremiah 17:7 mean to you?

PHARISEES – judgement (first public confrontation with the teachers of the law). The enemy intentionally trying to block or prevent you.

BELIEF –  was an obstacle – belief that your sin, or pain, or situation is greater than Jesus.

9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

How do we overcome obstacles?

1. Jesus – He is in your corner. He is speaks on your behalf. What this looks like is proclaiming the word of God in front of the enemy, during healing, through salvation.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57

2. Doing life together – Friends. Interesting the friends faced obstacles before getting to Jesus. The obstacle of people. The obstacle of self worth. Jesus and doing life with other people will help you when you face mental and emotional obstacles.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

NEXT STEPS – Bring your city to Jesus. Is there someone like the man on the mat? Someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or needs Jesus? I challenge you to have the attitude of “I’ve got this!” and message them, mail them a card, call them, something to initiate the conversation this week.

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Have You Gotten Too Comfortable? https://www.lighthouse805.com/podcast/have-you-gotten-too-comfortable/ Sun, 18 Oct 2020 23:55:25 +0000 https://www.lighthouse805.com/?post_type=podcast&p=2687 The post Have You Gotten Too Comfortable? appeared first on Lighthouse 805 Church.

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Have you gotten too comfortable with being comfortable? Have you ever been so comfortable on the couch and the remote was too far away? Where you allowed the next episode or show to start playing? Like your comfort allowed the world chose what you would take in? This is the issue with most believers…. Their comfort has become more important than their calling.

This is the first message in our sermon series “Change Your City”Christ Calls. This sermon series is focused around the city of Capernaum in the Bible. The city that Jesus ministered in. And it’s interesting to note that Capernaum means “village of comfort”.

This sermon series is all about changing your city.

Our city is different even if it has the same name. Our individual cities are the places/people we interact with all the time. Where our unique talents, gifts, and passions are known and live. But one thing we all need to understand before you start trying to change your city –

Is that the only way your city can be changed is BY Jesus THROUGH you.

Its starts with His calling of you.

Matthew 4:18-20

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

  • Our responsibility – follow Jesus
  • His responsibility – Jesus does the changing and transforming

We follow him: He makes us (He equips us)

Jesus is transforming you as you follow Him.

You do not make yourself. You do not become who Jesus calls you to be without Jesus…

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

Doing Life together – 

What are you believing God to work on in your life as you follow and believe in Him? Have you been trying to fix or solve it yourself? How do you allow and believe Jesus will work on you?

 

We can’t change our city unless we understand Jesus has called us to; and in that calling He equips us and works on us.

In Capernaum there were 3 main groups of people that interacted with Jesus

  1. those that followed. 
  2. those that received but remained comfortable. 
  3. those that came against what He was doing.

Let’s look at what happened to the people in groups 2 & 3…

Note: People fought to rebuke Jesus to remain comfortable. Will you fight against being a follower of Jesus to remain comfortable?

Matt. 11:23-24 – 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Jesus rejected and rebuked Capernaum because they witnessed and saw all the miracles but didn’t follow Him – their faith was nothing more than routines, rituals and rules.

Remember the couch example?

Group 1 – the people that followed Jesus we know what happened. That’s how we got the New Testament,

Jesus leads you out of comfort and into calling.

Have you ever noticed that when leaving comfort and entering calling… sometimes things go wrong, get hard, or act like a storm in our lives?

It happens today and it also happened back then.

Mark 4:35-41 – 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Some of you will chose to follow Jesus this sermon series.

You will step out of comfort and into your calling – you will go after this season to reach your city.

You will leave your comfort and face a storm… which may cause you to panic.

All you need to remember is remain steady on your faith… re-listen to the Faith Check sermon series and set Jesus as your foundation.

 

In leaving Capernaum the first storm occurred.

In leaving your place of comfort a storm might happen.

Do you have the faith needed to keep moving forward?

NEXT STEPS: Begin praying and fasting that the Holy Spirit would reveal how to change YOUR city.

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How to Find Peace in a Crisis https://www.lighthouse805.com/podcast/how-to-find-peace-in-a-crisis/ Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:52:29 +0000 https://www.lighthouse805.com/?post_type=podcast&p=2385 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 […]

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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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Celebrating Easter At Home Together https://www.lighthouse805.com/podcast/celebrating-easter-at-home-together/ Mon, 13 Apr 2020 01:30:17 +0000 https://www.lighthouse805.com/?post_type=podcast&p=2370 Easter 2020 will be one we all remember… it was the Easter we were all stuck at home under quarantine. Yet it’s somehow fitting, as the message this week takes place in someone’s home. Today we celebrate Jesus shaking death, hell and the grave, off himself and giving every person the ability to do the […]

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Easter 2020 will be one we all remember… it was the Easter we were all stuck at home under quarantine. Yet it’s somehow fitting, as the message this week takes place in someone’s home. Today we celebrate Jesus shaking death, hell and the grave, off himself and giving every person the ability to do the same through Him!

How do you respond to Jesus and what He did and is doing?

We are in the middle of our sermon series Get Behind Me. Each week we are looking at different instance of the word opiso, a Greek word that means behind, follow, or following. What does that have to do with Easter? Everything…

Follow along here:

Luke 7:36-50

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

2 People Responded to Jesus:

The man followed his own agenda

The woman followed after Jesus

Is your response to Jesus costly or cheap?

If you are listening or watching this live and you want to respond to Jesus by rededicating your life or accepting Jesus into your heart for the first time would you press the respond to Jesus button to be prayed with? If you are watching another way i challenge you to message us through social media or use the contact form on lighthouse805.com…

We want to pray with you as you respond to Jesus today, just like this woman did.

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