Colossians 3:16-17

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

“Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

• The Word in us
  • Word of Christ refers to the word to Christs teachings
  • Dwell – to be at home. Like when someone says “make yourself at home”.
    • visitor vs family
  • Richly – abundance. more than you need to survive
  • Have the teachings of Christ in you.
  • When the teachings of Christ are missing – humanity feels a soul craving that it trys to fill with nonsense
• Share the Word
  • Teaching – sharing what you are getting – after service!
  • Admonishing – has to do with duty. we owe our brothers and sisters
• Praise God
  • And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
  • Taking in the teachings of Christ then sharing the teachings of Christ with each other – Praise should be the immediate result

Colossians 3:17

Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

• Don’t act or speak unless you have the teachings of Jesus dwelling richly in your life.
• Your mouth and your actions can hurt more than help.

So for us…. don’t waste a good pandemic.

Meaning, you have time to press in.

Mark 2:1

“When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home.”

• Theologians believe Jesus made his home at Peters house
• People could find Jesus not at the church, but by finding the disciples.

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me….And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

• What will they think if I ask to pray for them?
• If I win the lottery then I can tithe, but until then I can’t afford it.
• I can’t talk about Jesus to that person.
• Conditional faith – we will see what happens. I can’t… until…

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

John 13:35

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Mark 9:33-37

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

1. Fail to pay attention- Jesus is speaking, are you listening and discerning.

• The drivers seat belongs to Jesus
• Your focus is on the driver and the passengers
  • Jesus (listen, understand, see how He is leading you especially in hard times
    • Psalm 23:4
    • Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
  • Yourself (follow and don’t be a backseat driver trying to tell Jesus where to lead you)
  • Others (if your seats are empty practice inviting) I believe loneliness can be a tool that Jesus can use. So we are forced out of our comfort zone to bring others in.

• he was a precise note taker
• knew the Old Testament
• took the livelihood away from people

• wrote a book in the Bible
• provided livelihood to people for all of time.

Matthew 9:9-13

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

― Frederick Buechner

Hosea 6:6

6 I want you to show love,

    not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me

    more than I want burnt offerings.

Matthew 4:13

13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Nazareth – guarded one. – we can look at this definition 2 different ways.

• 1 – Step Up – we are the guarded one like Jesus. protected in our infancy of Christianity. At some point we need to realize through the authority of Jesus we have a mission. to bring the love of Jesus to those who can’t get it themselves. There can be an attitude of wanting to stay guarded.

Ephesians 3:11-12

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

• 2 – Let it Go – we have something we are guarding from our past. we haven’t let go of. It could be sin, it could be comfort, it could be anything that was in a past season that you are holding onto. It’s what is preventing you from changing your city with full effectivness.

Matthew 19:16-22

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be [a]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Matthew 4:13

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Eph 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

1. on the boat secure or
2. in the depths of the ocean grabbing on to what we cant fully see or comprehend.

You do not have hope connected to Jesus when you have a pessimistic attitude of “we’ll see what happens”

You aren’t dealing with change. You are waiting to see if the change is acceptable for you to move in.

How do we move past the road blocks that try to stop our faith? Listen in to this next message in our Change Your City series – “Faith Blocks”. Follow along to find out…

What happens you face an obstacle, a roadblock, or a barrier? Do you shut down? Get frustrated? Avoid or walk away?

Matthew 17:24-27 24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[a] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter?[b] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[c]” 26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

IXTHUS – “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the Savior.”

1. Faith Block of “Not Enough”

Believers can fail to act in the kingdom of God when they feel …

• they can feel like they are not enough so they fail to even try –
• they can feel like they don’t have enough resources, finances, or understanding…. and don’t try

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

To move past the faith block of not enough – go to Jesus first in what you lack.

Jesus will speak to you in action – It will be something hard, or tough, and very personal.

**But Jesus is testing / stretching you so that you stop focusing on what’s missing and focusing on what Jesus is providing.**

2. Faith Block of “Doubt” –

• Do you doubt Jesus is speaking to you? –
• Do you doubt He has chosen you to participate in the growth of this Kingdom?

Most people do not fully understand what Jesus is speaking to them about so they shut down. They fail to comprehend what Jesus is speaking because they fail to spend time listening.

The sermon last week – Peters mother in law was touched by Jesus then immediately started using her skill for the kingdom. We all were touched by the Jesus last week; but did you immediately start using your skill for the kingdom?

The Holy Spirit revealed to us Monday, that most people did not because there was a Spiritual Blockage. And most would say it was lack of understanding, or knowing…

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt prevents movement in the kingdom of God.**

Luke 24 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

**The Spiritual blockage of doubt is broken through what you give to Jesus.**

vs 45…. then he opened their minds…

Doing Life Together –

What does luke 24:41-45 mean to you? What are you going to do this week that is different than weeks prior? Be accountable to each other. If someone says something get their number and check up.

3.Faith Block of “changing your city”

Changing your city is not a sermon series….. it’s a LIFESTYLE that every believer is enrolled in the moment they call Jesus Lord. We are all called to change our own city.

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

• Jesus is Jesus…
• Disciples are all believers…
• the crowd is our different cities…
• the bread and fish are what we have to offer. It’s not enough without Jesus.

We will change our cities if we are willing to participate and be involved in the group project known as vision.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Next Steps – Seek the Lord. Jesus will reward you with what you need to change your city. Hold someone else accountable. Check in. See how they are doing in seeking the Lord in the coming weeks.

All believers have had some personal experience with Jesus. We were touched and our Spirits were restored. Our physical or mental health may have also been restored. Beyond Church is where your God given skills make room for Jesus to change your city. “Beyond Church” is the next message in our “Change Your City” series.

Mark 1

29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. 32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

If you are listening to this message now or sitting here today and haven’t had a personal experience with Jesus yet, and you want to begin your relationship with Jesus, would you be so bold and email info@lighthouse805.com; or direct message us on any social media platform. Just search Lighthouse 805.

The thing that stands out in this story is that Peters mother-in-law was touched by Jesus then immediately serves Him.

Most of us today wrestle with what’s my kingdom contribution? What is my skill? What is my purpose? How am I serving the King of Kings? How am I impacting the Kingdom Of God?

Peters mother-in-law made a meal for Jesus and everyone there. I think the miracle and meal together unlocked vs 32.

Most of us have already been touched by Jesus. We just need to start walking in our skills, gifting, purpose… so that our City is Changed. 

__Identifying Your kingdom contribution, Skill, Purpose__

Based on Peter’s mother in law here are some basic attributes of turning your skill into a purpose.

1. It Unifies – It brings people together, it isn’t divisive.
2. It’s seasonal.

• • • • The meal was for that precise moment.
      • It will happen again. Most people do something once then and think its over.

3. It strengthens – it was food to give nourishment to sustain what came next. It will build people up or strengthen them.
4. It’s your skill – your kingdom contribution will look like you
5. There is room for Jesus.

Doing Life Together –

1 Peter 4:10-11

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

The message translation

Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit.

Talk about what this verse is speaking to you. Are you using the gifts God gave you beyond church? Talk about a gift you have and encourage the person you talk with.

Mark 1: 32-34   32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

Why after sunset?

In Bible times, the new day started when the sun went down. So if the sabbath was Sunday, they waited till first thing Monday to bring their friends and family to Jesus. Because on the sabbath it was the law to rest. 

1. REST is NOT RECOVERING from what was…. but actually PREPARING for what’s to come.
2. Church is for hearing Jesus and learning what we should be acting on this coming week.

Your skills will make room for Jesus to heal and save people through the week; but you need to understand the significance of Church preparing you for the mission of “Beyond Church”.

35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”

Your city will be changed if you posture yourself like Jesus:

1. Prioritize relationships – God first, people second
2. pray before doing
3. know your mission – you are here to bring Jesus to others in all the towns in your city.

NEXT STEPS – Go beyond Church this week. Start your Monday in prayer for direction like Jesus. Then use your skills for others like Peter’s mother in law. Lets change our city.

How do you move your faith forward? Or how to do you live a life from a place of faith? Where it’s at the forefront of everything you do… everything you are. And why would or should you? That’s the subject of todays Faith Check message “Faith Forward”. 

Let’s look at the gold standard of faith from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 15:16

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.

They are my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

Step 1: Search and discover His Word for today, for now, for this season… always.

Step 2: Devour them like a good taco. Take it in and chew on it, absorb the life giving qualities.

Step 3: My Joy and Heart’s Delight = They bring mental health, emotional health and spiritual health.

Step 4: I bear Your name = Because I’m called by Jesus; I can call on Jesus

We’re always talking about looking at the scriptures in context –  Let’s do a faith check on Jeremiah…

Jeremiah chapter 15… the “gold standard of faith” verse is found right in the middle of this chapter; right in the middle of a gripe session from Jeremiah to God. “I have to deliver Your word to these people. Jeremiah is upset…And now…. They don’t like me. They hurt me. And where are You? ”

The best verse in this chapter is:

Jeremiah 15:20 nasb

Therefore, thus says the Lord,

“If you return, then I will restore you—

Before Me you will stand;

And if you extract the precious from the worthless,

You will become My spokesman.

They for their part may turn to you,

But as for you, you must not turn to them.

“Extract the precious from the worthless”

***Doing life in the comments.***

What are worthless thoughts you can ditch and some Word you can put in their place?

Jeremiah 15:20 (The Message)

“Take back those words, and I’ll take you back.

Then you’ll stand tall before me.

Use words truly and well. Don’t stoop to cheap whining.

Then, but only then, you’ll speak for me.

Let your words change them.

Don’t change your words to suit them.

Break down this verse…

Proverbs 3:5

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

15. Romans 8:6

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

16. Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1. Repent of the worthless, cheap, pointless words that you have used 
2. Replace with living, encouraging, fulfilling words.

“Let your words change them…. Don’t change your words to suit them.”

NEXT STEPS: Use your words with the authority of God.

Let’s take an audit of our words this week and make sure we are sifting through for the life giving, fulfilling words; and letting go of the worthless, cheap, useless stuff.

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:

1. 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, ….)
2. Unreliable faith is actions without relationship. (I’m a good person I volunteer, I serve, I give…. but I don’t know Jesus.)
3. 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.

Ever walked away from that dream purchase because of sticker shock? What if the real cost is not the advertised cost? What if you could have got it at manufacturers cost rather than retail; and all you had to do was ask? As believers, the cost of faith in our minds may feel or seem like one thing; but have we checked with the manufacturer…. Jesus? This is the next message in our Faith Check series – Cost of Faith. We are looking deeply at the book of Jeremiah and how the church in exile was able to grow their Faith through all circumstances.

Nike Store 

Jeremiah 1:4

NIV – “The word of the Lord came to me, saying,”

Message – “This is what God said”

As your pastor I’m wondering….have you checked your faith yet? Or are you being like Samuel.

1 Samuel 3:1-11

1The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle.

• Samuel lived in the church
• Served in the church
• Was a church leader

AND didn’t know how to listen to God. Didn’t know the sound of Gods voice. Thought the only way to hear the voice of God was through the lead pastor. 

The pivotal moment in Samuels life and Jeremiahs life was hearing God and acting on what they heard.

We keep bringing up “Next Steps” as actions based on hearing the Word of God.

Our Church’s goal is 2 parts – 

• Help you gain a desire to hear God and take action on it. Be like Samuel and Jeremiah after being able to hear God and act on it – Next Steps.
• Help you gain a desire to bring the living God into your spheres of influence. What we call doing life together.

The next season of our church has a very specific vision. – Reach Your City.

We may live in the same area code but our cities are different. My city is board game nerds, website visionaries, and digital artists. My city is comic book stores, my city is online video games.

In preparation for the day we open on the front lawn (which is soon)…

Be praying and fasting for the vision to be caught by yourself and others. 

That we all would have a desire to hear God through reading His word, prayer time, and the messages. That we would desire to apply it to our lives. That we would gain the confidence to speak life into people in our spheres of influence (our cities).

Todays message is Cost of Faith…. which is desire

• Do you desire to hear from God and act on it?
• Do you desire to bring Jesus to people that you do life with?

Boys and their games.

Everything is competing for your desire. 

Jeremiah 1:4-9

4 The Lord gave me this message:

5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.

Before you were born I set you apart

and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

The Holy Spirit will handle all excuses and problems. But you gotta handle the desire to hear the voice of the Lord and act on it.

Identity is like a fingerprint from God – no finger print matches. Every single one is unique. And that is your identity from God. Divinely unique.

God ordained YOU to be good enough to deliver His words.

Your inexperience, your age, how long you’ve been a believer doesn’t matter to God. In fact He rebukes it, and says you go where I send you, and you say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people!

Doing life in the comments – 

What is an excuse you need to let the Holy Spirit deal with?

Luke 6:46-49

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Your NEXT STEPS this week…. 

1. Fast and pray to hear the voice of the Lord. 
2. Act on it in your life and 
3. Share it in the spheres of influence (YOUR CITY) around you. 

We are headed to our next season – “Reach your City” we need to begin now. 

What does it mean to have unshakable faith? Constant, unfailing, indisputable, without question…It all starts with having Jesus as our foundation – last weeks bones give us the ability to move and carry forward. In this weeks message “Faith Check – Unshakeable Faith”, we look at just that. Confident constant faith that carries you through the storms of life, verses riding the waves like a roller coaster.

Just a reminder – Salvation and foundation are different.  Last week the challenge was for the Church to seek the Holy Spirit in how we need to individually make Jesus our foundation, so that we can move into the next season carrying the vision from the Holy Spirit.

This week – How do we keep moving with the vision?

Jeremiah 51:59-64

59 This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign. 60 Jeremiah had written on a scroll about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. 61 He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. 62 Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate forever.’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. 64 Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.’”

The words of Jeremiah end here. Here he passes the baton.

The story shifts perspective onto Seraiah

Seraiah—Yahweh has prevailed … in other words – Jesus Won! Won and done.

Our faith on Jesus comes from the past… Jesus won. I’m not sitting around questioning Jesus or my faith or reality. I am confident Jesus won.

Let’s do life together in the comments and start proclaiming what Jesus already won over. I dare you to be bold and proclaim things that might feel scary right now, but pick up the inheritance of deliverance that belongs to you and proclaim it.

Doing life in the comments – Proclaim what Jesus has Victory over!

When I feel hopeless and hurting I fast forward 1000 years in my mind. I see myself worshipping Jesus laying in-front of His thrown in heaven. It calms every storm in my life. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that my faith isn’t a roller coaster ride – it’s unshakable. – Pastor Matt

Let’s look at unshakable faith at the end of Jeremiahs story.

Jeremiah in his final act – hands over the word of God to be carried, cast, then camped on.

• Carry the Word
• Cast the Word
• Camp on the Word

We need to be doing this in 2 areas – The Church and Personal life

Personally –

It’s not good to be someone different at all the places you belong to.

You need to have unshakable faith in all areas and all times of your life.

Jesus is the center and everything we have circling around us truly circles around Him.

** If you are dealing with anxiety or control issues…. think of the sun having true control of the earth; and envision Jesus doing the same over your live. Break free of anxiety by trusting Jesus is in full control.

Church – 

The fastest way to kill a church is to expect the pastor to be the only one to carry the word and vision from the Holy Spirit forward.

The fastest way to grow a Church is to carry the word and vision daily alongside the pastor  – not only is this infectious to others it transforms your mind, heart and attitude. 

** Take action on the word and vision daily – if our church keeps saying it’s important that we are “doing life together” in this season; we need to find a way to do life together. When we move into a new season as a church we all move together. 

This week we are focused on external next steps

Next Step – Encourage and pray for someone this week not in your home – then take it to the next level and invite them to communion or Ladies Art night and do life with them.

What is our faith founded on? What gives it structure? Can it hold up to all life holds in store for us? In this next message in the Faith Check series – “True Faith”, we’re talking about just that… time to check our faith. We’re doing a deep dive on FAITH through the book and lens of Jeremiah. It’s about the faith of believers during their exile, paralleled to the exile of our church members from our building. Want to know what Lighthouse 805 Church is really like? Well today’s message is a pretty good look at how we operate. We keep it real. We’re a family. We are Holy Spirit lead. We speak truth to one another. Wondering why we aren’t meeting together in person yet? Tune in.

Today we’re in Jeremiah 32

But first we’re going to look at Luke 6:47-49

“47Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When a flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!”

Your foundation is based on taking action from Jesus. Listen AND obey. They DUG deep, and BUILT.

Not talking about salvation – we’re talking about foundation. Salvation is secured, but it’s a firm foundation that allows you to grow, receive, and move forward with Christ to the promises God has for us. What does your foundation look like right now? How many of us are finding excuses to not build in this season? Without this foundation set and built on in this current season; we will not be able to hold or carry or move in the vision God has for our next season.

As your Pastor – I’m asking you to commit to making Jesus the foundation in your life now, in this season. Stop making excuses and get rid of anything that has taken up residence in your life distracting you from doing just that.

Jeremiah 32:8-16 “8‘Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, “Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.” ‘I knew that this was the word of the Lord; 9so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. 10I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11I took the deed of purchase – the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy – 12and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard. 13‘In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so that they will last a long time. 15For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” 16‘After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:”

Purchase: What is the price we need to pay in this season of our church?

• – Time
• – Dedication
• – Pride
• – Reading and studying the Bible
• – Genuine worship
• – Take action on the Word of God

Through the purchase/setting Jesus as the foundation – 3 things happened:

1. Public – The purchase was done publicly and had witnesses. This makes us accountable and invites others to do the same. This current season is calling us to do life together outside of the 4 walls of a church building. There’s a reason for that. It’s foundation building. If we don’t actively do it we won’t be able to carry the vision for the new season God has for us.
2. Preserve – Jeremiah asked the purchase documents to be stored in clay pots. This was to preserve them for some time, awhile, the future. The Dead Sea Scrolls lasted in clay pots for 2000 years. When we pay the price of making Jesus our foundation we are preserved. Our faith is stabilized. It doesn’t fluctuate up and down with the weather or circumstances. We are steady.
3. Patience – “When are we getting back to normal?” “When will we return to normal?” Wrong questions…. Right question…. “Am I ready for the NEW normal?” Are we patiently preparing for the next season? This is not a passive patience. It’s like the patience of a farmer who diligently plows deep, straight, consistent furrows. Then sows the right seeds, in preparation of the next harvest. We’re not sitting with a book waiting for this season to be over; we’re like the farmer from sun up to sun down preparing for what’s coming. You can’t wait on a crop that hasn’t been planted.

NEXT STEPS – Take action to set Jesus as the one and only foundation in your life.

Have you ever seen an artist completely focused on their craft? Everything they do is intentional. Taking their time perfecting their art. They use their hands to shape exactly what is in their mind. This is our relationship to the Father.  We are in His hands as He shapes and crafts us. He is intentionally focused on crafting us…we are His masterpiece.

You are not a mistake. Your past has not disqualified you. You are the artwork of God.

We are continuing our sermon series Faith Check – a series all about faith through the book of Jeremiah. Today’s message is “Forming Faith”.

Jeremiah 18:1-4

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. 4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

• Clay  = you and me
• Potter = The Father 
• The Wheel… is the tool used by the Father to shape us.

Idol check – Do you talk to a person before talking to God? Do you count more on your work providing than God providing?

Doing life in the comments – (Add a comment to engage with us)

How do you stay Planted during the Process? with help from people? your word? 

• Water is Jesus – not only used to shape us, and mold our lives.

• Dry lake bed – cracks are everywhere it is evident water used to be present. Now it’s dry and desolate. If your faith feels dry and things are falling apart or cracked, it’s evidence you need to reconnect your water source.

https://artgrid.io/story/16162/Dry-Lake-Bed

• Kiln is the the Holy Spirit

There are 2 firings for pottery:

1. The bisque fire is to remove impurities and make the pottery stable enough to receive glaze or adornment.

2. The final glaze fire is to cover the porous pottery with adornment and also prevent absorbing external influences.

The Holy spirit likewise is transforming us from an impressionable vessel to sturdy enough to be adorned by the love of Jesus. then transforms us to seal us up from external influences that the enemy would love to distract us with.

• transforms us
• works out the impurities
• prepares us to be a complete vessel
• transforms us from temporary to long term – Sunday morning believer to daily disciple

How do we keep our faith on Jesus in order to grow? 

The Yahoo Case Study

Yahoo failed to grow because the cost was too high and the risk too great.

They were number 1 in search and an online portal to the world –  https://artgrid.io/story/16349/The-Writer

Someone listening here is failing to grow – because the cost of discipleship is too high for you. The cost of serving is too high for you. The cost of reading the Bible is too high for you. The cost of genuine relationships is too high for you.

The risk of losing reputation

The risk of Jesus not showing up when you call on Him

The risk of losing material possessions… a lot of people don’t tithe because their mind is on losing money instead of trusting Jesus.

How do we use faith to stay planted on the potters wheel, when we get past the cost and risk:

Jeremiah 18:15

‘For My people have forgotten Me,

They burn incense to worthless gods

And they have stumbled from their ways,

From the ancient paths,

To walk in bypaths,

Not on a highway,

God is looking at His people and says His people have left the road for a path

There was a difference between the ancient road and the bypath.

 – paved vs unpaved.

STOP avoiding the cost and fearing the risk!

In order to keep your faith on God through all the storms – like the pottery on the wheel in the hands of God….we need to hyper-focus on 2 things found in verse 15:

“People have forgotten me”

1 – Know Jesus personally

Pay the cost of time in reading and discerning. Pay the cost in pride of discipleship. Show up to our communion nights, be part of our Thursday Bible study. Start committing to the next steps we do weekly.

Our church inspires and gives practical ways to deepen our faith.

“burn incense to worthless gods”

2 – Worship Jesus always

Worship is your heart towards Jesus. Pay the cost, time and energy to worship Jesus. – – worship with your heart.

– sing

– serve

– do life together

Your next step this week – Get Connected

Connect to your word. Connect to someone you haven’t talked to since covid started. Serve. Sign up for Bible study Thursday night.

Have you ever felt so alone it weighs on you? Where you’re longing for an answer that seems forever away or impossible? Not actually talking about coranvirus and the ongoing stay at home orders. I’m actually talking about leprosy. Lepers were required to stand 6ft away and wear cloth face masks. Crazy similarity to today, right? We are continuing our “Can’t Cancel Hope” looking at people in the Bible experiencing their own isolation, dark, hidden, places holding on for the HOPE that is Jesus. Today, we’re in Matthew 8… a message that places our biggest breakthrough from a million miles off to just 6ft away.

Matthew 8:1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

What closes the gap of our breakthrough?

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

How do you get closer to breakthrough?

1) Receive – you gotta listen to receive. 

word > precedes > breakthrough

2) Positioned – you must position yourself at the foot of the throne.

The reason we fail is not believing. The reason why people secretly lack faith is from bad positioning…

The leper calls Jesus Lord. Lord – meaning: owner, person I belong to….

Jesus had disciples. He had a church services. But up to this point people called him teacher, rabbi…. why do you think Jesus asked the question later on who do people call me? Who do you call me?

Many people follow Jesus and have not positioned Him as Lord.

Is Jesus your teacher? Or is He your Lord that teaches?

**Join the discussion down below in the comments**

Discussion question today is – How can you personally position Jesus as Lord this week?

The leper called Him Lord publicly, bowed at his feet and worshipped Him before any healing ever happened.

3) Motivated – Why was he motivated?

He wanted to rejoin community, he wanted to do life together….

Jesus reached out his hand and touched him.

2 perspectives.

1st – Leper that needed a breakthrough.

2nd – Jesus who showed the man His love.

For some of us we are in the shoes of the leper needing breakthrough.

For some of us we need to realize that we need to be the shoes of Jesus.

There is a 3rd perspective – the crowd that stayed on the sidelines. They watched but did nothing.

!!Our church does life together and takes the next steps.!!

Jesus healed 3 people after Church.

• Leprosy – those that society rejects.
• Centurion servant – those that we hate
• Peters mother-in-law – those we love

Jesus demonstrated His love through healing.

YOUR NEXT STEP: This week is to demonstrate the love of Jesus to someone. Someone that bothers you, someone you hate, or someone you love. But most importantly it needs to be someone who doesn’t live with you.

How do you keep hope alive for the best, when it’s been so long you’re tempted to settle? Have you ever been hungry? Standing in-front of an open fridge again and again? Checking the pantry over and over… Nothing looks good enough. The first few times you leave empty handed. But eventually…The hungrier you get…. the more you’re willing to settle for. We’re continuing our “Can’t Cancel Hope” series today with the Man Himself – Jesus. In the scripture today the devil tests Jesus 3 different ways. Each test is actually an exchange. I want you to look at what the devil is trying to exchange. Because what the devil tries to exchange with Jesus, is what he tries to exchange with us too. It’s Independence weekend. Let’s find freedom through temptations in our life.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

Matthew 4:1-11

4 1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” 4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

Jesus is starving. Jesus is hungry.

The devil tries to force Jesus to transform the stone to bread.

1. The first exchange is what we consume, or take into our life.

Because you have not consumed and fed on the Word of God in weeks, months, years…you are willing to settle in your life.

You settle by turning the stone into bread.

The devil tries to get us to exchange what we consume.

• A stone represents anything that tries to replace or distract you from the Word of God.
• If you genuinely look at your calendar and your bank statement you will instantly see what stones you are exchanging.

The Bible declares that hope is Jesus. But the Bible also explains that the Word was with God at the beginning of creation, and that Jesus is the Word.

So when we consume the Word, we develop our relationship with Jesus; and when we develop our relationship with Jesus – HOPE grows in our life.

The devil wants to remove hope by preventing your relationship with Jesus.

Location is important – 

Matthew 4:1 describes the Spirit as leading Jesus to the wild or wilderness.

Greek definition is – solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited

In your loneliness is where the devil tests you the most. 

Before moving forward in the sermon I want you to grab your phone or device right now and head over to the comments. Whether you are watching live or later… We are going to pause the sermon and do life together. I’m going to give a question and I want you to leave a comment and also engage in other peoples comments down below. 

“What is a stone in your life?” 

Matthew 4:1-11

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

The devil tries to get Jesus to jump off a high place to see the angels catch Him.

2. The second exchange, Jesus references testing God. 

The devil tries to exchange faith for thoughts, the devil wants to steal your faith and exchange it with thoughts.

• 1st exchange was what we allow into our life
• 2nd exchange is what we think… Any thoughts that questions your relationship with God.

There are people who have been struggling with their faith, because they allowed the devil to exchange their thoughts for their faith.

Did anyone catch the first word the devil says to Jesus in this test…. IF… you are the Son of God… This was an attempt to cause insecurity, doubt in WHO He was.

• The moment the devil begins whispering doubt in your ear is the moment he is scared of you.
• He is trying everything to exchange your faith with doubt.

How do you reclaim your faith?

• You stop testing the insecurities the devil whispers in your ear.
• You read the Word to know who you are and Whose you are.

The lack of Bible in your life is connected to your lack of confidence. Your insecurities and doubts are hard to overcome when you don’t have the Word.

Matthew 4:1-11

8-9 For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”

10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”

11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs.

The devil tries to get Jesus to bow down and worship him..

• first exchange was what we allow into our life
• second exchange was what we think

3. The third exchange is what we worship

Worship is serving. The devil is after who or what we serve. The devil exchanges serving God with serving anything or anyone else.

This test is about worship…Serving God is our worship.

This is the scariest point because some people don’t realize that the devil has swapped God with something else.  The devil will spend more time convincing you to dedicate your life to anything but Jesus.

The devil will try and convince you, that if you simply dedicate your actions to someone or something, all the doors will open and everything will be good.

God says it so plainly… “do not allow your heart to be divided.” 

Every day your actions are for God. Sunday is not the only day for Worship.

This test is where most believers fail Monday through Saturday. 

When your relationship with Jesus only moves forward on Sunday, it is evident the devil has split your heart; and convinced you that the busy-ness of life is first priority over God.

I want you to have Hope through temptation.

Your next step TODAY is make Jesus a priority in your life.

If you would truly make Jesus a priority in your life:

– the Word of God would not be exchanged for anything.

– your faith would not be exchanged for your thoughts. 

– and your worship would be undivided

What do you do when you feel stuck? Or are in fact stuck… like we’re all stuck at home right now. Stuck with limited options for how we’re used to living our lives these days. Do you panic? Do you fight it? Do you shutdown? We’re in our “Can’t Cancel Hope” series where we look at people in the Bible who were in dark, isolated, places; and how they kept hope alive.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

Acts 9:8-9

Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Internal stuck happens usually when God is teaching humility to show you the kingdom. Kingdom being your relationship with Jesus and with People.

Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

External stuck is usually the devil trying to exchange humility with pride, envy, jealousy, bitterness… to tear down your relationship with Jesus and with people

Paul is doing life together even when he’s stuck.

Just because you can’t see someone doesn’t mean you can’t do life together…

Can we break down what doing life together is? Its mutual impact. 

It’s about what we are giving and receiving. Don’t be that person who thinks they know more than Jesus.

Your impact is not determined by your situation.

Paul impacted hundreds if not thousands of people. Even when he was in prison he still impacted. 

Sermon title is “Hope is Now” – Hope is not getting out of a situation. 

Hope is with you in your situation. 

What are you and Jesus doing while you’re stuck?

Mutual impact 

Philemon 4-7

Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.

Here’s what “Doing Life Together” looks like through Paul’s eyes:

1. Praying for each other.
2. Being thankful for each other.
3. Feeling joy and happiness when the other person is doing well and successful.
4. Genuine love for each other.
5. Communicating with each other.

Romans 12:15 

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Who is he doing life together with? Who is he impacting?

• People that are in the same situation – family, relatives, best friends…
• People going through what you’ve gone through –  Oneisimus
• People far away – who is long distance? How can you do life together? Paul did life long distance before technology. 

Pick a person to do life together outside your home. 

Your next step this week: write a letter to someone long distance. Share with them how they build you up. Speak into their life. Write a letter as if you were Paul writing a letter. 

How do you keep hope alive from a distance? Remember the first day of “social distancing”, we’ve been here awhile now. Reflect on some of the actions you had to take at the beginning – setting yourself away, shutting out friends and family, isolating… Remember when it felt abnormal? When you wondered if there was a possibility you could be hurt if you got too close to someone else? This is the next message in our “Can’t Cancel Hope” series where we look at people in the Bible going through dark times, places, isolation and how they kept hope alive.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

John 4:13-19

13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

16 He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.”

17-18 “I have no husband,” she said.

“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.”

19 “Oh, so you’re a prophet!

The woman at the well was socially distancing herself from her own community for several reasons, and these reasons still plague the church today. 

Why do people socially distance themselves in Church and community?

1 – Fear

2 – Past Hurts

3 – Insecurities

The cure to social distancing is Jesus. Jesus deals with our fears, hurts and insecurities. 

John 4:27-30;39-42

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.

39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

The key to breaking out of social distancing is….

1 – Be honest with yourself and Jesus

2 – Turn Tragedy into Testimony

Our church is digging deeper into what God has called us to do. And what He has called us to is ‘doing life together‘.

Your next step today is: messaging someone who is not living with you…

Start with “How can i pray for you today? Here is how you can pray for me.”

Acts 2: 1-11

1“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?

11 we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

So what does HOPE mean to you? What we just read is the ending of isolation and separation from the Holy Spirit to Creation. What does HOPE mean to you? To the Holy Spirit, Hope was Jesus. Our sermon series “Can’t Cancel Hope” has been about people stuck in places – holes, caves, boats, isolation… They are separated and we have studied how they kept or found their hope and the actions they took to do so; and how we can apply that to our lives today.

Follow along with Pastor Matt here:

Genesis 1:2

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters

HOPE IS THE ANSWER TO CIRCUMSTANCE

Hebrews 6:19

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

The Holy spirit came to do 3 things

1 – Heal Our Brokenness 

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

You cannot be healed when you are denial or in love with your brokenness.

2 – Fills Us Up

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

3 – Pours Out Love

Luke 12:12

The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.

Acts 2

11 we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

The Holy Spirit could have chosen any place and time to show up in the world after Jesus died on the cross, but He chose Acts 2…. Why? the answer is in the first verse.

Acts 2:1 (KJV)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

The Holy Spirit showed up in the middle of a unified people of all races.

to say…

• My entire existence is for unity. 
• To bring unity from people to people. 
• To bring unity from people to God. 
• And to bring unity from God to people.

Historically, the move of the Holy Spirit is greatest on this day – Pentecost. I challenge you… I dare you! Show love to people that you might not be unified with.

We need the Holy Spirit because we need unity!