Kingdom Now with John Carmichael: Recent Episodes
John Carmichael
What does God want to do in your life now? Sure the Kingdom of God is both now and not yet. Together let's find out what God wants to do in our lives now. Subscribe with Kingdom Now. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-carmichael/support
How to Labor in Prayer for Breakthrough
[Col 4:12 NASB95]
Lazy, passionless prayer is not a NT kind of praying.
Αγωνιζομενος - agonizing
JFB – “literally, ‘striving as in the agony of a contest.’”
LITS – “In other words, the disciple had learned well from his mentor and was now modeling the kind of prayer activity that Paul wanted to see reproduced in the life of the Colossian congregation.”
Fire Bible notes: We must pray with passion and inner persistence, knowing that as we wrestle in prayer, Christ’s energy is working powerfully in us (cf. 1:29) and his purposes are being realized on behalf of others.
What does laboring in prayer for a breakthrough involve?
Here are three things to consider about laboring in prayer for a breakthrough.
OT example of laboring in prayer for breakthrough.
Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. [1Sa 1:10, 12-13, 15, 17 NASB95]
Learning to pray from a sense of urgency helps us to birth a breakthrough.
NT example of laboring in prayer for breakthrough.
Jesus’ prayer life.
[Heb 5:7 NASB95]
[Mar 1:35-39 NASB95]
Jesus’ earthly ministry and life serves as an example of how we NT believers are expected to live. This includes His prayer life.
Three principles of laboring in prayer for breakthrough.
The FIT principle
F
Frequent
[2Co 4:16 NASB95]
[Psa 55:17 NASB95]
[1Th 5:16-17 NASB95]
Faithful
[Lev 6:12-13 NASB95]
I
Intensity
[Jas 5:16 NASB95]
Intentional
[Act 16:13 NASB95]
T
Time
[Mar 14:37-38 NASB95]
[Act 3:1 NASB95]
Teachable
[Luk 11:1-2 NASB95]
Pattern – keep you focused and covers what needs to be covered.
Preference – Sing, write, speak.
God wants us to labor in prayer to Him so we and others can experience a breakthrough.
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Times Two pt9—Seven Dips in the Healing Power of God
[2Ki 5:1-14 NASB95]
The power of God exists in many different forms. One of the forms is to heal. [Luk 5:17 NASB95]
What can we learn about the healing power of God from 2 Kings 5?
Here are 7 truths about the healing power of God from 2 Kings 5.
He was a leper v. 1 – we all have issues that need the healing power of God.
Guzik - Naaman had a lot going for him, but what he had against him was devastating. He was a leper, which meant that he had a horrible, incurable disease that would slowly result in his death.
Acknowledge your need for God.
A little maid’s report. V. 2-4 – we must be willing to tell and listen to experience the healing power of God.
She told him. He finally listened.
[Rom 10:14-17 NASB95]
Sometimes, you are the speaker. Sometimes, you are the hearer. Be willing to do both.
King sent Naaman to the wrong person v. 5-7 – we must pursue the right options to operate in the healing power of God.
An estimate of over $1.2 million.
[Mar 5:25-28 NASB95]
Frustration comes when you are looking in all the wrong places.
God had the answer. V. 8-10 – we must go to God to see the healing power of God.
He should have gone to the prophet in the first place.
[Jas 5:14-15 NASB95]
God is not the last resort; he is the first response.
God’s answer requires v. 10: we must humbly obey in faith to see the healing power of God.
Jordan – Muddy – it was impossible to give credit to human or natural means. “Healing came miraculously by the grace and power of God through the word of His Prophet.”
It will often require
Faith
Humility
Obedience
It is your choice v. 11-13 believe or obey – your choice to obey enhances your experience of the healing power of God.
You do not always get to choose how the miracle will come. Sometimes, you will get to choose. Sometimes, you will not get to choose.
Purse all the Biblical ways to get your miracle.
Receive your miracle v. 14 – your miracle will come by the healing power of God.
God wants you to experience the healing power of God that comes through faith, humility, and obedience when you acknowledge your need for Him and go to Him instead of pursuing the wrong options.
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Times Two pt8—Provision In Any Environment
[2Ki 4:38-44 NASB95]
“All you have been preaching is about money.” A possible criticism. We are following the sequence of miracles of Elijah and Elisha.
We see that the provision of material needs is mentioned many times. Why? God knows we need to learn how to have our needs met supernaturally. (NOTE: there is more to it than wanting God to help and worrying about it.)
We are combining two miracle stories (8&9) about the provision of food.
What do these two stories reveal about supernatural provision?
Here are four revelations from these stories about supernatural provision.
God’s provision works in any environment.
V38 – both of these miracles came at a time of famine.
[Gen 31:7, 12-13 NASB95]
[Phl 4:12, 17-19 NASB95]
Learn that God will provide in any and all circumstances.
God will give you a divine strategy.
V41 & 43-44 – God told them what to do to prosper.
[Gen 31:8-10 NASB95]
[Gen 30:41-43 NASB95]
Often, God will give you a plan for how He wants you to prosper.
Ask God for the plan to prosper.
God will meet the need and then some.
V. 41 & 44 - This is called prosperity.
[Pro 10:22 NASB95]
[Mar 8:14-21 NASB95]
Matthew 6:11 – NRSV note: Or our bread for tomorrow…
LITS Commentary - Bread symbolizes all material needs. Jesus explains the necessity of depending on God for basic needs in 6:24–34.
NET Bible note: “Give us bread today for the coming day,”
Robertson’s Word Pictures in NT: It clearly comes from epi and iōn like tēi epiousēi (“on the coming day,” “the next day,” Acts 16:12).
Unlike conventional thinking, this is the opposite of the “manna” living of the OT. Jesus intended for us to pray for excess. (CF: 2 Cor. 9:8 – sufficiency and abundance.)
God is interested in the immediate and future needs.
Start asking God for immediate and future needs.
God wants us to learn to trust Him.
Both of these stories are here for a reason.
Jesus said… how will you receive greater. Mark 8:17-21 (see above.)
Paul connects our faith in God, who gave us Jesus, to God, Who gave us everything else.
[Rom 8:32 NASB95]
Trust Him for eternal salvation and temporal provision.
God wants to provide for us in any environment by giving us a divine strategy that will more than meet our immediate needs as we continue to grow to trust Him.
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Times Two pt7—How Your Words Resurrect Dead Miracles
[2Ki 4:18-37 NASB95]
The Bible teaches that there is power in the words we speak.
We will have the results (eat the fruit) of our words: positive or negative.
We see this illustrated in a story about a mother and her son.
II Kings 4:18-37
God gave her a son.
Son died.
She went to the man of God.
Kept saying it is well or shalom (nothing missing, nothing broken).
God raised her son. He, like Jesus, took on his form. Jesus became like us so we could live.
Her words affected what God was doing in her life.
Why do our words matter?
Our words matter for the following reasons.
Affect our listeners.
The mother spoke to her husband and to the Ghazi. She declared in the midst of tragedy what she believed.
She understood that faith affects others; she was not about to let other people’s negativity affect her miracle.
12 spies; the 10 spies with the evil report caused the whole nation (1,999, 998) not to inherit God’s purpose for their lives.
[Num 13:32-33 NASB95]
[Num 14:6-11 NASB95]
Whether positive or negative, we will affect people through our words.
Stone in a pond: ripples of our words affect those around us.
Learn to speak faith-filled, encouraging words.
Family, friends, church, job.
Your words can affect whether your listeners receive God’s blessing.
Defy our situations
By saying, It is well: this mother defied her situation.
NOTICE SHE DID NOT DENY IT, ONLY DEFIED IT.
She only went because her son was dead.
She defied the right of her situation by her words.
Jesus taught us to confront things with our words.
Luke 17:6 – sycamore tree.
Matthew 21:21 – mountain moving.
Both cases speak to the situation that confronts us and deny their right to remain.
God uses His words to accomplish His Will. [Rom 4:17 NASB95]
Don’t allow facts to override truth.
Sickness does not override your healing that was paid for.
Lack not override God will supply all our needs.
Your words deny your situation the right to remain.
Proclaim our faith
That mother was convinced that God was going to raise her child. Her words were evidence that she believed everything would be well.
Our words are our faith speaking. [Mar 11:23-24 NASB95]
Our words are signposts to what we really believe.
When we pray, we need to believe that we receive.
The believing comes before the receiving.
Our words will indicate whether we believe.
[Luk 6:45 NASB95]
If you want your words right, get your heart filled with the Word of God, not a little, but filled with abundance; then your words will be right.
Your words proclaim your faith in God.
The loss of her son devastated this mother. You will have things trying to steal what God has given you.
Our words determine whether we receive God’s plan, promise, and purpose.
In football, no matter how great the quarterback is, he needs a receiver.
Romans 10:9-10 – Our words even determine when we get saved.
Confession: I decide today that my words will encourage and build people up. I decide today that my word will defy any area of my life that does not align with God's word. I decide today that my words will proclaim faith in God. It is well in my life. Nothing is missing. There is nothing broken!
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Times Two pt6—You Will Embrace His Promise
[2Ki 4:8-17 NASB95]
That is too good to be true.
This woman did not want to get her hopes up. Yet, she was able to embrace her son.
What does this story tell us about experiencing His promises in our lives?
Here are three truths about us experiencing His promises in our lives.
God wants us to give.
V. 8
Being a giver is one of the ways to receive the blessing. [3Jo 1:2, 5-8 NASB95]
We give of our time, talent, and treasure.
[2Co 9:6-8 NASB95]
Decide to become a giver.
God wants us to honor.
V. 9-11
The Thessalonians honored the word that Paul preached. It was the Word that they honored from him that was effective. [1Th 2:13 NASB95]
What you honor, you will receive from.
How can you honor God? How can you honor family? How can you honor church/leadership?
Make a decision to honor God, His ways, and His people.
God wants us to embrace His promise.
V. 12-17
God has made a promise. [Exo 23:22, 25-26 NASB95]
When we do our part, God will do His. [Heb 6:10-12 NASB95]
Dare to believe the promises of God. She had a hard time believing.
Timing. Promise---- Period of time---- Performance of promise.
God is not trying to frustrate you. He will do His part, even if you do not have “perfect faith.”
This was not an immaculate conception. They had their part in this miracle.
Get ready to embrace your promise.
As you give and honor God, you will embrace every promise God has made to you.
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Times Two pt5—From Debt to Overflow
[2Ki 4:1-7 NASB95]
“It is not fair!” Many times, we deal with crises that are not our fault.
Ultimately, we all died in Adam. However, through Jesus’ atonement, we are saved. (1 Cor. 15:22)
This situation is different. It is earthly. She did not cause the crisis. Neither God nor Elisha is going to do all the work. She will play a part. She was not only getting out of debt. She was going to live in overflow!
What does this story tell us about living from debt to overflow?
Here are five principles of living from debt to overflow.
An unearned crisis.
V. 1 – this was a debt that her husband left her. Her sons would be taken from you.
Learn to appropriately deal with things that happen to you.
Do not get bitter internally or resentful toward other people; take it to the Lord.
Forsake self-pity. Forgive people. Decide to overcome. Ask God for help.
A conflicted calculation.
V. 2 – she had “nothing,” but she did have something, a little oil.
God has given to us everything. [2Pe 1:2-3 NASB95]
[Exo 4:1-5 NASB95]
Believe that what God has gifted you will help you overcome it.
A work-filled command.
V. 3-4, 7 – she (not Eisha, had to go get the bottles and pour the oil.)
[Jhn 9:6-7 NASB95]
[Phl 2:12-13 NASB95]
God will do a miracle; however, often, it will have your fingerprints on them.
What is your part of the miracle?
Faith-filled containers.
V. 5-6a.
The size of the miracle was directly related to how many vessels she obtained.
“If she borrowed few vessels, she would have but little oil; if she borrowed many vessels they should all be filled, and she should have much oil. She was herself to measure out what she should have; and I believe that you and I, in the matter of spiritual blessings from God, have more to do with the measurement of our mercies than we think. We make our blessings little, because our prayers are little.” (Spurgeon)
[Psa 81:10 NASB95]
Our containers
Prayers – ask big.
Efforts – take heed. Walk. Education. Time. [Col 4:17 NASB95]
Giving – to the measure you give is the measure you receive. [2Co 9:6 NASB95]
Give God all the tools you can to walk in the miracle.
A miracle ceased.
V. 6b. God did not cease the miracle. Nor the devil.
Do not limit God.
[Eph 3:20-21 NASB95]
KJV – “limited” - [Psa 78:41 NASB95]
Do not let anything limit what you believe God wants to do for you.
A few possible limiters:
Doubt.
Lack of prayer.
Lack of effort.
“The principle of this miracle was the same as the principle of the ditches dug in the previous chapter. The amount of man’s work with the miracle determined the amount of blessing and provision actually received. God’s powerful provision invites our hard work and never excuses laziness.” (Guzik)
Act and believe that God wants more for you. Do not make God small.
God will help us overcome all crises, earned and unearned, with overflow. You will live above the crises.
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Times Two pt4—Miracles When You Do Not Know How Or When
[2Ki 3:9-20 NASB95]
One of the most asked questions I get when it comes to answered prayers is, “how is this answer going to come?”
We often do not know the “how” or even the “when”. We do know the “what” and “Who.”
God said He was going to give them water. He did not tell them how or even when.
What does God want from you to experience miracles when you do not know the “how” or the “when”?
Here are seven things God wants you to know to experience miracles when you do not know “how” or “when.”
God wants you to recognize your need for Him.
V.9-10… No water. It seems Jehoram (the evil king of Israel) believed God was against him.
The blessing is in knowing we need Him. [Mat 5:3, 6 NASB95]
Resist thinking you are “ok” without the help of God. [Rev 3:17-18 NASB95]
Miracles happen for those who know they need God. Live in a constant state of needing God.
God wants you to be connected to His Word.
V.11-12 – Jehoshaphat (godly king of Judah) knew they needed a Word from God through a prophet.
Counter-culture point: We need God’s Word preached to us through the 5-fold ministry.
Paul believed we need the Word preached, not just read.
[Rom 1:8, 11, 15 NASB95]
[Rom 10:17 NASB95]
[Eph 4:11-12 NASB95]
To get the Acts blessing, stay with the Acts culture. [Act 2:42, 47 NASB95]
Read the Bible. Stay with a church that has solid teaching of the Word of God.
God wants you to repent.
V. 12-14 – The kings went down to him. Not the normal. Sign of humility. The king of Israel stayed with his belief that God was punishing him.
This is not explicit here, but Elisha calls them to repent (turn to God from sin).
It is explicit here.
John the Baptist. [Mat 3:8 NASB95]
Jesus. [Mat 4:17 NASB95]
Peter. [Act 2:38 NASB95]
Paul. [Act 26:20 NASB95]
Repentance is necessary to experience God’s blessing.
God wants you to stay in an environment of the supernatural.
V. 15 – Elisha created an environment for the Word of God to come.
“When Elisha wanted to become more sensitive to the leading and speaking of the Holy Spirit, he asked for the service of a musician. This demonstrates the great spiritual power in music.” (Guzik)
[Eph 5:19 NASB95]
[Col 3:16 NASB95]
Worship releases the prophetic. [1Ch 25:1-2 NASB95]
“Their ministry in music was not merely the product of good musicianship; it was a gift of the Holy Spirit being exercised through them.” (Guzik)
“…their praise was itself seen as ‘prophecy’ in that it proclaimed God’s word with God’s authority.” (Selman)
Expanded beyond just music. Worship includes preaching, singing, and many other expressions.
Why? Maybe it brings the presence of God and prepares the mind to receive. I do not have to know why I should do it to do it.
Stay in a place of worship. It is more than a song. It can open the door to the supernatural.
God wants you to act like His Word is coming to pass.
V. 16-17 – they had to dig trenches.
“If we expect to obtain the Holy Spirit’s blessing, we must prepare for his reception.” “But the most of people say, ‘Well, you know, of course, if God sends a blessing, we must then enlarge.’ Yes, that is the way of unbelief and the road to the curse. But the way of faith and the road to the blessing is this: God has promised it — we will get ready for it; God is engaged to bless; now let us be prepared to receive the boon. Act not on the mere strength of what you have, but in expectation of that which you have asked.” (Spurgeon)
God wants to live like He will do what He said He will do.
God wants you to have total victory in every area of your life.
V. 18-19 – God did not meet the immediate need. He met the total need.
“God wanted to give them more than immediate provision; He wanted to give them complete victory over their enemies.” (Guzik)
[Deu 28:7 NASB95]
[2Co 2:14 NASB95]
Believe in God turning things around for you.
God wants you to live a sanctified life unto Him.
V. 20 – it was at the morning offering of sacrifice.
[Mat 6:4, 6, 18 NASB95]
Your obedience to give, pray, and fast (among other Christian disciplines) connects you to the reward of the Lord.
God wants us to trust Him to bring the “what” even when we do not know the “how” or the “when.”
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Times Two pt3—Miracles Amidst Insecurities
[2Ki 2:23-25 NASB95]
Too many people allow the enemy to stop them from accomplishing the purpose of God in their lives due to insecurities. Physical. Intellectual. Financial. Or other insecurities.
Elisha had to deal with this early on in his ministry.
How can we see God’s miracles in our lives amidst our own insecurities?
Here are three concepts that are important to see God’s miracles amidst insecurities.
Know that the enemy goes for our insecurities.
V. 23 - Baldness can be a point of insecurity for people. The enemy will go for the “jugular.” He wants to hit you in the place that hurts us the deepest. He wants us to cower. It can be things like here (physical appearance), intellect, finances, family connections, past sins, or any number of areas of insecurity.
To combat that, we need to grow in the fact that God has made us. [Psa 139:13-14 NASB95]
The Apostle Paul provides concepts for dealing with insecurities.
Get your worth and value by the grace of God only. [1Co 15:9-11 NASB95]
Early church fathers give a description of Paul in Greek as a “man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were far apart; he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long.” (https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/bald-blind-and-single)
Scripture gives some confirmation to that fact. [2Co 10:10 NASB95]
Do not allow your insecurities to keep back from what God has called you to do. Allow God to heal them so you can used by God.
God wants us to learn to confront our enemies.
V. 24 – Elisha confronted the lads.
How to confront:
Stand up in boldness. Be healed and confront the issues.
Address this physically and spiritually.
There are times when you deal with the people directly.
Hermeneutics Principles:
Truth in tension: There are times when truth is understanding context. It is not whether you answer but how you answer. There is no guarantee they will listen. [Pro 26:4-5 NASB95]
OT & NT Interpretation – We do not offer bulls and goats because Jesus was the sacrifice. The NT gives progressive revelation over the OT. Jesus would say, “It has been said... but I say to you…” The NT gives progressive revelation for some things.
Descriptive vs. Prescriptive. Judas hung himself after sinning. (Matt. 27:5). Confess sins. (I John 1:8-9)
Prescriptive NT: [Rom 12:14 NASB95]
Descriptive NT:
[1Co 5:5 NASB95]
[1Ti 1:20 NASB95]
Deal with the demon spirits: Demons affect the people who are opposing God’s plan for us.
[Eph 6:12 NASB95]
[Act 16:16-18 NASB95]
Allow God to confront the enemies. [Rom 12:19-21 NASB95]
Trust that God will specifically help you.
V. 24 – Notice the specifics: 2 female bears tore up 42 lads. Given the fact that there are times when the Bible does not provide specifics, the specifics mean something.
[Psa 138:8 NASB95]
[Psa 34:19 NASB95]
God is working all things together for your good. Romans 8:28.
Your miracle may look like God taking care of your opponents.
God does not want you to allow the insecurities that the enemy uses against you to keep you from His purpose in your life as you appropriately confront your enemy and allow God to deliver you.
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Times Two pt2—Miracles for the Dissatisfied
[2Ki 2:19-22 NASB95]
God cares about every aspect of our lives. We accept far below what God has for us.
What are some things we find in this story that will help us experience miracles?
Here are three important principles to miracles as seen in 2 Kings 2:19-22.
You can’t be ok with what is not ok.
V. 19 – they were not ok with things not being ok.
Dissatisfaction is good.
Balance: [Phl 4:12-13 NASB95]
[Mar 11:24 NASB95]
[Pro 16:26 NASB95]
We are to be at peace (not anxious or bitter or resentful) while we press in for what God has for us.
When it comes to getting a miracle, you have to want things to change.
You will do a prophetic act of obedience.
V. 20-21 – salt in the water usually will make water worse and surely not naturally produce lasting change.
New Bible Commentary – merely symbolic (prophetic). It was not the salt but the power of the Lord.
K&D – The use of natural means does not remove the miracle.
The tax was 2 days' wages. A fish is not enough. [Mat 17:24-27 NASB95]
It was not the salt. It was the act of obedience done in faith.
You will stand on the word of the covenant.
K&D – it was the power of the divine Word that made the water sound.
Eerdmans – the miracle was based upon the divine promise.
Moses – healing water - [Exo 15:23-26 NASB95]
[Heb 8:6 NASB95]
“death or unfruitfulness any longer.'" 22 So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”
God is making some lasting miracles in your life.
God will cause a miracle to happen in places where we are not satisfied as we take prophetic steps of obedience based upon God’s promises.
Unsatisfied as we take prophetic steps of obedience based on
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Times Two pt1—How to Increase in the Power of the Holy Spirit
[2Ki 2:1-14 NASB95]
This is very similar to Jesus’ statement about Him leaving and the church receiving the power of the Holy Spirit.
[Jhn 14:12 NASB95]
[Jhn 16:7 NASB95]
How do we increase the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
Here are four truths about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be fully committed.
V. 2, 4, 6, 12 (called him his father.)
[Luk 9:60-62 NASB95]
Become fully committed to Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.
Be willing to serve.
V. 3, 5
[2Ki 3:11 NASB95]
We serve God by serving in His church for the expansion of the Gospel of Jesus.
Be hungry.
V. 9-10
This gigantic request is made by someone who is hungry.
Randy Clark, “Most of the time, God anoints hungry people.”
[1Co 12:31 NASB95]
[1Co 14:1, 39 NASB95]
Hunger for God and the things of God makes you a candidate for the anointing.
Be active.
V. 13-14
[1Pe 4:10-11 NASB95]
Christianity is not just about you feeling better. It is a mission to help heal the world.
If you have nothing to do with the problems of others, you will have nothing to do the power to bring healing to others.
What are you going to do to help other people?
God wants to release the power of the Holy Spirit to hungry people who are fully committed to and actively serving Him.
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[2Ki 2:1-8 NASB95]
•When you use the purpose of God in your life combined with the power of the Holy Spirit, you will overcome anything.
•What was the mantle?
o“The cloak, that outward sign of the prophet’s office, became the vehicle of the Spirit’s power which works unseen, and with which the prophet was inspired.” K&D OT Commentary
oTwo things: 1. His calling (office, purpose); 2. The power of the Holy Spirit on him (the anointing).
•He used the symbol of his calling and the anointing to counter the obstacle.
oHe rolled it up tight. (LEH Sept. Lexi. 3rd ed.)
oStuck the water.
oThe water parted. “This was a most astonishing miracle and could be performed only by the almighty power of God.” Adam Clark
How can we overcome obstacles with our mantle?
Here are three ways we can overcome obstacles with our mantle.
I.Stay focused on the purpose and anointing in your life.
a.Elijah carried his mantle. He rolled it up tight.
b.Discover the call of God.
i.Know that you have a calling.
ii.[Rom 12:6-8 NASB95]
iii.[1Co 12:28 NASB95]
c.Daily spend time in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
i.[2Co 1:21-22 NASB95]
ii.[1Jo 2:20, 27 NASB95]
iii.[Psa 23:5 NASB95]
iv.Become a keeper of the anointing: [1Ch 27:28 NASB95]
II.Use the purpose and the anointing in your life.
a.Elijah hit the water (an obstacle) with the mantle. Similar to Moses’ rod and Joshua using the Ark.
b.Walk in the grace and stay in the place of your purpose.
i.[1Pe 4:10-11 NASB95]
ii.It might look like someone else (here, when Elisha does the same thing) or different as in Saul and David (armor).
iii.Walk in what God has for you. Bevere: Accountant John vs Pastor John
c.Release the anointing of God in prayer and other spiritual applications.
i.[Isa 10:27 NASB95].
ii.[Exo 30:25 NASB95]
iii.[Lev 14:14-17 NASB95]
d.Every mantle has the power of God. Gaius was not a preacher; he was a businessman. He used his anointing (business) to fund the kingdom. God blessed him in every way. [3Jo 1:2 NASB95]
III.Expect the obstacles to be removed and you to go forward.
a.Elijah and Elisha walked through the water on dry ground.
b.Resist hopelessness. Your obstacle can not handle the purpose of God and the power of God in your life. God expects you to use your purpose and anointing as long as you have breath in your body.
c.Release your faith in the impossible. As you walk in the purpose of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, nothing will be impossible.
•God wants you to overcome every obstacle with the purpose of God and the anointing of God.
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Days of Elijah pt8—Divinely Delegated Authority
[2Ki 1:1-18 NASB95]
The miraculous is a divine confrontation against the forces of darkness and all that includes.
We are in a war. God has delegated authority to us as believers. (I have preached messages defining this subject.)
Elijah shows us how to use the divine delegated authority to overcome the forces of darkness.
What can we learn about divinely delegated authority from Elijah?
Here are five things we can learn about divinely delegated authority.
Authority confronts the adversary.
V3
[Luk 10:19 NASB95]
Authority is given to confront the adversaries of God’s divine destiny.
Authority operates by total devotion to Jesus.
V3
[Jas 4:7 NASB95]
Your dominion over the devil is in direct proportion to your submission to God.
Authority operates by declaration of the Word of God.
V4
[Eph 6:11-13, 17 NASB95]
The Word of God out of your mouth is the weapon that will defeat the enemy.
Authority comes from knowing your identity in Christ.
V10,12
[Luk 4:3-4, 9-12 NASB95]
Satan’s attack will be against your identity.
Learning who you are in Christ allows you to exercise authority over the adversary.
Authority is released with the right spirit.
V13-15
This man humbly recognized and honored Elijah as a man of God.
[Luk 9:53-56 NASB95]
[Rom 12:14 NASB95]
Know what kind of spirit you are of.
God wants us to confront the darkness with divinely delegated authority that is based on submission to Him as being declared from God’s Word, knowing who we are in Christ, and being of the right spirit.
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Days of Elijah pt7—From Breakdown To Breakthrough
[Jas 5:17 NASB95] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…
[1Ki 19:1-21 NASB95]
Sometimes, powerful people of God are not ok.
Elijah was fresh off the victories of calling fire from heaven, defeating the prophets of Baal, and praying for a drought-ending rain. Now, he is praying for God to end his life.
God comforted Elijah and helped him overcome his breakdown to finish his purpose.
What should we consider as we overcome the breakdowns to finish God’s purpose?
Here are seven considerations for overcoming emotional breakdowns.
Remember that powerful people deal with breakdowns.
James tells us that Elijah had a nature like ours.
[2Co 1:8-11 NASB95]
Just because you are dealing with an emotional breakdown, it does not mean you are weak, just human.
Do not underestimate the negative effect of being unwell emotionally.
V. 3-4, 9, 13 - Fear caused Elijah to run away. He wanted to die. He was not where God wanted him to be.
Being unwell emotionally is not something to ignore. The enemy wants to steal what God has for you. Ignoring the problem is the fastest way to being destroyed.
Jesus went to the cross for your mental health. Isaiah 53:4-5. Why? It is important.
Being unwell emotionally affects your relationships and your future.
Be self-aware. Be active in getting well. Be willing to get help from someone if needed. (Dr. Michael Gannon says three days.)
Taking care of your physical needs is important to overcoming breakdowns.
V.5-8 – He slept, ate, and drank.
Taking care of your body is very important to emotional health.
Eating properly. Drinking water. Sleeping. Exercising. Supplementation.
And yes, on rare occasions, taking medicine is acceptable.
Learn to grow in your interaction with God.
V.11-12 Elijah had to grow in his understanding of hearing God.
Sometimes, God is in the fire, wind, and earthquakes. Elijah knew God in those ways. He did not know God in the gentle blowing.
Allow your walk with God to grow beyond your current understanding of God.
Keep your mind on His Word and call on your life.
V.13 & 15-18 – He wrapped his head in his mantle. He gave himself over to what God called him to do.
The mantel represents God’s call on his life and, to some extent, the Word of God.
[Col 3:2 NASB95]
You need to choose what you're thinking about to have peace.
Focus on God’s Word and His call on you.
Stand against the outside forces that affect your mind.
V. 14 Elijah was surrounded by evil people and a demonically inspired leader (Jezebel.)
Two outside forces:
Who you hang out with will affect you. Relationships with people affect you. [2Co 6:14-15 NASB95]
Demons affect us. [Rev 2:20 NASB95]
Invest in relationships with Godly people and resist demons that negatively affect you.
Take hold of God’s promise of peace.
Not in this passage, but implied.
[Phl 4:6-7 NASB95]
God’s peace is available. It will not be forced upon you. You will have to take it by force.
God comforts us when we have emotional breakdowns and will help us to overcome them to fulfill His purpose.
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Days of Elijah pt6—Everyday Pattern for Miracles Everyday
[Jas 5:16-18 NASB95]
[1Ki 18:41-46 NASB95]
Miracles do not have to be rare.
James holds Elijah’s example of getting a miracle as pattern faith-filled NT believers should follow.
What pattern can NT believers follow from Elijah’s life?
Here are three parts of the pattern NT believers can follow from Elijah’s life.
A prophetic statement of faith.
V. 41 – Was he hearing these in the natural or by faith? By faith of course.
Everything God said in Genesis 1 occurred after He said it.
Mark 11:22-23
Positive or negative, your words produce for you. Other miracles will confirm this truth.
Tips on prophetic statements of faith:
Needs to follow closely with the Word of God as you can. Some situations might not be addressed directly in the Bible.
Stay away from things that will negatively affect people.
What are you believing God for today? Not to antagonize you, but to help you.
Are your words being used on purpose? They (your words) should be used on purpose.
An expectant prayer.
V. 42-43
He prayed and looked. Eight times total.
The Word of Faith message is one of the most potent systematic theologies in Christianity. Applying the principles of the Word of Faith has helped and continues to help my family and me to experience great miracles.
One principle that is taught is wrong. The erroneous Word of Faith principle is that if a person continues to pray about an issue after they have already prayed, they do not believe that God has heard them the first time. The subsequent prayers would be considered full of doubt and unbelief.
Was Elijah in doubt? Is James wrong to use this as an example of Bible faith? No. No.
The message we get from Elijah’s prayer life is simple. Pray and look. Pray and look. Keep praying and keep looking. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop looking.
An act of faith.
V. 44-45 – a cloud the size of a man’s hand caused Elijah to know things were moving.
Learn to act when God acts.
Thank God when you see any movement.
Many miracles are progressive.
Don’t only praise God or move when you see the miracle completed.
How God works in our life with the Word. [Mar 4:26-29 NASB95]
[Jas 2:17-26 NASB95]
Act in faith when you see God move. These acts can include praising God and testifying to the miracle.
Bonus: A supernatural empowerment.
V. 46 – Activating these principles with tap you into the power of the Holy Spirit. Walk (run) in the power of the Holy Spirit.
God wants us to experience miracles as we make statements of faith combined with expectant prayer and acts of faith while experiencing supernatural empowerment.
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Days of Elijah pt5—Confront the Enemies of Your Faith
[1Ki 18:20-40 NASB95]
God calls us to confront the enemies of our faith. Those enemies can be internal or external. They can be spiritual, emotional, biological, financial, or relational. These enemies might be global, national, or individualized.
The enemies of your faith are trying to get you to stop serving Jesus and distract you from fulfilling your call.
Elijah confronted Ahab and the priests of Baal. Ahab and the priests of Baal have all but destroyed the faith of the people of Israel. There was a small remnant of God-fearing people. The rest of the people were mixed in their devotion to God. God called Elijah to confront the enemies of the faith.
How does God want us to confront the enemies of our faith?
Elijah gives us a blueprint for confronting the enemies of our faith.
God wants us to be totally devoted to Him.
V. 21
[Jos 24:15 NASB95]
[Mat 6:24 NASB95]
FB – to be separate means fearing God, hating sin, false teaching, injustice, improper relationships with hypocrites, and total devotion to God’s perspective.
[Luk 9:62 NASB95]
[Jhn 21:22 NASB95]
No more trying to serve the world, the flesh, and the devil. No more looking around at other people or considering other options. Single focus.
God wants us to be bold in confronting the enemy.
V. 27
Elijah was mocking the enemies of the faith. Maybe “a euphemism for bodily elimination.” (Patterson and Austel)
[Mar 11:17 NASB95]
Remember David when he confronted Goliath.
It is time to be bold as a lion about confronting the enemies of our faith.
God wants us to live with unlimited faith in Him.
V. 30-35
Elijah created an adverse situation for fire: water. This was done to demonstrate the power of God in any situation.
[Eph 3:20-21 NASB95]
Take limits off of God. [Psa 78:41 NASB95] (to set marks or limits. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon) (marked, outlined, sketched, designed – Klein Dictionary)
God wants us to pray intense prayers.
V. 36-38
“It was no whim of his to chastise the nation with a drought. It was no scheme of his, concocted in his own brain that he should put the Godhead of Jehovah or of Baal to the test by a sacrifice to be consumed by miraculous fire.” (Spurgeon)
This intense prayer had the following:
Acknowledged God
Declared his position before God.
Based upon the Word of God.
Was declarative, “Hear me… hear me…”
Was not just about him but also focused upon the Lord and others.
No more small prayers. [Psa 81:10 NASB95]
When confronting the enemies of our faith, God wants us to be totally devoted to Him in boldness, unlimited faith, and intense prayers.
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Days of Elijah pt4—Honor Marks You for a Miracle
[Jas 5:17 NASB95]
[1Ki 17:24 NASB95]
[Luk 4:22-27 NASB95]
Why did the woman get the miracles she received? Was it random? Or was there a reason?
Jesus said that she honored Elijah as a prophet. That is why she received the miracles. When you look at this situation comprehensively, He said this in reference to why He could not do any mighty works. (See also Matthew 13:57-58 and Mark 6:4-5)
They were familiar with Him.
Honor will include the people (leadership), place (house of God), and principles (methods) of God.
We live in a culture of dishonor. Many of us do not know about honor. We need to grow in this area.
Since honor marks us for a miracle, what must we consider about honor?
Here are four important things to know about honor.
Honor those over you in the Lord.
[1Th 5:12-13 NASB95]
“In the family of God, we are all equal. In the Kingdom of God, there is a hierarchy.” Debbie Shaut.
[Heb 13:7, 17 NASB95]
[1Ti 5:17 NASB95]
There needs to be recognition that God has placed people over us in the Lord.
Honor the office.
[Eph 4:11 NASB95]
“Paul revered the office.” (Kenneth Hagin, Biblical Keys to Financial Prosperity) [Act 23:4-5 NASB95]
What about titles?
Jesus –
[Mat 23:8-10 NASB95]
David Guzik - From the rest of Scripture, we can see that Jesus did not intend this as an absolute prohibition, rather as speaking to the heart that loves, collects, and cherishes such titles. We know this because, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, godly men spoke of themselves with some of these titles.
John – John did not contradict Jesus.
[1Jo 2:13-14 NASB95]
[3Jo 1:4 NASB95]
Paul –
Called Abraham, father of us all. [Rom 4:16 NASB95]
[1Ti 2:7 NASB95]
[Tit 1:4 NASB95]
[2Ti 1:11 NASB95]
[1Co 9:2 NASB95]
Jesus was teaching against people who were not genuine fathers, teachers, or leaders. Those positions are God-ordained, not people-ordained. They need to be legitimate. “That which he forbids is, 1. An affectation of such titles, and hunting after them. 2. Rom tituli, the exercise of an absolute mastership, or a paternal, absolute power.” (Poole)
Honoring the offices that Jesus instituted is important.
Quick word of note: There is an appropriate way to rebuke a leader. [1Ti 5:19 NASB95]
Honor opens the door for the blessing of God.
Jesus points out that the woman was blessed because she honored the prophet. She obeyed the Word of the Lord by giving to him and made a room for him in her house.
[3Jo 1:2-8 NASB95]
When we honor the people of God in our lives, blessings follow.
Honor manifests in several ways.
Speaking good, not evil.
Serving with obedience and joy.
Shares financially.
[1Co 9:7-14 NASB95]
[Gal 6:6 NASB95]
Honoring the people of God will mark you for a miracle.
Ask the Holy Spirit how to honor those He has placed in our lives better.
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Days of Elijah pt3—A Miraculous Message in the Mess
[Jas 5:17 NASB95] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
[1Ki 17:17-24 NASB95]
There is no message without a mess. Or a testimony without a test. Miracles usually involve confronting the forces trying to push us back or keep us from going forward.
There are times you will experience miracles in one area and a crisis in another.
The unnamed woman and Elijah experience a miracle of continual supply, and then her son dies. It is a crisis that both Elijah and the woman (mother) must face.
What does God want us to know about miracles in the mess?
Here are five lessons God wants us to know about miracles in the mess.
Do not think it strange to experience a setback amid a miracle.
V. 17… the miracle of supernatural continual supply continued when the boy died.
How can God do miraculous things on one side and other situations go wrong? It just does not make sense. It would make more sense that if God is involved, everything would be good.
[1Pe 4:12-13 NASB95]
Stay steady when troubles come. Remember the good God is for you.
Resist the blame game.
V. 18 – she was efficient with her blame. She blamed God through Elijah because of her sin.
We live in a fallen world.
[Jhn 9:1-3 NASB95]
[Luk 13:1-5 NASB95]
We all have sinned. We all deserve judgment. Judgment will come unless we repent.
The point is that while it is common to attribute our troubles as judgment because of personal sin, personal sin is not always the reason for the troubles.
Ultimately, sin is the cause of all trouble, so repent. But do not blame God’s wrath on your negative situations.
Learn to give it to God.
V. 19 – Elijah (in the place of God here) asks her to give him the boy.
[1Pe 5:7 NASB95]
God is asking us to do the same.
Elijah took the boy to his own bed. [Isa 53:4-5 NASB95]
Give “it” to God. He wants to take it and fix it.
PUSH – Pray until something happens.
V. 20-22…
First, Elijah does not accuse God.
He prays three times.
God heard him.
[Luk 11:1, 5-13 NASB95]
[Luk 18:1-8 NASB95]
Ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking.
Practice the spiritual gift of being annoying in prayer.
Miracles might help others’ faith.
V. 23-24
Her faith was strengthened.
Miracles DO NOT ALWAYS cause people to believe. [Luk 16:30-31 NASB95]
If a person is a seeker, miracles help people. [Jhn 2:11 NASB95]
Allow miracles to strengthen your faith. Share with others what God has done and is doing in your life.
Bonus: Learn to honor those who are called into the five-fold leadership.
[Luk 4:22-27 NASB95]
In a cursed, sin-filled world, God wants us to keep trusting Him.
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Days of Elijah pt2—Five Elements of Continual Supply
[Jas 5:17 NASB95] 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
[1Ki 17:7-16 NASB95]
It’s easy to prosper when everything is favorable. God wants you to enjoy continual supply in any environment.
Here, in Elijah’s second miracle story, we see a supernatural continual supply.
What are the elements of the continual supply in Elijah’s life?
Here are five elements of continual supply.
Be willing to change when God directs you to change.
V. 7-8 – Then the word of the LORD…
The venue change did not occur because of circumstance but because of direction.
We must be willing to change and do something different when God says.
Notice: Elijah did not change just because the water dried up.
Seek God, not circumstances. Make changes when He tells you, not when circumstances change.
“BE” “THERE."
V. 9 – there to provide for you.
Supernatural supply comes when we are there.
BE – as far as fully bought in. [Isa 1:19 NASB95]
“There” = find your grace and get in your place.
Recognize that “there” might not look like a place of continual supply.
V. 9-10 – the widow gathering sticks.
Most people would not want a widow to be a supply source.
Remember, it is not only about you.
V. 10-13 – for you and your son
[Pro 11:25 NASB95]
Your giving opens the door to continual supply.
V. 14-16
[Pro 3:10-11 NASB95]
[Luk 6:38 NASB95]
[Phl 4:18-19 NASB95]
How to become a giver?
Tithe. To God. Ten percent of income.
Offerings. To God. Any amount.
Alms. To the poor. Any amount.
In any environment, God wants us to enjoy continual supply as we make changes at His direction, find our place, give ourselves wholeheartedly to His call, be a blessing to others, and become cheerful givers.
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Days of Elijah pt1—God Uses Obscure People to Do Amazing Miracles
[Jas 5:17 NASB95]
[1Ki 17:1-7 NASB95]
Some people believe that President Trump is being mistreated by the government through lawfare. Many experts agree. It causes some to think that we are powerless against an adversarial government.
Whether it's large-scale national governmental direction or individual lives, people can feel powerless to face the opposition.
This summer, we are focusing on miracles in the lives of Elijah and Elisha.
What is a miracle? Definition: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. (Oxford Dictionary)
As we renew our minds to God’s miracle power by focusing on the miracles He did through these men, faith will arise, and we will experience miracles. God did not leave us powerless.
What do we learn about God using obscure people to do extraordinary miracles from I Kings 17:1-7?
Here are five lessons we learned about God using obscure people to do extraordinary miracles.
God wants to use obscure people to do extraordinary things.
V.1
Who? From where? We have no background information about Elijah. He came out of nowhere.
James 5 – mentions that he was a man with “a nature like ours.” He did not have a miracle conception, nor was he divine. He was a human.
[1Co 1:26-29 NASB95]
Quit saying that you are not enough. God will use you as you trust Him.
Know that God can use anyone to do amazing things, including you.
God wants to be alive to us and served by us.
V.1
Elijah lived as though God was alive. He served God as the Lord of his life.
Paul points out these “foolish” ones as having their identity in Christ. [1Co 1:30-31 NASB95]
Our identity must come from our belief that God is real and that we have surrendered to Him.
Christianity is not about getting God to bless our plans, but we surrender to His plans.
God wants us to use His authority to combat our environment.
V. 1
[Luk 10:19-20 NASB95]
Use the authority.
Remember, it comes from your relationship with a God of grace and mercy.
God does not want you to be a victim. We are not powerless.
Use the authority that comes from being a believer to stand against the forces of darkness in this world.
God wants to guide us.
V.2-3
God guided this man every step of the way.
[Psa 37:23 NASB95]
You are not a victim. Your life is not dictated at the whim of man or government.
Trust that God’s ability to speak to you is bigger than your inability to hear Him.
If you call on Him, He will tell you where to go.
God wants to provide for us.
V. 4-7
Elijah not only angered King Ahab but also, due to his word concerning a lack of rain, there are no provisions for him to get his needs met.
Yet, Elijah’s obedience opened the door for provision and prosperity.
Notice “THERE.” Supernatural provision is THERE.
[Isa 1:19 NASB95]
As you consent (become willing) and obey, you will be well provided with the best.
God wants to use ordinary people to do extraordinary miracles as we live for Him, release His authority, follow His direction, and trust in His provision for us.
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Speak the Word Only
[Eph 6:17 NASB95] 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Word of God is powerful. Here the word translated “word” is “ῥῆμα” (rhema). It is different from another word translated “word,” “λόγος” (logos). Logos is a word primarily written. Rhema is a word spoken.
The spoken Word (Rhema) of God is powerful against the enemy.
Side NOTE:
Harper Collins now owns Zondervan (1988) and Thomas Nelson (2012). So, they publish the NIV, KJV, NKJV, NASB, NET, NLT, and ESV. They did NOT translate any of them. They only publish (print and distribute) them.
As far as "missing" words, that would be too long to explain. The fact is that words were "added" in the variants used to translate the KJV. Many words that were not original. When you have centuries of variants that do not include verses or words, only to have them appear centuries later. What happened? Those words were "added" and not likely original. The KJV translator (Erasmus) received any text (Textus Receptus), even if it were questionable. So yes, it would be terrible to "take away" words. It is also wrong to "add" words, as observed in the KJV. The KJV translators were more liberal in what words they accepted. The other translators were more conservative in what words they accepted.
Matthew 17:21 – does not appear for centuries after the earliest manuscripts.
What do we need to know about the spoken Word?
The spoken Word does the three things.
The spoken Word affects this life.
Ephesians 6:17. The spoken Word becomes a sword against the enemy.
Jesus vs Satan. [Luk 4:4, 8, 12 NASB95]
[Psa 91:1-2 NASB95]
We speak the Word against Satan’s attack.
The spoken Word accomplishes God’s Will on the earth.
The spoken Word is a seed that produces. [Luk 8:11 NASB95]
[Eze 37:3-14 NASB95]
When we speak God’s Word, we will see God’s Will.
The spoken Word is our partnership with God.
See also Ezekiel 37.
[Joe 3:10 NASB95]
[Psa 35:27 NASB95]
Get into partnership with God concerning your words.
God wants us to speak His Word to experience His victory in our lives.
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Foundations pt13—Jesus is Coming
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[1Th 5:2 NASB95]
[2Pe 3:10 NASB95]
A thief is coming.
The Apostles Paul and Peter gave the exact description of the “day of the Lord.” What is the day of the Lord? While not wanting to go into the theological hair-splitting arguments of the statement, consider that 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5 are talking about the rapture, the return of Christ. Peter (2 Peter 3:4) also writes about the coming of the Lord. Therefore, from the context of scripture, it is not a stretch to believe that the “day of the Lord” would include the return of Christ, among other end-time events.
Since “the day of the Lord” refers to the return of the Lord, consider the description: a thief in the night. This description gives us some clues as to the manner of His return. The return of Christ will be unexpected. It will be sudden. It will come when many people are asleep. It will require people to prepare for the event as one might lock the doors or have an alarm system.
What are some important things to remember about His Coming?
Here are three important things to remember about His Coming.
THE MANNER OF HIS COMING - [Jhn 14:1-3 NASB95]
PRE-EMINENT v.1, ". . . believe in God, believe also in Me."
Jesus prefaces His comments on His second coming by affirming His deity. Jesus is coming to complete our redemption--He is coming victoriously as God. If you deny the Second Coming of Jesus, you deny faith in Christ.
In Matthew 26:64 In this passage, Christ reveals that He is God by affirming His Second Coming.
PERSONAL v. 2-3
PROPHETIC [1Co 15:51 NASB95]
The details of the Rapture were not revealed until this time. The word "MYSTERY" refers to something in the plan of God that, up to this time, was not divulged.
PRECIPITATE v. 52,
Literally, ’in an atom of time." It is a point of time that cannot be cut or divided. It is THAT SUDDEN and UNEXPECTED!! Jesus likened His coming to that like a "thief in the night."
Rain is called precipitation because it is sudden and unexpected! Can you imagine planning a wedding outdoors and not having a backup place to go? You must because rain could pour unexpectedly!
PROFITABLE v. 53
Our redemption will be complete!
[Rom 8:22-23 NASB95]
PREVAILING v. 54,
THE MISSION OF HIS COMING. [1Th 4:16-17 NASB95]
TO RESURRECT HIS SAINTS v.16
TO RECEIVE HIS SAINTS v.17, The word "caught up" implies that an external power will raise us into the clouds. We will not slowly ascend to Christ--He will pull us out of this wicked world to be with Him.
TO REWARD HIS SAINTS
[Rev 22:12 NASB95]
[1Jo 2:28 NASB95]
[1Pe 5:4 NASB95]
I Cor. 3:11-15 says that in that day our works will be tried, and we have two options: RECIEVE REWARD or BE SAVED AS BY FIRE!
THE MOTIVATION FROM KNOWLEDGE OF HIS COMING.
PERSPECTIVE [Tit 2:13 NASB95]
We need to be looking for Jesus!
PURITY [1Jo 3:2-3 NASB95]
PERSEVERANCE [1Co 15:58 NASB95]
Jesus came into this world for the first time as a baby-- He will return as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
He came to purchase our redemption--He will come to complete our redemption.
When He came the first time, He died for all mankind. When He comes again, He will come to claim those who have accepted His SACRIFICE!!!
Prayer for Lost - Family, Friends, and Area
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Foundations pt12—Jesus is Baptizer:
The Importance of Spirit Baptism.
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95] 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
Fundamentals/foundations are what separates the successful from the unsuccessful.
To Jesus, it was important for the disciples to be Spirit baptized before they preached the Gospel. [Luk 24:49 NASB95]
Paul lists some fundamentals, one of which is baptisms (plural).
One baptism: Into Christ, [Gal 3:27 NASB95]
Second baptism: Water, [Act 1:5 NASB95]
Third baptism: With the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:5
3rd of the Four Cardinal Truths is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Why is the Spirit baptism important?
Here are five reasons why Spirit baptism is important.
Gives us a promise.
Jesus - [Act 1:4-5 NASB95]
Peter - Acts 2:14-18 (Joel 2:28-29)
Not a new idea, some strange happening, God has promised it a long time ago.
We are in the "LAST DAYS", directly talking about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Gives us a Person.
Acts 19:1-6 - They were Christians, then baptized in water, Holy Spirit.
First, baptism with the Holy Spirit subsequent to Salvation
Secondly, a deeper knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 - Him, not it. Not tongues, not the baptism, but the Holy Spirit.
Gives us a purpose.
Acts 1:8 - Be My witness.
Leviticus 14:14,17 - blood first act of cleansing; oil then applied over blood symbolic of being prepared for service.
Gives us power.
Acts 1:8 - Power to be My Witnesses.
I Corinthians 2:4-5.
There is a level of power that God works through people who have received Spirit baptism.
Gives us a prayer language.
There is a spiritual language of prayer that accompanies Spirit baptism.
[Rom 8:26-27 NASB95]
[1Co 14:14-15 NASB95]
Praying in the Spirit is different from speaking a message to the church in tongues.
Praying and singing with the spirit is appropriate in church services and in private times to engage God.
It is important to God that we experience Spirit baptism, as evidenced by praying in tongues as part of His end-time promise to fulfill His purpose with power as we walk with the Holy Spirit.
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Foundations pt11—Jesus is Healer
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Act 10:38 NASB95]
[Mat 4:23-24 NASB95]
[Mat 9:35 NASB95]
[Heb 13:8 NASB95] 8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever.
Jesus cares deeply about our plight on earth. He cares about every aspect including the pain and suffering we live with daily.
Jesus’ earthly ministry greatly involved healing people. His death, resurrection, and ascension made divine physical healing available.
What are some important aspects of knowing Jesus is healer?
Here are 7 important things to know about healing.
Method
Natural
[1Ti 5:23 NASB95]
[2Ki 20:7 NASB95]
Supernatural - numerous references - spiritual laws must be applied.
Responsibility
Care for the temple - [1Co 6:19 NASB95]
Care for others –
Mark 16:18 - just as we are commanded to preach the Gospel, we are commanded to lay hands on the sick
Progression
Some instant - Woman with the issue of blood
Some progressive
[Luk 17:14 NASB95]
[Mar 8:23-25 NASB95]
Manifestation
Gifts of Healings - as the Spirit wills - I Corinthians 12:7-11
Live by faith - as we respond –
[Heb 10:36-38 NASB95]
[Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]
Authority - [Luk 5:24 NASB95]
If He can forgive sin.
He can heal sickness.
Atonement - Isaiah 53:4 & Matthew 8:16-17; Psalm 103; James 5:14-15
He paid for your sin.
He paid for your healing.
Hearing the preached Word can help you receive healing.
The Word is medicine. [Pro 4:20-22 NASB95]
Hear and be healed.
[Luk 5:15 NASB95]
[Luk 6:17-18 NASB95]
Jesus healed while on earth and has made healing available to every person who calls on Him in faith.
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Foundations pt10—Jesus is Savior
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95] 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
[1Jo 4:14 NASB95] 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son [to be] the Savior of the world.
Who is Jesus? Knowing who Jesus is gives us a greater understanding of His work in our lives.
We are going to look at four aspects of who Jesus is: Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King.
Today, we are going to look at the fact that Jesus is Savior.
What does it mean for us that Jesus is Savior?
Here are four attributes of Jesus being Savior.
Needed Savior - Wages of Sin
Sin brings death.
Sin is not a small, insignificant thing.
Genesis 2:17 - God declared sin to be a death.
Romans 5:12 - We are all guilty because of original sin.
Sin is taken seriously by God, and it would behoove us to take it seriously, too.
You might not want Him, but you need Him.
Sacrificial Savior - Gift of God
He did not have to do it.
[Jhn 3:16 NASB95]
Romans 5:8 - we did not earn His wanting to die for us. [Rom 5:8 NASB95]
Jesus’ sacrifice for us was His choice.
Complete Savior - Eternal life
Whole life.
Past - All your sins are forgiven. [2Co 5:17 NASB95]
Present - Victory over sin - [Rom 6:6 NASB95]
Future - He will complete the work - [Phl 1:6 NASB95]
Whole being.
[1Th 5:23 NASB95]
Jesus saves your spirit and soul and body. He does not compartmentalize your salvation.
Only Savior - in Christ Jesus our Lord
No other way
[Jhn 14:6 NASB95]
Not being good, not going to church, not being religious. Complete and total surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord.
All roads don’t lead to heaven.
Jesus is a needed Savior, a sacrificial Savior, a complete Savior, and the only Savior.
But is He YOUR Savior?
[Rom 6:23 NASB95]
Romans 6:23 - notice our salvation is based on the position of Him as LORD.
And again, Jesus must be Lord for Him to be Savior. [Rom 10:9-10 NASB95]
To be Lord means that He is the boss, the priority, and the foundation of all that we do.
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Foundations pt9—The Revelation of Jesus
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Mat 16:13-18 NASB95]
Jesus was not a low moment. Jesus did not reassurance. The questions were not for Him. The questions are for us.
We transition in this series to the “teaching about the Christ.” Over the next few services, we are going to focus on what has been called “the four cardinal truths about Jesus.”
What does Peter’s revelation of Jesus teach us today?
Here are four things we can learn about Peter’s revelation of Jesus.
The question about the revelation of Jesus.
V. 13-14 – the people.
V. 16 – you.
You cannot live on someone else’s revelation of Jesus. It is the revelation you have that makes the difference.
The source of the revelation of Jesus.
V. 17 – not flesh, but the Father.
[Eph 1:17-18 NASB95]
We cannot make ourselves or someone else see Jesus; it is a work of God.
The results of the revelation of Jesus.
Blessed – v. 17. Note: the blessing was that Peter received revelation. However, the revelation will increase the blessings we experience.
Changed identity – v. 17-18. A new name. You will change to the level of your revelation of Jesus.
A strong church – v. 18. The church needs to be strong.
Authority on the earth - v. 19. Your revelation of Jesus will result in power over every principality and power on the earth.
How do we grow in the revelation of Jesus?
We are not told how Peter got the revelation.
[Jer 29:13 NASB95]
You will seek in:
In His word.
In prayer.
With passion.
Our foundation is Jesus, and God wants us to know Him more and experience all the results of a greater revelation.
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Foundations pt8—A Healthy Understanding of Hell
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Mat 25:46 NASB95] 46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
“You can’t judge me. Only God can judge me.” He will definitely judge us.
There are two particular judgments we are going to deal with. Heaven and hell.
Dr. Sam Storms, “What you and I “like” is utterly and absolutely irrelevant. God doesn’t set his eternal agenda based on what we “prefer.” What we might “hope” to be true simply doesn’t matter. What does or does not make us “feel comfortable” has no bearing on the truth or falsity of this issue. The fact that we have an intuitive sense for what strikes us as “fair” or “just” plays no part whatsoever in coming to a conclusion on whether or not there is an eternal hell. The fact that we may not enjoy the thought of eternal conscious punishment doesn’t make it go away! The fact that you “feel” the existence of hell is inconsistent with your concept of God doesn’t mean there isn’t one. What we “want” or “hope” or “desire” has no relevance at all in this debate. The only important question is, “Does the Bible teach it?” And if the Bible does teach it (and Revelation 14 together with numerous other texts would indicate it does), our responsibility is to believe it and fervently and faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only hope sinners have for now and eternity.”
Jesus spoke about hell. Paul spoke about hell. John spoke about hell.
What is a healthy understanding of hell?
These Bible passages give us a healthy understanding of hell.
Second Thessalonians 1:6-10 gives us a healthy understanding of hell.
[2Th 1:6-10 NASB95]
God will deal out retribution.
[Rom 11:22 NASB95]
It is a mistake not to understand the severity of God. He is love, and He is holy.
To those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
C.S. Lewis: There are two kinds of people. Those who say to God, “Thy will be done.” Or those to whom God says, “Thy will be done.”
God, in His love and goodness, gives us the freedom to choose His way or ours.
NOT, good people in heaven and bad people in hell. It is those who are surrendered to Jesus who go to heaven, and everyone is in hell.
Why?
We have all sinned. [Rom 3:23 NASB95]
The wages of sin is death (hell) but life only in Jesus Christ. [Rom 6:23 NASB95]
Eternal destruction.
[Mar 9:46 NASB95]
Not annihilationism or conditional immortality.
Away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.
It will happen when He comes.
Matthew 25 gives us a healthy understanding of hell.
[Mat 25:30, 41 NASB95]
Hell will have darkness, weeping, and teeth gnashing. It is not a party.
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels.
[Rev 19:20 NASB95]
[Rev 20:15 NASB95]
Hell was created for the devil. However, everyone who is not a Christian will be there, too.
We do the following when we have a healthy understanding of hell.
We live surrendered to Jesus. [Mat 10:28 NASB95]
We tell people how to avoid hell.
Jesus wants us to have a healthy, Biblical understanding of hell so that we live surrendered to Jesus and are motivated to tell people about Jesus.
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Foundations pt7—Facts About Heaven
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Mat 25:46 NASB95] 46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
“You can’t judge me. Only God can judge me.” He will definitely judge us.
There are two particular judgments we are going to deal with. Heaven and hell.
What do we know about heaven?
Here are 12 facts about heaven.
Heaven is a real place.
[Rev 21:15-17 NASB95]
[Act 1:6-11 NASB95]
Someone did the math. 1500-mile cube. 20 billion people with 75 acres each.
Heaven has dwellings.
[Jhn 14:6 NASB95]
Heaven has animals.
[Isa 65:17, 25 NASB95]
[Rom 8:20-23 NASB95]
[Psa 36:6 NASB95]
Heaven has food.
[Rev 22:2 NASB95]
[Rev 19:6-9 NASB95]
Heaven is populated with saved loved ones.
[1Th 4:13-18 NASB95]
Heaven is where you will be recognizable yet with a new body.
[Luk 24:39-40 NASB95]
[Mat 17:1-9 NASB95]
[Phl 3:20-21 NASB95]
Heaven is your immediate destination after death.
[2Co 5:8 NASB95]
[Phl 1:23 NASB95]
[Luk 23:43 NASB95]
Heaven will be where you fulfill your purpose.
[Rev 19:6-9 NASB95]
Heaven has no curse.
[Rev 22:3 NASB95]
Heaven has no sadness.
[Rev 7:15-17 NASB95]
[Rev 21:1-5 NASB95]
Heaven does not have equal rewards.
[Luk 19:11-27 NASB95]
[1Co 3:11-15 NASB95]
[1Pe 5:1, 4 NASB95]
Heaven will only be populated by people who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
[Jhn 14:6 NASB95]
[Rev 21:27 NASB95]
[Rom 10:9-10 NASB95]
God wants us to experience the wonders of heaven with Him.
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Foundations pt6—Learn to Die; Learn to Live
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[1Co 15:55-58 NASB95]
Death is brutal. We hate it. We don’t understand it even when we know it will happen. Not understanding how to deal with death will hurt us.
My experience with my father's death and subsequent fear of death. Christ helped me. I am not afraid to die. Additionally, I know how to live.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is explaining to the Corinthians Christians about the death of those who have died (sleep: NT for a Christian death. 1 Cor 15:18; 1 Thess 4:13; Jn 11:11). He is saying that death is not the end. There is a resurrection of the dead.
He answers their question about what happens when a person dies before the return of Christ. [1Co 15:18 NASB95]
Note: the resurrection of the dead is not the same as raising someone from the dead. Raising someone from the dead is about this life. The resurrection of the dead is about life after death in the next life.
Note: Not dealing with [1Co 15:29 NASB95]
Paul did not confirm or condemn it. Makes no other mention of it.
A huge amount of theories. Two make sense to me: 1. People were baptized with the hope of seeing a dead loved one. 2. The “dead” is Christ, with Paul’s argument that some say Christ is not risen, but they are baptized for (or because of) Him. So they would then be baptized for Someone (Jesus) who is dead if they do not believe in the resurrection.
This is foundational to the Christian faith. There is life after this life. Death is an enemy; however, for the Christian, it is the door to the life God has for you.
What do we need to understand about the resurrection of the dead that will help us to live?
Here are three points about the resurrection of the dead that will help you to live.
The resurrection of the dead is based upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ resurrection is proof of the resurrection of the dead.
[1Co 15:3-19 NASB95]
Ask the Holy Spirit to make the resurrection of Jesus real to you. Not just information you agree with but a revelation that will affect you.
The resurrection of the dead looks forward to the rapture of Jesus Christ.
[1Co 15:23 NASB95]
[1Th 4:16 NASB95]
[Jhn 14:1-3 NASB95]
The resurrection of the dead affects our life in Jesus Christ.
Here are five ways the resurrection of the dead affects our lives.
We do not have to fear death.
Death must happen. [1Co 15:42-54 NASB95]
Death is not a defeat. [1Co 15:54-57 NASB95]
Death is an open door to the fulfillment of all God's promises. [1Co 15:26-28 NASB95]
We can properly grieve for loved ones. [1Th 4:13-15 NASB95]
We learn to live soberly.
Our faith in Christ is not just for this world. [1Co 15:19 NASB95]
[1Co 15:33-34 NASB95]
Live with eternity in our hearts. Right perspectives. Right priorities.
We avoid sin.
[1Co 15:34 NASB95]
Understanding that what is done in this life affects the next one is a proper deterrent to sin.
We give ourselves fully to the call of God.
[1Co 15:9-11, 30-32 NASB95]
[1Co 15:58 NASB95]
God wants us to have a proper perspective about life after death so we can live in peace and victory as we pursue the call of God on our lives free of sin and grief.
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Foundations pt5—Ministry of Laying on of Hands
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
Mark Hankins recently said that this is a fundamental ministry that is a missing ingredient in the church today, and it is hindering the Holy Spirit from moving.
The ministry of the laying on of hands has several Biblical reasons: the act of ordination, healing and/or blessing, and impartation.
God told me to have Norvel Hayes lay his hands on me.
What instructions do we need to know about the ministry of laying on of hands?
Here are three reasons and implications for the ministry of laying on of hands.
The Act of Ordination
[Deu 34:9 NASB95]
[1Ti 4:14 NASB95]
[1Ti 5:22 NASB95]
[Act 6:6 NASB95]
[Act 13:1-3 NASB95]
This is an important aspect of ministry. (Ordination service at CGIA.)
Healing and/or Blessing
[Mat 19:13-15 NASB95]
[Mar 10:16 NASB95]
[Mar 5:23 NASB95]
[Mar 6:5 NASB95]
[Mar 8:23-25 NASB95]
[Luk 4:40 NASB95]
[Luk 13:13-14 NASB95]
[Mar 16:18 NASB95]
[Act 28:8-9 NASB95]
[Act 9:17-19 NASB95]
[Act 4:29-31 NASB95]
Impartation
[Act 8:14-17 NASB95]
[Act 19:6 NASB95]
[Rom 1:11-12 NASB95]
[2Ti 1:6 NASB95]
Implications of laying on of hands.
You need to be connected to the church for that ministry to happen. If you are not around the men and women of God, hands will not be laid upon you. You are missing this FOUNDATIONAL ministry in your life.
You do not need to be OVERLY afraid of “negative” transference. Every leader who is going to lay hands on you is a human. You do need to determine if they have a demonic spirit but understand the blessing on you is stronger than the curse.
Control your spirit.
Guard your tongue.
Carefully select your spiritual authorities.
Guard your senses (hearing, seeing, feeling).
You need to release faith in God for what happens when hands are laid upon you. According to Mark Hankins, Hagin would have people say, “When he lays his hands on me, I will receive.”
You need to take every opportunity to have hands laid upon you.
God uses the ministry of laying on of hands to ordain us into the ministry, to bless/heal us and to impart a gift to us.
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Foundations pt4—Water and Spirit Baptisms
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Jhn 3:5 NASB95]
It is hard to get away from our bias. “Washings” was possibly a biased translation. Greek (baptismon plural of baptismos) or baptisms. What baptisms?
Wesley Adams LITSNTC, “. . . water and Spirit baptisms under the new covenant.”
A deep mystery between symbols and reality. The true believer will seek both. Maybe it is not causal, but it is definitely symptomatic of salvation.
Paul explains water baptism. [Rom 6:4 NASB95]
Jesus teaches Spirit baptism.
[Luk 24:49 NASB95]
[Act 1:5, 8 NASB95]
What are some important instructions we need to know about WB and SB?
Here are 4 important instructions we need to know about WB and SB.
The importance of WB and SB.
WB
Repentance [Act 2:38 NASB95]
Public confession. Identification with Jesus.
Obedience. [Mat 28:19 NASB95]
SB
Empowerment [Act 1:8 NASB95]
Necessity [Luk 24:49 NASB95]
Initial evidence (tongues – 3 of the 5 specifically say tongues; the other 2 refer to something Paul and Simon) and ongoing evidence (Spiritual gifts/Christlikeness).
The disagreements of WB and SB.
WB
Sprinkle vs immersion.
In Jesus Name vs Father, Son & Holy Spirit. We see both in the Bible.
SB
Continuous vs Cessation. Only one verse speaks of cessation, clearly when Christ returns.
[1Co 1:7-8 NASB95]
[1Co 13:8-12 NASB95]
Initial Evidence vs No Tongues.
Water baptism: immersion is clearly taught, while the methodology is interchangeable.
Spirit baptism: continuous with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The connection of WB and SB.
In Acts, when SB is presented, so is WB.
Acts:
2:38 – WB then SB. [Act 2:38 NASB95]
8:13 WB then 8:15 SB. [Act 8:13, 15-16 NASB95]
9:17 SB then 9:18 WB. [Act 9:17-18 NASB95]
10:44-46 SB then 10:47-48 WB. [Act 10:44-48 NASB95]
19:5 WB then 19:6 SB. [Act 19:5-6 NASB95]
There is no set order. Both are needed and prioritized.
The agreement of WB and SB.
Both refer to the work of the Holy Spirit.
[Isa 44:3 NASB95]
[Eze 36:24-27 NASB95]
[Tit 3:5 NASB95]
Both WB and SB refer to the work of the Holy Spirit for
Regeneration (WB – conversion.)
Renewal (SB – empowerment.)
Holy Spirit, convert us and empower us!
WB and SB are important works of the Holy Spirit in our lives that are needed for today so we can become all that God has called us to become.
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Foundations pt3—Faith Expects Rewards
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
[Heb 11:6 NASB95] 6 And 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 seek Him.
A pastor questioned Kenneth Hagin, “Why do you preach on faith so much?” His answer is, “You can’t get saved without faith. You can’t please God without faith. You can’t get healed without faith. Anything that is not done in faith is sin.”
The faith message is not a generational message. It is a Gospel message. Learning how to use your faith will keep you protected and prospering in every environment.
What does Hebrews 11:6 teach about faith in God?
Here are four teachings about faith from Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is necessary to please God.
It’s a command. Jesus said we are to have faith in God. [Mar 11:22 NASB95]
It’s a lifestyle. The just (born-again believers) shall live by faith. [Heb 10:36-38 NASB95]
Its absence is a sin. Anything not of faith is a sin. [Rom 14:23 NASB95]
Faith has actions. [Jas 2:18 NASB95]
Faith is developed by the Word of God. [Rom 10:17 NASB95]
Faith is more than just worshipping Him.
Many times, the disciples did not have faith even though they were around Him. [Jhn 3:36 NASB95]
Demons believe in God. [Jas 2:19 NASB95]
We need to make a decision to have faith in God.
Faith is in His existence.
[Psa 19:1-2 NASB95]
[Rom 1:19-20 NASB95]
Nature proclaims the existence of God. Note: Eclipse (April 2024) – “Even though the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away. This makes the Sun and the Moon appear almost exactly the same size in our sky.” (https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/geometry)
Stay focused on the existence of God.
Faith is in His nature to reward seekers.
Faith in God will produce powerful results. [Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]
Diligently seek Him:
Prayer life - [Mat 6:6 NASB95]
Bible reading – “When you engage in reading, various brain functions are activated, encompassing visual processing, comprehension, auditory perception, and more. However, when you read your Bible, these functions align with other regions of your brain as God intended, triggering the release of chemicals such as dopamine. This results in a profound emotional response to the content you are absorbing.” (https://www.therapyforchristians.com/blog/benefits-of-reading-the-bible) [Psa 1:2-3 NASB95]
Faithfulness to the church - [Psa 92:12-14 NASB95]
Fasting - [Mat 6:18 NASB95]
Giving - [Mat 6:4 NASB95]
God wants to reward you. It does not please God to not expect His reward.
God wants us to know that He rewards a genuine faith toward Him as we seek Him.
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Foundations pt2—5 Points of Repentance
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
Change is change. Some are sorry they got caught. Some are ready to make a change.
Christianity is not an accessory. It is an abandonment. Change in values. Change in goals. Everything. Not adding to our lives. We burn everything to live for Him.
The nominalism in today’s church is partly due to the lack of understanding of what “repentance from dead works” involves.
Definition: Repentance from dead works is REAL CHANGE.
Repentance means to turn FROM sin/self/Satan TO Jesus/Gospel/Kingdom. FROM and TO. Very important.
Dead works means sin. Dead in sins, transgressions, trespasses. (Eph. 2:1,5 & Col. 2:13)
Christians are just ignorant of it OR have deluded themselves into thinking is not necessary OR (a deeper situation) they do not understand the difference between positional righteousness and personal righteousness.
There are many voices in the church who teach this differently. Armenian vs Calvinism. John Bevere vs Jonathan Shuttlesworth. Let’s let the Word of God settle the issue.
If you do not have a functional understanding of repentance from dead works, you will fall. That is what the writer of Hebrews is saying in the passage.
What does a functional understanding of repentance from dead works involve?
Here are five points of understanding of repentance from dead works (real change.)
Repentance from dead works involves a decision.
Notice the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter.
[Mat 3:2 NASB95]
[Mat 4:17 NASB95]
[Act 2:38 NASB95]
In each case, the preacher is calling on the people to make the decision to respond. The response: repent. Jesus preached repentance (present, active, imperative) as an ongoing action.
It is a change in mind and action from something (sin/self/Satan) to another (Jesus).
Repentance from dead works is a work of God.
V. 3 – if God permits.
[2Ti 2:24-26 NASB95]
Repentance requires a dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Human will is not powerful enough to fully produce genuine repentance.
Repentance from dead works will be accompanied by deeds or actions.
Jesus said it like this. [Mat 5:29-30 NASB95]
Paul preached “performing deeds appropriate to repentance, as did John the Baptist (Luke 3:8). [Act 26:20 NASB95]
Sorrow only is dead. Sorrow that leads to change is salvation. They changed what they were doing. [2Co 7:9-10 NASB95]
From sin. Make whatever changes are necessary. If it causes you to stumble, aggressively deal with it.
To Jesus. Prayer life. Bible reading. Faithful participation in church. Fasting.
Not just from sin, but to God. Not 90 degrees, but 180 degrees.
Repentance from dead works is a regular process.
This is not a one-time occurrence.
Jesus - Lord's Prayer. [Mat 6:12 NASB95]
John, the Apostle - [1Jo 1:8-9 NASB95]
Paul - [Rom 8:13 NASB95]
Live a life that regularly processes repentance through faith and prayer.
Repentance from dead works is a response to the goodness and severity of God.
The motivation is the goodness and severity of God.
[Rom 2:4 NASB95]
[Rom 11:22 NASB95]
The more we consider how much God loves us, the more we want to serve Him.
Jesus is calling us to live a life of repentance of dead works from a decision empowered by the Holy Spirit, accompanied by action that is part of a regular process motivated by the goodness and severity of God.
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Foundations pt1—A Solid Word Revelation of God
[Heb 6:1-3 NASB95]
Marc Weinberg, WDRB meteorologist, talked about how proper roof attachment can cause a house to withstand an F3 tornado.
The writer of Hebrews (Paul? A woman?) addressed the need to progress in their understanding of God and basic teachings. They were rebuked for still needing “milk and not solid food.” (Heb. 5:12-14)
The writer is setting up the stage for them to endure the falling way by setting up a foundation. Elementary (Gr: beginning or at first) teachings are not left, in the sense of forsaken. They are the starting point for any other teachings.
What do we need to understand about the foundation?
Here are three important aspects of building a foundation.
What is the foundation?
Jesus and His teachings are the foundation.
[1Co 3:11 NASB95]
[Mat 7:24-29 NASB95]
[Eph 2:20 NASB95]
Our foundation is Jesus and His teachings and that of His first apostles and prophets.
What are the components of the foundation?
Revelation:
General
Creation – [Rom 1:18-20 NASB95]
Conscience – [Rom 2:14-16 NASB95]
Specific
The Bible. It is the Word of God.
[2Ti 3:16-17 NASB95]
Inspiration: Verbal plenary: own vocabulary under divine direction. Divine/Human.
Authority: God’s expressed will to us. Divine right to define what we believe and how we conduct ourselves.
Elementary teachings
Repentance from dead works.
Faith toward God.
Instructions about washings/baptisms.
Laying on of hands.
Resurrection of the dead.
Eternal judgment.
Specifically, Jesus is Savior, Healer, Spirit Baptizer, and Soon Coming King.
How is the foundation laid?
V. 3 is interesting. There is an obvious relationship between God, the teacher, and the people. The teacher has to teach with respect to the ability of the people to learn. The people have to be willing to grow. The Holy Spirit is the One who turns the teaching and preaching into revelation.
[2Ti 2:24-26 NASB95]
Three partners of foundation building:
A teachable person.
A qualified teacher.
A dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
Be willing to be teachable. Learn from qualified teachers. Depend upon the Holy Spirit.
God wants a foundation built in our lives that will allow us to be protected and prosper that comes from being founded upon Jesus and His teachings, based upon His solid revelation of God from His Word as we, with a teachable heart, work the Holy Spirit and qualified teachers.
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Immersed in the Blessing pt8
Speak Toward the Blessing
[Gen 17:4-5 NASB95] 4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
[Rom 4:17 NASB95] 17 (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, [even] God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
Pygmalion Effect – leader often gets what they expect when they communicate it. Communication of expectations is a powerful tool.
Nursing home – patients improve with placebo and positive nurses.
Students selected at random “blooms” when treated as a “bloomer.”
Israeli would select at random soldiers and told they were superior and outperformed though nothing different.
Our speaking must come into line with the new things God is doing.
Abram=no baby. New name (Abraham)=new baby. God changed the way Abraham spoke about himself to experience the blessing God promised.
How does our speaking affect our experience in the blessing?
Here are three truths about how our speaking affects our experience of the blessing.
Our speaking is a birth to our experience of the blessing.
Abraham (Sarah) birthed Isaac by faith speaking.
[Mar 11:22-24 NASB95]
Your speaking sets the stage for your blessing.
Our speaking is the first action for us to experience the blessing.
The effect had to be specific. Not “you do your best” but I believe you can get an “A”.
Be very specific - [Luk 17:6 NASB]
[Mat 9:21 NASB95]
What you say in yourself and about yourself will often be the first action of faith.
Our speaking is vital to experiencing the blessing.
Why was it important for God to change Abram’s name to Abraham?
[Pro 18:20-21 NASB95]
Death and life the most important aspects of life. Your words are vital to obtaining the life of blessing God has for you.
God wants our speaking to get into line with the blessing He wants us to experience.
I am righteous (Tsidkenu), I am healed (Rapha), I have sufficiency and abundance (Jireh), I am victorious (Nissi), I am at peace (Shalom), I am lead by the Spirit and am filled with His the knowledge of His Will (Rohi), God is with (Shammah.)
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Immersed in the Blessing pt7
Sustained and Thriving by the Blessing
[2Co 9:6-11 NASB95]
The world’s system is experiencing and huge economic downturn. Inflation has been horrible. It is harder for people to buy a house. Wages have not kept up with prices. This is not a political statement, just an economic analysis.
Yet, we, Christians, do not have to depend on the financial system of the world.
God will sustain you and cause you to thrive in any environment.
Sustaining:
[Deu 29:5-9 NASB95]
[Luk 22:35 NASB95]
Thriving:
[Psa 105:37 NASB95]
[Luk 6:38 NASB95]
[Mat 6:33 NASB95]
What does God want us to understand about sustaining and thriving in the blessing.
We must understand two important truths about sustaining and thriving in the blessing.
- Sustaining and thriving in the blessing is unstoppable.
Doesn’t matter where you start.
Abraham - started with nothing, became very rich! [Gen 13:2 NASB95]
Beggar from ash heap… [1Sa 2:8 NASB95]
Doesn’t matter where you are.
Isaac - sowed in the land of famine, reaped 100-Fold. [Gen 26:1-3, 12-14 NASB95]
Works everywhere - [Deu 28:3, 6 NASB95]
Doesn’t matter what is against you.
Jacob - worked for Laban changed his wages 10 times. [Gen 31:7, 9 NASB95]
Paul was blessing while under house arrest. [Phl 4:17-19 NASB95]
- Sustaining and thriving in the blessing is activated by giving.
Tithes and offerings allow you to tap into the blessing. [Mal 3:8-12 NASB95]
Abraham gave the tithe. [Gen 14:18-20 NASB95]
Jacob gave the tithe.
[Gen 31:11-13 NASB95]
[Gen 28:22 NASB95]
Your giving connects you to God’s provision. [Pro 3:9-10 NASB95]
The blessing of God on you will cause you to be sustained and thrive no matter where you start, where you are, or what is against you and is activated by giving.
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Immersed in the Blessing pt6
Negotiate With God
[Gen 18:22-33 NASB95]
Can a human negotiate with God? Can God relent from doing something He said was going to happen?
Are we just to accept what is going to happen as God’s will?
Part of the blessing on Abraham (and us Gal 3:13-14) is that He had an actual relationship with God. God would tell him something. He would stand in the presence of God and talk to Him about it.
Many people do not understand our position with God. Even when we pray, we don’t ask Him to do things for us. Guzik – our prayers our ineffective because we do not ask God to do anything.
What can we learn about praying with the blessing from Abraham’s negotiation with God?
Here are five powerful truths praying with the blessing of God on us.
God wants us to pray in-line with His nature. V 23
Abraham knew God was just and did not want to destroy Sodom.
Prayers not in line with God will not be answered. [Jas 4:3 NASB95]
Holy Love. The “God is” descriptions.
We pray the names of God because those names reveal His nature (Who He is and what He wants to do.)
God wants us to pray specifically. V 24
Abraham asked God for specific numbers 50, 45, etc.
Jesus asks a blind man what He wants. [Mar 10:49-52 NASB95]
Ask God for things as specifically as your faith will allow.
God wants us to pray with compassion for others. V25
Abraham prayed for the wicked and the righteous. We assume he was asking for his nephew Lot, but we do not know it was limited to Lot.
Abraham was blessed to be a blessing. It was just about him. [Gen 12:1-3 NASB95]
Scripture verses about praying for others.
[Jas 5:16 NASB95]
[Job 42:10 NASB95]
[1Ti 2:1 NASB95]
[Eph 6:18 NASB95]
[Eze 22:30-31 NASB95]
We are called not just to live in the blessing of God, but to be a blessing.
God wants us to pray with a bold humility. V27, 30
Can you imagine standing before God and attempting to get Him to change something He just said?
[Heb 4:16 NASB95]
[Mat 15:22-28 NASB95]
God wants us to pray persistently. V 31, 32
Abraham kept negotiating with God. Why did he stop? No one knows; only guesses. He negotiated the number 6 times.
[Luk 18:1-8 NASB95]
Why do we quit praying? It is not a lack of faith to keep asking. In fact, faith keeps asking!!!
Understanding how to pray with the blessing on us will cause us to pray in-line with His nature, be specific, intercede for others, be bold, and persistent.
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Immersed pt5—Seeing Is Believing
Faith-Filled Imagination Activates the Blessing
[Gen 15:5 NASB95]
The delay, disappointment, and the demonic can hinder us from seeing and moving forward in faith. These things paint a picture of defeat and failure. The picture of doubt hinders our faith.
Since God first gave him the promise, Abraham saw famine (12:10), family issues (12:10-20), Lot taken captive and battle with enemies (14). Not to mention it was years with no baby!
Abraham learned to see in the dark in Genesis 15. It was likely in the darkness of the AM before the sun comes out and the stars are still visible. God through a vision, gives Abraham vision (stars of the sky = promise fulfilled.)
When Abraham focused on the picture of the stars, he does not become flawless, but he becomes faithful.
Abraham is our example of walking by faith. [Rom 4:16-21 NASB95]
Clinton Assembly family life center vision and reality. Many miracles started with what I was seeing. First, heard about the power of a faith-filled imagination from Andrew Wommack. Kenneth Hagin, How To Write Your Own Ticket With God, (say it, do it, receive it, tell it), never explained receive it. Dr. Cho, 4th Dimension, imagine a chair, desk, and bike.
How can we learn to see God’s promises that activates the blessing?
God’s interaction with Abraham in Gen. 15 shows us four important truths about seeing His Promises to activate the blessing.
Our faith-filled imagination activates the blessing because it is focused on His Word.
[Gen 15:1 NASB95]
The Word is active.
[Heb 4:12 NASB95]
[Isa 55:11 NASB95]
The Word is sight giving. The Bible creates a vision of what God wants for us now and not yet.
Keep the Word of God in your mind by reading, studying it, and memorizing it.
Our faith-filled imagination activated the blessing because it is focused on Him.
[Gen 15:1 NASB95]
Focusing on Him removes fear. Most often repeated command with the most often repeated promise.
Focusing on Him receives protection. He is our shield.
Focusing on Him connects us to a reward. [Heb 11:6 NASB95]
Keep focused on Him through prayer, worship, and mediation.
Our faith-filled imagination activates the blessing because it is not focused on other things.
[Gen 15:2-4 NASB95]
Focusing on other things creates questions about God.
Focusing on other things creates alternative ideas.
Focusing on other things keeps looking at the “how” instead of the “Who” and “what”.
The temptation to focus other things is real, yet by decision and the power of the Holy Spirit we are focusing on Him and what He has promised, leaving the “HOW” up to Him.
Our faith-filled imagination activates the blessing because it connects us to Jesus by faith.
[Gen 15:5-6 NASB95]
Seeing by eyes of faith helps us cross over the faith line.
Seeing by eyes of faith connects us to Jesus.
Learning to imagine God’s blessing taking place in your life, takes you to another level with God.
Allow the Word and His Presence to create a vision that you focus on until it manifests.
What are you seeing through eyes of faith happening in your life that God has promised you?
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Immersed pt4: Curse-Free Living
[Rev 22:3 NASB95]
Amplified Bible: “There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion];”
[Gal 3:10, 13-14 NASB95]
If you feel like something is against you. You are right. It is a curse.
The curse is a force that has similar properties but opposite goals. They are forces that are invisible in and of themselves, but their effects are very visible. See Deuteronomy 28.
Revelation 22:3 tells of a time when the curse will be removed. It is in the future.
JFB: Commenting on Rev. 22:3, “God can only dwell where the curse and its cause, the cursed thing sin (Josh. 7:12), are removed.”
It is a force or thing that will be removed.
Although we have been redeemed from the curse, it is still in operation. That means that it has not been removed yet. While we know that the atonement of Jesus redeemed us from the curse (more on that later), we see that it does not get removed until later. Remember “now and not yet”.
What causes curses to operate in our lives and how do we get free from them?
Knowing how curses work helps us determine how to remove them.
What are the causes of the curse operating against us?
Being born as a human makes you a candidate for dealing with the curse.
From Adam.
The curse came/comes when we violate God. It is a natural consequence just like getting shocked when touching a bare electric line.
[Gen 3:14-19 NASB95]
Is God pronouncing or identifying the curse? I believe both.
Adam’s curse of death comes to all in him. To be in Christ, frees us from the curse of sin. [1Co 15:22 NASB95]
From family.
Curses, as well as blessings, MIGHT be passed down in the family.
NOTICE: [Eze 18:19-20 NASB95]
David - Matthew 1:5-7 - Rahab (harlot) - Boaz (wealthy warrior) - great warrior, sexual sins and children (incest) [Mat 1:5-7 NASB95]
Ahithophel and Solomon - Great grandfather Ahithophel through Bethsheba
[2Sa 16:23 NASB95]
[1Ki 4:29 NASB95]
Abiathar and Jeremiah –
[1Ki 2:26 NASB95]
[Jer 1:1 NASB95]
If a generational blessing, then maybe a generational curse.
Words released over you can cause a curse.
Practicing personal sin can cause a curse.
What do we need to do to live curse-free?
Surrender your life to Jesus Christ.
Release your faith against any curse you see operating in your life.
[Pro 26:2 NASB95]
We proclaim the blood of Jesus has removed the cause. Therefore, we proclaim the curse has to be broken.
Resist the curse.
[Jas 4:7 NASB95]
[Jas 5:14-15 NASB95]
The faith in Galatians 3:13-14 governs all the promises. Redeemed. Blessed. Empowered. All three of these by faith.
God wants us to know that as we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, release our faith, and stand against the curse we will live curse-free.
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Immersed pt3—From Disaster To Paradise—The Power of the Blessing to Fix It.
[Gen 9:1, 16 NASB95]
The destruction Noah saw was devastating. It was caused by curse as a result of sin. God gave him something to reverse the results of the destruction.
God gave Noah the blessing.
What is the blessing? What does it do? How can we access it?
God’s blessing empowers a person to experience the reversal of the destruction caused by the curse and it is released/realized by faith through obedience and words.
God’s blessing empowers a person.
God blesses Noah.
[Pro 10:22 NASB95]
Meaning over definition. (Kneeling?) (God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual. Easton Bible Dictionary)
It is a force. (There is a pronoun “hu” not an article.)
What happens when it comes? Deuteronomy 28.
To experience the reversal of the destruction.
God wants Noah to experience the reversal of the destruction.
[Gal 3:13-14 NASB95]
God intends to reverse every curse and fix every broken thing. That is the point of the blessing with Noah and his sons in Genesis 9!
The same is true for us!
Caused by the curse.
The destruction was caused by the curse that resulted from sin.
The curse is caused by Satan and sin.
[Gen 2:17 NASB95]
[Gen 3:17-19 NASB95]
The curse has effects
[Deu 28:25, 30-32, 48, 60-61, 63 NASB95]
Defeat, failure, nothing works. 25
Broken family. 30
Poverty. 48
Sickness. 60
Broken relationship with God. 63
We are redeemed!
It (the blessing) is released/realized by faith through obedience and words.
Noah had to hear the blessing and live it out.
The blessing is ours now potentially. We have to realized it to experience it. [Eph 1:17-18 NASB95]
Faith is how we access anything from God. [Heb 11:6 NASB95]
Faith has works. [Jas 2:26 NASB95]
Obedience. [Deu 30:19 NASB95]
Words. Isaiah 65:16 AMPC – “So [it shall be] that he who invokes a blessing on himself in the land shall do so by saying, May the God of truth and fidelity [the Amen] bless me; and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth and faithfulness to His promises [the Amen], because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from My eyes.”
God turns destruction into paradise by His power through promise.
God’s blessing empowers a person to experience the reversal of the destruction caused by the curse and it is released/realized by faith through obedience and words.
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Immersed pt2—The Importance of the Blessing
[Gal 3:13-14 NASB95]
Is the blessing a big deal? Jesus died so we can live in the blessing of God.
The fact that Jesus died so we can walk in the blessing makes it important.
What makes the blessing so important?
Here are four truths that make the blessing important.
The importance of the blessing starts with the removal of the curse.
The curse of the law is found in many places. One of those places is Deuteronomy 28.
The curse involves:
The Lord will be against them. V.20
Finances and materials. V.38-40
Defeat. V.25
Sickness. V.58-61
Family brokenness. V.53-57
The importance of the blessing gives us access to the blessing of Abraham.
The blessing of Abraham
Relationship with God. [Jas 2:23 NASB95]
Financial prosperity. [Gen 13:2 NASB95]
Victory over your enemies. [Gen 14:14-16 NASB95]
Physical healing. [Rom 4:17-21 NASB95]
Wholeness in family relationships. [Gen 17:7-9 NASB95]
The importance of the blessing results in us receiving the promise of the Spirit.
God wants to empower us with His Spirit.
This is fulfilled in two places:
Regeneration. [Jhn 20:22 NASB95]
Spirit baptism. [Act 2:1-4 NASB95]
God desires to be with us through His Spirit.
The importance of the blessing is accessed by faith.
Believe that God’s blessing on you makes you increase.
God desires for you to prosper. [Deu 8:18 NASB95]
Believe for increase.
Believe that God’s blessing on you is for the earth today. Gen. 1:26-28
Jesus affirmed it now. [Mat 6:10 NASB95]
Paul spoke of it now. [Rom 8:19 NASB95]
This earth has been given to us. [Psa 115:16 NASB95]
Start expecting the blessing to work while we occupy the earth.
Make this a daily confession.
[Heb 4:14 NASB95]
JFB: As the genitive follows, the literal, sense is, “Let us take hold of our profession,” that is, of the faith and hope which are subjects of our profession and confession.
Jesus, as High Priest, takes our confession before God. The Psalmist declared these things as a confession of faith.
Meditate on these truths.
[Psa 119:15 NASB95]
There is power when we meditate on truths from God’s Word.
March against the enemy with these truths.
[Eph 6:17 NASB95]
Word of God = rhema of God = a thing spoke…a promise… utterance
The Word coming out of your mouth is a weapon against the enemy.
The importance of the blessing is found in the fact that Jesus died so that by faith in Him, we can be redeemed from the curse, walk in the blessings like Abraham did, receive the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Notes: https://evangelnorth.net/live-on-demand/sermon-notes/
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Immersed in the Blessing pt1—The Blessing on You
[Gen 1:26-28 NASB95] 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
For the next 21 Days and beyond, we will immerse ourselves in the blessing.
What is the blessing? In short, the blessing of God was the first thing to happen to humanity. It is the original state of humanity. We will see it passed down to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and beyond.
Paul talked about the blessing in Galatians 3:13-14.
We see God’s original intent for humanity in Genesis 1. The blessing on you is still God’s intent today.
What can we learn about God's blessing on humanity from Gen. 1:26-28?
Here are three truths about God’s blessing on humanity from Gen. 1:26-28.
God’s blessing on you is authority. V. 26-28
God gave authority to Jesus. [Eph 1:18-23 NASB95]
We are seated with Christ in authority. [Eph 2:1-7 NASB95]
Robert Morris
Humility [Luk 10:19-20 NASB95]
Faith [Mat 8:8-10 NASB95]
Obedience [Jas 4:7 NASB95]
Use the delegated authority God has blessed you with in prayer and faith.
God’s blessing on you makes you increase. V. 28
God desires for you to prosper. [Deu 8:18 NASB95]
The Blessing will produce. [Pro 10:22 NASB95]
Believe for increase.
God’s blessing on you is for the earth today. V. 26-28
Jesus affirmed it now. [Mat 6:10 NASB95]
Paul spoke of it now. [Rom 8:19 NASB95]
This earth has been given to us. [Psa 115:16 NASB95]
Start expecting the blessing to work while we occupy the earth.
The blessing of God on you gives you authority, increase, and equips you while you are on the earth.
Sermon Notes: https://evangelnorth.net/live-on-demand/sermon-notes/
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What does Godly vi*lence look like when we are together?
There are two characteristics of Godly groups that are together.
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What does Godly vi*lence look like from these mighty men?
There are three characteristics of Godly vi*lence from these mighty men.
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What is the connection between submission and dominion, and how do I get it to work for me?
When we submit to God, we walk in greater dominion over Satan.
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Is rebuking the enemy important in my life, and how do I do it?
There are Biblical examples of rebuking the enemy, and we must learn how to rebuke the enemy.
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How do we see ourselves as victors?
Four clues in this verse will help you become unstoppable victors.
Right now, you are already the victor.
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What is the reason Satan attacks you, and what should you do?
Satan attacks you to destroy your faith; therefore, we should do everything we can to protect it.
Satan is after your faith. Focus your actions on protecting your faith, not surrendering to the attack.
Look to God through His Word and Spirit to help and comfort you.
Your faith needs protecting. Rebuke Satan. Build and strengthen your faith.
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•The enemy is setting ambushments against us. These occur with trials, afflictions, temptations, and distractions. All are designed to stop you. God has provided the protects that are more than capable of causing us to become unstoppable.
•John Eadie: “Put on the panoply of God.” Do not battle with such adversaries naked and defenseless but take to your armor. Do not cover one portion and leave another exposed. It is armor forged on no earthly anvil and tempered by no human skill.
•Putting on and taking up the six parts of the armor of God by declaring your faith in prayer, renewing your mind to the revelations, and living them daily, will make you unstoppable.
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Prayer is a place where you fight the enemies who intend to stop you.
God wants you to be unstoppable which happens through prayer.
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God does not reject the weak. He cares for the weak. He expects the strong to care for the weak.
However, He fully intends to give strength to His people. He receives us as we are, yet loves too much to keep us there.
God loves the weak and the strong; He promises to provide strength to His people and wants us to access it.
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Since Jesus won the battle, why do we still have warfare?
In this episode, Pastor John Carmichael answers this question. Jesus took Satan's authority away. However, Satan still has tremendous ability. We are standing against the ability of Satan, using delegated authority Christ has given the church.
This podcast is now only listener-supported, with no commercials. Consider making a small monthly donation by clicking the listener support button. Thank you.
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You have an enemy. His name is Satan. He wants to stop you from becoming all that God wants you to become. God wants us to bind Satan so that we can become all that God wants us to become.
Composite story: Mark 3:13-30; Matthew 10:1-4 and 12:22-29
Particular attention to the first step in overcoming and becoming unstoppable: Mark 3:27 and Matthew 12:29.
We are going to take back what the enemy has stolen. We are going to plunder him. God is making us unstoppable.
What do we need to know about dealing with Satan to become unstoppable?
Here is the why and how of binding Satan to become unstoppable.
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What is This Fasting About?[Mat 6:16-18 NASB] In churches, there seems to be a feast and famine situation when it comes to the subject of fasting. This has resulted in ignorance or imbalance.It is important for us to look at what the Bible tells us about fasting.Fasting is about food not activities.The Greek word for fasting is νηστεύητε which is a compound word. The first part is “not”. The second part is “to eat”. So, fasting is to not eat.This is important. Fasting is not to neglect everything. Really is about food. It can include sex (1 Cor. 7:5, some translations). Food can become a god to us. [Phl 3:18-20 NASB] Gluttony is a sin.Self-righteousness is a sin. Many times false religion was more about what they eat or did not eat than about God. Acts 10, God tells Peter to rise kill and eat. This was counter anything he would have done. [Mat 4:4 NASB] Within fasting, the preoccupation about food should lead us to God. Fasting is about Him not them. V. 16 – “…so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.”V. 18 – “…so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secretFasting is about honoring and seeking Him. Attitude: The real issue Jesus was dealing with is when we fast for the purpose to be seen of people. This does not mean your fast is negated when people find out you are fasting or you are part of a corporate fast, the issue is INTENT. Are you fasting to seek to know God or to seek the praise of people?Action: See to it that you are praying while you fast. Take the time you would be eating and spend that time in prayer to God. Fasting is about discipline not abuse.V. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your faceThe disfigurement of the face was paramount to not washing. They saw fasting as absolute neglect/abuse of the body. Yet, Jesus said anoint your head, wash your face.“Oil does not here symbolize extravagant joy but normal body care.” (Carson) Jesus taught that they should take care of their body as they normally would. Do not abuse the body, but discipline it. [1Co 9:23-27 NASB] Kenneth Boa – there is a renewed call to the traditional disciplines (fasting, giving, praying, solitude, corporate worship, service.) He says, “Todays Christian leaders pitch their message so low that if their members practiced the spiritual regiments they propose, it is unlikely they would be distinguishably different from their neighbors.”In the NT, Jesus engaged in all the spiritual practices. They are not an end in themselves, but a means to know and obey the Father. (KB)[1Ti 4:7 NASB] Spiritual disciplines and habits need to be our responses to His Grace!We are disciples of Jesus Christ. That means disciplined learners. A Christian is a disciplined learner of Jesus Christ. It is about growing in discipline in your walk with God. Fasting is about receiving not earning.V. 16 – “Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” GR: μισθὸν – BDAG “pay” “wages” even if is God Who would pay. V. 18 – “. . . and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.” GR: ἀποδώσει – BDAG “recompense” “reward” “restore”Similar definitions, but different usages. The first is mere wages, the second is more about getting more than you “earned”. [Rom 11:6 NASB] More about receiving and abundance than earning a wage. Japanese Culture: In the standard model, workers receive two fairly large bonuses as well as their regular salary, one mid-year and the other at year's end. In 1988 workers in large companies received bonuses equivalent to their pay for 1.9 months while workers in the smallest firms gained bonuses equal to 1.2 months' pay. In addition to bonuses, Japanese workers received a number of fringe benefits, such as living allowances, incentive payments, remuneration for special job conditions, allowances for good attendance, and cost-of-living allowances. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_work_environment)American Work Cultur--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/appSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-carmichael/support
What is involved in fighting for the things that God has specifically spoken to us?
Here are three things involved in the fight for the things God has spoken to us.
We need to go to war over the things that God has spoken to us.
Paul commands Timothy to go to war. This informs us that war for the things of God is expected. In most cases, there are no easy victories.
[2Ki 13:18-19 NASB95]
We must be all in if we will fulfill His call on our lives. [Col 4:17 NASB95]
The promises of God are worth fighting for. Be strong in the Lord. Be willing to fight for it just because God wants to give it to you.
We need to keep fighting for what God has spoken to us.
The term keeping the faith has a meaning of endurance to it.
What God says to you does not always come to pass quickly. During those waiting times, the Word will try you. [Psa 105:17-19 NASB95].
Are we going to keep holding on to the word?
Don’t become weak in faith. Don’t waver in unbelief. Become fully assured. [Rom 4:16-22 NASB95]
We must refuse to compromise about what God has spoken to us.
The end does not justify the means. Saul had the kingdom taken from him because he disregarded what God said for him to do so he could keep his victory.
Jeroboam had one of the greatest personal prophecies not come to pass because he compromised the commands of God.
The promise. [1Ki 11:31, 37-38 NASB95]
The compromise. [1Ki 12:26-28 NASB95]
The tragic result. [1Ki 13:34 NASB95]
Stay in obedience and integrity as you pursue the promise of God in your life.
God wants us to fight for what He has spoken to us, which will require us to persevere as we walk in obedience and integrity.
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What are some guidelines that will help us as we learn to hear from God?
Here are three guidelines that will help us as we learn to hear from God.
What did God say?
Revelation. Never add to NOR take away from what you heard. [Rev 22:18-19 NASB95]
Blood pressure story? Apple story?
Compare it to scripture. [2Co 13:1 NASB95]
Not knowing the Word of God will cause you to be deceived. [Mat 24:24 NASB95]
The deception comes when we think we have heard from God but are wrong.
What did God mean?
Interpretation. Never assume you know.
Requires humility.
“I have given that church to you.” (Paris, Clinton.)
In Daniel 9, he sought God for the understanding of the prophecy of Jeremiah (v2.) [Dan 9:2 NASB95]
Timing? Allegorical?
Requires us to be patient and to continue to seek God.
What do I do with it?
Application. Act? Pray? Speak?
Ask God what He wants you to do with what He said.
Timing – when do act.
Action. Sometimes the revelation and interpretation show us what we are to do. Brain surgeon = medical school, bachelor, masters, and doctorate degrees. [Act 16:9-10 NASB95]
Sometimes, God will want you to speak. Sometimes not. [2Co 12:1 NASB95]
Many (if not most) of what God shows you will require you to pray.
As we learn to hear from God, we need to find out what God said, then discover what God means while we find out what God wants us to do.
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1Sa 3:1-10 NASB95]
Here are seven conditions and attitudes of hearing from God.
God speaks to us when we are at peace.
V. 2&3 – Both Eli and Samuel were lying down.
[1Ki 19:11-13 NASB95]
Being too busy and preoccupied can hinder us from hearing from God.
God wants us connected with healthy Godly church-based relationships.
V. 3 – the lamp of God. According to Revelation, these represent the church. Samuel had a heathy relationship with Eli and the temple.
Don’t allow the anti-church lie get you out of healthy relationships in church.
God wants us to be in His Presence.
V. 3 – where the ark of God was. The ark presented the presence of God.
[2Ki 3:15-16 NASB95]
When we stay in His Presence through prayer and worship, it opens us up to hearing from God.
God will give us confirmation.
V.4-10 – God called 4 times.
[2Co 13:1 NASB95].
Seek for confirmation from God about what you believe He is saying to you.
God will work with us as we grow spiritually.
V. 7 – Samuel did not know the Lord or His Word.
[Rom 12:2 NASB95]
Renewing our mind to hear from God is a process.
God speaks when we are willing to hear.
V. 9-10 – Speak, LORD
[Jer 33:3 NASB95]
God speaks to us when we seek for His words.
God speaks when we are willing to obey.
V. 10 – for Your servant is listening.
Eerdman's Bible Dictionary states, "True 'hearing,' or obedience, involves the physical hearing that inspires the hearer, and a belief or trust that in turn motivates the hearer to act in accordance with the speaker's desires."
God speaks to people who have already given God a “yes.”
God has revealed the conditions and attitudes of hearing Him so we can hear Him frequently not rarely.
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There are levels.
Many levels of revelation.
Saw Jesus
Heard Voice
Seemed Good - [Act 15:28 NASB95]
Decerning - [Act 14:9 NASB95]
Peace is the minimum.
[Col 3:15 NASB95]
Let - make a decision to allow it to make your decision.
Rule - umpire or arbiter; to govern
IMO: The level of importance usually determines the level of clarity.
Train your spirit
Feed on Word –
[2Ti 3:16-17 NASB95]
The more familiar we are with what He said, the more likely we can hear what He is saying.
Believe God’s Promise to Speak to You –
[Jer 33:2-3 NASB95]
God promises to tell you great and mighty things. See also: James 1:5.
Pray in Tongues –
[Rom 8:26-27 NASB95]
Praying in the Spirit (in tongues) helps us to become more sensitive to our spirit.
Reason of Use –
[Heb 5:10-14 NASB95]
Make it a daily goal to hear from God. You will stumble and miss it, but as you continue to “practice,” you will get better at hearing from God.
· We need to hunger to hear from God!
· If we will call out on God, He will direct us.
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God is always speaking.
Why would our Father tell fathers to do something He is unwilling to do?
To some Christians, receiving divine direction is outside their level of relationship with God. They simply want to make their own decisions and are not really sure that God will speak to them or that they could hear Him if He did.
In your spirit
Spirit, soul, body - [1Th 5:23 NASB95]
Spirit is a candle - [Pro 20:27 NASB95]
[1Co 2:10-16 NASB95]
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Christians and Tithing.
In this special edition of Kingdom Now, John Carmichael takes up the topic of tithing. He gives his thoughts from Matthew 23:23 in response to Creflo Dollar's recent statements on tithing. He also provides commentary on two opposing articles on tithing.
Links to the articles mentioned in this episode:
7 Reasons Christians Are Not Required to Tithe by THOMAS SCHREINER https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-reasons-christians-not-required-to-tithe/
The Bible Commands Christians to Tithe by WILLIAM BARCLEY https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/bible-commands-christians-to-tithe/
God gives promises to those who tithe.
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ACTS PT7—If It Is Of God, It Will Not Be Overthrown
[Act 5:38-39 NASB95] 38 "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
· I call this book: Acts of the Holy Spirit in the world through the Church. ACTS for short.
· This series is exposing some incorrect mindsets on how the primitive church was so successful. It is also showing us how we can be victorious in this world.
· Here Gamaliel is speaking after the re-arrest of the apostles. The leaders are wanting to stop them. They are desperate. Yet, Gamaliel is giving them perspective.
· It is this perspective that we need to hear today.
· They were “of God” and they were not overthrown.
When we live lives that are “of God” we will not be overthrown.
What does a church/Christian that is “of God” look like according to Acts 4:32-5:42?
There are five characteristics of a church/Christian that are “of God” according to Acts 4:32-5:42.
A church/Christian that is “of God” will be a giver.
Acts 4:32-37
This kind of radical giving was not prescribed by God.
Yet, believers will have a heart to God.
[2Co 9:6-8 NASB95]
Make a decision to be a giver.
A church/Christian that is “of God” will operate in power.
Acts 4:33
Acts 5:12-16
God is calling us to walk in His power.
A church/Christian that is “of God” will fear the Lord.
Acts 5:1-11
The issue here was not giving. It was lying to the Holy Spirit.
[Mat 10:28 NASB95]
Ask God to help you walk in the fear of the Lord.
A church/Christian that is “of God” will value the church.
Acts 4:35, 37
The feet of the apostles signified their connection to established church leadership.
The next chapter shows how to handle complaints in church. Do not miss it.
Acts 5:11
“Ekklesia” – an assembly, congregation, and meeting of the Christian community.
How committed are you to the church? We are better together.
A church/Christian that is “of God” will understand the necessity of preaching.
Acts 5:17-42
Persecuted (v17-18), Angelic deliverance (v19), Preached (v20-21), Rearrested (v26), Flogged (v40), Keep preaching (v42)
We must obey God! Acts 5:29!
They preached Christ’s Death (v30), Christ’s Resurrection (v30), and Christ’s Ascension (v31).
[1Th 2:13 NASB95]
As we value the releasing and receiving of the preached Word of God good things will happen in us.
When we live lives that are “of God” we will not be overthrown.
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Joel Carmichael - Heavenly Hope
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Acts PT6—In Defense of Miracles
Acts 4
· These leaders had long allowed their fire to go out, being quenched by the swirling winds of political ambition and secularism. Dr. Trevor Grizzle.
· Peter and John were now on trial with the miracle by those who do not believe for miracles nor are used by God for miracles. These types will always attack those who do believe for miracles and are used by God for miracles.
Peter and John were not silent. They responded. So should we.
How do we respond in defense of miracles/ministry that God is doing through us?
There are eight responses we need to be aware of in defense of what God has called us to do.
God wants us not to be shocked by the pushback of the enemy.
Acts 4:1-3
[Mar 13:9, 11 NASB95]
Know this: Satan never yields territory without a fight.
God wants us to stay full of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:8
One of the purposes of the attack is a distraction. Stay connected to Him.
God wants us not to comprise the message.
Acts 4:10-12
Jesus’ Name. His name connects us to His power. His name gets all the glory.
No other name. The Gospel is exclusive in that Jesus is the only source. No mixture.
God wants us to be confident in what Jesus has given to us.
Acts 4:13
The attack seeks to intimidate you. Make you self-conscious.
These men were trained and educated by the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ.
God wants us to refuse to give in to obstacles.
Acts 4:18-20
Christians are obliged to obey the government. [Rom 13:1 NASB95]
Yet, civil disobedience is necessary when the government counters God’s clear commands.
You will have to stand up against many excuses and oppositions to fulfill the call of God in your life.
God wants us to stay in community with others who encourage us.
Acts 4:23
Peter and John did have a company of people who supported them.
A quote: “You can go fast alone. You can go far with others.”
Who is your support group?
God wants us to pray.
Acts 4:24-30
Their prayer
Honored God’s power and sovereignty v. 24
Remembered God’s Word v. 25
Rehearsed recent victory v27
Asked for more power to counter current problem v 29-30
Ask God to help. From other Scriptures, it is appropriate to ask God to deliver you. It is also appropriate to ask God to empower you to endure and overcome.
God wants us to boldly do what God has called us to do.
Acts 4:31
Never stop doing what God has called you to do.
[Jer 20:8-9 NASB95]
· God wants us to weather the opposition of miracles and ministry with these seven responses.
· Opposition always comes. Reminder: Satan does not yield territory without a fight.
· Will you stand up to the opposition of what God is doing in your life or will you fold?
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ACTS PT5—From Mountaintop To Mainstreet
Acts 3
The church had just had a “mountaintop” experience in Acts 2. Now it's time for it to go to Mainstreet. Ministry is done in the streets.
Mountaintop experiences are good and necessary. These experiences are intended to empower us to minister in the “streets.” God told Moses to get off the mountain and go to the people. (Ex. 32:7)
What can we learn about how to take our mountaintop experiences to the main street?
There are four responses for us to take our mountaintop experiences to Mainstreet.
God wants us to have a persistent prayer. V.1
After the life-changing experience with Pentecost, they understood the value of corporate prayer and worship.
Sometimes after a deep spiritual encounter people grow impatient with the ordinary routine of church.
Like in Acts 2:42, the organic church started to become organized. They continued in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
There is a connection between our effectiveness in people and our prayer life.
God wants us to care about people. V. 2-5
We are endued with the power to help people.
Peter and John understood that God had vested them with power and authority to continue Jesus’ work on the earth.
The man wanted money but needed a miracle. He wanted coins but needed a cure.
God wants us to notice, care, and do something about the plight of others. The experience of the Holy Spirit is not just for us.
God wants us to believe for a release of power. V. 6-9
Peter and John were penniless but not powerless.
The name of Jesus can activate the power of the Holy Spirit when accompanied in faith during a time of need.
We need to stop wringing our hands in hopelessness and reach our hands in hopefulness.
Do we expect that we have something that can help others?
God wants us to passionately preach. V. 11-26
The miracle gave Peter a platform for a message.
The message:
Peter gave Jesus the praise. V. 12 – 16
Peter called out their sin. V. 17-18
Peter preached about God’s plan of forgiveness through Jesus. V. 20-25
Peter commanded them to repent. V. 19 and 26
God wants us to preach the Gospel to the world.
God is calling us to have a mountaintop experience that will prepare us to help others on Mainstreet through praying, caring for people, believing for a release of power, and passionately preaching.
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Pastor John-John Carmichael
06122022
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Acts Pt4—From Organic To Organized
Acts 2:37-47
[Act 2:42 NASB95] 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The church was built upon more than mystical experiences.
What helped the church go from that experience to an established church?
There are four aspects of the church that helped them go from the outpouring to an ongoing establishment of the church.
Devoted to apostles’ teaching.
Acts 4:2; 5:25,28, 42; 15:35; 18:11; 20:20; 28:31 (last verse in Acts is preaching and teaching.)
[Act 15:35 NASB95]
[Act 18:11 NASB95]
[Act 20:20 NASB95]
[Act 28:31 NASB95]
Bible teaching and preaching will consist of new revelation and constant reminders.
Teaching and preaching was central to the life of the church in Acts. Church history would verify that teaching and preaching has been part of the growth and development of the church.
Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you to value and receive teaching and preaching of the Bible.
Devoted to fellowship.
Stanley Horton, “God never saves us to wander by ourselves.
[Act 2:46 NASB95]
[Eph 4:11-12 NASB95]
More than meeting together. There was a partnership.
Unity in purpose. Not just the Apostles were committed.
Devoted to the breaking of bread.
The Lord’s Supper and table fellowship. Paul possibly stopped it in 1 Corinthians 11:22.
[Act 2:46 NASB95]
[1Co 11:20-22 NASB95]
Devoted to prayer.
[Act 1:14 NASB95]
[Act 3:1 NASB95]
· What devoted are you to the teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer as a church?
· Are these important to you as part of the church? Or are you a lone ranger?
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Acts pt3—The Outpouring
Acts 2:1-36
Today is Pentecost Sunday. This is part 3 of the Acts series.
Acts 2 speaks about the empowerment of the church. It might be considered the first revival. Saints were empowered. Sinners were convicted. God was glorified.
God wants to experience this kind of revival today!
What can we learn from the Acts 2 outpouring that will prepare us for today’s outpouring.
There are three truths God wants us to know about the outpouring of His Spirit.
God wants us to prepare for an outpouring.
The 120 prepared for the outpouring.
They were saved. [Jhn 20:22 NASB95]
They prayed. [Act 1:12-14 NASB95]
They stayed. [Act 2:1 NASB95]
How bad do we want this experience? Bad enough to prepare for it?
God wants us to experience the outpouring.
The outpouring was experienced with their senses.
[Act 2:2-4 NASB95]
Sound – noise like wind
Appearance – tongues of fire
Action of the Holy Spirit
All filled v 4
All spoke v4
Others heard
[Act 2:6, 8, 11 NASB95]
[1Co 14:2 NASB95]
Not just sensory, but also significant.
Are we seeking for and practicing this experience? Is it worth our time?
God wants us to understand the outpouring.
Peter defended the outpouring.
Not drunk
[Act 2:15 NASB95]
[Act 2:13 NASB95]
Prophetic v16-21
Last days v17 [Act 2:17 NASB95]
For everyone v17-18 [Act 2:17-18 NASB95]
To the end v19-20 [Act 2:19-20 NASB95]
Salvatic v21 [Act 2:21 NASB95]
Its about Jesus’ atonement and resurrection
V. 22-36
Be witnesses - [Act 1:8 NASB95]
As we understand the purpose of the outpouring we can make a better defense of it.
God wants to us to continue to experience an outpouring of His Spirit. We need it. The world needs it.
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Acts Pt2—The Ascension of Jesus and Us
[Act 1:9-11 NASB95] 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Visibly and physically ascended
The ascension of Jesus was an act of the Father. It is all over the NT while only Luke gives the description of the event. There were details that were given in Luke 24 and Acts 1 that are not discrepancies just additional details (time and location.)
Is the ascension of Jesus important to us today?
There are five important truths of Jesus’ ascension that affects us today.
Jesus is interceding for us.
[Psa 110:1 NASB95]
[Act 2:33 NASB95]
[Rom 8:34 NASB95]
[Heb 9:24 NASB95]
[Heb 1:3 NASB95]
The Holy Spirit descended for us.
[Jhn 16:7 NASB95]
[Act 2:1-4 NASB95]
There is a mandate for us.
[Act 1:8 NASB95]
There has been a repositioning for us.
[Eph 1:20-23 NASB95]
[Eph 2:4-7 NASB95]
Jesus is coming back for us.
[Dan 7:13-14 NASB95]
[1Th 4:16-17 NASB95]
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Acts—Part 1—The Kingdom of God and the Spirit of God
[Act 1:6-8 NASB95] 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
Acts 1:1-8
The disciples were either ambitious or curious. Their question has some many problems.
Jesus refocuses them on the Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit.
How does the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church and in the Christian?
There are four aspects of the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church and in the Christian.
The advancement of the Kingdom of God & work of the Holy Spirit through the church.
Spiritual in character.
“…restoring the kingdom…”
[Rom 14:17 NASB95]
Not national or political. It does have implications in the political and social.
The disciples were looking for the external work.
International in membership.
“…to Israel?”
V8 – “even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Every tribe, nation, people, and language.
Gradual in expansion.
“… at this time…”
“It is not for you to know… times and epochs… the Father has fixed…”
V. 8 – “Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
He was working through the whole world.
Powerful in proclamation.
V8 – “but you will receive power… and you will be My witnesses…”
Jesus refocused them on the Work of the Holy Spirit through them.
They witnessed about Jesus to the world through the Holy Spirit.
The advancement of the Kingdom of God & work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian.
God inhabits you.
Luke speaks of the Holy Spirit in you.
[1Co 6:19 NASB95]
The more we allow Him to work internally, the more we see effects on the externally.
God choses you.
You are included in the plan of God.
[Act 2:17 NASB95]
Jesus accepts you.
God transforms you.
We are in a process.
[2Co 3:18 NASB95]
God empowers you.
Luke speaks of the empowered believer.
[Luk 24:49 NASB95]
God wants to advance the Kingdom of God and the work of the Holy Spirit happens through the church and in the Christian.
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Genesis 32:22-31
Sermon Series: Wrestle
Sermon: Alone With God
How does being alone with God help us in our wrestling with Him?
There are four aspects of being alone with God.
I. Separation
- Relationships and Possessions
- V. 24 left alone
- Jacob could not have had this life-changing experience surrounded by all the things God had given him.
- God blesses us and we forget Him.
- We must die (separate from this world) to find Him.
- [1Co 15:31 NASB95] 31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
II. Priority
- He calls us to separation because He must become a priority.
- Seek first the Kingdom of God. [Mat 6:33 NASB95] 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- You will find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart. He will not be found by someone who half-heartily seeks Him. [Jer 29:12-13 NASB95] 12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 'You will seek Me and find [Me] when you search for Me with all your heart.
III. Secret
- God is in the Secret Place - [Mat 6:6 NASB95] 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
- God sees in the Secret Place - you want the attention of God, go to the secret place.
- It is the place of prayer.
- Shunammite woman Elisha [2Ki 4:33 NASB95] 33 So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the LORD.
- He is not hidden just secluded. He who dwells in the secret place. Go there and stay there. [Psa 91:1 NASB95] 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
IV. Alone
- Moses and Israel; God wanted a relationship with them; only got one with him. [Exo 20:18-21 NASB95] 18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw [it,] they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die." 20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." 21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God [was.]
- Something about God that thrives for individual attention; He is the only shepherd that will leave 99 for the one. [Luk 15:4-7 NASB95] 4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be [more] joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
- Peter with the boat; walked on water; had to climb out of big boat (hold twelve disciples and their stuff); alone on the water. [Mat 14:28-29 NASB95] 28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
As we wrestle with God, it will start by being alone with Him.
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Does the devil affect our lives regularly?
- The majority of Western people believe that the devil and demons exist yet act as though they are not present daily.
- God has faced opposition from spirit agents as God seeks to establish God's Will on earth as it is in heaven. Satan's existence is why nature fails to reflect the loving and kind character of God consistently. ~ Gregory Boyd (All Creation Groans)
- CS Lewis – the problem exists when we pay too little or too much attention to the devil.
- He, the devil, is real and active in our daily lives.
Cowardice never wins against the devil, only courage. God wants Christians to understand the devil is at work to destroy the work of God, and we need to respond in faith and submission to God as we resist the devil.
What should Christians know about the daily work of the devil?
There are 5 facts that Christians need to know about the devil's work.
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[1Ch 4:9-10 NASB95] 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore [him] with pain." 10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep [me] from harm that [it] may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested.
• Pain hurts. Due to sin, the curse, and Satan, we experience pain on this earth. Lately, we have endured a lot of pain.
• Yet, God’s loving and powerful nature wants to alleviate the pain we are enduring.
• Let’s look at a prayer that Jabez prayed.
- He was honorable but had a bad name probably due to the circumstances of his birth.
- He was a praying man.
- He asked God to bless him, enlarge him, empower him, and keep him from “harm”.
- God answered him and relieved him from pain.
• God wants us to be relieved from pain.
How can we tap into the relief of pain God offers to us?
The prayer of Jabez sheds light on how we can tap into the relief of pain that God wants to give us.
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What church should you go to? Should you go to church at all? What are some characteristics of a good church?
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How To Be A Successful Christian
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What should you do when your faith is challenged?
You should look into the following areas when your faith is challenged.
I. How is my relationship with God?
- Matthew 6:31-33 AMP
- The most important aspect in faith, is our relationship with God.
- Seek the Giver before you seek the gift.
- Do you have a results based relationship?
- Do you lose confidence in God, angry or any angst = results based relationship.
- Our love for Him based on who He is, not what He does.
II. Is there sin in my life?
- I John 3:21-22
- Being able to receive what we ask is based on keeping the commands and doing those things pleasing in His sight
- Our living a life free from habitual sin & rebellion causes us to walk in great confidence toward God.
- This is an essential part of the operation of faith.
III. Am I breaking natural laws?
- Proverbs 26:17 & Proverbs 6:27
- Foolishness is not walking in faith.
- Angels with you; jump off roof - fall to ground
- Gods provides: debt is not always the answer; am I willing to work; am I willing to save money
- God heals: abusing your body; you get sick, tired
IV. Am I breaking spiritual laws?
- Tithing - not willing to tithe no expectation of financial provision
- Walking in love - faith is nothing with out love I Corinthians 13:2
- Words of my mouth - Proverbs 18:21 - After prayer of faith, what are our words like?
- Unforgiveness - Mark 11:25-26
- Search the scriptures; is there a missing piece.
V. What is my portion of faith?
- Matthew 8:10 & Matthew 15:28
- Full of faith, great faith, little faith
- Weak in faith, Romans 4:19; Sarah was not weak in faith concerning a promise God had given them
- There are levels of faith. Like a muscle.
- Everyone has a muscle. Some are stronger than others. Why? Fed the right things, exercise.
- Ridiculous to think lifts 300 lbs. and not has exercised.
- What can I believe God for?
- Go beyond head knowledge, what do you really believe
VI. Do I have the correct perspective - time?
- Waiting and set-backs are often interpreted as failure.
- We don't want to wait.
- We don't want to set-backs.
- We panic. "What's wrong with me…or God?"
- Just because your faith is challenged doesn't mean anything wrong.
- David - I Samuel 30:6 - set-back and waiting
- Paul - Philippians 1:19 Message Bible - this man was on trial -
- Faith is not concerned with time; only concerned with ONE who promised
Protip: Galatians 6:9. Your faith maybe challenged; You will reap if faint not.
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What does it mean to be like Jesus?
As Christians, we are called to become like Jesus. What does that mean? In this episode, we look at three aspects of what it means to be like Jesus.
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Three 1st Steps of Leadership
In this episode of Kingdom Now with John Carmichael, we unpack three steps to help people follow you.
Every person is a leader (self, family, others.) Leadership can and should be improved. We can grow as leaders by learning attitudes and actions to become better. The Bible is the best leadership book ever written.
[1Ki 12:7 NASB95] 7 Then they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
In 1 Kings 12:7, we learn three decisive leadership steps will increase the likelihood that others will follow us. These steps come from the advice of the elders to a new king of Israel named Jeroboam. The elders stated that if the king would do these steps, the people would "be your servants forever."
These steps are:
· Serve people.
· Say, "yes."
· Speak good.
In this podcast, you will discover more about what these three steps are and how to implement them today.
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The BEST Bible Translation
In this episode of Kingdom Now with John Carmichael, we unpack why there are so many translations:
- The Bible was written in Hebrew (OT) and Koine Greek (NT).
- Translation philosophies: word for word, thought for thought, and paraphrase.
- Variants – copies of copies, some of the variants have minor differences.
- Translation purpose – readability to literal. NASB is more on the literal side. Message Bible more on the readable side.
The best Bible translation is the one that you will read. All of the translations are good. Just know the philosophy and purpose of the translation you are reading and use it appropriately.
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Five Vital Aspects of Preaching God's Word
Preaching God's Word is very important. It has always been part of the advancement of the Kingdom of God. This culture would benefit significantly from the preaching of God's Word.
Over the years, I have preached 2000 plus times. This experience in preaching has led to developing what I consider five vital aspects of preaching. Whether you are a full-time vocational preacher or a person who shares the Gospel with others, these five aspects of preaching God's Word are essential.
1. Affection
· [Eph 4:15 NASB95] 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Christ,
· Love God.
· Love God's Word.
· Love people.
2. Accuracy
· [2Ti 2:15 NASB95] 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
· Accurate to Scripture.
· Accurate to the circumstance.
3. Authenticity
· [Phl 1:15-18 NASB95] 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill; 16 the latter [do it] out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
· Authentic life.
· Authentic motive.
4. Anointing
· [Act 10:38 NASB95] 38 "[You know of] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and [how] He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
· Abiding.
· Present.
5. Authority
· [Mat 7:29 NASB95] 29 for He was teaching them as [one] having authority, and not as their scribes.
· Authority means boldness.
· Authority over demons and deception.
Pro-tip: Audience.
· The audience of One.
· The audience of people.
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Person Prophecy: Three Questions You NEED To Ask
Book recommendation: Dr. Jack Deere - The Beginners Guide To The Gift of Prophecy
[1Co 14:1 NASB95] 1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts,] but especially that you may prophesy.
Three questions you need ask to when you get a personal prophecy
- Revelations - what did He say?
- Interpretations - what did He mean?
- Applications - what do I do with it?
Protip: Don't put the prophecy on the shelf. Wage war with the prophecies. The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "This command I entrust to you, Timothy, [my] son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,..." (I Tim. 1:18 NASB)
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We all know that we are responsible before God to share our faith in Jesus Christ with others. Yet, many people have a hard time sharing their faith. Interestingly, Barna's research group recently wrote that over 65% of Millenials are sharing their faith. Most of that is through social media avenues like Reels (Instagram) and TikTok.
At some point, we need to share our faith one on one. It is awkward. It is confrontational. It does NOT need to be adversarial.
This episode explains how to use three simple questions to share our faith with others.
- How can I pray for you?
- If you were to die today, do you know you would go to heaven?
- What church do you go to?
There are 2 "protips" given at the end of the episode.
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What is the essence of Spirit Baptism?
In this episode, we give a short review of the book Spirit Baptism 5 Views. Then we deal with the 3 important issues of Spirit Baptism.
Get a full review of Spirit Baptism: 5 Views at https://johncarmichael.net/spirit-baptism-5-views-book-review/.
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[1Th 5:23 NASB95] 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Spirit - the part of you that interacts with God and the spiritual world.
- Soul - the part of you that interacts with the mental and emotional world.
- Body - the part of you that interacts with the physical world.
In this episode, we learn how to address these three areas to experience real change in any situation.
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What do we need to do in the prayer time?
A. Jesus taught pattern. [Luk 11:1-2 NASB95] "It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.' And He said to them, 'When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.'"
B. Biblical patterns. (Prayer of Jabez - 1 Chron. 4:9-10, Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Eph. 1:17-21)
C. Develop prayer life.
- Set a time. Static (ex. 7:30 AM) or dynamic (ex. first thing in the morning).
- Show up.
Future episodes will explore in-dept some of the patterns of prayer.
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Full the full sermon series, Provider (July 2021) go to our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/KingdomNowTV/videos
The NT theology of provision.
a. Amount of seed.
i. [2Co 9:6 NASB95] 6 Now this [I say,] he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
ii. You determine the level of receiving by your level of giving.
b. Attitude of giving.
i. [2Co 9:7 NASB95] 7 Each one [must do] just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
ii. Be purposed in your giving.
iii. God loves givers because He is a giver.
c. Ability of the Provider.
i. [2Co 9:8 NASB95] 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
ii. God is able
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All grace – empowerment.
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All sufficiency – no lack.
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Every good work – abundance for others.
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In this episode of Kingdom Now with John Carmichael, we ask questions like "what are commentaries?" and "Why should I use commentaries?" 🤔
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Tired of human opinion? Where can we find truth? This episode helps us find out how we can know what is real and what is a lie.
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How to walk by faith in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. You can expect God to do something today because He loves us and He is powerful.
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