Category: Podcasts

Supernatural Phenomenon—Angels Among Us

[Luk 2:8-15 NASB95]

One of the primary players in birth of Christ

Angels mentioned over 200 times. More in the NT than the OT.

Two Warnings concerning angels

Not be worshiped – new age, curiosity, hopelessness – [Col 2:18 NASB95]

Not be believed if they counter the Bible – Mohammed, Joseph Smith – [Gal 1:8 NASB95]

Bill Johnson, “We don’t worship angels, but we would be stupid to ignore them.”

Angels are used to bring answers to prayer.

[Gen 28:12 NASB95]

[Heb 1:14 NASB95]

In this Christmas season what should I know about angels?

Here are very important Biblical roles angels play in our lives.

Here are some facts about angels’ interaction with us.

A. Angels praise God.

· [Isa 6:1-4 NASB95]

John saw the same thing in Revelation

Shows the importance,

When we praise God, we are joining with the angels

B. Angels rejoice greatly when sinners repent.

· [Luk 15:7-10 NASB95]

Understand the importance of winning the lost

C. Angels protect people.

Most often given message by angels is FEAR NOT

[Psa 91:11-12 NASB95]

[2Ki 6:15-17 NASB95]

D. Angels bring judgement.

· [Act 12:21-23 NASB95]

We choose blessing or cursing

E. Angels bring direction.

[Dan 10:12-14 NASB95]

[Act 10:1-7 NASB95]

Both men had a dynamic walk with God, consistent for years.

F. Angels minister strength.

· [Luk 22:43 NASB95] 4

· [1Ki 19:4-5 NASB95]

G. Angels heed God’s Word.

· [Psa 103:20 NASB95]

H. Angels accompany us when we die.

· [Luk 16:22 NASB95]

I. Angels are used to bring provision.

· [Gen 31:11-13 NASB95]

II. Here are some actions/attitudes that we need to incorporate in our lives concerning angels’ interaction with us.

A. Speak the Word.

B. Worship God.

C. Allow them to speak.

D. Spread the Gospel. Pray for people.

E. Treat people right. [Heb 13:2 NASB95]

F. Be comforted and at peace concerned loved ones who have passed away.

G. Believe for supernatural results.

· God has commissioned angels to render service for us.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-carmichael/support

Season of Hope—The Power of the Scriptures

[Rom 15:4 NASB95]

· Division, confusion, and scandal have caused many to lose many things. One of those things lost is hope. We through distrust, disappointment, and doubt have lost an expectation of anything. Many are just in neutral; numb to many things, including Jesus and His Church.

· Paul addresses this situation here in Romans. His fix is to draw those who are experiencing these issues to the Scriptures.

· The Scriptures are under attack. Existence. Influence. Dilution.

· Christmas inspires us to hope (expectation of the fulfillment of God’s plan universally and individually.) The Scriptures help to develop that hope.

In what ways do the Scriptures have the power to produce hope in our lives?

Here are four points from Romans 15:4 that help us tap into the power of the Scriptures.

I. The Scriptures Were Written for Our Learning

a. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction…”

i. The Bible is not just a collection of stories; it is a teaching tool designed to shape our understanding of God, His will, and our purpose.

b. [2Ti 3:16-17 NASB95]

i. The Scriptures provide us with guidance in every area of life, equipping us to navigate challenges and grow in righteousness.

c. [Psa 119:105 NASB95]

i. The Word lights our way, teaching us how to walk in alignment with God’s will.

d. Commit to daily Bible reading and study. Let the Word shape your decisions and understanding.

II. The Scriptures Teach Perseverance

a. “… so that through perseverance…”

b. Perseverance is patiently keeping on. The Word of God instills patience by teaching us to trust God’s timing and remain steadfast in trials.

c. [Jas 1:3-4 NASB95]

i. Through Scripture, we see how God uses trials to produce patience and maturity in us.

d. [Isa 40:31 NASB95]

i. The Word reassures us of the blessings that come to those who wait on the Lord.

e. Reflect on Biblical stories of those who waited on God (e.g., Abraham, Joseph) and find encouragement to persevere.

III. The Scriptures Provide Encouragement

a. “… the encouragement of the Scriptures…”

b. God’s Word is a source of encouragement in times of distress, offering reassurance of His presence and promises.

c. [Psa 23:4 NASB95]

i. The Scriptures remind us that God’s presence brings peace even in the darkest times.

d. [Jhn 14:1 NASB95]

i. Jesus speaks comfort to us through His promises of eternal care and provision.

e. In times of distress turn to the Scriptures to find encouragement.

IV. The Scriptures Lead to Hope

a. “… we might have hope.”

b. The ultimate purpose of Scripture is to instill hope—a confident expectation of God’s faithfulness and promises.

c. [Jer 29:11 NASB95]

i. God’s plans for us, revealed in His Word, give us a future filled with hope.

d. [Heb 6:18-19 NASB95]

i. The Word anchors us in hope, no matter the storms of life.

e. Make the Scripture your source of hope.

· God wants you to give the Scriptures existence (place), influence, singular focus so you can maintain hope through learning, developing patience, and receiving encouragement in any environment or season of life.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-carmichael/support

How Not to Ruin the Holiday Season

[Luk 2:10-14 NASB95]

· There are studies that suggest that family fights happen during the holiday season than any other time of the year. People gain more weight during the holiday season. People get into more debt during the holiday season. People get overwhelmed during the holiday season.

· People make so many mistakes during the holiday season that it becomes ruined for them.

· This season is supposed to one of “great joy.”

Does the Bible help us to avoid ruining this holiday season?

Here are seven practical Biblical tips to avoid ruining this holiday season.

I. Practice self-care.

a. [Mar 6:31 NASB95]

b. Rest.

c. Exercise.

d. Eat moderately.

e. Accept invitations to be with people.

II. Live at peace with people.

a. [Rom 12:18 NASB95]

b. Do your best to live at peace with people.

c. Overlook offenses. [Pro 19:11 NASB95]

III. Be present.

a. [Psa 118:24 NASB95]

b. It is ok to appropriately reminisce about the past or to look forward to the future.

c. Cherish today. Love the people who are here now.

IV. Spend wisely.

a. [Pro 21:20 NASB95]

b. Stick to a budget.

c. Avoid impulse spending.

V. Focus on the positives.

a. [Phl 4:8-9 NASB95]

b. Some things will not go exactly as you have planned. People will disappoint you.

c. DEAL with problems but do not DWELL on problems.

d. Focus on good things. It is how you have peace.

VI. Live like a Christian.

a. [Rom 6:12-13 NASB95]

b. Avoid things like getting drunk or sex outside of marriage.

c. It is not worth ruining your walk with God and witness with others.

VII. Be faithful to God.

a. [1Sa 12:24 NASB95]

b. Maintain your pursuit of God.

c. Pray. Read the Bible. Be faithful to church.

God wants this season to be a season of great joy by living by seven Bible ways to avoid ruining the holiday season.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-carmichael/support

Times Two pt10—The Supernatural Power of Greed

[2Ki 5:15-27 NASB95]

Greed will connect you to the supernatural. Not the kind of supernatural that you want.

We live in a greedy society. Please long for money. Steal. Do not pay what they owe people.

Gehazi was greedy. It was not time to receive the money. His greed for more things caused him to get leprosy.

What does God want us to know about greed?

Here are three things God wants us to know about greed.

God wants us to know what greed is not.

Greed is not:

Wanted to get paid for work performed including preaching.

[1Ti 5:18 NASB95]

[1Co 9:13-14 NASB95]

Believing for and righteously working for provision and prosperity that God has promised. [Mat 6:28-30, 33 NASB95]

Greed is:

Loving money. [Heb 13:5 NASB95]

Stealing. [Eph 4:28 NASB95]

Not paying what you owe. [Jas 5:4 NASB95]

Ask the Holy Spirit if there is greed in your life.

God wants us to know the effects of greed.

It leads to all kinds of evil. [1Ti 6:10 NASB95]

It connected Gehazi to leprosy.

Not a stretch to believe that greed, along with lying, caused Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, to die. [Act 5:1-10 NASB95]

Greed will keep you from serving God. [Mat 6:24-26 NASB95]

Greed will get you to compromise like Baalam.

[2Pe 2:15 NASB95]

[Jde 1:11 NASB95]

Do not allow greed to stay in your life.

God wants us to know how to free from greed.

Overcome fear of lack by trusting in God for provision and prosperity.

Learn to love people.

Become a generous giver. Giving is the antidote to greed.

God wants you free from the negative supernatural effects of greed by learning to trust God for provision and prosperity as you learn to love people and become a generous giver.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/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.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-carmichael/support

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.

—

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-carmichael/support