Carmichael Ministries

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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