Carmichael Ministries

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?

Spread the message of Kingdom. Get your “How can I pray for you?” cups, shirts, and hats at www.johncarmichael.net/shop today!

Submit your prayer requests to prayer@johncarmichael.net.

Support Kingdom Now with John Carmichael. Please like and share this episode and subscribe. You can also financially support us at www.johncarmichael.net. Thank you.

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How To Be A Successful Christian

Divine Human Partnership.

[Phl 2:12-13 NASB95] 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure.

When we become Christian, we engage on a lifelong journey to become more like Jesus. (We have an episode on what it means to be like Jesus.) You will discover what I call a divine/human partnership between God and you. He works with you as you pursue Him. The Apostle Paul describes this in Philippians 2:12-13. These two verses must be read and discussed together. If either of these verses is taken separately, a person will get a wrong impression. For instance, if a person studies and mediates on verse 12, they will think their salvation is based on “working it out.” They will emphasize themselves and their effort. On the other hand, if they emphasize verse 13, they will think that God is the only one doing the work. It will cause them to believe that they have no responsibility or expectation of effort involved in the process of becoming like Jesus.

What Is Our Part? Here are seven disciplines that will help us to become a successful Christian. Each of these is discussed more in-depth in the podcast.

The first three are essential to focus on in your journey. Then proceed to the following four.

1. Pray daily. Develop a prayer life. Start with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Set a time. Show up.
2. Read the Bible. We have an episode on what Bible is the best. Start reading the Gospel of John first. Learn to study the Bible. Memorize Scripture. Take notes a church and study those further at home.
3. Be faithful to church. Read Hebrews 10:25. Attend faithfully. Submit to the spiritual leadership. Find a place to serve that fits your gifting/calling. Give of your time, talent, and treasure.
4. Fasting. Learn how to fast. Here is a link to a resource that gives more information on fasting, THEN THEY SHALL FAST.
5. Witness regularly. Here is a link to help you learn how to share your faith with others.
6. Develop new relationships. Our close relationships should be with people who encourage and support our walk with Christ. Read Psalm 1. See also this verse: [2Co 6:14-15 NASB95] “14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”
7. Deal with sinful habits by the power of the Holy Spirit. See Romans 8:13.

If we can be a help to you, please let us know. We are praying for you.

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Would you please share and subscribe to Kingdom Now with John Carmichael? 🙂

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