Kingdom Now with John Carmichael John Carmichael

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.



1. 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]



2. 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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