ISSUE 22
STAYING UNDER
GOD’S CLOUD ALSO FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE: >>C:NEWS VISION 2009 ESTABLISHING THE ANCIENT PATHS >>CHOICES THAT BRING ABOUT CHANGE – GERRI DI SOMMA >>WHERE DO YOU FIT INTO GOD’S MATHEMATICS? – MICHELLE DI SOMMA >>ST REVOLUTION >>BOOKS FOR BETTER LIFE SKILLS AND MUCH MORE...
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G DI SOMMA TEACHING
PRAYER WORKS
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G DI SOMMA TEACHING
All teachings in this edition are abridged. versions are available to order on CD or DVD.
ST REVOLUTION CONFERENCE
NEW BOOKS G DI SOMMA
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As we go forward into this year and pursue God’s strategy to ‘establish the ancient paths’ we will no doubt face many challenges, but it will be an empowering year as God moves among us, enabling and directing us. In this issue we consider whether we’re staying under God’s cloud as He leads us forward, whether our lives add up to what God has planned and we are making choices that will enable us to walk in His paths. The Youth Conference ‘The Dark Night’ was exciting and innovative with many being challenged by facing their future in the light of God’s Word. Many will be leaders in the church one day. We really must encourage them and support them every way we can. The Ladies Conference in March will be an amazing event and the Mighty Men’s Conference in early May will be something men won’t want to miss. So make this year a truly exceptional one as God moves mightily among us. He has so much He wants to pour into the lives of His people. Our desire is that we all prosper in all things and be in health, just as our souls prosper.
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Gerri and Michelle Di Somma
A partner is a sharer, an associate, one who engages with another in business, one who plays on the same side as another.
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Partnership is important – It releases power to get the job done. We can accomplish the Great Commission together in unity.
sat 11 cbc: graduation guest speaker: tom inglis
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from Bath Follow A4 towards Bristol, bypassing Keynsham, to the Park-andRide (on your left) on the outskirts of Bristol, just before traffic lights. At these lights proceed straight (in outside lane) for approx. 150 yards (McDonald’s on your right). HSBC Bank follows on your right. Immediately before the Bank, take the driveway along its right, between the buildings. carmel:centre is behind HSBC. from M4 J19 Proceed towards Bristol along M32 to J3. Leave M32 at J3 heading left onto dual carriageway, following signs for A4 and Bath. Approach next roundabout in left lane and continue to follow signs for A4 Bath, to traffic lights. Proceed straight on and over a high level bridge, descending to another roundabout. Proceed straight on, in right hand lane, to next roundabout. Leave this roundabout to the right with Sainsbury’s on your left. Keep in left hand lane and go straight on at next two sets of lights which come a short distance apart.
catch up on the latest happenings at carmel: by visiting our website www.carmelcentre.org or emailing us on info@carmelcentre.org
VISION 2009 ESTABLISHING THE ANCIENT PATHS It’s really important we understand that vision is not about us. Vision is about God, about His plans and His purposes. However, before we look at the vision in more detail, it is good that we mention a few things about 2008.
Progress in 2008: We are pleased that there has been significant overall growth in the Church whether in terms of people attending, finances or those people getting more directly involved in the ministries and activities vital to the ongoing development of the vision. A large number of people have committed their lives to God through salvation or rededication and Home Groups and Mentor Groups have increased in number. Our involvement in the community of South Bristol has grown, and through ‘A Word in Season’ we are reaching into thirty-six nations. Some ‘Firsts’ in 2008: Carmel: Bible College passed its Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC) inspection and is on the Government register for approved colleges for foreign students. This has put us in the top level of Bible Colleges in this country. www.carmelbiblecollege.org Carmel: Bookshop has gone public with good results already and will go on-line this year. www.carmelbookshop.org X-stream Prison Ministry has made significant progress in Ashfield Young Offenders Prison and our Basics Course is now being implemented in 3 of the 8 discipleship groups. We had our first Mighty Men’s Conference, and we thank God we’re going to have another one this year.
Kidz Klub launched in 2008 with 6 children has already grown to 30 in regular attendance. St Revolution Youth Ministry was born and had its first prayer week and Youth Conference. www.saintrevolution.com Carmel: United Football Club was launched as an outreach into the community. www.carmelutd.com Healing School opened once again on a Monday at 1pm with anointed teaching and ministry. Promise of Purity graduated 39 delegates and will be launched in Zambia this year.
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‘Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls…”’ Jeremiah 6:16 (NASB).
Our ongoing responsibility All meetings and events remain the same until the Lord chooses to change them or they fail to meet the Jeremiah 6:16 test. Home Groups continue to represent the pastoral arm of the church and the men and women’s ministries the discipleship arm. There will be a greater emphasis placed on PETRA (Personal Evangelism To Reach All) to take our worship and God’s Word onto the streets (Nehemiah 8:1-3). We continue to press on to establish a larger meeting place for this ministry as it goes on growing in the community of Bristol. THE VISION God gave the apostle Paul a specific purpose for his ministry, of which, Paul said: ‘...I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.’ Acts 26:19. Similarly, God has give a clear plan and purpose for us as a Church, a vision which we are to follow and faithfully obey under God’s direction as He shows us what to do and how to do it.
2. Establish campuses that can practically benefit the community through care projects and life skills programs. 3. Establish a Discipleship Training Centre to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 4. Be a Resource Centre for other churches to draw from and be equipped.
Our mandate for 2009:
‘Establishing the Ancient Paths’ ‘Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls…”’ Jeremiah 6:16 (NASB).
The vision for carmel: is ongoing, but each year the strategy for its fulfilment is developed. Last year the strategy was ‘Invading the Darkness, Establishing the Light’. This year God has spoken about ‘Establishing the Ancient Paths’ so we can fulfil the vision without becoming shipwrecked on the journey (1 Timothy 1:18-19).
The Hebrew expression for ‘ancient paths’ is ‘netivot olam’ which can also mean ‘old, concealed, hidden, perpetual, eternal and timeless paths, pointing to a way of faith and life. ‘Olam’ also means forever, everlasting, never ending and eternal. We must understand that God established these ‘ancient paths’ and walked in them before He created the earth or man.
We are to have no end, no aim and no purpose other than what is God’s, who was and is and is to come. This is fundamental to the ancient paths. ‘If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble over themselves; But when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.’ Proverbs 29:18 (The Message).
When God created man in His image, He established within man His ‘good ways’ – supernatural and from eternity – which included ways of thinking, speaking, behaving and relating to Him and to one another. But man chose to reject these ways and has departed from God and His ancient paths.
Defining Vision for Ministry
Restoring God’s Ways
Vision is ‘a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servant’. Spiritually speaking it is ‘seeing by divine revelation what God specifically desires a church to do in a city and nation’. So we make a record of the vision and present what God reveals so that all can understand and partner with us in it. ‘Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”’ Habakkuk 2:2.
Even so, the Hebrew prophets often spoke about the return of God’s people to God’s ways in preparation for the final redemption of the world. In pursuing the ancient paths, we are once more focusing on being established according to God’s eternal plans and purposes. This includes being obedient to the vision that’s set before us.
Objectives arising from the vision: We are to… 1. Effect spiritual change through Evangelism, Discipleship and Pastoral Care.
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God spoke to Jeremiah, saying: ‘“The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord. “Is not My word like fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock
in pieces?”’ Jeremiah 23:28-29. God’s vision was never intended to be comfortable; but it was to be effective. Idols in the church I believe God is challenging the church to smash its idols which have come in because of the church’s dependence on man’s wisdom rather than God’s wisdom. Instead, we are to get excited about loving God with abandon! If you don’t love God, you won’t love His Son; if you don’t love His Son, you won’t love His body; if you don’t love His body, you won’t love the lost; and if you don’t love the lost you don’t have the love of God in you. Heaven on earth God’s ways are heavenly, eternal and timeless and the things on earth are to be seen as types and shadows of the things in heaven. Therefore we pray: ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Matthew 6:10. And we pursue our mission: ‘…to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.’ Luke 9:2. If we are not preaching the kingdom of God and not doing the kingdom of God, the sick will not be healed. Four steps towards obeying the vision The Lord revealed four things we need to apply in 2009 to attain the heavenly vision: 1. Stand – Can what I’m doing stand God’s scrutiny? Am I willing to bring my life, relationships, calling, ministry and gifting under God’s scrutiny to see if what I am doing is truly of God? Everything should begin in God, be made full in God and find its purpose, fulfilment, and destiny in God. 2. See – Is what I’m looking at what God sees? Seeing what God sees shows us what we must do. This comes from pushing into and abiding in His presence so we get to know His ways. If not, we’ll end up looking in the wrong direction. 3. Ask – How dependent am I on God’s wisdom? Do I first consult my wisdom before I go to God’s wisdom? The Bible is God’s Word and wisdom. If you’re not feasting on God’s Word every day you will not have wisdom and will stumble. Obeying God’s Word causes us to succeed. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’ John 3:16-17. If a person perishes, they have become unfit for the purpose for which they have been made. Is God’s Word working in you? 4. Walk – What is the price I’ll accept to walk away from God? What am I willing to take to gratify myself that could lead me to deny Christ? It may come suddenly or be just the beginning of a process, but if you don’t know the price you won’t be able to protect yourself from turning away and worshipping foreign gods. Examine the thoughts and intents of your heart, your values, securities and relationships, because they determine your sense of well-being. If you’re not 100% sold out to God your price may be, among other things, an elicit relationship, a well paid job, a promotion or something you’ve longed for. We are to be planted in God ‘Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.’ Psalm 1:1-3. The ungodly are their own god and supreme being. Sinners are backsliders who have become like the counsel they’ve listened to, and the scornful show contempt for the things of God, the house of God and the people of God. But the one who is blessed delights in God’s Word and makes it his foundation for living. He is like a tree planted in ideal conditions producing the best of fruit; evergreen and everlasting. This person is the planting of the Lord. (Isaiah 61:1-3). Our vision is clear. We have been placed here for God’s glory, not for man’s glory. We have been placed here to make a difference. We have been placed here to raise up generations. We have been placed here that God’s name may be raised up and His fame established in the city of Bristol and beyond. We believe that once more Bristol will be a city of faith. However, we must understand that this is dependent on all our partners embracing the vision and getting involved.
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STAYING UNDER
GOD’S CLOUD Clouds in the shape of conflict, strife and economic recession cast their shadows over the world, causing unrest, fear and uncertainty concerning the future. No matter what Challenges may loom ahead, believers who put their faith and trust in God have nothing to fear. They will come through safely because they will be under a different cloud. When God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He sent a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to help them in numerous ways. (Exodus 12 onwards.) For Christians today, Egypt symbolizes the world and the cloud is the Holy Spirit. When we choose to stay under that cloud, we experience maximum help and safety throughout our journey. Though economic systems and worldly empires may fall, God’s kingdom never fails and we will continue growing and prospering. RECEIVE WISDOM FROM THE WORD God addresses His Word to you personally because He knows your name, knows where you are and knows the situation you are in. He wants you to learn from the spiritual truths and experiences recorded in His Word. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Paul is addressing believers, people he knew: ‘…brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.’ God knows the past, the present and the future and He warned and prophesied long ago concerning the present crisis. He knew that we would face obstacles and challenges beyond our natural understanding and ability, 6
and has already made provision for us to overcome. Let us examine principles to help us move with and stay under God’s cloud. PRINCIPLES FOR STAYING UNDER GOD’S CLOUD 1
GOD’S CLOUD DIRECTS
When the cloud lifted off the tabernacle, Joshua sat by the tabernacle where the Shekinah glory (God’s presence), was still evident. This made him a competent leader of the Israelites through to the Promised Land because as Joshua drew near to God, he received wisdom. God’s wisdom is essential for our success. Our own works, ideas or logic will never achieve God’s supernatural purpose. When you move without the cloud, you go in your own name, and must gain direction for yourself. When you rely on your own wisdom, you must obtain strategy for yourself. When you trust in your own strength, you must provide for yourself. Never act without stopping to listen to God, to wait for His instructions. When we don’t hear His voice, we don’t follow His direction; we become wanderers, and things go wrong. God wants to speak to you and direct you, but direction comes by being under His cloud. 2
GOD’S CLOUD PROTECTS
As long as we are under God’s cloud we need never fear any enemies. When Israel left Egypt and came to the sea, the enemy was close in pursuit. There appeared to be no way of escape but God promised Moses He would do a supernatural thing. Don’t look at how big the obstacles are
TEACHING in 2009 because God will make a way. What is important is not what lies before you but ‘who’ is with you. Moses obeyed God’s instruction, taking his staff and striking the water. The sea opened and the Israelites passed safely through on dry land. The Egyptians thought they could imitate, and followed, assuming God would also protect them. But God’s people were cocooned in His protection and there was nothing their enemy could do to harm them. The sea drowned the Egyptians, who did not realise they could not expect God’s provision without a relationship with Him. (Exodus 14:26-31.) 3
GOD’S CLOUD CORRECTS
God is a God of order and He calls His people to be accountable to Him and to those He appoints and anoints to lead them. God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites and keep them in check. God expected them to obey Moses in every respect, moving and stopping at his command. Where there is no accountability, people act independently instead of as a united body, and chaos reigns. When the Israelites were out of order, God spoke in the cloud, bringing correction. Believers who have wandered from God don’t like correction from Him, His Word or His leaders. But correction sustains, helps and keeps us on track. God corrects us because He loves us and wants the best for us. 4
GOD’S CLOUD INSTRUCTS
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GOD’S CLOUD PROVIDES
There are certain principles that we need to understand concerning God’s provision: (a) God’s provision is a privilege, not a right Who God leads He also feeds. His provision is a gift which is a privilege, not a right. Some believers wrongly think that tithing entitles them to receive from God. Our tithe belongs to God; it should be a demonstration of thankfulness and honour to Him for what He has already given us. As the Israelites stayed under the cloud, God provided them with manna, a type of bread. Today, God has provided us with Jesus, the living bread. (b) God meets your need, not your greed A hard lesson for us to learn from infancy and throughout adulthood is self denial. It is considered unnecessary in a world that says we should have what we want when we want it. The Israelites had become accustomed to good food during their captivity in Egypt and complained when they realized that God would give them only as much manna as they needed. (Exodus 16:16-18.) When economic circumstances limit income and provision, we must not grumble, but thank God for meeting our essential needs. We should also examine areas where we can become wiser in our stewardship, economizing and adjusting our lifestyle accordingly.
In the Old Testament God gave instruction from the Tabernacle, telling the Israelites what they needed to do and how to do it. Today we too need God’s instructions. We obtain these through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Romans 8:12-14 tells us: ‘Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.’
(c) God will sustain you daily
The Holy Spirit instructs us how to bring necessary control over our fleshly desires. This is of vital importance. It was the works of the flesh – idolatry, fornication, making the Lord’s name common, murmuring – that kept the Israelites out of the Promised Land, and that will keep us from receiving God’s promises. When we allow the Holy Spirit to instruct us, we experience God’s blessings, joy and peace.
The key for us is to daily seek God’s presence, not just His provision. This is what Jesus teaches us concerning how to pray in Matthew 6:11: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’
In times of lack, those who do not know God, His love and provision, become fearful and anxious. The Word comforts us with the knowledge that God fed everybody in the wilderness every day. About 3,000,000 were fed and sustained for 40 years.
>>When you move without the cloud, you go in your own name, and must gain direction for yourself. When you rely on your own wisdom, you must obtain strategy for yourself. When you trust in your own strength, you must provide for yourself.<< 7
TEACHING
God knows that we need food and clothing; we are not to be anxious because He will provide. ‘Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on… Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’ Matthew 6:25-26.
(b) Your strong foundation is Jesus
Sadly, some of the Israelites did not trust God in this. Although they experienced daily provision of manna, greed and disobedience caused them to gather and hoard for the next day, but by then it was rotten. (Exodus 16:18-20.)
Drinking daily from the Rock provides spiritual wisdom. ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.’ James 1:5.
It is time for each of us to trust God, to consider and change where we are being wasteful.
(d) The Rock becomes your supernatural provision
(d) You need daily to work at it Although God provided the manna, He instructed the Israelites through Moses to count the number of people in each tent and go out daily to gather enough for everyone. (Exodus 16:16.) We too have a responsibility to obey what God instructs us to do on both a spiritual and a practical basis, while trusting Him and not the world’s systems. (e) No second job unless God says God made an exception to gathering manna daily, instructing the Israelites to gather twice as much on the 6th day, so they could rest on the seventh, the Sabbath. The manna remained fresh. (Exodus 16:22-25.) Having more than one job may be necessary for a season. However, we too should keep the Sabbath as a day of rest and a time to listen to God as a corporate body. Gathering together with other believers is also particularly important in times of crises, to support one another. 6
FEED DAILY ON THE ROCK OF YOUR FOUNDATION
(a) Your sustaining power is Jesus The Israelites were provided with water from a rock which Moses struck. Today, Jesus is our sustaining and refreshing power.
Who do you say Jesus is? If you truly believe He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then this revelation knowledge of Him and your relationship with Him is your strong foundation. (Matthew 16:18.) (c) Your spiritual wisdom is Jesus
God’s wisdom will open doors for you, give you ideas and witty inventions to help provide for and sustain you. (e) Jesus the Rock is your ‘shalom’ peace While the world panics, God will keep you in His perfect peace when you follow and depend on Him. (f) Jesus is the eternal and immovable Rock of Salvation Though the gods of this world will fail people, Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Rock of Salvation that cannot be moved and in whom we place our trust. God knows you by name, knows where you are and knows the situation you are in. If you have made Him the Rock of your Salvation, you will never be alone or lost because He will always be with you, leading and providing for you. Leave the past behind, stay under His cloud and let Him direct, protect, correct and instruct you.
>>Never act without stopping to listen to God, to wait for His instructions. When we don’t hear His voice, we don’t follow His direction; we become wanderers, and things go wrong. God wants to speak to you and direct you, but direction comes by being under His cloud. <<
STAY UNDER GOD’S CLOUD WITH A WORD IN SEASON God’s Word is the Sword of the Spirit and ‘A Word in Season’ is God’s vehicle for proclaiming the power of the gospel to the nations. ‘A Word in Season’ monthly message on CD is available for you today. Contact the ‘A Word in Season’ office at carmel: centre. You can also view our catalogue online at www.carmelcentre.org/awordinseason
MARCH
09
CARMEL:CENTRE 817A BATH RD BRISLINGTON BRISTOL BS4 5NL UNITED KINGDOM +44117 977 5533 INFO@CARMELCENTRE.ORG WWW.CARMELCENTRE.ORG
KEEPING YOURSELF IN THE LOVE OF GOD
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PRAYER WORKS
HEAVEN’S testimonies of answered prayer Travis Speedie
Mary Baker
Gathering together with others to pray is an important part of Travis’ life. Having a Zimbabwe passport he urgently needed to extend his visa to continue at carmel: bible college; and they prayed. There was great excitement when the Home Office granted him a five-year extension. Again, when he needed accommodation and a job after the Lord told him to move to Bristol, they prayed and within a week both these needs were met. ‘I experienced the truth of Matthew 6:33,’ says Travis, ‘…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’
The pain in Mary’s foot caused her to struggle through the day. Mary says: ‘We knew that this wasn’t God’s best for us, so Robert and I prayed and stood on Isaiah 53:5 – ‘…by His stripes we are healed.’ My healing wasn’t immediate, but we knew God is faithful. Then one morning, the pain was gone.’
Candice Feddis Candice says: ‘One Monday I found a bump on my head and I prayed five times about it. Next Sunday I was having fun in children’s church and I looked in a mirror and saw that the bump was completely gone; so prayer works.’ Robert Baker Last year Robert was completely healed from angina, but during the year his speech was seriously affected by two growths on his vocal chords. His wife, Mary, and others, prayed and in October the growths were surgically removed. He was told he would need pain killers for some time. Robert says: ‘Despite what the specialist’s said, I didn’t need any pain killers. My voice is now perfect. So I want to encourage you that prayer works.’ Patrick Moon While out and about Patrick lost his wallet which contained personal and private information. A search didn’t bring it to light. Patrick says: ‘Back home we prayed and stood on the scriptures: Luke 1:37 – For with God nothing will be impossible, and Philippians 4:6 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’ Three days later they heard that his wallet had been found: ‘And,’ says Patrick, ‘everything was in there, everything was intact. Prayer works.’
Sean and Michelle Leask New measures set down by the Government meant that carmel: bible college would need Government accreditation if it was going to continue having overseas students. There was much prayer as Sean and Michelle completed the paperwork and prepared for the inspections. ‘The inspectors came,’ says Michelle, ‘and inspected all our policies and procedures and even interviewed students and lecturers.’ The results from the Accreditation Committee brought much joy. ‘Not only were we successful in our application,’ says Sean, ‘but we were awarded Premiership status, which places us on a par with some of the top Bible Colleges and Theological Seminaries in this country.’ Edward William Edward didn’t have the laptop computer he needed as a student in the carmel: leadership academy. ‘My wife and I prayed together for a brand new laptop,’ Edward says, ‘basing our prayer on Matthew 18:19 – ‘Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ Earlier this year Edward was given a brand new laptop computer. Praise God that prayer works.
>>Psalm 66:19-20 But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!<< 9
TEACHING
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN GOD’S MATHEMATICS? The processES of subtraction, division or addition always produce a positive or negative result; that is the unchangeable principle of mathematics. In God’s equation, His desire is always for positive results in individual lives and in the church, both local and corporate. For the body of Christ to reach its full potential, we must each take our God-given responsibility to make a positive and not a negative impact. Let us examine how these principles affect our lives. SUBTRACTION
DIVISION
‘Subtraction’ means to diminish, remove, withdraw, take away or deduct. Its effect is always negative and is evident in the following ways:
‘Division’ is schism or sedition, meaning ‘encouraging rebellion against established authority’. God warns: ‘There should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.’ 1 Corinthians 12:25.
Taking from the local body Believers devalue the lives of others by being self-centred, unhelpful, discouraging, taking from and draining them. They belittle God’s work, criticising the church and other believers. They fail to recognise that we are to value everyone equally, as God does. They judge according to their own values which fail to acknowledge a person’s importance as an individual and as a vital member of the church. 1 Corinthians 12:23-25. This can have a detrimental effect on the body of Christ as a whole. Withdrawing and drawing others from the church John 6:66 warns: ‘From that time on many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.’ This followed Jesus’ explanation of spiritual principles which offended many of His listeners; they did not like or understand what they heard, and left Him. Today, offended believers often withhold their finances, their gifting and then themselves. Instead of adding to the church by responding maturely to God’s challenges, they subtract and leave… and sometimes others follow. We must guard against offence, by being strong and committed to our call, adding to the strength of the church. 10
God instructs us to be aware of and avoid divisive people because they deceive and ensnare. ‘… note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such, do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple (unsuspecting).’ Romans 16:17-18. Divisive people grumble, complain, murmur, criticise and gossip, sowing discontent. They act from pride, ambition and selfishness, standing apart, serving themselves and their own agenda, not God, His Word or the church. They destroy churches, causing splits, weakness and hurt. God warns against their ‘…smooth words and flattering speech…’ because divisive people sound plausible and spiritual. Avoid being swayed to their way of thinking by checking what they say against God’s Word and refusing to listen to gossip, lies, presumption or innuendos. ADDITION God’s purpose for the church is for increase in numbers, unity, faith, spiritual maturity and relationship with Him.
TEACHING
He enables us to add value to the whole church by giving us spiritual gifts and natural abilities. ‘…from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.’ Ephesians 4:16. God wants the same unity among us as in the Godhead. We flow together when we know the vision and our purpose. Do all you can to fulfil God’s Word and your calling, help others fulfil their potential by identifying and giving them opportunities to serve and grow, by magnifying the best in them and affirming their value. MULTIPLICATION ‘Multiply’ means to make manifold or to increase in number. The Word tells us to increase in wisdom and knowledge and in the use of our gifts and abilities. We have a particular responsibility to be fruitful and multiply: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…’ Matthew 28:19. There’s a natural science museum which has a chequerboard with 64 squares. In one corner is a wheat grain and printed above is this question and answer: ‘If you double the amount of wheat as you move from square to square, how much wheat would you have when you reach the 64th square? Enough wheat to cover the country of India 6 feet deep.’ If each of us discipled 1 person for 6 months and helped them do the same, it is calculated that in 17 years the whole world could be saved. That’s the power of multiplication. CORRECTING THE MATHEMATICS Revival is hindered when we hold offence, bitterness or let other issues prevent us from multiplying. Instead of becoming a productive ‘womb’ in obedience to the Word ‘be fruitful and multiply’, we become a tomb. Overcoming requires understanding that the conditions of our natural life are the result of decisions we make in our spiritual life. Let’s look at some key truths: 1. Offence will come Jesus said: ‘It is impossible that no offences should come….’ Luke 17:1.You can choose to ignore offence, or let it hurt and control you. Don’t let it cause you to stop
serving God and His body, only to become a stumbling block to others. God gives us free choice, but people hurt others through the way they use that freedom. You have the power to make the right choices, whatever challenges you face. 2. We are responsible for and to others We are responsible for those in our stewardship and responsible to those with authority over us. This requires quality relationships where there’s no offence. ‘Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, “I repent,” you shall forgive him.’ Luke 17:3-4. 3. Reconciliation is the goal of life Walking in forgiveness demonstrates God’s loving kindness, faithfulness and mercy and results in reunion and reconciliation. This frees us from insecurities so we no longer huddle in little groups and factions, resulting in exclusion and separation. We must be inclusive and reach out to others. Taking the bread and the wine in communion reminds us how Christ gave His life for our wholeness and freedom. But if there’s unforgiveness and offence in our hearts we take part in an unworthy manner. We must come as reconciled people: ‘… let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reasons many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (have died prematurely).’ 1 Corinthians 11:28-30. Heed the Word, be revived and bring revival by receiving God’s forgiveness and ‘discerning His body’, recognising what God has done for you and for others. Walk offencefree, releasing those you believe have wronged you and letting God be the judge of the situation. Where do you fit in God’s mathematics? Do you subtract from, divide or add to the local body? Be determined to add value and multiply in the place God has chosen for you, and be fully committed to His work and kingdom. 11
TEACHING
CHOICES THAT BRING ABOUT Choices bring about change and change affects your life. This means it is vitaL that you make wise choices. The gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is revealed to the world through the testimony, declaration, lifestyle and accomplishments of true believers and the unity they experience with God and with each other. John 17:20-23. Our choices must be directed to this end. Therefore: 1 Decide to be different from the world One of the most important choices we must make is to escape the world’s corruption. God has given us all the resources we need to do it. 2 Peter 1:3-4. The world functions on the basis of self-gratification… ‘what’s in it for me?’ This inevitably leads to the exclusion of God and we need to realise that if we choose to party with the world it will lead to corruption in our lives. We must walk in agreement with one another and according to the principles and precepts of God’s eternal truths. This wasn’t the case with the Corinthians where division, strife and envy revealed their spiritual immaturity. As Paul put it: ‘…are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?’ 1 Corinthians 3:3. The corruption of the world was in their church. The lust of the world is aimed at self-satisfaction, and that same spirit is found in the church. Sometimes even worship has become more about satisfying ‘me’ than about God. We are here, first and foremost, for God’s pleasure. Our pleasure is in Him and serving Him.
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2 Disconnect yourself from disappointment Disappointment will always come, but it can lead you to make choices that later on you will regret. In John 5: 5-15 we read about a man at the pool Bethesda who was full of disappointment because he never got to the pool in time to be healed. When Jesus asked the simple question, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ his response was a tale of disappointment. Perhaps he was thinking: ‘Woe is me; no one really cares for me to help me.’ Thankfully Jesus overlooked it and he was healed. It’s amazing that we sometimes think people have more power than God. The man was saying, in effect: ‘Others come before me Lord and they push in. Now I’ll have to wait ‘till the next angel comes. Where were You when I needed You?’ Disappointment clouds your vision and you end up making choices based on your disappointment and not on God’s direction. 3 Depend upon God’s direction Don’t blame others. Adam blamed his wife and God for giving her to him as the cause of his sin. Genesis 3:12. Let’s be clear; if you blame God, you can’t depend on Him. All basis for trust has gone. Blaming God or other people for the way your life has turned out will always disadvantage you. The fulfilment of your desires does not come by what you take or demand from others. Instead: ‘Trust in the
TEACHING Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.’ Psalm 37:3-4. Fretting harms you, it messes you up. It will distract you from depending on God and consequently disable you from seeing His direction to move on in His purposes for you. ‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger; and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm.’ Psalm 37:7-8. ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good.’ If you trust the Lord, doing good becomes a natural response. You will concern yourself with blessing and benefiting others. We must have God’s direction for our lives because: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it...’ Psalm 127:1. 4 Determine to reach destiny The only way to empower your gift and accomplish your destiny is through the process of God’s plans and purposes, not yours. You cannot just go and lay claim to destiny because your destiny always has somebody else in mind, never you. In scripture, those who achieved destiny received the fruit of their obedience to God’s instructions, but their purpose was for others. In Judges 6:11-18 we find a disappointed Gideon. The essence of his complaint was: ‘O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us?’ and: ‘…where are all His miracles…?’ How often people cry out, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ They can’t see beyond their circumstances. ‘If there’s a God, why doesn’t He do something about it?’ Once again we can be thankful that God overlooked this complaint. In total contrast God says: ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!’ and: ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’ ‘I have sent you’ – past tense – God had spoken to Gideon before, but he remained blind to the possibility of God’s ability working through him. We see the problems, disappointments and challenges as negative, whereas in God’s process they are opportunities for Him to be glorified. God sees and speaks the end result, but we
>>Nothing is by chance. Everything is by choice. The condition you’ll find yourself in will be determined by you and your choices. So make the choices that will determine and affect your life positively in relationship with God and to God.<< speak the problem. The limits this puts on us disables us from reaching destiny. If we are united with God and with each other, it doesn’t matter what the enemy comes with, we will overcome with the gifts and ability God gives us. The world out there cannot stop what God plans to do; so, determine to reach your destiny. 5 Doers cannot be deceived While you are actively doing the plans and purposes of God and involved in the things of God you can’t be deceived. It’s when we’re no longer employing what God has put in us that we fall into deception. Jesus is the Word made flesh. The Holy Spirit is the Word made flesh in us. If we are not led by the Word in us, the Holy Spirit, and act accordingly we will act according to the flesh and become deceived. ‘…if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.’ He deceives himself by being a forgetful hearer. ‘But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.’ James 1:23-25. We are to: ‘…keep oneself unspotted from the world.’ James 1:27. Walking according to the flesh will keep us there in its passions, lust and corruption. We must abide by the pure principles of God and allow God’s Word to be the source of direction and instruction, because God and His Word are one. Nothing is by chance. Everything is by choice. The condition you’ll find yourself in will be determined by you and your choices. So make the choices that will determine and affect your life positively in relationship with God and to God.
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ARTICLE
Youth from overseas and other churches joined the Carmel Youth to confer with one another and with God through prayer, worship and His word. However, it could be said that the conference began before the 19th.
THE DARK NIGHT CONTENDING FOR HIS LIGHT ST REVOLUTION YOUTH CONFERENCE 19-20 February 2009 Pre-conference prayer The Coffee Bean, the Youth coffee shop, had been converted into a large prayer room, divided into sections appropriate to different facets of prayer such as confession, meditation and other creative expressions of prayer. This was open from 6am to 12 midnight Monday to Friday of the conference week. The Fellowship Meal on the Wednesday evening was filled with fun and lively chatter. Some shared their experience of meeting with God. The meal ended with a litany of prayer focused on the world in which we live and our response to it. Surely the conference had already begun. Praise and Worship The Thursday evening session began with praise and worship. Ralph Di Somma, the Youth Pastor, invited the conference to ‘…let God interfere with your life,’ and to ‘…abandon to Him.’ Young people filled the open area at the front of the auditorium using the available space to freely and energetically express their praise to God and to declare His power and authority in the world and in them. Much of this was mixed with undignified dance of the King David kind, for which the king was despised by his wife. At other times silence descended as the conference stood in awe and wonder at God’s presence. The Dark Night A number of speakers shared concerning The Dark Night. ‘All Christians experience times of inner turmoil or a wrestling with issues that affect them,’ said Ralph. ‘But though these times seem dark, they are times when God seeks to draw us closer to Himself.’ You experience the 14
darkness so you reach out for the light. Ralph illustrated the message using the dark night Jesus experienced in Gethsemane compared with the dark night experienced by Peter after denying Jesus. Jesus came out of His dark night having committed Himself to the will of the Father. Peter came out of his through repentance and restoration. ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ Matthew 5:4. Joanna Di Somma encouraged the conference to hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness so they will be filled and satisfied. Matthew 5:6. She pointed out that it is easier to come through the dark night by surrendering to God than wrestling with the issues until realizing that to surrender to Him is the answer. You are most fulfilled and satisfied when in God’s presence. Conditioning for success was the theme of Darrell Irwin’s message and the preparation needed in order to come into the light and be truly successful in life. Claire Irwin spoke on emerging from the dark night of fear recognizing that the fear of man is a trap which can lead a person away from God’s plan and purpose in life. ‘The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.’ Proverbs 29:25. Closing the conference on Friday night, Pastor Gerri spoke with reference to the time when the young Samuel first heard God’s voice. 1 Samuel 3:1-11. It was a time of spiritual decline and decadence, much like today. It was a very dark day in the nation of Israel when God called Samuel to be His voice to the people. Pastor Gerri set out steps to hearing and responding to God’s call. Many young people responded to the challenge of becoming God’s voice in today’s lost and dying world.
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MEN OF PURPOSE ‘Men have been emasculated by the feminist movement, lied about by the media, intimidated by politicians, and the biggest disappointment of all is that they have been betrayed by the church. And when I say betrayed by the church, I mean betrayed by church leaders.’ This challenging statement by Pastor Gerri expresses a concern that for various reasons men aren’t functioning as leaders in their community and church as God designed them to. Pastor Gerri tackles these issues head-on in his mini-book ‘Men Of Purpose’.
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Outside of Jesus Christ we all walk in darkness. We are spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins, as the Bible says. And even some who have become Christians enter the dark world of a spiritual cripple because their relationship with Jesus has become fragmented or even non-existent. In writing ‘Coming Out Of The Darkness – Faith Steps to Receiving from God’, Pastor Gerri Di Somma speaks from having experienced the deep ravages of personal blindness to spiritual reality and the soul destroying darkness that can descend even upon someone claiming to be a believer. Now, after many years of successful ministry and effective counselling of people in situations as diverse as can be imagined, setting out these Faith Steps to Receiving from God synthesises many years of experience and wisdom successfully applying the Word of God to the lives of others. Presented in an easy-to-read format, Coming Out Of The Darkness is set out in short, easily understood steps held together by the story of blind Bartimaeus and his meeting with Jesus when he came out of his darkness and received his sight. The questions at the end of each chapter help the reader discover and digest the dynamic truths revealed in the chapter so they miss nothing as they move forward to their own miracle. The message in this book has helped many see their way through their own personal darkness until they have been able to walk in the light as He, our Lord Jesus, is in the light. 15
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