TwentyFour7 Issue 28

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A MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY CARMEL: MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

ISSUE 28

COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

Keys to Victory TEACHING BY MICHELLE DI SOMMA

Keep Your Eye on the Ball TEACHING BY PAUL BRADY

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equipped for life

I took a year out and studied at cbc:.

Being equipped is helping me with the challenges of university life.

Rebecca, 19

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CARMEL: PARTNERSHIP A partner is a sharer, an associate, one who engages with another in business, one who plays on the same side as another.

Partnership is important – It releases power to get the job done. We can accomplish the Great Commission together in unity.

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Partnership in prayer – We believe it is vital for every partner to develop a strong personal prayer life, and to pray for the leadership for godly wisdom and direction from the Lord.

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Partnership in caring – We are instructed to watch over and take care of the partners in our charge (Acts 20:28).

Should you wish to donate by Gift Aid please contact the church office.

Partnership in sharing – The whole ministry of sharing is to give oneself in the areas of love, time, talents and finances.

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carmel: ministries international is a registered charity (Charity No. 1094052) with Luke 9:2 as its mission statement.

All finances sown go into the work of establishing God’s Kingdom through evangelism and preparing labourers for the harvest.

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SERVICES Sat 19.00HRS Sun 09.00HRS SuN 11.00HRS CONTACT CARMEL:CENTRE 817a Bath Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5NL T: (0117) 977 5533 F: (0117) 977 5678 W: www.carmelcentre.org EXECUTIVE EditorS: GERRI AND Michelle Di Somma PRODUCED BY: WWW.CRE8ION.CO.UK Printers: Yeomans Press Bible quotations are from the New King James Version unless stated otherwise.

All teachings in this edition are abridged.

Full versions are available to order on CD or DVD.

‘He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.’ Luke 9:2

To mature as believers we must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Our relationship with Him determines the measure of our faith, and faith pleases God. What also pleases God is when we prosper in life. (Psalm 35:27.)

HI FRIENDS...

Prosperity is more than just about money and wealth, and in this issue we have included two articles from the series which Pastor Gerri is currently teaching at Carmel. The full series will be available through Carmel’s Bookshop when complete. Most people here are finding that it is the most thorough and uplifting series on the subject they’ve ever heard.

Pastor Michelle’s article on ‘Keys to Victory’ touches important areas which every believer must face in life and how to walk in victory when confronted with them. Pastor Paul Brady emphasises the importance of vision, and other articles tell of the great things that are happening here at Carmel.

Talking of ‘great things’, have you booked to be with us for the ‘aGODthing!’

Conference in October? You really mustn’t miss what promises to be a celebration of Christ’s victory expressed through the life of every believer.

There are more details in this issue.

Gerri and Michelle Di Somma

EVENTS

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER

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C:VIEW CBC: Graduation ‘aGodthing!’ 2010 St Revolution

Sun 19

Sat 25

Joe McCroskey (Jerry Savelle Ministries), 9.00am & 11.00am Exceptional Women’s Breakfast, 8.30am

Sat 25 Sun 26

Guest Speaker: Jacob John, 7.00pm

08

TEACHING Covenant Relationships

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

Valiant Men’s Breakfast, 8.30am

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Sun 17 Guest Speaker: Charles Graham, 9.00am & 11.00am Mon 25 - Wed 27 CBC ‘Equip’ Conference Wed 27 - Sun 31 ‘aGODthing!’ Conference - VICTORY

TEACHING Keys to Victory

By Pastor Michelle Di Somma

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TEACHING Keep Your Eye on the Ball

By Paul Brady

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TEACHING Understanding Prosperity

By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

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ARTICLE Carmel: Vision 2010 Revisited

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PRAYER WORKS Testimonies

Guest Speaker: Jacob John, 9.00am & 11.00am

OCTOBER Sat 9

NOVEMBER Fri 5 Sat 13

Fireworks Night at Carmel, 7.30pm ‘Pay It Forward’ Brunch, 8.30am

DECEMBER Sat 4

Joint Ladies & Men’s Breakfast, 8.30am

Fri 10 Thurs 23 - Fri 3

Winter Banquet, 7.30pm Carmel Offices closed

Please note some of the dates and times of upcoming events may be subject to change.

See carmel: website for all the latest information.

Facebook: carmelcentre.org

twitter.com/carmelcentreorg

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C:VIEW CBC GRADUATION

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO

CARMEL BIBLE COLLEGE Congratulations Carmel Bible College, staff and lecturers, for taking CBC to higher levels! With consistently hard and faithful work, CBC has delivered exceptionally good, productive and effective courses for students from many different nations in the last 14 years. Government inspectors have recently acknowledged this by rating CBC as ‘excellent’ and giving the College full accreditation.

In the last year the Government applied additional standards which had to be met over a given period of time. These were quite challenging. However, CBC has met these standards without losing the Christian ethos and teaching which is at the core of the College’s life.

Sean Leask, the Principal of CBC, said: “We had to re-assess our teaching methodology and our method and level of assessment, but we didn’t want to be an overwhelmingly academic or theological institution.

We used guidelines to rewrite subjects taught, ensuring that what is being taught is in accordance with the curriculum and that lecturers are evaluating in line with predefined standards of assessment.”

The central objective of all CBC’s courses is to train Christians in biblically based life-skills so that they can effectively and powerfully live their lives wherever God places them.

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By recognising the positive opportunities for improvement in the challenges presented by the Government, the College now can move on to greater things. CBC first year certificates, second year diplomas and Leadership Academy awards faced evaluation and change when the College was inspected by NCFE, a national organisation for validating NVQ awards. Validation covered systems, quality of curriculum and of assessment.

That validation has now been received and the door has been opened for CBC to provide even more courses. Validation allows CBC to write customised courses for evaluation according to NVQ standards, providing students with formal, accredited and validated qualifications as well as the CBC certificate for each level of the Bible College course.

Carmel Christian Centre already runs a number of courses for its partners and others. These can now

be added to the College curriculum. Sean Leask said: “As an approved centre, we can now write and present almost anything as an NVQ course, such as Biblical Financial Management or Pre-Marriage Counselling. Credit units from these courses would count towards a student’s further qualifications.”

Increasingly, pastors and church leaders are recognising the quality of the CBC courses.

Extending availability of these courses has been a recent aim of development. Correspondence School has begun for people who can’t attend daytime Bible College, enabling study at their own pace, according to their own budget and time constraints.

CBC has also started Satellite Bible Colleges at different locations in the country. To facilitate these, CBC started a Night School at the Bristol Centre so the satellite lectures come live to satellite students.

Sean Leask said: “We want to repeat this across the country. The framework is in place technically and administratively.”

Night School is on Tuesday and Thursday nights, three subjects a term and three lectures a night. Over a two year period and eight academic terms, students do the equivalent of the first year certificate, which will also be an NVQ Diploma.

Because the courses are presented in modules, students have flexibility to obtain their qualifications through the various facilities offered over an extended period of time. The new academic year starts this September and we encourage anyone seeking to develop their Christian life to contact the Principal of CBC to discuss the options available to them.

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C:VIEW AGODTHING! CONFERENCE 2010

HOSTED BY GERRI AND MICHELLE DI SOMMA

WEDNESDAY 27TH – SUNDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2010

SPECIAL GUESTS MARK AND TRINA HANKINS

In a world which is full of uncertainty and people caught in the web of their fears, it is easy for us to accept where we find ourselves rather than believe we can have something that overcomes this world in our lives.

However, while many capitulate to their circumstances, God provides victory for those who put their trust in Him. Because God gave His Son to redeem us, we inherit His blessing. He says: “Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.” Genesis 22:17.

By faith our inheritance is the victory God has provided through Jesus Christ. Therefore we can say with confidence: Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57. What we do when we obey God is never in vain.

Our seventh ‘aGODthing!’ Conference promises to be our biggest and most important yet as people increasingly struggle in these uncertain times. Fears arise, the future looks bleak and man’s control of this world is becoming increasingly unstable.

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Joining our Conference hosts, Pastors Gerri and Michelle Di Somma, will be Pastors Mark and Trina Hankins from America, whose highly acclaimed worldwide ministry is impacting churches everywhere, as it did with us at last year’s Conference. With them will be other greatly valued ministry friends who consistently bring a word in season every time they minister at Carmel: Pastors Bernie and Nan McLaughlin, Gordon Simmonds, Chris Lodewyk, Jacob John, Jim Schmitt and Robbie Howells.

Marcus Tankard will also join us, and we anticipate he and Robbie Howells ministering to us through anointed worship. Under the anointed teaching and ministry of our Conference speakers, we will learn about and experience the victory that God has destined for our lives.

Day sessions in the Conference will focus on the Holy Spirit and His gifts which will lead us to the evening sessions which will major on the life of victory.

On the Saturday morning, Carmel Bible College hosts Leaders Day. Speakers will give specific attention to leadership, and particularly to leading others in sharing, caring, preparing and daring in ministry to achieve success.

During the Conference our Valiant Men will be commissioned for service in what is a significant event for men in our City as they take up their responsibility to bring change to this nation.

Jesus has won the victory for us. This victory is the end on which we will focus. Join us at our 2010 ‘aGODthing!’ Conference and run your life with the end in mind.

C:VIEW SAINT REVOLUTION

‘Invading the Wye’

This annual camp took pla ce between the 15th and 20th of Augu st on the banks of the River Wye. It was an exciting time for the Young People an d a life changing experience for many. Ma ny were born again, some were filled with the Spirit and others were healed.

Friday Night

Church

It’s from hurch is back!

Friday Night C g adults and is for youn 7.00 to 9.30pm worship 0s. It will be a 2 id m 1 1 from d sets is interactive an service which God’s r all to encounte the scene for y with Him. grow in intimac presence and

With Young People from other churches in the region and some from Lebanon and Holland, the Camp has become increasingly important and far-reachin g in its influence.

It has demonstrated ho w the Holy Spirit is captivating young lives in their unprejudiced enthusiasm, and leading them to be vital to today’s ministry as well as building them up as tomorrow’s Church.

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Sunday

Morning Live

sage is which the mes in e tim e th g Durin service cond morning se e th in ed preach have a time Young People at Carmel, the ey receive eet with God. Th m to er th ge to ious ting to the prev a brief talk rela groups in ge and then Sunday’s messa gether To ey have heard. discuss what th d on what feedback base ve gi ey th n ai ag practical sed. Then, with us sc di ve ha they ven ‘The ind, they are gi the application in m actical to do in pr ng hi et m so Big Idea’, sponse to at is a direct re th k ee w w llo fo ning. learnt that mor ve ha ey th t wha

SATURDAY N

IGHT LIV

E A recent chan ge benefitting people who at Carmel is that tend the Saturday ni ght service has come unde r the leadersh ip of the Young Adults. This is not a Youth se rv ice, but a timel adaptation of w y hat always was an evening of blessing and the Word of G od. This has continued unde r the Young Adu lt leadership an extends the gr d owing influence of God through the Young Peo ple in our midst . All are welcom whatever your e, age. The evenin g may be differe but it is no less nt, a time when G od is manifest present amon ly g His people. W e all need to re that Jesus bega alise n His ministry as a young adul 30 and His disc t of iples were even younger.

Carmel’s St. Revolution Young Person’s Ministry is growing and expanding.

There are now more opportunities than ever for young people to develop their relationship with God and participate in the life of the Church.

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TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

COVENANT

relationships A good relationship with God and others is more important than financial prosperity.

Right relationships protect and seek the best for others but relationships out of God’s order hurt and exploit others, particularly the weak and vulnerable.

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Twenty nine years ago, my wife Michelle and I were hurting each other, our children and family because our relationship was out of order. My idea of marriage and manhood was contrary to God’s Word, we had given up on our marriage and were about to go to lawyers to divorce. Before fetching Michelle, I related our situation to a Christian friend.

She said, “Gerri, your destiny, the purpose of your life and everything about it is ordained in your covenant relationship of marriage.”

This was news to me. Suddenly I realised why money can’t bring happiness, why despite my two jobs and financial security, we had no sense of purpose. I had to learn to love my wife as Christ loves the church.

(Ephesians 5:25.) I decided to be in covenant and obey God, to do whatever it took, despite my negative emotions towards Michelle. She later followed my example and today we reap an abundant harvest in everything pertaining to life and godliness: in our marriage, friendships, relationships and finances.

In God there is always hope; as we turned to Him, He showed us our destiny lay in our individual responsibility in marriage covenant, the most powerful of all relationships and a reflection of the church.

The strategy of the enemy of God and His creation is to make light of that covenant, to make it a common thing so people break or ignore it. News headlines evidence this deception, reporting adultery and sexual sin; statistics reveal Britain has the highest number of broken homes, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in Europe. Tragically, such news no longer shocks.

Children are taught the rudiments of sex and intimacy, but not the purpose of relationship.

They’re taught ‘safe sex’ not abstinence, and to value pleasure more than responsibility. Few people recognise sexual intercourse between a married man and his wife as celebration of covenant, because few recognise God as holy or a God of covenant.

It is encouraging that some psychologists recognise that the biblical principle of betrothal or engagement as a sign of commitment, increases the likelihood of successful relationship. Understanding and fulfilling the biblical principles of commitment and covenant brings deliverance, healing and restoration, empowering relationships to prosper. Many churches and families are affected by broken and

Everything God does is through covenant; when we enter into covenant with Him, we can receive every blessing of every promise He has made. second marriages; the past cannot be changed but you can respond positively today to the truth of God’s Word: whether you are struggling within your marriage or you are in a new marriage, bring it under God’s covering and keep His covenant by doing everything you can to make it succeed.

THREE BIBLICAL COVENANTS God created mankind for intimate relationship with Him and others. He works through relationships and through a holy relationship. He demonstrated this by cutting three very important and significant covenants, or binding promises, with mankind. All of creation is dependent upon these for salvation and survival, because the mystery of God and salvation is made manifest through them. Everything God does is through covenant; when we enter into covenant with Him, we can receive every blessing of every promise He has made.

1 THE COVENANT OF ADAM AND GOD: THIS IS FOR CREATION The Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them… So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:18-24.

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TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

We cannot work covenant out; it is a supernatural thing that works with God, through God and in God. God cut covenant between Adam and Himself; this is why God holds man responsible for the marriage covenant. When both husband and wife make their covenant promises to God, and remain faithful to their covenant promises to each other, together they release something beautiful in the spirit and the manifestation is seen in the natural.

It is not good that man should be alone.

Marital counselling is frequently necessary because men want to be alone. The first thing God asked Adam to do was name the animals. Men value themselves for their ability to achieve. When they do well, they may consider their wives an irritation instead of an involved covenant partner.

Adam could not find a helper comparable to him.

He did not call any animals his helpmeet; bestiality is unnatural and is a sin. Notice God said a helper ‘comparable’. Adam and Eve were not in competition; together in covenant man and woman fulfil God’s plans and purposes.

God caused Adam to sleep deeply.

While Adam slept, God created woman out of his side and brought her to Adam. What God took out of Adam He did not replace, and what He left in Adam He did not give to Eve. It is not within man to be a woman and vice versa. From the first male and female, mankind was born. God intended them to multiply and fill the earth with offspring who would keep covenant with Him. But Adam rejected the covenant; he allowed the serpent into the garden to deceive Eve, causing separation from God, sin and disorder.

Men must lead, guide and prayerfully guard their family, bringing godly direction and instruction.

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2 THE COVENANT OF ABRAHAM AND GOD: THIS IS FOR MANKIND God said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

And he believed in the Lord… Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram...

And… there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

(Referring to the animals sacrificed to celebrate the covenant.) On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. (Read Genesis 15:1-18.)

God renamed Abram ‘Abraham’ when he believed God for an heir.

Faith is essential in covenant relationship with God. God had told Abram long ago he would be the father of many nations. Now, his covenant name embodied God’s name, Yahweh, and God’s promise, as a reminder to Abraham and a witness to others.

Adam named Eve ‘Woman’ because she was taken out of man, and women take the man’s name in marriage still today.

God rejected Abram’s attempt to ‘help’ God. Abram’s childless wife Sara offered her maid to Abram in an attempt to fulfill God’s promise of an heir. Abram agreed and Hagar bore him a son, Ishmael, but this was not God’s intended heir.

God honours covenant and He had no covenant with Ishmael. Even though some of the covenant promises were given to him, the real covenant people were to come supernaturally through the line from the legitimate heir of Abraham and Sarah’s marriage relationship. We cannot work covenant out; it is a supernatural thing that works with God, through God and in God. When we are obedient to God, all His promises are yes and amen. We become satisfied, fulfilled in everything that God has for us.

God put Abraham to sleep, just as He did with Adam.

While Abraham slept, God established His covenant and the nation of Israel was born. Israel would be the bearers of the messianic promise that would come to save the world. At that time, many nations served other gods and God was looking for a nation to call His own. All mankind is precious to God, but He needed one to be the bearer of the Seed that would

one day come. Through the first Adam’s failure, the last Adam would restore us back to our full inheritance and intimacy with God in covenant.

3 THE COVENANT OF JESUS AND GOD: THIS IS FOR ETERNITY Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:22,23.

Jesus was sent by God as the bridegroom of the church. (John 3:17,24,29.)

In the natural, physical marriage covenant with Adam and Eve we saw that a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24. Christ left His heavenly Father to establish the spiritual marriage of Christ and the church, so that we become united with Him, members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. Ephesians 5:30. Paul expressed the profound truth that Christ chose to be intimately united with imperfect people through a love relationship deeper even than marriage.

Ephesians 3:31,32.

Jesus came to make us His bride, in covenant relationship with Him. The message of salvation, previously exclusive for Israel, became available for all nations through Christ. Those who enter into covenant with Him become bearers of that covenant, taking His name as ‘Christians’, ‘little

God preserves and prospers that Christs’. That is why it’s so holyus and so why the world we and the enemy try to make light of it. can live in His perfect forand eternity Jesus shed Hispresence own blood to sanctify cleanse His bride.

From Adam’s side, Eve was born. As Jesus was crucified, His side was pierced and from it flowed water and blood. (1 John 5:6.) Through that, the church was born. Eve was brought by her Father to Adam; the church, the bride of Christ, is brought by God the Father to Jesus, the last Adam.

God caused a ‘deep sleep’ of three days to come upon Jesus. After Jesus died, God resurrected Him from the grave to eternal life. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is available to all believers for salvation, forgiveness, eternal life and everything needed for abundant life.

Don’t let worldly standards rob you of your covenant rights. You are complete in Jesus through the covenant He cut. (Colossians 2:8-10.) You were brought to Him by your Father, paid for by Jesus’ life. Your destiny, fulfilment and eternity are in that covenant. Don’t strive in your own ability, like Adam and Abraham did. Let the Bridegroom into your life; stay in covenant relationship with Him and do everything according to covenant; let Him heal your pain, disappointment and disillusionment; be holy as He is holy and prosper in all your relationships.

Then, when you eventually meet your heavenly Father, Jesus will present you to Him without spot or blemish.

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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 TY SOUL PROSPERI

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TEACHING BY PASTOR MICHELLE DI SOMMA

KEYS TO Sometimes Christians become weary and vulnerable, they become discouraged and downhearted. They find the challenges of life almost too much, and as a result the devil finds an opportunity to turn them from God. The Scriptures tell us that we are to be overcomers in this life, so the Bible helps us with many keys to victory. Here I want to look at two in particular: encouragement and endurance.

Paul writes: Let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9. Weariness is not something that just happens overnight. We grow in weariness. The reasons for this may be many, but they accumulate and steadily weigh us down.

A. RECOGNISING DISCOURAGEMENT POSITIONS YOU FOR CHANGE 1. When the journey becomes difficult The Israelites in their desert journey found this and reacted badly: The soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Numbers 21:4-5.

We all will experience tough times in our lives. If we focus on the difficulties we will become weary and discouraged. To avoid this it is important at all times to think and speak in line with the truth of the Word of God. 2. When the task becomes difficult When rebuilding Jerusalem the Israelites struggled: Judah said, “The strength of the labourers is

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failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10.

Sometimes we face tasks that cause our strength to fail and we begin to complain and complaining implies that the task is too big for God to help us.

More than ever we need to put our trust in God and His Word for our way ahead.

3. When the prosperity of others distracts us For the Psalmist, seeing others prosper provoked an ungodly response: As for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Psalm 73:2-3.

The negative response we feel at other people’s gain, particularly if we don’t think they are worthy of it, can cause us to stumble and be discouraged. But other people are not the standard for your life. God’s plan and purpose for you is the standard.

4. Delay in the fulfillment of your dreams True faith endures in the face of challenges to our expectations. Yet we must face trials to our faith.

Peter wrote: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that

perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7.

Many of us would rather grow weary than face a fiery trial. The loss of our grandson Asher not many days after he was born has been a fiery trial. This was not just the delay of a dream, but the death of a dream. I was so looking forward to sharing in his life.

I realised that this attack on his life had come from the pit of hell, and that the genuineness of my faith was being tested.

We must not give up and quit when faced with various trials. The genuineness of your faith is being tested and refined like gold. Fire gets rid of the dross so your life becomes a source of praise, honour and glory to God. B. DEVELOP A CULTURE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

3. Encourage yourself in the purpose of your life Encouragement and endurance go hand in hand.

The writer to the Hebrews states simply a basic instruction from God for our lives: let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. We are to run the race of the Christian life with endurance.

The question that follows is, how? He answers that there are two key things we must do. First: let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us. In other words, organise and live your life so nothing can hinder you reaching the destiny God has prepared for you. Second: look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2.

The ascended, glorious and victorious Lord is to be our focus. He is our inspiration and motivation. In Him we see everything God intends for us; but we must endure to the end. Put your trust in Him and His Spirit will direct and enable you.

1. Encourage yourself in the Word of God When David and his men found that an enemy had taken their families and possessions they grieved greatly. Some threatened David’s life for the decision to go to battle elsewhere. But David encouraged himself: David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6. As a result, he positioned himself where he could hear God’s instruction on how to deal with the situation.

Encouragement builds strength into us. It enables us to press on and endure whatever the circumstances and helps us keep a clear head to hear God’s voice in our situation. Feed yourself with God’s Word. Encourage yourself with His promises.

Encourage yourself by encouraging others; it’s an antidote to self-pity.

2. Encourage yourself in your past victories Look back and see what God has already done in your life and rejoice in who God is. The Scriptures tell us so much about God, His character, nature and attributes. Meditating on Him is encouraging and inspiring. It focuses our minds where they should be. Meditate on the things He has done and can do in and through you. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-39.) Encourage yourself: consider your position and who you are in the terms the Bible describes.

Paul uses the analogy of the soldier to make the point: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4.

The Christian life can be tough with its many challenges. However, like a soldier, we have committed to a special and singular life and lifestyle.

We are Christ’s disciples who live by the Word and the Spirit. Jesus said: he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22; 24:13.

C. ENCOURAGE YOURSELF AND RUN WITH THE END IN MIND We constantly need people around us to encourage us, but also let us be people who encourage others.

Keep standing. Keep fighting the fight of faith. Keep pushing through. Keep trusting God. Decide you’re not going to give up or quit.

Decide in your heart that nothing you go through is going to define your life. Jesus commands your destiny not your circumstances. It is the Word of God and the promises of God that are to define your life. So press in, look up and keep going because the victory is yours in Christ.

Encouragement builds strength into us. It enables us to press on and endure whatever the circumstances and helps us keep a clear head to hear God’s voice in our situation.

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TEACHING BY PAUL BRADY

There is clear evidence today that the Holy Spirit is moving among and through God’s people as they experience God’s provision for their lives: and there is more to come.

How do we know this will happen?

What must we do to make sure we are in the midst of what God is doing, and remain there?

KEEP YOUR EYE ON

1 Vision helps to centre our focus on a desired future As Habakkuk looked around and saw corruption and oppression among the people of Judah, he wondered how long it would go on; when would God act and do something about it? God’s response was measured. He said to Habakkuk: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk 2:2-3.

God’s answer to Habakkuk has relevance for us today. Not only does it apply to God’s vision for His Church worldwide, but also to individual churches as He expresses His vision through their pastors and leaders, and to individuals as they are led by the Spirit. God is good and does not lie; His vision will come to pass, in its appointed time.

In playing our part we must be tuned in to what God is saying and to those who lead the churches where He has placed us. I believe Carmel is led by people

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with God’s vision who are anointed by God and can complete the work God has given them to do.

Believers at large must hook up to such churches.

2 Vision is not passive but rather demands specific action When the vision is given and received in any particular church, its people must act on it and not just sit on the sidelines and observe. They must get involved and do whatever it takes to make room for the move of God. We must also write the vision for all to see. This makes progress measurable as we pursue God in obedience to His Word.

God places certain things on certain people for certain times to do certain things, so we must wait patiently, especially when the fulfilling of the vision seems to take a long time.

Train yourself to focus on the vision, like a sportsman keeping his eye on the ball. There is power in focus; it becomes like a magnet pulling you towards your destiny, bringing what you have been looking at from the future into the present. Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles.

3 Vision keeps us energised for a godly outcome

received what God said through His prophet Isaiah, and humbled himself before God.

Press in to all that God wants to do for and through you. The woman with the issue of blood focussed on and expected her healing. (Matthew 9:20-22.) She literally pushed her way through the crowd towards Jesus. She was determined not to miss what God wanted for her. We also must approach our destiny with similar determination.

Hezekiah’s literal turning and weeping was an outward sign of turning his entire life to the Lord and turning away from everything that was distracting him. He did not speak about his circumstances, his sickness, pending death or the defeat his people faced. His outpouring reminded God of his faithfulness, loyalty and devotion and his desire to follow God. (2 Kings 20:2-3.)

Sometimes people try to go forward but everything seems to push them back even though they apply the Word and walk in faith. Sometimes God does something great for us and for a while we’re excited and nothing seems to go wrong, then something changes and all hell seems to break loose. Notice that in that word ‘change’, between the first and the last letters, is another word, ‘hang’, hang in there.

Hang in there through the process of change right through to the promised end.

4 Vision speaks to us where God has placed us Hezekiah wanted to defeat his enemies, but things didn’t look good: In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” 2 Kings 20:1. That’s not the sort of ‘word’ we would want from the Lord, yet it was God’s Word to Hezekiah. Many are selective as they seek God and want to avoid a Word that is not conducive to what we want to hear. As a result, they go to different churches and seminars seeking prophetic words to suit them.

God speaks to us where He has placed us, if we stay connected and faithfully do what He says. Don’t run away: don’t run to personalities, gifting or to the entertainment some say is from God. Run the race where God has placed you, among people He has chosen to run with you, where you will achieve His plans and purposes for your life.

5 Vision speaks God’s truth that sets you free When God speaks, it’s not to make us feel good; it’s to direct, encourage, correct, guide and reveal His ways. God speaks truth, as He did to Hezekiah.

The king could have rejected the prophet and sent for more prophets or asked other people for their opinion on what had been said. However, Hezekiah

6 Vision is not easily distracted We face constant distractions from the devil, other people and circumstances, all aimed to derail us and rob us of our destiny. Trials and challenges don’t necessarily mean we are out of God’s will, but whenever we get close to God, there’s a reckoning.

We must set our faces like flint and speak out God’s promises and goodness, not the negativity of the circumstances. This re-positions us and aligns us with God and what He is doing, making way for Him to bring His desired change and blessings.

The Lord spoke again through Isaiah: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria.”

Isaiah 38:5-6. God changed everything for Hezekiah.

His Word is truth and life. Hezekiah did not die, but lived another fifteen years. He defeated his enemies and fulfilled his destiny.

Vision keeps your eye on the ball The Church that God is building is moving towards her destiny. God is taking us through uncharted waters, but there is nothing to fear because the Captain of our Salvation is with us, in us and leading us. For a player to score a goal he must keep His eye on the ball. We must be similarly focussed on the vision and God will do all He has promised to do.

Stay focussed and connected to God, His Word and His people. Make sure you are part of a church that is prepared and aligned with God’s plans and purposes. Do all that you do for the Lord and fulfill God’s purpose for your life in these exciting times.

Train yourself to focus on the vision, like a sportsman keeping his eye on the ball.

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TEACHING BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

Be anxious for nothing

UNDERSTANDING

The state of the world economy is referred to wherever you look or listen today. Talk about recession and cutbacks spread doubt about the financial future of the world as it is. These can be troublesome times, particularly for those who don’t know God.

However, as Christians we have no need to be anxious because God’s economy is not tied to the world’s economy. In Genesis 26, for example, we find that God told Isaac to sow seed in a time of famine.

Normally no-one would have expected a harvest, but God’s instruction guaranteed a harvest whatever it may have looked like from a natural standpoint.

When we relate to God as He desires, it includes submitting to His higher and greater economy and therefore we have no reason to be anxious about what we see and hear. (Philippians 4:6-7.)

The world defines prosperity in terms of money, riches, wealth, social standing and political influence.

This thinking causes people to seek security in their material possessions, to hoard and hold on to things.

God’s kingdom economy prospers us so we are released to give and be free from the controlling influence of our circumstances.

Prosperity according to the Bible When talking about kingdom economics we need to be clear about what these terms mean. A kingdom is a political or territorial unit ruled by a sovereign.

For us the supreme factor is that it includes the eternal spiritual sovereignty of God and Christ and the domain over which their sovereignty extends, whether in heaven or on earth.

Economics is about the whole material welfare of mankind. This means that kingdom economics deals with the biblical practices which relate to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services concerning the material welfare of mankind, and the spiritual laws that govern this.

God, by His grace, His nature and ability, enables us to live in kingdom prosperity. He wants us to have the ability to meet any given need, at any given time, at every given opportunity. God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever”. 2 Corinthians 9:8.

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An abundant and sufficient life This prosperity is not just financial, but includes every aspect of our lives, as the Bible says: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2. This is revealed in five key areas: Spiritually: Having a mature relationship with God Physically: Living in divine health Emotionally: Being whole in mind and emotions Relationally: Having godly relationships with others Financially: Having sufficient wealth to meet the needs of others Finance is only one area where God wants us to prosper. Therefore, we need to give full attention to the other four areas as well. What’s the point of being financially prosperous but lacking in the other four areas? You would end up like the man who filled his barns with goods and then died. He could take nothing with him and he hadn’t laid up any treasure in heaven. (Luke 12:16-21.)

Everything begins in the Spirit because God is Spirit.

Everything we have comes from Him and the grace we need to prosper comes from our relationship with Him. This is where the power comes from to live an abundant life.

Spiritual Prosperity, the Key to God’s Kingdom Economics The priority of spiritual prosperity was clearly stated

by Jesus when He said: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33. The importance of spiritual prosperity becomes clear when we consider what it embraces: 1. Spiritual Prosperity means escaping certain death Spiritual prosperity means to be forgiven of our sins. We were dead in our trespasses and sins.

(Ephesians 2:1.) It means being born again of the Spirit, filled with God’s presence and daily living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in His ability. This is the foundation upon which we must build our life and establish our purpose.

2. Spiritual Prosperity comes as a Gift from God You cannot work for it or earn it, but receive it as a gift from God when you repent and confess your

sins and invite God into your life. It is an expression of God’s love and grace towards you. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10.

3. Spiritual Prosperity comes with Benefits The benefits come from God working in and through you to attain the highest good for your life. This includes empowering you to prosper materially. The key spiritual benefits are: a. We have a Helper called the Spirit of Truth who is with us and in us. This means that by the Spirit, Jesus is with us in every way He was with His disciples, and more. He is now also with us as the ascended Lord who rules and reigns over all things.

(John 14:16-18.) b. We are guided into all truth and told about things to come. Jesus said: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13. c. We are equipped to do the work of the ministry.

Jesus said that He will build His church against which not even the gates of hell can prevail.

(Matthew 16:18.) Therefore it is no surprise that, through the apostle Paul, He gave instructions about how this was to be done and how we are to be equipped for ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-13.) d. We are given special abilities to help us help others. By the Spirit we are given gifts for the benefit of all and with the gifts we have the ability to exercise them according to God’s purposes for His Church. In this also is a means of unity in the Church because it is by ‘one’ Spirit, the Holy Spirit, that we receive them and use them. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11.)

This spiritual prosperity positions you to prosper in all things. Don’t be moved by circumstances or the world economy, but receive wisdom, instruction and revelation from God. “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18.

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ARTICLE CARMEL VISION 2010 REVISITED

The victories that we had yesterday are yesterday’s victories. Sometimes we can live in our yesterdays and forget about enjoying the moment of our present or looking with anticipation for the hope in our future. We must not live in the past. We must move on as God moves on. Either we get in step with Him or miss what He is doing.

We need to be able to say with the apostle Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7.

Partners at Carmel partner with the vision, which is a blueprint for what we are to do. This is why the vision must be shared. Sometimes people try to define us as an organisation, but what defines us is the will of God as He has expressed it to us; and God’s purposes will be achieved in God’s time.

To do this we have been led to view the work as five areas of focus: 1. ‘Share’, which concerns the way we reach out to the non-believer.

2. ‘Care’, which centres on support for the believer.

3. ‘Prepare’, which revolves around the training of partners and others who want to develop their life-skills as believers.

4. ‘Dare’, which is concerned with commissioning events which will reach out into the wider world.

5. ‘Beware’, which embraces technology and finance, enabling us to function in compliance with UK law and the Charity Commission.

The objectives behind Carmel’s vision are fivefold: 1. To help equip and mature believers to effectively minister the grace and love of God to others.

2. To bring God’s message of love to the City of Bristol through share, care, prepare and dare.

3. To establish city-wide campuses that can practically benefit the local community through its care, projects and life-skills programmes.

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4. To empower neighbouring city churches with Discipleship Training Centres to better facilitate the work of the ministry there.

5. To be a resource centre for other churches to draw on.

We are an equipping ministry where believers are enabled to live life successfully. It’s about the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit transforming people’s lives and empowering them to be successful as believers in the world where they are. Activity is often mistaken for progress, and religion for relationship: but we are not to make the study of God greater than the person of God, or working for God greater than waiting on God. Our gathering together on Sundays for worship and the Word is the most crucial event of the week.

If Sundays don’t happen, we are in the process of dying. We come together to celebrate God and in His presence receive and respond to His Word.

Church is not about programmes we participate in; it is about our relationship with God and with each other. We are to be relationally inspired. Our commitment to personal spiritual growth is the basis of our relationships.

We are continuing to align the Ministry with the purposes God has set before us. There is growth, and we expect that growth to accelerate. We are looking to God for the provision of a larger meeting place and facilities for running with those things He has told us to do. We are running with the end in mind. This is God’s day. This is God’s hour. We rejoice and will go on rejoicing for what God has done, is doing and is going to do.

ARTICLE PRAYER WORKS

WE GIVE

THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Madelaine Mendy Since I was eleven, I wanted to be a family law lawyer. I qualified and gained experience but the work I wanted didn’t come. When the late Dennis Tinerino spoke at Carmel about God giving business ideas, based on Proverbs 8:12 (KJV), it prompted me to pray. The next day the idea came to set up my own legal advice centre. I gave notice to my employers, and soon funding came through and I began to receive my first clients.

What was an added blessing was that a lawyer who heard what I was doing offered me part time work in his practice as a family law lawyer.

MADELAINE

Robert Jones For some years, a skin condition caused my face to be red and dry. Two years ago when I was at Carmel Bible College and studying ‘Christ the Healer’, I started to trust God for healing. Even when symptoms persisted, I believed that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed (1 Peter 2:24) and refused to doubt God’s Word. Today I am completely healed.

ROBERT

Justine Breen My mum had a painful lump on her side. My children and I prayed for her healing according to scripture and my son laid hands on her saying, “Nanny, be healed in the name of Jesus.” (Mark 16:18.) A couple of days later, Mum phoned and said that the pain and the lump had both disappeared.

JUSTINE

James McLaughlin I was travelling by bike and my girlfriend was travelling by bus. As she was getting on the bus, she remembered a guest speaker at Carmel had talked about pleading the blood of Jesus. Immediately, she pleaded the blood of Jesus over me and my bike. As I pulled away from traffic lights, a taxi door swung open. I couldn’t avoid it and as I crashed into the door, it buckled. I flew one way and the bike flew the other way. But the passenger from the taxi and I were unharmed and my bike was completely unmarked.

JAMES

Juppas Cushnie Throughout my first year at Carmel Bible College, I prayed and trusted God to provide my fees. At the end of the year, I was praying with a friend about something else and she gave me a cheque for £1,000. With this I was able to pay what was outstanding as well as pay something towards my second year studies. When I informed the CBC office, I was told that someone else had already paid the entire amount for my second year studies.

JUPPAS

Anna Okuovara During my first year at Carmel Bible College I travelled four hours daily from Taunton.

I prayed for accommodation in Bristol so I could do second year more easily. God answered, and an extra bonus is that my new home in Bristol is only ten minutes walk from my children’s school.

ANNA

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