Carmel Life Issue 43 by Carmel City Church

carmel: A MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY CARMEL MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

ISSUE 43

COMFORTED OR BEWITCHED Article by Pastor Gerri Di Somma

MAINTAINING YOUR POSITION OF JOY Teaching by Pastor Michelle Di Somma

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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.

I took a year out and studied at cbc: which has helped me with the challenges of university life.

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. PARTNERSHIP IN CARING We are instructed to watch over and take care of the partners in our charge (Acts 20:28).

Jonathan, 19

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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EXECUTIVE EDITORS GERRI AND MICHELLE DI SOMMA PRODUCED BY WWW.CRE8ION.CO.UK PRINTERS YEOMANS Bible quotations are from the New King James Version and Authorised King James Version unless stated otherwise. ALL TEACHINGS IN THIS EDITION ARE ABRIDGED. FULL VERSIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON CD OR DVD.

TAKING THE NEXT STEP INTO DESTINY Carmel Bible College is renowned for imparting life skills that equip believers to discover and fulfil their purpose and destiny in God. This internationally recognised and accredited college is now taking applications for the new academic year 2014-2015. You can download an application form from our website, and join us on registration day.

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ISSUE 43

HE SENT THEM TO PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND TO HEAL THE SICK. LUKE 9:2

WELCOME The first half of 2014 has been an exciting one for us at Carmel City Church. We’ve continued to increase numerically and the church has grown in love and unity through our monthly ‘Agape Meals’ held at each campus. On a personal note, we recently found out that we are to become grandparents for the tenth time – God is good! Again, we’re pleased to bring you another edition of Carmel Life. It’s our way of connecting with you wherever you are in the world. We trust that you’ll be blessed as you read about everything God has been doing in our midst and the teachings we’ve selected for you.

CONTENTS Two of the highlights of the past few months include our annual Exceptional Women’s and Valiant Men’s Conferences. We’ve included an overview of both conferences for you to enjoy, plus some testimonies of people whose lives were changed as a result of the teaching and ministry. We’re delighted that the students of Carmel Bible College Italy completed their first year of studies in May. As our special feature for this issue, Pastor Gerri has reported on the graduation ceremony and reflected upon the college’s progress. In addition, our own teachings and a teaching from Pastor Sean Leask will challenge, inspire and encourage you in your Christian faith. Thank you for enjoying the journey with us.

C:VIEW Exceptional Women’s Conference Overview Valiant Men’s Conference Overview

ARTICLE Comforted or Bewitched By Pastor Gerri Di Somma

TEACHING Maintaining a Position of Joy By Pastor Michelle Di Somma

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TEACHING Reached by Grace By Pastor Sean Leask

TESTIMONIES Conference Testimonies

GERRI AND MICHELLE DI SOMMA

EVENTS

SERVICES SUNDAY AT 10:00AM AND 6:00PM

JUNE THREE NIGHTS OF GLORY

CHRIST FOR ALL NATIONS

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Sun 29th – 6:00pm

Sat 19th – 8:00am

Fri 6th – Sun 8th Fri & Sat – 7:00pm Sun – 6:00pm

JULY / AUGUST

UK PRAYER TOUR WITH PAUL BRADY

CBC GRADUATION CCS AWARDS CEREMONY

Sun 15th

Wed 16th – 6:00pm

WOMEN’S BREAKFAST

SEPTEMBER EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN’S ADVANCE (off site) Fri 19th – Sun 21st

Tues 22nd – 7:00pm

Sat 12th – 6:00pm

FATHER’S DAY

CONTACT CARMEL CENTRE 817A BATH ROAD, BRISLINGTON BRISTOL BS4 5NL T: (0117) 977 5533 F: (0117) 977 5678 W: WWW.CARMELCITYCHURCH.ORG

THE UPRISING: YOUTH CAMP Sun 27th – Fri 2nd Aug

Sat 23rd – 8:30am

You can catch up with the weekend messages FREE online at archive.carmelcitychurch.org or sign up to our FREE podcast on iTunes. Simply search for: carmelcitychurch

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Please note some of the dates and times of up-and-coming events may be subject to change. See Carmel’s website for all the latest information.

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A LIFE THAT

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This year’s Exceptional Women’s Conference saw ladies from Carmel and other churches from across the UK gather together at Carmel City Church to examine their ‘Shout’ for Christ. Pastor Michelle Di Somma welcomed guest speakers Pas-tors Wendy Preston and Karen Brady, whose combined messages encouraged the women to live a life that shouts Christ. Over two days in March, many ladies experienced a greater level of freedom in their lives, giving them a new shout of joy and increased sense of purpose in their Christian life. God’s presence moved powerfully during the meetings, bringing healing and revelation through times of worship, ministry and the preaching of God’s Word.

SHOUT OUT HIS NAME Pastor Wendy Preston from Faith Alive Church in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, opened the teaching sessions on Friday morning with a biblical exhortation to sing, O daughter of Zion, shout O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Zephaniah 3:14. Pastor Wendy used this scripture to show that it is possible for believers to live a lifestyle of joyful celebration every day and not just on special occasions or when circumstances are favourable.“This is possible because God says we can and He has given us a reason to shout,” she added. Pastor Wendy encouraged the ladies according to Zephaniah 3:15, saying that because the Lord has taken away your judgments and he has cast out your enemy, the women could be confident to shout out the name of Jesus and declare what God has done for them. Through her own personal testimony, Pastor Wendy demonstrated the power of confessing the name of Jesus and the Word of God in every situation. “In order to live 4

an overcoming lifestyle of success and prosperity for Him, you need to start believing and speaking out the Word of God and the name of Jesus.” A REASON TO SHOUT SHOUT FOR OTHERS The morning continued with a message from Pastor Karen Brady from Living Rivers Millennial Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma. She encouraged the women to shout out and testify to what God has done in their lives so that other people can see His goodness. Pastor Karen urged the ladies to make the most of the opportunity to see “others set free for the glory of God” by using their voices to “shout the good things of God.” Expanding on this truth, Pastor Karen explained the importance of shouting the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. Drawing from Galatians 5:22, she emphasised the need to walk in communion with God, to grow in the fruits of the Spirit and to develop good relationships with other people. She added that obedience to the Holy Spirit is the only way to ensure that the right words are

spoken at the right time, resulting in a “powerful shout, not a powerful bite” Pastor Karen concluded that when our foundation is in the Word of God, we can sustain our shout for God as well as maintain the ability to be patient with all, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. HIS NAME BRINGS HEALING On Friday evening, Pastor Michelle Di Somma led the women into a time of ministry helping those who were ‘stuck in the miry clay’ and feeling trapped by their circumstances. As the service moved into a time of declaring God’s power through praise and worship, many ladies who had been struggling in different areas in their walk with God, received prayer for healing and release. Pastor Michelle, obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, put her prepared message aside and allowed God to minister directly to the women, culminating in her final statement, “God has worked miracles in hearts and lives tonight, so walk out in freedom and liberty with your shout restored.” This powerful move of the Holy Spirit continued into Saturday morning,

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EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

allowing God to have His way in the women’s lives, resulting in many testimonies to His healing and restorative power. ACTS OF HOPE After lunch, Pastor Michelle introduced this year’s fundraiser with a video presentation describing the organisation’s work in Zambia.The goal of the afternoon’s fundraising event was to raise sufficient funds to build a maternity wing in one of their medical centres, so that the women in that part of Zambia can give birth in a safe and sanitary environment.This was achieved through an auction of fantastic gifts as well as buying handmade items donated by members of Carmel City Church. LINE UP YOUR SHOUT WITH THE WORD OF GOD Later that afternoon, Pastor Michelle encouraged the women to examine the words that they speak and emphasised the importance of a positive confession. “If we want a life that shouts Jesus, then we need to make sure our words line up with the

Word of God.”she said, Reading from Isaiah 55:11 Pastor Michelle ex-plained that a believer’s shout should contain the creative power of God’s Word because He says, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void. In order to keep walking in the freedom, healing and victory experienced during the conference, the women were urged to find scriptures relevant to their circumstances and to confess them over their lives and in their homes. She exposed some common sayings that could result in a believer being ‘snared by their words’ (Proverbs 6:2). She described how important it is to choose words that line up with God’s Word because death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21. Pastor Michelle challenged the ladies saying, “what you believe and what you speak will show up in your life - are you willing to change your shout?” RESTORING YOUR SHOUT On the final night, Pastor Karen concluded the conference by explaining that maintaining a strong shout

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for Christ will bring victory over circumstances. She continued to expound on her previous message by saying that because “we are all called to be ministers of reconciliation,” a restored shout will result in other people being set free as well. Pastor Karen emphasised the powerful impact that can be had when believers come together with a restored shout and with a greater voice for Him. Putting everything into context, Pastor Karen said, “This is what it’s all been for. This is what the preparation has all been for, to see a manifestation of God’s love like never before bringing many into the Kingdom of God.’ GO OUT WITH A NEW SHOUT As this year’s Exceptional Women’s Conference came to a close, Pastor Michelle encouraged the ladies saying, ”our lives must continually speak Jesus and testify to His faithfulness, goodness and delivering power”. Strengthened by the teaching of God’s Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit the women were able to ‘Go out with a new shout!’ 5

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VALIANT MEN’S CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

16TH – 17TH MAY 2014 ‘It’s A Man Thing!’ was the theme for this year’s Valiant Men’s Conference that took place during May. Pastor Gerri Di Somma welcomed guest speakers Pastor Bernie McLaughlin and Pastor David McDonald for the two-day Conference at Carmel City Church. Pastor Gerri opened the Conference by exhorting the men to expect God to speak to them individually and for Him to prepare them for a new level of spiritual excellence. The following is an overview of the teaching sessions: THE MEASURE OF MANHOOD Pastor David McDonald brought the first teaching of the Conference on the Friday evening. He taught about the importance of understanding true manhood since God has ordained men to be influential within their homes and communities. The men were warned not to take their measure of manhood from the image and behaviour found within secular society. Using the accounts of the biblical characters Samson and King David, Pastor David highlighted the difference between secular and godly definitions of manhood. “Samson was everything the world defines as manly: handsome, strong, gifted and promiscuous,” explained Pastor David. “But he lost 6

God’s anointing because of pride, lust and uncontrolled desires.” This worldly image of manhood was contrasted with God’s definition, demonstrated in the life of King David. Pastor David explained that King David was not perfect, but he demonstrated true manliness by loving and obeying God, being merciful to others and remaining humble when corrected. “When David sinned with Bathsheba, he repented and received God’s forgiveness,” said Pastor David. “And God promised that the Messiah would come from his lineage.” The men were encouraged to follow King David’s example: “Repent of your mistakes and then stop focusing on them. Instead, focus on what God’s Word says about you.” THE PRODIGAL HEART The Saturday morning sessions began with a teaching by Pastor Gerri that examined the signs of a ‘prodigal heart’. He used the parable of the prodigal son to explain that men with prodigal hearts have independent spirits revealed through their actions (Luke 15:11-32). “They do as they please and disregard godly counsel from their spiritual leaders,” he said. The men were warned that such independent thinking and acting is risky since it results in pride, which in turn, brings destruction: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18.

Pastor Gerri highlighted that men who are disconnected from the ‘father of the house’, that is, the spiritual leader of their local church, reveal that their heart is not connected to their heavenly Father. The men were warned that distancing themselves from this and other important relationships is unwise because it causes them to be isolated. “When you disconnect yourself from these relationships and isolate yourself,” said Pastor Gerri, “you risk making poor decisions, which will result in sin and its consequences.” In conclusion, Pastor Gerri described how the prodigal son came to his senses, took responsibility for his actions and returned to his father’s house, the place of his prosperity, with a humble heart. The men were given the opportunity to repent of a prodigal heart, if necessary, and return to the place of their safety and prosperity A SPIRITUAL SON Next, Pastor Bernie used the relationship between the Apostle Paul and Timothy to reveal to the men what it means to be spiritual sons within their local churches. “Timothy is the greatest example in the Bible of a spiritual son,” declared Pastor Bernie. “He was a spiritual son to Paul, but he also became a spiritual father to his own spiritual sons.” Pastor Bernie emphasised that Christian men need

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to be spiritual sons before they can be spiritual fathers. “Spiritual sons follow the footsteps of their father,” he said, “and they make disciples of other men, as Jesus instructed.” Attributes of spiritual sonship were given to help the men assess whether or not they are true sons. Pastor Bernie detailed that spiritual sons are teachable, caring, submitted, faithful, humble, trusting and obedient. “By being a spiritual son and becoming a spiritual father, you ensure that the ministry of the Gospel is perpetuated throughout the generations as you teach your sons to be fathers of others,” Pastor Bernie concluded. A MAN OF COURAGE Courage was the subject for Pastor David’s afternoon session. “Courage is woven into who you are as men of God. It’s in your DNA,” he stated. Pastor David explained that it takes courage for Christian men to obey God and His Word in the face of fear and opposition. “Courageous men speak God’s truth and challenge the status quo,” he said. “Courageous men go beyond the natural realm of their abilities and enter the supernatural realm where they accomplish victories for God’s kingdom.” Pastor David gave biblical examples of men who exhibited courage and did great exploits in their time: King David

courageously defeated Goliath with the little that was in his hands; Joshua courageously took the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land, a place they had never been before; Gideon stepped out of his comfort zone when God spoke to him and delivered his people from oppression. AN EXCELLENT HEART Following this, Pastor Gerri drew inspiration from the life of Daniel to describe what it means to have an excellent heart and reap the rewards of it. He explained that Daniel’s situation was undesirable – he was a captive in a foreign land – yet his attitude and actions displayed excellence. The men were shown that Daniel’s excellent heart was demonstrated by keeping himself pure, not allowing circumstances to discourage him, not being defined by his employment, surrounding himself with like-minded people, remaining humble when promoted, not compromising his standards and by trusting God’s principles. “An excellent heart will always lead to great promotion,” concluded Pastor Gerri, describing how Daniel was promoted under the leadership of four kings. “Daniel went from captive to captain, prison to palace and from a great challenge to being God’s great champion.” AN ATMOSPHERE FOR MIRACLES “Miracles do happen,” emphasised

Pastor Bernie at the final session on Saturday evening. He recounted the miracles he has witnessed in people’s lives and explained that Christians should be vessels of God’s anointing to bring healing, lift burdens and break bondages. Pastor Bernie highlighted that unforgiveness prevents believers from operating in God’s anointing and seeing miracles happen. “We maintain God’s anointing in our lives by keeping our hearts pure and free from unforgiveness,” he explained. Using the account of Joseph, who was wronged by his brothers, Pastor Bernie described the traits of a forgiving person. The men were challenged to purify their hearts in order to create an atmosphere for miracles in their lives and churches. MOVING TO A NEW LEVEL In addition to the life-changing messages, the men enjoyed times of fellowship and a ‘question and answer’ session where the conference speakers shared their godly wisdom and experiences in response to specific questions. Throughout the two days, many men were impacted as they left behind their defeats and courageously declared to follow God’s biblical pattern for manhood and move into all that God has planned for them. 7

GOD WANTS US TO PROSPER SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, RELATIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY, YET MANY CHRISTIANS FAIL TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF HIS PROSPERITY. SINCE GOD DOESN’T LIE AND HIS WORD IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, WE MUST EXAMINE OUR OWN LIVES TO DISCOVER WHAT IS PREVENTING US FROM RECEIVING GOD’S PROSPERITY.

ARTICLE BY PASTOR GERRI DI SOMMA

Comforted or Bewitched? This article is an abridged version of Pastor Gerri Di Somma’s first message in his teaching series entitled, ‘Why Prosperity Fails’. 8

THE GREAT DISTRACTION Failure to receive God’s promises, including prosperity, is due to falling into ditches of error regarding biblical doctrine. The devil attempts to distract us off the right track of God’s truth and into ditches of error so that we don’t experience God’s promises in our lives. Having an accurate understanding of God’s Word is essential to avoid such ditches. That’s why it’s vital to know God’s Word and not be swayed from its truths. The Christians in Galatia provide us with a valuable lesson concerning this. They had become distracted into doctrinal error, prompting the Apostle Paul’s letter to them. THE GALATIAN ERROR The Galatian Christians were Gentile converts to Christianity who started on the right doctrinal path, receiving salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, the false teaching of the Judaizers distracted them from this truth and, therefore, they attempted to maintain their salvation through the works of the law. By doing so, they fell into a ditch of error instead of remaining on the right track of truth (Galatians 1:6-9, 3:1-3). Paul’s words of correction reveal the seriousness of their situation: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? Galatians 3:1. The word, ‘bewitched’ means to be charmed, attracted or fascinated. Since they did not remain steadfast in the doctrinal truth Paul had taught them, the Galatians became attracted and fascinated by unbiblical doctrines. Paul indicates that their error ensnared them back into bondage (Galatians 5:1). SPIRIT OR FLESH? The Galatians started their Christian lives by depending upon the Holy Spirit, but rather than continuing in this manner, they tried to become perfect by depending upon their flesh, that is, their own natural abilities and strengths: Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:3.

Their error is not unique to them. Many Christians today fall into the same ditch of error, depending on their own abilities rather than depending upon God’s Spirit. The Bible frequently addresses the fact that the Spirit and the flesh are at enmity against each other. Additionally, biblical doctrine shows us that we must depend upon the Spirit in order to live successfully as Christians (for example: Romans 8:5-7; Galatians 5:16-23). Therefore, when we depend on ourselves instead of God’s Spirit, we fall into a ditch of doctrinal error that prevents us from receiving the fullness of God’s promises, including prosperity.

God’s comfort. If money is our comfort, we’ll experience feelings of insecurity whenever money is scarce or, perhaps, when employment is lost.

WHERE IS OUR DEPENDENCE?

Equally, achievements can become our source of comfort. For instance, I was a Bible College dean in South Africa where I taught approximately 600 students daily, but when I came to England and founded Carmel City Church, the church started with only 8 people, 6 of whom were family members. At first, my sense of achievement was affected, but God reminded me that comfort comes from Him, not from outward achievements.

Whenever we depend on our own natural strengths and abilities, we shift our source of comfort, strength, help and wisdom from an eternal God to temporary earthly things. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is our source of comfort: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16. In the King James Version, ‘Helper’ is translated as ‘Comforter’. And the Greek word used in both cases, ‘Paraklētos,’ means helper, comforter, intercessor and advocate. Therefore, it’s clear that the Holy Spirit has been given as our source of comfort and help. Anything else that comforts us is a distraction that removes us from this truth, causing us to be bewitched into a ditch of error that prevents us from receiving God’s promises. Let’s examine some earthly ‘comforts’ that can bewitch us and replace God’s comfort in our lives: 1. MONEY Luke’s gospel records Jesus’ encounter with a rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23). When Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give his money to the poor, the ruler’s unwillingness revealed that money was his source of comfort. Jesus wasn’t opposed to the ruler having money, but He wanted him to release his earthly comfort so that he could receive God’s comfort and inherit eternal life. Like this ruler, we too can fall into the ditch of relying upon money to comfort us instead of depending on

2. ACHIEVEMENT Jesus told a parable about a man who achieved so much success in his farming business that he had no room to store his crops (Luke 12:16-21). This man took comfort from his ability to achieve, evidenced by his decision to build larger barns to store the crops so that he could stop working and take life easy. He presumed that the crops – the result of his achievement – would sustain him for many years.

3. FOOD Many Christians resort to food for natural comfort. I used to be such a Christian. My upbringing taught me to associate every human emotion with food. It didn’t matter whether I was happy, sad, confused or depressed, my response was to eat. Therefore, whenever challenging situations confronted me, instead of seeking God’s comfort and solution, I ate. However, in 2007, God told me that if I didn’t change my eating habits, I would not fulfil my destiny. Additionally, God showed me that gluttonous people do not prosper (Proverbs 23:20-21). Since that time, I’ve adopted a lifestyle of healthier, controlled eating and I’ve learned to depend on God for His comfort in every situation. 4. ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES Substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs or caffeine can become a source of comfort. As Christians, we generally avoid cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, but we depend upon caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea or cola to comfort us instead of God. Such 9

WE MUST REALISE THAT DEPENDENCE ON EARTHLY THINGS IS FUTILE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE NEED IS FOUND IN GOD’S ETERNAL PRESENCE. 10

Christians may say, “I need coffee to help me think and help me work.” This identifies that they don’t depend upon God for His comfort or help. The Bible warns that dependence upon addictive substances will lead us astray (Proverbs 20:1). 5. POSSESSIONS Christians who desire to own the latest goods on the market simply to impress others are comforted by worldly possessions. Instead of being comforted by God’s truth of who He created them to be, they seek value and comfort from other people’s opinions of them based upon their possessions. We must recognise that possessions do not determine our worth since they are corrodible, and neither do they offer eternal comfort since it’s impossible to take them into eternity (Matthew 6:19; Ecclesiastes 5:15). TEMPORAL OR ETERNAL COMFORT? These and other earthly comforts that momentarily satisfy our fleshly natures will eventually fail because they are temporal. Only God’s comfort is eternal since He is eternal and He is our Comforter (John 14:16). Relying upon earthly comforts is a subtle trap that will bewitch us into doctrinal error and, consequently, cause us to not experience God’s prosperity. We must realise that dependence on earthly things is futile, because everything we need is found in God’s eternal presence. Therefore, we can be confident to receive the necessary comfort and provision for every situation in His presence. Let’s examine some of the benefits of God’s presence that describe His prosperity: 1. DIRECTION Only God, our eternal, all-knowing Father is able to give us the direction

needed for us to fulfill His plans and purposes. The Bible records numerous accounts of people who dwelt in God’s presence and were therefore directed by Him. For example, God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and led them into the wilderness by His presence, which was manifest as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21). 2. TIMES OF REFRESHING Whenever we encounter difficult circumstances, the devil attempts to distract our attention away from God and His presence. He entices us to focus on the difficulty and our own solutions to the problem. If we succumb to the devil’s ploys, we’ll depend upon earthly comforts instead of God’s comfort. In turn, we won’t hear God’s voice in order to be directed by Him. However, by refusing to be distracted by challenging situations and resolving to remain in God’s presence, we’ll experience His refreshing (Acts 3:19). God’s refreshing empowers us to overcome every situation with a God-given strategy. 3. FULLNESS OF JOY There’s a vast difference between happiness and joy: happiness is an emotion based upon circumstances, whereas joy is a state of being that transcends emotions and circumstances. Although temporary comforts may cause people to feel happy for a short time, they are not the source of joy. Joy is found in God’s presence: in Your presence is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:11. 4. PROTECTION God’s presence provides us with protection from the enemy, hiding us from his sight. Mosquito repellent is a natural illustration of how this works. Despite being called a repellent,

it doesn’t repel mosquitos, but it disguises people who use it, so that the mosquito cannot detect them. Just like mosquitos cannot find people covered in repellent, so the devil cannot find Christians covered in God’s presence – they are hidden (Psalm 31:19-20). 5. ETERNAL LIFE There’s no greater comfort than being assured of eternal life with God, something that earthly comforts can never guarantee. Assurance of eternal life comes from knowing God; Jesus said: “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God.” John 17:3. To ‘know’ God doesn’t mean to know about Him, it means to know Him intimately. This relationship of intimacy is only possible by dwelling in His presence. RECEIVE GOD’S COMFORT If anything other than God is comforting you, such as money, achievements, food, addictive substances or possessions, then, like the Galatians, you have been bewitched, depending on the flesh rather than God’s Spirit. This diversion must be rectified, because temporal comforts will replace God and His comfort and, therefore, prevent you from receiving the benefits of His presence and provision: direction, refreshment, joy, protection and eternal life. Come back to the truth. Repent of replacing God’s comfort with other comforts. Receive the Holy Spirit as your eternal Comforter and allow Him to lead you into all truth and the fullness of His prosperity.

Other messages available in this series are ‘The Madness Of Materialism’ and ‘Hoarding Pennies, Housing Poverty’. These are available to purchase from Carmel’s Bookshop.

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Maintaining Your Position of

Joy ARTICLE BY PASTOR MICHELLE DI SOMMA

Nehemiah responded to the Children of Israel’s sorrow and grief with these well-known words: “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. Though spoken over two thousand years ago, his words are still applicable for us today. Life is not always easy and we all experience negative situations that cause us to feel sorrowful, 12

but Nehemiah’s words show us that God’s joy will strengthen us to endure and overcome any situation. Joy Comes From The Lord Circumstances, whether good or bad, are not the source of joy; God is our source of joy. When we gave our lives to Jesus, we were born again of His

Spirit and one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy (John 3:5; Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, it’s possible to remain joyful during challenging or difficult situations because joy is not dependent upon outward circumstances, but it’s dependent upon our relationship with God. Joy is ours. When we position ourselves in God, we position ourselves in joy.

However, many Christians fail to maintain their position of joy. Instead of remaining close to God during difficult times, they allow the storms of life to dictate to their emotions. If they’re not careful, feelings of despair, depression and grief can easily cause them to be overwhelmed and moved from their position of joy. Joy Comes In The Morning It’s important to understand that feelings such as sorrow and grief are not wrong. In fact they are necessary emotions that God has given us to process and deal with life’s adverse circumstances. Although we mustn’t deny that we experience such emotions, equally, we must not let them take over our lives and cause us to become devastated, crushed and shattered for indefinite periods of time. The psalmist, David, who faced many hostile situations, wrote: Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5. This scripture confirms that times of weeping and sorrow are inevitable, but it also tells us that these times of mourning need not last forever. This is significant because allowing negative emotions to overwhelm us will not only cause us to lose our position of joy, but it will also cause us to lose our strength. Joy Comes With God’s Strength The joy of the Lord is our strength. By remaining positioned in God’s joy during difficult situations, we are strengthened and enabled to overcome. This means that when we allow sorrow and grief to overwhelm us, we become weak spiritually, physically and emotionally. That’s why it’s vital to remain in God’s joy rather than allowing despair and depression to dominate our lives. Additionally, God doesn’t leave us to face our challenges and difficulties alone; David also wrote: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4. There’s no reason for us to remain sorrowful for the rest of our lives; God promises to lead us through difficult situations. However, we must take responsibility

and make the choice to not continue in a sorrowful state, but to allow God’s joy to strengthen us and lead us out of it. Let’s examine some ways we can maintain our position of joy in order to be strengthened for godly living: 1. OPERATE GOD’S WORD Operating God’s Word means to obey, speak and live it. His Word has something to say about every conceivable situation. By reading and studying it, we will find answers and solutions for the challenging circumstances we encounter. Then, we must apply its wisdom. It’s not enough to simply read the Bible; we must also do what it says. Jesus told His disciples that hearing and obeying His Word ensures strength to withstand any storm (Matthew 7:24-27). Additionally, we must uphold a biblical confession. Our confession has the power to change situations, so we should use our mouths to praise God and declare His Word rather than complaining about our problems (Mark 11:23-24; Proverbs 15:23). Choosing to obey God’s Word rather than our emotions enables us to maintain our position of joy. 2. GET A LIFE VISION Vision is essential for maintaining joy. Without vision, people become hopeless because they have nothing to look forward to in their future. King Solomon put it this way: Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18, KJV. As Christians, it’s important that our life’s vision is God-given. Those who currently lack vision can ask God what He has planned for their lives. Then, when tough times come, our vision reminds us of the hope and future we have in God; it gives us a joyful expectation that helps us to see beyond the present circumstances and enables us to remain focused on God rather than becoming distracted by the difficulties. Thus, we maintain our position of joy. 3. ENDURE HARDSHIP The Apostle Paul likened the Christian life to a soldier’s life, telling Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3-4.

Using the analogy of a good soldier, we can learn how to endure hardship and maintain our joy: just as a good soldier willingly goes into battle and does not give into the enemy despite the hardships he faces, so must we be willing to push through difficult times and not give into the enemies of depression or despair; just as a good soldier encourages himself and keeps fit for the battle, so must we encourage ourselves with God’s Word and keep fit by exercising our faith to apply it; just as a good soldier develops endurance and prevails until the battle is won, so must we endure difficulties until we have overcome our battles. 4. DETERMINE TO SUCCEED Success is not measured by what we accumulate or attain in life, but by what we do with what God places in our hands. God has given us His Word, and our success depends on what we do with it. To succeed we must allow the Word of God to captivate our thinking because what we think influences our actions, which, in turn, determines the outcome to the situations we face. The key to achieving a thought life that is captivated by God’s Word is meditation: God told Joshua that he would make his way prosperous and have good success if he meditated on His Word day and night (Joshua 1:8). When we, too, meditate upon God’s Word, it will determine the course of our lives – joyful success! Be Joyful! It doesn’t matter what difficulties you are facing right now, you can maintain a position of joy. Remember, the joy of the Lord is your strength, so don’t allow your circumstances to destroy your source of strength any longer. As God’s child, it is possible for you to remain joyful despite the challenges that confront you. Make the choice today to operate God’s Word, focus on your life vision, endure hardship and determine to succeed. In so doing, you will become a Christian who is not swayed from their position of joy and is strengthened to overcome any situation. The joy of the Lord is your strength! 13

CBC:

Italy

In 1997, Pastor Gerri Di Somma founded Carmel Bible College (CBC) in Bristol, UK with the purpose of equipping believers to discover and fulfil their God-ordained destinies. Over the years, hundreds of students have experienced the transforming power of God working in their lives as they studied His Word and applied its principles. The College has trained and equipped people from many nationalities, and it has been wonderful to see graduates return to their home countries and make a difference in their communities and nations. One such graduate is Pastor Daniele Forte from Italy. After graduating from CBC in 2000, he returned home and started a church that has seen steady growth. In 2012, God spoke to both Pastor Gerri and Pastor Daniele about joining forces to start a Bible College in Italy. A year later, in September 2013, CBC Italy was launched with its first intake of students. This May, Pastors Gerri and Michelle travelled to Italy to be part of CBC Italy’s first graduation service.

God spoke to me in 1993 when I visited Italy for the first time. Italy is the land of my father’s birth, and during my visit, I wondered if God would send me to Italy as a missionary. But the still small voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said that I would not be the one to reach Italy; He said that my spiritual sons would be the ones to reach Italy with the good news of Jesus. I thank God for the fulfilment of His word, which proves His faithfulness once again.

PASTOR GERRI REPORTED BACK ON THIS SPECIAL OCCASION:

What started as a dream has now become a reality. When people said that it was not possible, we chose to put our faith in Jesus who said, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23. Believing had a lot to do with receiving. It took faith in a limitless God, hope (confident expectation) in a prophetic utterance, and godly persistence to see Jesus made real in the lives of the students.

The 31st May 2014 saw the culmination of two years of preparation and hard work as the students of CBC Italy graduated from their first year of study. It was a great celebration, one that would not have been possible without the hard work of Pastor Daniele and his wife Antonella. They have both worked tirelessly to see the vision of CBC Italy come to fruition. We applaud them and the graduates for their efforts and diligence. DARING TO DREAM As the president of CBC Italy, this graduation was the fulfilment of what

I remember when we signed the contract for the building that would become CBC Italy’s premises. We had not yet received any applications for enrolment into the Bible College; it was not merely a step of faith, it was

a leap of faith! Furthermore, at that point, we had not secured any kind of income stream, so we didn’t know how we were going to make the monthly payments. But we had assurance in our hearts that this was what God had directed us to do; we simply needed to trust Him. I say ‘simply’, but to say it was not tough would be lying; it tested our obedience, pushed our faith to the limits and even tested our long-standing relationship. GRADUATING GOD’S GENERALS It was a great honour for Michelle and I to be part of commissioning the charter class of CBC Italy and to preside over the proceedings. This was no ordinary graduation, but the rite of passage for a group of students who are changing their lives, families, cultures and communities in a determined manner by bringing the influence of Jesus through the Great Commission. It was a commissioning service with a difference and we praise God that we were part of being history makers. We know that God does not despise small beginnings, and we are confident that God will add more

What made this graduation so special was listening to the speeches from each student. After receiving their diplomas, they each told their own story of how they came to Bible College and how God sustained them throughout their year of study. As they expressed their joy of completing CBC together, they thanked each other for helping them finish strong. The laughter and tears flowed freely as they recounted the wonderful memories they will share for the rest of their lives. They also conveyed their anticipation and excitement about

starting the second year of Bible College. One man’s story stood out to me the most. He confessed that he initially thought the college would not be able to teach him anything since he was already a pastor of a church. However, he acknowledged that the teaching at CBC quickly revealed to him how little he knew and understood about God’s Word. Now, this pastor | is making a greater impact within his church and community; his congregation members have even commented that his preaching has improved! STRENGTH TO STRENGTH The purpose of Carmel Bible College is to equip Christians to do life, and to do it well. Too often, theological colleges and seminaries only teach doctrine. Although knowledge of doctrine is necessary, it becomes useless to Christians if they are not also taught how to apply it in their everyday lives. The Apostle James addressed this very matter when he wrote about the relationship between faith and works. He wrote: I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18. It’s not wrong to have intellectual knowledge about faith, but the proof of faith is in its application. When faith is applied, our

students to CBC Italy as we remain faithful to build God’s kingdom. We rejoice that the five graduates are already teaching and preaching to over 500 people per week in their respective roles as pastors and ministers of the Gospel. That’s a one hundred fold return on the investment of God’s Word into their lives – God is building His Church in Italy! Two of the students were already pastors when they enrolled at CBC Italy; they work extensively among the refugees in Bari. Another is being trained as a pastor under Pastor Daniele to assist in the church Pastor Daniele founded in Barletta.

CBC

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lives change and others can enjoy the fruit of the transformation that has taken place. CBC is not about growing big churches, but growing people who are big in faith so they can do great exploits for God; it is about the testimony of faith that has been tried and tested in the challenges of life, coming out stronger, wiser and fulfilled in Jesus. We’re delighted that CBC Italy has been birthed and we are confident that it will now go from strength to strength. The struggle of the labour is over and now it will grow to its full potential in equipping the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). I believe that this is just the beginning of what God desires to do in Italy. Once again, we extend our sincere gratitude to Pastor Daniele and Antonella Forte for their hard work. We also extend our thanks to everyone who has given inancial seed and prayed for CBC Italy. Now that the Bible College has been birthed, it’s time to help it grow and see many more students come and get equipped for life.

REACHED

BY GRACE TEACHING BY PASTOR SEAN LEASK

IN RESPONSE TO A PERSONAL REVELATION OF GOD’S GRACE, JOHN NEWTON WROTE A HYMN THAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CHRISTIAN SONGS EVER WRITTEN: ‘AMAZING GRACE’. THE LYRICS TELL OF HIS AWE AND GRATITUDE THAT GOD’S GRACE EXTENDED TOWARDS HIM TO SAVE AND TRANSFORM HIS LIFE. THE SAME GRACE THAT EXTENDED TOWARDS NEWTON EXTENDS TOWARDS EVERY HUMAN BEING.

GRACE FOR ALL

THE NATURE OF GRACE

Grace reaches into every person’s life. It’s how God is personally involved in the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike. By His grace, God reaches out to those who don’t know Him, giving them opportunities to receive His love and salvation (2 Peter 3:9). And by His grace, God transforms Christians into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Sadly, the true nature of grace has been misunderstood, causing many Christians to limit its meaning and application. For example, some Christians mistakenly believe that they can continue to sin because God’s grace will automatically forgive and cover their sin. While God does forgive those who repent, His grace does not permit us to do as we please. Rather,

grace enables us to overcome sin and live holy lives (Romans 6; Titus 2:11-13). THE FREE GIFT OF GRACE ‘Charis’ is the Greek word for ‘grace’. Its definition confirms that grace is for the salvation of non-Christians and the transformation of Christians to Christlikeness. But its meaning also reveals that grace is an act of God’s

merciful kindness. Therefore, grace cannot be earned by good works or purchased with money; it’s a free gift motivated by God’s love. This is a powerful truth: God chooses to extend grace towards us because He loves us. Since God’s love is unconditional and unfailing, His grace, motivated by love, is always reaching out to mankind. GRACE FOR EVERY SITUATION Grace is not restricted in its scope; grace reaches into every situation enabling us know God and become like Him. In particular, there is no human condition due to sin that is beyond the reach of God’s grace (Isaiah 59:1; 1 John 1:9; Titus 2:14). Jesus’ life on earth exemplified grace. Everything He did and said demonstrated grace. Let’s examine five of these occasions and discover the extent to which God’s grace reaches out to us too: 1. GRACE REACHES INTO THE DEPTHS OF MORAL DEGRADATION Jesus was criticised for being a friend of sinners, but His purpose was to extend grace towards them in the midst of their moral degradation so they could receive forgiveness and salvation (Mark 2:15-17). For example, by His grace, Jesus forgave a well-known prostitute. In response, she poured expensive oil on Jesus’ feet. Her actions were significant: the oil symbolised her value since she undoubtedly purchased it using earnings from her former prostitution. Thus, pouring it out demonstrated her humility and acknowledgement that she had no value outside of Christ. As a result, God’s grace became more evident as Jesus accepted her offering and publicly confirming that she had been forgiven (Luke 7:36-50). Likewise, God’s grace reaches into our moral degradation to forgive and cleanse us when we humbly acknowledge our condition and need of Him: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6. 2. GRACE REACHES INTO THE HEART OF GREED Zacchaeus was a tax collector who received salvation after Jesus reached

out to him in grace (Luke 19:110). Tax collectors during this time were renowned for their greed; they charged more tax than was necessary and pocketing the extra money. Zacchaeus, too, was a greedy man prior to meeting Jesus, evidenced by his declaration to restore anything he had taken through dishonest means. But God’s grace changed his heart of greed. His promise to give half of his goods to the poor reveals that he was no longer greedy for personal gain. Equally, grace reaches to us when greed captivates our hearts. A few indications that our hearts have become greedy are: refusing to tithe, hoarding worldly goods and withholding money from people in need. 3. GRACE REACHES INTO THE MIRE OF RELATIONAL BREAKDOWN A Samaritan woman who had been married five times in her attempts to gain emotional value and fulfilment from relationships with men was changed by grace when she met Jesus. No doubt, her failed relationships had left her feeling emotionally broken. However, she had a genuine desire for spiritual truth. As a result, Jesus revealed to her that He was the Messiah, a revelation He did not make again until He was arrested at the end of His earthly ministry (John 4:5-26; Matthew 26:62-64). No matter how many times we have made relational mistakes, God’s grace can reach into our broken lives. God reveals Himself to those who sincerely desire Him (Psalm 34:18; 51:17). 4. GRACE REACHES INTO THE DARKNESS OF SHAME When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, they wanted Him to judge her according to the law, which stated that she must be stoned to death (John 8:3-12; Leviticus 20:10). However, Jesus made His judgement according to grace, saying: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7. Since none of her accusers were without sin, none were able to initiate the stoning. Jesus was the only man present who was sinless; therefore, He was the only one that could rightfully accuse her. However,

He didn’t accuse or condemn her, but released her from the guilt and shame of her sin. Likewise, there is no shameful deed that we have committed that is beyond the reach of God’s grace. 5. GRACE REACHES INTO DEATH ITSELF When Lazarus died, Jesus demonstrated grace to its full extent by raising him from the dead (John 11:1-44). Jesus, who is life itself, did not hold back from reaching out to someone in death, a situation that seemed unreachable (John 14:6). Jesus told His disciples that the death of Lazarus was for God’s glory, so that others could witness God’s love and grace when he was resurrected and, as a result, receive God’s love and grace too. As Christians, God’s grace reached into our lives when we were dead in our sins, giving us spiritual life (Ephesians 2:1-7). Equally, any aspect of our lives that appears ‘dead’ and unfruitful is not beyond the reach of His grace. GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE AND GRACE Nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:31-39). Therefore, nothing can separate you from His grace, because grace is a free gift of His love. There is no sin that you have committed that is beyond the reach of His grace since grace has no limits and reaches to into every possible human condition. However, God’s grace is not an excuse for you to continue sinning. Jesus made this clear when He told the woman caught in adultery to “go and sin no more.” John 8:11. God’s grace is available for you today. If you need salvation, His grace will forgive and save you. If you’re already a Christian, but you’ve been captivated by sin, His grace will forgive and empower you to live a holy and sinless life. Humbly repent, acknowledge your true condition before Him and receive His grace. 17

VALIANT MEN

g n o str

I am

Free

EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN

Every year, lives are impacted and changed at the conferences held at Carmel City Church. This year has been no exception. The following testimonies are just a few of the many we received from our annual Exceptional Women’s and Valiant Men’s Conferences.

Emmanuel Abbah I am a husband and a father. During the Men’s Conference, the Lord gave me fresh revelation about being a father. God said to me, “There’s no such thing as delinquent children, only delinquent fathers.” Through the story of the Passover, God showed me that fathers are responsible for protecting their families. The task of putting the blood on the doorposts was given specifically to men. Those who failed to follow God’s instruction caused themselves and their families harm. When God showed me this, I realised that I needed to accept my responsibility as a husband and father. God’s grace found me and it’s through His grace that I’m able to love my wife and son the way they deserve. I’m not perfect, but I thank God that I’m in a better position and have a renewed understanding of being a godly man in my home.

Orest Pawliszcze About four years ago, I fell down a fligh t of stairs and broke my collarbone. The bone didn’t heal properly, and this caused on-going pain in my shoulder. My job as a delivery man for a furniture com pany requires me to lift heavy items every day, so the constant pain was hindering me from working effic iently. I had been considering having an operation to fix the problem, but everything changed at the Men’s Con ference. When I arrived on the Friday evening and saw so many men gathered to worship the Lord, I exp ected something amazing to happen, and it did! While in worship, I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit for directio n and purpose. At that moment, I felt a vice-like pre ssure on my shoulder and the bone moved back into its cor rect position. After years of pain, I was healed instantly; no operation needed – thank You Jesus!

Clare Irwin I was asked to record my testimony so that it could be shown as a video at the Ladies Conference. While we were filming at a park in Bristol, three people were sitting on a bench nearby, drinking alcohol. They listened while I told my testimony and detailed how insecurity, guilt and loneliness had crippled me for years and prompted me to do shameful things. They continued to show interest as I explained that everything changed when I gave my life to Jesus. I expressed the inexplicable joy I now possess at the realisation that I am the object of God’s love. When the filming finished, I told them more about God’s love and gave them copies of St John’s Gospel. They all said that they wanted to know God like I did. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. You can watch the video testimony here: www.vimeo.com/88755446

Angela Augustus

e, rning of the Conferenc During the Saturday mo ecific sp th wi for many ladies Pastor Michelle prayed ies lad for e offered to pray needs. At one point, sh was red from anything that g to who needed to be delive llin pu le nt I experienced a ge why holding them captive. ow kn n’t did n, even though I ed ch respond to this invitatio oa pr ap dy ayer. Pastor Wen y wh I needed to receive pr ow kn n’t I told her that I did me to pray for me and e er th , nt Right at that mome I needed deliverance. mediately, caused me to jump. Im was a loud bang that nce from ra live that I needed de the Holy Spirit told me me and na s’ buked fear in Jesu fear. Pastor Wendy re light t fel dy upon me. My bo the power of God came e lying hil W g. tin der God’s anoin t and I fell to the floor un no s ha life d’s comfort. My there, I experienced Go ck ba me ld – fear that had he been the same since w woman, moved – I’m now a ne since childhood was re completely free!

t u Sh

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CONFERENCE 2014 29TH OCT–2ND NOV