by John Carpenter | Oct 16, 2024 | Devotional
“Knowing that a man is not Justified — by the works of the law – but – by the Faith of Jesus Christ – even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be Justified by the Faith of Christ – and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law – shall no Flesh be Justified!” [Gal.2:16]
(6) “As ye have therefore received – Christ Jesus the Lord – so walk ye in Him. (7) Rooted and built up in Him – and established – in the Faith – as ye have been taught…” [Col.2:6-7]
(11) “In whom also – ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands – in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ – (12) Buried with Him – in baptism – wherein also – ye are risen with Him – through the Faith of the operation of God – who hath raised Him from the dead.” [Col.2:11-12]
What makes a person a true believer – in Jesus Christ? This is not a trick question by any means!
“Knowing” – the very first word of Gal.2:16 shown above – is a Holy Spirit inspired word that tells us a fact that is dogmatically known and understood. And, that fact which we all must absolutely agree with is the absolute truth that every human being – in this fallen-in-sin world – is not “justified” (or declared sinlessly righteous by Holy God) “by” (or more literally “out of”) “the works of the law.” No, not at all! All of us fallen-in-sin sinners – wherever we’re from – or wherever we are – are justified and declared by Holy God as being sinlessly righteous – by the only way that any sinner can be justified – and that’s “by” (or more literally “through”) “the Faith of Jesus Christ.” It’s His faith that we receive by grace from Him – that causes us to believe in Him. And then the apostle Paul goes on and declares more boldly – when he says – “even WE have believed (meaning himself and all the brethren which are with him in writing this letter unto them – they all – he says – have entered into being believers) in Jesus Christ.” And then he states dogmatically Why – he and they have entered into the company of true believers in Jesus Christ – it is in order that they “might be justified by (or “out of”) the Faith of Christ and not out of the works of the law; for out of the works of the law shall no flesh (i.e. no fallen-in-sin flesh – of which we all have) be justified”! {Note: By more accurately translating the prepositions – one truly helps to clarify the real message of Gal.2:16}.
This touches on a point that really needs to be emphasized. The Faith that saves – needs to be awakened and quickened and nurtured and strengthened by the Holy Spirit in us! Heb.12:2 tells us that Jesus is the author and finisher of our Faith – and that’s because – our Faith is His Faith – which, by His grace, He has given and awakened and quickened into Action inside Us! His Faith is – the Faith that God reckons, or imputes Christ’s righteousness unto us – so that His righteousness becomes – our righteousness. (just like He did unto Abraham; see Rom.4:3-5). 2Co.13:5 commands us to constantly be examining ourselves. How? By the Holy Spirit and the Word of God – in order to see whether or not – we are truly – in “the Faith”! We must be diligent to do just that!
Since we have embarked on this particular subject – there is so much more that is gloriously connected with understanding our truly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ – that we will be addressing more of what the above scriptural context has to deliver.
All of this – once again – underscores the fact that where our eternal salvation is concerned – If it’s not all (out of) Christ Jesus (His person and work entirely) – It’s all wrong! Praise His Name! — John Carpenter
“But without Faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God – must believe that He is – and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
By Faith Noah – being warned of God of things not seen as yet – moved with fear – prepared an Ark to the saving of his house – by the which he condemned the world – and became heir of the righteousness which is by Faith.” Hebrews 11:6-7
by John Carpenter | Oct 16, 2024 | Camp News
Dear family in Christ, 2024 is delivering to us its especially beautiful Autumn season. The trees are already manifesting their true colors. It is indeed wonderful to behold! Our Creator God and Savior allows us to see and experience this time of brilliant splendor! Praise His Name!
This time of year also means that we will be working to cut up the trees that have blown down all over the campground. We will not have to worry where to go to find a resource for firewood. It’s lying all over the campground.
From one end of the camp to the other, we can see evidence of wind damage from the ongoing storms we experienced this year that took out many trees. And, once again, the Lord our God bears testimony of His great goodness in preserving us — in all areas of the campground of Del-Haven — in that — not one of our buildings or structures has been damaged!
To better understand God’s gracious placement of all these fallen limbs and trunks, we offer the following pictures as proof of His providential care.
The specific details of the damage are as follows. Starting from the Halls’ home (located at the south end of the campground near our Chapel), a big tree is down that thankfully missed their house.
In the area of our Dining Hall, Camper Restroom and Shower House building – there are 3 big trees that have been blown down which just missed destroying our Craft Building! Then, between the Shelter House and the Dining Hall, there are more huge limbs scattered on the ground along with some big Hickory trees that were blown down as well.
Moving past the Shelter House to where our Swimming Pool and Campfire Site are located (as well as where our Basketball Court and Dormitory are) – we have some wind damage evidence that includes 3 other big trees that are harmlessly on the ground (just waiting to be cut up for firewood).
All of this has happened (totally out of our control – except — not out of earshot of our prayers to the Sovereign Savior who watches over us) to demonstrate, once again, the Great Faithfulness of our Lord God.
Thank you for your continual Prayerful Support of this ministry! We love and pray for you. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 15, 2024 | Devotional
“And Moses said unto the people, fear ye not! Stand still – and see the salvation of the Lord – which He will show to you today! For the Egyptians whom ye have seen today – ye shall see them again – no more forever! (14) The Lord shall fight for you – and ye shall hold your peace” (Ex.14:13-14).
“When I cry unto thee – then shall mine enemies turn back – this I know – for God is for me!… In God have I put my trust. I will not fear what man can do unto me… For thou hast delivered my soul from death – wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling – that I may walk before God in the Light of the Living?” (Ps.56:9,11,13).
All of us who have been quickened and awakened by the Holy Spirit – and the pure Truth of the Word of God – in regards to the eternally redeeming person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ – have become aware of the reality – of the Spiritual Warfare – that has been and still is raging all around us – at all times. If this reality is not being revealed unto us – then it – most likely must be true that – our spiritual quickening and awakening – is still needing to be fulfilled.
When the apostle Paul had his life-changing experience with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6) – little did he realize that his whole life in this world would immediately be changed! After the Lord Jesus came and got him – nothing was ever the same! All that he had learned through his education as a church-going Pharisee – by his own admission (see Phil.3:7-10) became of no value to his saving relationship with the Lord Jesus. Suddenly – the completed work of Christ (as his Kinsman Redeemer) was revealed unto him – and from that moment on – Jesus – became his “all and in all” (Col.3:11). From that moment on – the real spiritual battles that surrounded him on every side – became the focus of his whole world.
This is what is depicted throughout the whole Bible – for ALL of God’s eternally saved ones!
Note the context of the first scripture above from Ex.14:13. The children of Israel had been sur-viving in Egypt for 400 years! Their whole lives in this world was becoming a generational heritage of bond-slavery to the Egyptians! They cried out to God for their deliverance from their oppression until the burning flame of all their hopes had become barely glowing embers. And this was the very providence of Moses – whom God raised up and sent to them – to lead them to victory and freedom from their enemies.
Dear ones, this is a picture of all of God’s people in every generation of this sinful world! Yes! This is a picture of us in this world right NOW! Like the Israelites – with the impossible depths of the Red Sea in front of them – and destruction and death from their enemies right behind them – their whole world looked like a disaster to say the least. But God – will always come through for His true children! Praise His Wonderful Name! Let us call unto Him – who has been and still is OUR wonderful Savior! Read the whole context of both Ex.14 and Ps.56.
The same Savior that Moses called on to do – what only He could do – is whom we call on today! All glory to God! This is the grand realization that is gifted to us when we read and study the Word of God. He communicates to us this same meaning and message of His Salvation. Note how God caused Moses to tell them to stop looking behind them – and move forward (see Phil.3:14). He told them – not to fear – but to “stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord”. And, how great it will be when our Lord will tell us, “The enemies we see today, we will see them no more forever.” — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 15, 2024 | Camp News
The first thing I want to personally express is my thanks to my heavenly Father for all of you who have prayed for me – and my recovery from being in the hospital for nine days and out of commission physically for practically all of July and half of August. It’s not even clear just what exactly happened to me – symptoms seemed to indicate a urinary tract infection, however, I never experienced the typical burning sensation that generally goes along with that. Then a test result came back that indicated that I had a tick borne illness. At any rate, my malady kept me out of normal camp activities and on your prayer lists…and I seem to be getting back to my usual level of healthy energy. Praise the Lord!
We wanted to share a very sweet letter that my wife, Theresa received from a little girl that was scheduled to come out with her family once again this year. Here name is Marah, and this is what she wrote:
Dear Mrs. Theresa,
It’s me, Marah. I went to camp 2 years ago. We miss going to camp this year, anyway, I hope your family gets better. The Lord is keeping you guys in His hands and watching over you. I pray He heals everyone that is sick or hurt.
Sincerely, Marah
Is this not a spontaneous and insightful and sweet message to be coming from an 8 year old little girl? At the top of this page is a photo taken of Marah (on the right) from last year when she was out here for a Family Day At Camp. Let’s keep little Marah (and her whole family) in our prayers. It is so wonderful that our sovereign Lord allows us to receive these little indications that He is still leading and blessing His work here at Del-Haven. Praise the Almighty Sovereign Savior!!
We thank Him for all of you who continue to prayerfully support the ministry here – especially in these extremely inflated economical times. We must not forget that our God is in control and He will never forsake us! Please continue to pray for us in regards to building another staff – and we will continue to pray for you. We love you. — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 20, 2024 | Devotional
Praise ye the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! (2) While I live — will I praise the Lord – I will sing praises unto my God — while I have my being. (3)Put not your trust in princes – nor in the son of man — in whom there is no help. (4) His breath goeth forth — he returneth to his earth (or, dust). In that very day his thoughts perish. (5) Happy (or, Blessed) is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help – whose hope is in the Lord his God! (6) Which made heaven – and earth – the sea – and all that therein is; which keepeth Truth for ever! (7) Which executeth judgment for the oppressed – which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners (of Satan, Sin and the World)! (8) The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind – the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down – the Lord loveth the righteous (9) the Lord preserveth the strangers — He relieveth the fatherless and widow – but the way of the wicked – He turneth upside down! (10) The Lord shall reign for ever – even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations! Praise ye the Lord!” [Ps.146]
This Psalm speaks to – and about – all the individuals who have trusted in the eternal person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ – as being their own personal Savior and God – even while they are still in this fallen world of sin, death and Satanic adversity. This is a Psalm of very great encouragement unto – especially – them!
If you are among the eternally saved – by the Lord – Rejoice! And shout, “Hallelujah!” That’s the Word that means: “Praise the Lord”! This Psalm begins and ends with this word.
If you’re not sure that you are – right now – another one that is among those who know that they are one of God’s saved ones – by the Lord Jesus Christ (see: 1Jn.5:11-13) then call out to Him (see: Rom.10:13-17) and beg Him to let you know that you – indeed – are one of His saved ones. Rom.8:16 – which is in God’s very Word, tells us that His Spirit bears witness – or communicates with our spirit – that we are – indeed — His saved-by-grace sinner/children! And, that means that we are “heirs of God and joint-heirs” with Christ (our eternal Savior). So, if you’re not sure you’re one of His – call out to Him – to let you know – and believe – and understand that you truly are!!
This Psalm describes the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ – and how He reigns over all the sinner/children that God the Father has given unto Him – to save! Put your trust in Him – and not in anyone or anything else. He will manifest Himself unto you in your present circumstances and He will rescue you from Satan – sin – this adverse world, et. al. And He will guide your steps all the way – from here – unto where you know that you really want to someday go – Heaven!
And, take note of what is underlined in verse 9> “The way of the wicked – He turneth upside down!” This is especially comforting when you consider and understand our present adverse reality of being under our present government! Even — it – is ultimately under the Lord’s sovereign control. Yes, in spite of these present trials – everything that is declared by God – about God – where we, His children, are concerned – will be realized! Praise His Name!
In short, this Psalm describes the Providence of God for all His saved-by-grace loved ones! [Providence is defined as being: Divine guidance, or care; God conceived power – maintaining and guiding human destiny]. We all have our own individual, personal and peculiar providence while we are living in this world. Yet all who are God’s – all who belong to Him – all who make up the people of His own peculiar possession (1Pe.2:9-10) – who are among all those whom He has planted in this world (see: Mat.13:24-43) – these will all experience the regenerating reality of living here — in a daily walk and relationship with the Lord Jesus that is filled with all the good things of Ps.146:5-9. Hallelujah! Amen. — John Carpenter
