by John Carpenter | Jun 25, 2018 | Devotional
(11) “Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. (12) Those by the way side are they that hear – then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word out of their hearts – lest they should believe and be saved. (13) They on the rock are they which when they hear – receive the Word with joy – and these have no root – which for a while believe – and in time of temptation fall away. (14) And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard – go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life – and bring no fruit to perfection. (15) But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart – having heard the Word – keep it – and bring forth fruit with patience.” [Lk.8:11-15]
(105) “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path.” [Ps.119:105]
Here is an accurate gauge by which we may determine if we have truly been born from above by what Paul referred to in Col.1:5 as the “Word of the truth of the gospel”. Peter speaks of the same thing in 1Pe.1:23 when he literally says: “Having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible – by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever!” And, then he goes further on and explicitly declares from vs.25: “And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you”.
The apostle James was Holy Spirit inspired to write of our regeneration from Jas.1:17-18 of his epistle: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights – with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (18) Of His own will – begat He us with the Word of truth….” Now this verse is more literally rendered – “Having willed – He begat us” Or, in other words, He brought us forth to new life in our Lord Jesus Christ! And then he urges us from vs.21: “Wherefore…(or, consequently) lay apart (or, put away) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (or, all moral dirtiness and surplusage of depravity) and receive with meekness the engrafted (or, the implanted) Word – which is able to save your souls!”
The Spirit of Christ – the living Word of God – who is the incarnated eternal Son of God – according to the eternal purpose of God the Father – causes us to receive a regenerating revelatory experience that we are, indeed, His eternally loved and chosen sinner-saved-by-grace-children. We come by grace to understand that we – and He – have been personally united with Him – in His beloved and only-begotten Son! Ro.8:16-17 plainly tells us that: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit – that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…” Before the magnitude of the majesty of our all holy – all-glorious sovereign God – we are all — nothing but little children. But, we are His little children! And, especially, while we are here in this fallen-in-sin world – we “grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…”
How do we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior?
By constantly feeding on His wonderful Word! We ever abide in the words of our Savior. Jesus said in Jn.15:3 – “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” Then He went on and said from vs.7 “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you – ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” It is no wonder that the Psalmist was inspired to descriptively declare: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet – and a light unto my path!” Everything wonderful about being in Christ – is descriptively declared in the treasures of His wonderful Word! Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2018 | Camp News
Praises and Prayer Requests
Well, dear friends, we are coming right up to the beginning of the 2018 Del-Haven Camp season!
The Kitchen and Shower house/restrooms project still need some finishing touches to be totally ready. Please be in earnest prayer with us that these very much needed tasks are completed.
With all the attention having to be given to getting our wiring updated and our Kitchen and Shower house/restrooms finished – we have at the same time a crisis situation where our staff is concerned. Many of our young people have reached the time when they need to seek gainful employment for themselves. This sort of thing happens. Therefore, we need your prayers that the Lord will provide ample replacements of young men and women who have a real desire to serve the Lord with us in proclaiming the gospel to the children that He sends to us. Everything about this ministry is supplied through faithful fervent prayer! Phil.4:6-7 encourages us in that it says: “Be careful for nothing – but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving – let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God – which passeth all understanding – shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” What a wonderful promise! Thank you, Lord for giving that unto us!
In all your praying for us, we would be remiss not to seek your prayers for the children themselves. Pray that the Holy Spirit go before us in preparing and paving the way for their hearts to receive the Word of the truth of the gospel.
The apostle Paul, who never went to Colossae, wrote to them – seeking from them in Col.4:2-4 – that they “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (3) withal [or, lit., at the same time] praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ…as I [or, we] ought to speak.” This is what it’s all about! May God our Savior grant us this earnest petition. The eternal salvation of souls is — wholly, wholly, wholly of the Lord!
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2018 | Devotional
“Wherefore, as by one man – sin entered into the world – and death by sin – and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…”
“For, if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace – and of the gift of righteousness – shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (18) Therefore, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation – even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life! (19) For as one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners – so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (20) Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But, where sin abounded – grace did much more abound: (21) that as sin hath reigned unto death – even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Ro.5:12;17-20]
What a wonderful passage of scripture this truly is! Herein is declared – in this fallen-in-sin world – the right now realities of the pure truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ! It declares two great spiritual realities that, in fact, contrast one another. There’s a dreaded eternal death being contrasted over against a glorious eternal life. Both of which have become inescapable realities in this fallen world – each brought to pass by one man respectfully.
When it says, “by one man’s offense – death reigned by one” – it’s referring to Adam when he fell into sin in the Garden. His deadly offense made him sinner, as well as, all those who have been conceived as his progeny in this world (both physically and spiritually). Then this scripture declares — to ever so greatly contrast Adam’s fall into failure and deadly ruin – “much more” [which means: to a much greater degree] “they which receive abundance of grace – and of the gift of righteousness – shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ!” Adam – before we were even born – threw us under the bus of reigning sin — and the curse of the absolute perfection demanding law of God. In other words, he threw us all under the dreaded reality of sin and death. But, praise God for His incarnated eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the indisputable Savior of all of the sheepfold – all the friends and family – of God! They are the ones that the text refers to when it says, “they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness”. And, it is “they” that “shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ”! What are we to conclude from this? Well, it plainly tells us! On the one hand, we are to conclude that through one man, Adam — God’s condemning judgment came upon all mankind. And, on the other hand, through the righteousness – lit. the one eternally accomplished righteousness – of one man, Christ Jesus – there came upon all who have received His grace, eternal justification of life! Wow! Praise His Most Wonderful Name!
The spiritual principle is explicitly explained from vs.19. It lit. says: “For as by the disobedience of the one man – the many were constituted sinners – so also in this same way – through the obedience of one [Christ Jesus] the many shall be constituted righteous.” Vs.20 then goes on to further gloriously explain: “Moreover – the law entered that the offense might abound.” In other words, the law substantiates the fact that all of mankind (or, all of Adam-kind) are condemned sinners! Nevertheless, scripture goes on to say, “But, where sin abounded – grace did much more (or, grace exceedingly) abounded!” Again, this is true for all those that vs.17 has descriptively declared as having received an abundance of God’s saving grace. All of this to lead us to the pure truth of vs.21: “That as sin hath reigned lit. in death, lit. so also grace might reign through righteousness to life eternal – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” How Wonderful!! Let us praise Him for all that He has done!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 10, 2018 | Camp News, Miscellaneous
Praises and Prayer Requests
Well dear ones, we are now only a couple of months away from the launch of our 66th annual camp season. We are committed and dedicated to serving the Lord in ministering the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ unto 6 to 12 year old children. This has been, and still is, the primary purpose of the existence of Camp Del-Haven. God has sustained us all these years. We truly do need your continual prayers for the spiritual fruitfulness of our faithful endeavors. God has ordained it for prayer to be a means of His accomplishing what He wills.
That being said, we humbly ask for you to please seek the Lord with us in His provision for willing men and women to help us to minister directly to the boys and girls that the Lord will send to us this year. Thank you all for your past faithfulness to provide. We love you and your persistent prayerful support. We praise our God for each and every one of you!
Pray also that the Lord will continue to lead in the completion of the renovation of our kitchen and shower house facilities. It is looking very good! Prayers of joy and thankfulness fill our hearts and our voices over what we see has happened – and is happening. How we long to see the completed outcome!
We still need to put everything back together. We still need someone who is an experienced spray painter to help us with the kitchen cabinets. We have got them sanded – please pray for someone to help us get them primed and painted. If you can be of service in this way, please do not hesitate to call us at: 816-690-8465 or 816-277-7071.
Thank you all for the way in which you have responded to our ongoing needs. We can’t tell you how that encourages us. We see it as a manifestation of God’s faithful leading and providing!
We have listed a few expense items that make our summer months a little more financially straining. You may notice that the list is half the size as last year due to the fact that we were able to paint the dining hall and begin the projects in the shower house and the kitchen. We are so thankful to the Lord and to those of you who have prayed with us and even given toward meeting the extra needs we had last year.
Van Rental to transport campers from Kansas City ($200/week x 6) = $1,200
Chemicals for the swimming pool ($200-300/week x 10) = $2000-$3,000
Recreation/Craft/Program Supplies = $400
by John Carpenter | Apr 10, 2018 | Devotional, Miscellaneous
“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, (20) which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named – not only in this world, but also in that which is to come…” [Eph.1:19-21]
This is the month in which we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, this text is indeed a good one to examine. Of all the different scriptural contexts that describe the genuine faith of the true believer who is still in this fallen world – this is one of the most amazing! For this portion of scripture plainly declares that true saving faith is all of God!
In these three verses, “power”, is being alluded to from five different original sources – and all of which are describing the power of our Lord God. It is no wonder that Jesus, Himself, declared from Jn.6:29: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” In Eph.1:19, the Spirit of God through Paul declares that it, “is the exceeding greatness of God’s power to us who believe…”.The word used here for “power” literally means: miraculous power. This is a divine supernatural “power” that is not of this world at all! This is the same word for “power” that is used in Ro.1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” And then, the rest of Eph.1:19 really nails it when it goes on to describe of those who truly do believe – that they believe “according to the working of God’s mighty power”!
The original word that is translated as “working” is uniquely used in the New Testament, in that, it is used only in reference to supernatural power – whether of God, or of the Devil. We get our English word “energy” from this Greek word. It describes supernatural power in exercise. In this context where genuine faith in Christ is concerned – it is God’s supernatural power in exercise. Check out the way that it is used as the word for “operation”, when describing “faith” in Col.2:12: “the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Jesus from the dead. Next, there are the two words: “mighty power”. “Mighty” is from a word that connotes “strength” as it is used in Mk.12:30: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart – soul – mind – and strength”. But, in Eph.1:19 it is in direct reference with God’s “strong and mighty power”! The word that is inspired here — by the Holy Spirit — is a word that denotes a manifested “power” as being a specific act of God. Hence, all of these words connote the powerful and gracious work of God on our behalf – making us to be His true believing children while we are still in this tribulation filled world.
Eph.1:20-21 tells us that He completely wrought all of this out for us “in Christ”. According to Eph.1:3-4, this is where He chose us and placed us before the foundation of the world. Then it says that this was all completely worked out for us, “when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, (21) far above all principality and power [This fifth word for “power” means sovereign authority] and might and dominion – and every name that is named – not only in this [fallen-in-sin] world – but also in that which is to come” [the glorious new heavens and new earth wherein righteousness dwells]. In short, the sovereign power that God exercises and demonstrates in bestowing upon us the grace of His true saving faith is the same strong and mighty power that He gloriously manifested when He raised His beloved, incarnated and eternal Son from the dead! Praise His all-powerful Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only,
John Carpenter
