by John Carpenter | Oct 17, 2017 | Devotional
“The eternal God is thy refuge – and underneath are the everlasting arms…”
“Looking unto Jesus – the author and finisher of our faith – who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross – despising the shame – and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Deu.33:27; Heb.12:2]
Here are two descriptive declarations from the Word of God. The two were made in completely different times in the course of the history of redemption. Nevertheless, these two statements are speaking of one and the same person. The first declaration comes from the Holy Spirit inspired writings of Moses (circa 1451BC) and the second, from Holy Spirit inspired epistle to the Hebrews (circa 61AD).
The verse from Deuteronomy describes immutable God of truly having “no variableness – neither shadow of turning” [Jas.1:17]. In Him we are eternally secure – and upheld with His Almighty arms! Whereas, the verse from Hebrews describes the incarnated eternal Savior and Son of God, Jesus – who is, indeed, indwelt “with all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” [Col.2:9]. In Him all of God’s eternally loved and chosen and blessed in Christ have been placed from before the foundation of the world! Praise His Name!
The Deuteronomy text declares the unchangeable triune God as being the eternal habitation of His people – His redeemed ones. The text from Hebrews 12 declares the Lord Jesus Christ – the only sovereign Savior substitute that there ever was, is, or ever will be – as being the beginning and the end – the alpha and the omega – of our faith – of our truly believing in Him for our eternal salvation.
The Deuteronomy passage comes to us from Moses – who was an Old Testament type of Christ. Remember when God through Moses told the Israelites that He would raise up from their midst a prophet like Moses? God said, “unto Him – ye shall hearken” [De.18:15]. Then three verses later He told Moses again: “I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren – like unto thee – and will put my words in His mouth, and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.” There’s no doubt about it, beloved, that prophet – like Moses – that God raised up – was Jesus!
The incarnated eternal Son of God – whom our history recognizes as being in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ is “the author and finisher of our faith” – just as He.12:2 declares Him to be!
It is He – according to Phil.2:6-8 – the Word says: “who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (7) but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (8) and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death – even the death of the cross!”
The Hebrews 12 passage clarifies for us – by telling us that Jesus “for the joy that was set before Him – endured the cross – despising the shame – and is set down at the right hand of God.” So, therefore, our victory is, indeed, in Jesus. We should sing that hymn at the top of our voices! He has done it all – and all our praise and love is due Him! The throne from which He rules over us is a throne of grace. “There is therefore, now, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus – who walk not after the flesh – but after the Spirit!” [Ro.8:1] Having successfully purged our sins – our Savior sat down. Our eternal refuge is, indeed, in Him and in Him alone. Glory to His Name!
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 26, 2017 | Ministry News
Well, dear friends and family in Christ, while September has brought some very nice days here at Del-Haven – we all need to continue to be in earnest prayer for all our friends, family and all the poor victims of the horrendous weather that has hit Texas and Florida! Ps.50:15 sounds out a very encouraging message: “Call upon me in the day of trouble – I will deliver thee – and thou shalt glorify me.” Oh Lord, please bring speedy relief and recovery to all who are in dire straits from the destruction and catastrophic loss due to the recent storms. Bring thy will and good pleasure to pass for their eternal good – and thy eternal glory. We pray this in the Name of Jesus – Amen.
Please, dear ones, continue to pray for Del-Haven and all the youngsters that the Lord delivered over to the hearing of the gospel of His glory and grace this past camp season. Also, please do not forget to be praying for those that presently serve (and those that will serve) on our staff. I cannot stress enough the spiritual battle that rages around them (and all of us) in our present culture. None of us – by ourselves – are a match for the evil one – or, this evil world – or, even our own fallen flesh. We need to be in constant prayer for each other. And, more than anything – we need the almighty strength and preservation of our all governing Savior and Lord! He is our strong and mighty tower!
Just a need reminder: Please continue to pray that the Lord will supply another Brush-Hog mower – to replace the one that came to its final end this past season. The Lord commands us to cast all our care on Him – for He cares for us. Thank you all for being there. We love you.
by John Carpenter | Sep 26, 2017 | Devotional
“Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Mt. 5:6
What exactly is this verse descriptively declaring unto us? It is telling us — whom it truly is — among us — that is an eternally saved one while being still here in this fallen, passing away, sinful and law-cursed world. The “Blessed one” is an eternally loved and saved one! They that truly fit this description – male or female – young or old – are among those whom have been – according to Eph.1:3-4 – blessed by God the Father with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in His eternal Son. That is a biblical description of a sinner who has been blessed by God. A sinner who is one of God’s eternally saved ones!
This verse is telling us that all of God’s blessed ones – all of His eternally saved ones – “hunger and thirst” after something. Hunger and thirst pertain to ardent desires which are must be satisfied as a vital part of life. The meeting and filling of these desires are necessary aspects and activities of the daily pursuit and routine of the sustenance of life. And, that which the blessed saved one hungers and thirsts for – is not at all of this world! It is not success, or wealth, or fame, or even simple worldly happiness. No. What the blessed saved one daily hungers and thirsts for is that which they absolutely need in order to be allowed in the eternal, heavenly presence of the Lord their God – whom they dearly love. They daily (even hourly) hunger and thirst after “righteousness”!
Make no mistake about it – dear one — this is not referring to self-righteousness. The blessed saved one does not hunger and thirst after self contrived righteousness. Ro.10:3 plainly describes the people that pursue self-righteousness. It says: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Nor is this referencing a hunger and thirst after what may be referred to as “law-righteousness”. Ro.3:19-20 says: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law – that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified [or, declared righteous] in His sight – for by the law is the knowledge of sin!” Fallen-in-sin people of this world cannot produce the righteousness of God’s blessed saved one — by pursuing a righteousness produced by their following the law. All the law does is point out how sinfully guilty we all are! So, the blessed saved one does not hunger and thirst after law-righteousness.
It is plainly declared from Ro.3:21-22: “But now – the righteousness of God – without [or, apart from] the law is manifested [or, revealed] being witnessed by the law and the prophets. (22) Even — the righteousness of God – which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” The blessed saved one hungers and thirsts after this particular righteousness! And, when it says that the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ – it means that He is the One that we hunger and thirst for! Jer.23:6> “…And this is His name whereby He shall be called – The Lord our righteousness!”
There is even one more wonderful thing that is descriptively declared to us from Mt.5:6 – and we would be remiss to not emphasize it. It says: “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness – FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED!” Praise and glory unto the wonderful Name of our eternal Savior! Oh to be filled with the eternally justifying righteousness of Christ, our God!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 8, 2017 | Ministry News
Well, dear ones, we have successfully completed our 65th year of Del-Haven camps. We can truly say that the Lord has brought us this far – by faith. Every prayer that as been – by the leading of the Holy Spirit – to be prayed – by all of you and by all of us – has been the true spiritual resource of strength, sustenance and preservation. We continually thank our Lord for all of you and every aspect of support that you have been led to provide. We truly do love you all!
Please be in continual prayer for all the children that the Lord sent to us this summer – and for all the staff that He, also, sent to help us. As long as we are in this fallen world – we need to be praying for one another! Not only is it a testimony of our love for one another – but it is a testimony of the fact that we truly are in God’s precious family. Jesus says: “Men ought always to pray – and not to faint.” [Lk.18:1]
by John Carpenter | Aug 8, 2017 | Devotional
“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel – I am the Lord thy God — which teacheth thee to profit – which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go.” [Is.48:17]
There are many wonderful things that are to be gleaned from this precious text. For example, it is obvious from vs.16 that the speaker in this, vs.17, is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. For it says: “ Come ye near unto me – hear ye this – I have not spoken in secret from the beginning – from the time that it was – there am I – and now the Lord God and His Spirit hath sent me.” The eternal Son of God was the one that was covenanted by the determinant counsel of the Most High — to come, through His incarnation, into this fallen world to save all of God’s eternally loved and chosen children – for all eternity. He is, indeed, the eternal Redeemer! He is the one who has taught us about God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Even as the Christ of God in human image and likeness – He was still one in His being — with the Father and the Spirit. The Father commanded every word and deed that He said and did – and the Holy Spirit led Him throughout His every step in and through this sinful, fallen and cursed world. He is our sovereign, Savior/substitute! He is our propitiation! He is our eternal High Priest! He is our eternal Surety! And, as He was one in nature and purpose from eternity – with His heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit — even so were they one throughout our Lord’s walk in this world. Nevertheless, they have always been – and always will be — three distinct persons with three distinct parts to play in the eternal fulfillment of God’s divine plan for our eternal salvation! Praise His Name!
The Father’s part is seen in making sure that we are blessed with all the spiritual blessings that are necessary to secure the accomplishment of our eternal salvation. Ephesians one tells us that He has blessed us “with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ”. The Father’s blessings are bestowed upon us! Grace – like rain falls down on us! Just like the song we sing at camp says. We receive — all the spiritual blessings that the Father and the Spirit have eternally secured and sealed – in Christ! That’s what it says! Plus, the inspired epistle goes on to tell us that God did this – “…according as He hath chosen us in Him (that is: in Christ) before the foundation of the world – that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”! That’s in His everlasting love! The love that Jer.31:3 brings forth. Which verse says: “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me – saying – I have loved thee with an everlasting love – therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” There is a common and often quoted adage among us fallen-in-sin humans that says: “Love conquers all”! And, among our various relationships – it is all too often proven to be false! But, not so with God. His love for us, indeed, does conquer all – even all sin and death! Because, as Jesus tells us from Jn.6:44 – “No man can come unto me except the Father that sent me – draw him – and I will raise Him up at the last day!” The Father – loves us all to Christ!
Where all of this wonderful grace of Jesus is concerned – Ro.8:14-17 declares unto us: “For as many as – are led by the Spirit of God – these are the sons (the true children) of God. (15) For ye have not received – the spirit of bondage again – to fear – but ye have received – the Spirit of adoption (that’s the Holy Spirit’s adoption of all of God’s true children) whereby we cry, Abba, Father!” And then it says from vs.16-17: “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!” Then it goes even further and says: “if so be that we suffer with Him – that we may be also glorified together.” It is the Holy Spirit’s part – through the example of the Lord Jesus – to lead us in His steps through this fallen world – unto the Father of glory! Again, Praise His Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
