by John Carpenter | Aug 19, 2015 | Devotional
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2Th.1: 11-12
There is a copulative and cumulative connection that this text has with 2Th.1:7-10 that is right before it. It is a connection of great forcefulness in that there is described the truth and certainty of the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ that is going to take place in judgment in eternity against all who do not truly know God, nor have genuinely obeyed the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.
In reaching the point of the realization of this truth, which the apostle declares from vs.11-12, he is then motivated by the Holy Spirit into being busy in always praying for all those who have become the good recipients of his ministry. And, in this light there are five specifics that are given for which he and his companions do pray will be accomplished by God on their behalf:
1. That God “would count them worthy” — or, deem them entitled to, His effectual calling.
2. And next, that God would, in turn, then “fulfill in them all the good pleasure of His goodness” viz. His virtue and beneficence toward them.
3. And, even more so, that He would fulfill in them His divine “work of faith with power”!
4. To the end that the “Name” — that is, the very authority and character — of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in them —
5. And, they in Him.
All of these grand things are accomplished in accordance with the bestowal, by
God, of His grace upon us. This text plainly demonstrates how the blessing of God’s grace is indeed an edifying work that culminates in our bringing glory to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is indeed noteworthy that, according to Ro.8:28-29, we – who are His true children — are predestined to be conformed to His image.
But even more than this, this text tells us that we, being His eternally saved ones, are also the very substance of the glory of God in Him! Dear ones, this is, indeed, a very incredible thing! It’s easy to see how that He — as our Savior — is also obviously our glory, but the fact that we become His glory emphasizes the exceeding riches of His mercy and grace. These are the things that comprise the ministry of the gospel.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 10, 2015 | Ministry News
Well, dear friends and family in Christ, the 2015 Del-Haven camp season is officially under way and we have had two great camps to bear testimony — once again — that our Lord God — is indeed — our Lord God. The much needed repairs for our tractor have been met, and I can once again use it to knock down the everlasting growth of all the grass in the rougher and most hard to reach places on the campground. Thank you for your prayers — and thank you to all that could give of your substance as well — in order to meet this special need. God uses your prayers — and your gifts — in the accomplishment of His will and good pleasure. Bless His Name!
We also want to give a special thanks to a special man who literally rebuilt the patio roof (plus other areas) so that we should not have anymore leaks in that part of the dining hall. Literally, for years — we have been in prayer that the Lord would provide us with someone who would know just what needs to be done to stop all the problems that we have had with this. And, though Jack Chaffee — we came into contact with Russ Gaston — a professional roofer — and between the two of them — we have a whole new patio and utility room for our dining hall. We Praise and Thank the Lord for His using these men! Pray for both these men — that God will richly bless them for labors.
Most of all, dear ones, please continue to lift up to the Lord everyone on our staff who persevere for Christ on the front line where the rigors of the camp operation are concerned. They need your prayerful support for the wisdom and the patience that only the abiding, guiding presence of the Holy Spirit can provide. More and more of our campers are coming to the age of enrolling in our “Learning To Serve” program so they can continue to be a part of the Del-Haven Camp event. This provides a great plan for spiritual follow-up and growth for the children that manifest Christ in their lives. What great staff members they make, but they need our prayers!
Also, as always, pray for all the children that our Lord sends out to us to go to camp. Pray that they are, each one, being prepared by the Holy Spirit — drawn by the Father – unto the Son. There is no other way to truly come to Jesus [Jn.6:44-45]. Thank you for all your love and support.
by John Carpenter | Jul 10, 2015 | Devotional
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ — he is a new creature — old things pass away; behold — all things become new.” “Create in me a clean heart, O, God, and renew a right spirit within me.” “A new heart also will I give you — and a new Spirit will I put within you…And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.” “For it is God that worketh in you — both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
[2Co.5:17;Ps.51:10;Ez.36:25-27;Phil.2:13]
These descriptive texts tell of the work of God’s great grace in the personal life and experience of each of His eternally loved and chosen and placed in Christ saved ones — from before the foundation of the world — according to the everlasting gospel of the Everlasting Covenant. [Jer.31:3; 2Ti.2:19; Eph.1:3-4; Rev.14:6; He.13:20-21]
That it is the heart and spirit of the sinner that is totally transformed by being born from above by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God is obvious by virtue of all the scriptural references cited above that specifically mention them. Besides — it is the heart that is Biblically stated to be the most deceitful thing about any fallen sinner. Jer.17:9 plainly syas this about the heart of any fallen sinner: “The heart is deceitful — above all things — and desperately wicked — Who can know it?”
And just who is a fallen sinner? The Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, answers this question from Jn.8:34> “Verily, verily, I say unto you — Whosoever committeth sin is the servant (lit., the bond-slave) of sin.” If we’ve ever sinned, then we’re its slaves.
The only hope of any sinner being made free from sin and all of its consequences is through their receiving the grace of repentance and the grace of faith in accordance with the pure gospel truth of the God’s Word — and the genuine regeneration of the Holy Spirit of Christ! “Of His own will — begat He us with the Word of truth!” [Jas.1:18] The Lord Jesus also rightly said: “…If ye continue in my Word — then are ye my disciples indeed — and ye shall know the truth — and the truth shall make you free.” “If the Son, therefore, make you free — ye shall be free, indeed!” [Jn.8:31-32,36]
A new heart along with the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit is the only remedy for the fallen sinner’s natural innate obstinate obdurateness to spiritual things. And, this can only be provided by our saving Lord! He must seek us out and save us — or else we be lost! If we believe that anything is left up to us in Christ’s eternal purpose and plan for the salvation of our souls — we come dangerously close to what the Word describes of our being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”. May God have mercy and deliver us from this! But, that’s just it! This is the wonderful truth about the eternally saving person and work of Christ Jesus the Lord…He, Himself, declared from Lk.19:10 “For the Son of man is come — to seek and to save that which was lost.” Praise His loving and gracious Name — along with His great and mighty power — to save us forevermore!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 5, 2015 | Camp News, Ministry News
Prayer Requests
Well, dear ones, June 2015 is here — and in spite of the camp ground being a soggy mess — we are once again ready to officially begin another camp season. Yes — we truly desire your earnest and devout prayers that our God and Savior will once again bless the heralding forth of the pure truth of His holy Word unto the children that He sends out to Camp Del-Haven. It is our prayer — that you all will be in prayer — for our staff and campers as we involve ourselves in this evangelistic endeavor.
We want to remind you that June through August is, indeed, our most expensive months of the year. May the Lord be pleased to use this reminder – however He wills and pleases – where you all are concerned. May all of your prayers for us – and gifts to us – be by His leading you to do so.
We have had — and still have — some unexpected expenses facing us where our tractor is concerned, which we rely on to mow the most rugged parts of the camp — as well as, we use to grade the ruts out of our dirt roads (which really need it after all this rain). Please pray for our Lord’s provision of this need.
He will provide!
——————
Please pray specifically for these staff members who have already committed to help with the children this summer.
Adam Blevins
Brandon Bowlin
Cheyanne Feldman-Brown**
Cassie Carter
Mykala Cobbins*
Cheynne Deiter*
Sheri DeSchepper
Brittany Fuller
Jeff Hall
Haley Hassler*
Kendle Laycock
Dakota Lewis*
Summer Marshall**
Chelsea McDaniel
Rick Monson
Amber Mosely*
Isaac Richardson
Hannah Rollet**
Savannah Rollet**
*Former campers who are currently in the Learning To Serve (LTS) staff training program
** Former campers who are now on staff
——————–
Each year it is a blessing to hear from the parents/guardians who are delighted for their children to have another opportunity to come to camp.
The first camp applications of the year were received in January 2015 without having even sent out notices of the upcoming camp dates. When I contacted the grandmother about the current dates for this summer, I was told that her two granddaughters just couldn’t wait and wanted to make sure they signed up right away.
Not long ago I talked to another woman who sent her children to camp when they were younger. Her children are now sending their children. She was calling because she had another child late in life and couldn’t wait to send him to camp too and have her house filled once again with Christian songs and memory verses.
Seeds will be sown all summer long in the lives of young boys and girls and staff members that will attend camp, but we know those seeds can spread also into houses and can grow in the hearts of others and impact families in a great way. Pray for the seed of God’s Word to fall on good soil!
by John Carpenter | Jun 5, 2015 | Devotional
The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble — the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) remember all thy offerings and accept thy burnt sacrifice — Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart — and fulfill all thy counsel.” Ps.20:1-4
When this wonderful Psalm of David says: “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble” it pertains — first of all, to our Lord Jesus Christ — and then unto all of us whom God has placed in Him before the foundation of the world. The word so translated as “hear” — literally means: “answer”. So, the phrase actually says: “The Lord answer thee — in the day of trouble”. This denotes petitionary prayer being made — “in the day of trouble”. Our sovereign Savior substitute was often vanishing from the crowds to get away to a place of private prayer with His heavenly Father. Even so, we who have been eternally loved and chosen by God — and place in His dear Son — will do the same thing.
The “day” of trouble for Christ was every day that He spent in His special time of divine incarnation in this world — our fallen world — on our behalf. So, if ever there is a time for us to be on our knees in prayer for wisdom; for guidance; for provision; for protection and preservation — it is now.
Our Lord prayed — just to simply spend time in the presence of His Father. Even so do all of God’s true children whom He has set apart from this evil world to be eternally saved. Our Savior’s prayers were not for His own deliverance, but for ours! He was sent by the Father to act as our Surety and Substitute. To seek and to save all of God’s lost children…every one. His petitions were always concerning us!
And, what does the Word of God command of us? What does the Law of the Lord command all of His true children? Why, it commands of us that we should love one another — bear one another’s burdens — and pray without ceasing for one another. This is the holy practice which makes up the bulk of our days in this world of trouble, trial and affliction. And, as the Father sent help from Zion unto His Son to strengthen Him in the accomplishment of the eternal holy atonement that He was sent to perform — even so, has He sent and supplied us with Christ — who is our help and strength! He is even our all and in all.
It is certain that the Father hears and grants the petitions of His Son — who is the eternal Son of God! And again, the same assurance is given unto us: “And this is the confidence that we have in Him — that if we ask any thing according to His will — He heareth us: (15) and if we know that He hear us — whatsoever we ask — we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1Jn.5:14-15 We have been given this eternal assurance by virtue of Christ’s eternally accomplished atonement on our behalf as being “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”– Praise His Name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
