by John Carpenter | Apr 18, 2014 | Devotional
“Now the God of peace — that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus — that great shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of everlasting covenant…” He.13:20
This is the traditional time of year where it is common among professing Christians to meditate and focus upon the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, that great event is what sanctifies Him — and all of us who truly believe in Him — from all other religious systems and beliefs throughout the world! For any and all religions that follow some special man — no matter how great that they may make him out to be — none — absolutely none of them — ever truly and historically died and then was raised back to life as the Savior of all His loved and chosen followers.
This text not only declares this truth, but puts the greatness of this feat in perfect perspective. It may said to do this — through three points. First of all, it makes plain that our Savior and Lord was completely in league with almighty God. God — who is unto us who are His — a God of peace. Hence, it says that He — as the God of peace — brought again from the dead our Savior and Surety, the Lord Jesus. God did this great thing for Him — because He is His Son! Ro.6:4 says, “like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father”. Praise His Name!
Secondly, this text declares the Lord Jesus to be the great Shepherd of the sheep. This premise of the perspective is so important because it adds unto the equation eternal divine purpose. His purpose was the eternal salvation of His sheep! Jesus declared Himself — from Jn.10:11 — to be the “Good Shepherd” — which — “giveth Hid life for the sheep”. It is from here, also, that He announced the amazing truth: (14) “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep!” And then the Lord Jesus said, (18) “No man taketh it from me — but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down — and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received from my Father.”
This last phrase gives us the: Third point that puts Christ’s resurrection into perfect perspective for us. For it declares that our Savior/substitute was under law to obediently do, and to have this done, unto the glory of God’s grace. This is the essence of the “Law of the Lord” — that is fulfilled “in the blood of the Everlasting Covenant”. It is this Law — that becomes the delight of true child of God (Ps.1:1-3). They meditate day and night on the fulfillment of this wonderful gospel truth!
Beloved, He.13:21 makes it clear that we — His sheep — are the recipients of the eternal blessings of Christ’s shed blood of the eternal covenant. For it says that through His resurrection — the God of peace will: “make you perfect in every good work to do His will — working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight — through Jesus Christ — to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen”
It is indeed our earnest prayer that each of you will have a wonderful time of worship in spirit and in truth this time of year. May your reflections upon the great resurrection of our Lord bring glory — only — upon Him.
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Mar 30, 2014 | Ministry News
Please be in earnest prayer for our staff and the children that will be coming this year. We have already received applications over the internet for campers. This is a gospel seed sowing ministry — and much prayer is the nourishing rain that makes it take root and grow in grace. Thank you for your continual love and prayerful support!
by John Carpenter | Mar 30, 2014 | Ministry News
The summer of camp season 2014 is coming right upon us. Our first Saturday work day is only a couple of weeks away…if the weather permits. Please be in prayer for our main man Jeff Hall, who underwent hernia surgery just this same month. His recovery from this will definitely have to be taken in consideration. We do not want anything to go wrong. Jeff’s knowledge of what needs to get done is invaluable to us. Pray with us for his complete physical healing and total recovery.
As always — there are many tasks that need to get done before the first group of campers come on the premises. We will once again be designating each Saturday a preparation day for the camp season. If you — or, your group — can schedule a day to help us — Praise the Lord — we will greatly appreciate your assistance.
by John Carpenter | Mar 30, 2014 | Devotional
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return – and come to Zion with songs – and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness! And sorrow and sighing shall flee away!” Is.35:10
It has been just a little over a week now since God — in His grace — allowed us to witness the glorious end of an earthly journey of one of God’s redeemed ones. A witness that is being described in this text. Mary Lee Carpenter entered into the eternal joy of her Lord and Savior at 7:45 AM on March 13, 2014. She was 93 years old — and she lived all those years, except for her last three weeks, healthy enough to live and move and get around by herself.
She spent her daily time reading books – listening to favorite Christian music – and writing entries into her prayer journal. She often voiced her longing to be able to just go on and be with the Lord — and lamented being so old that she did not feel “useful” anymore. “Why is the Lord keeping me here?” – she would ask. In the end, however, she became a living testimony to all of us who were there to see it — of the substantive and applicable meaning of the 16th verse from 2Cor.4: “For which cause we faint not, but though, also, our outward man perish — yet the inward man is renewed — day by day.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God.
The Lord God called her (with her husband) to life long service for His great glory in the ministry of Camp Del-Haven. She was faithful…to the Lord Jesus Christ in serving Him in this ministry. She came to truly understand — that everything that is done for Christ in this life – is not done at all – unless it is done by His strength and completely and totally for His glory! That’s why she never fainted in being faithful.
Beloved friends, she went to sleep in Jesus — having lived — and having worn out her old earthly tabernacle of flesh — and having been divinely prepared to be received into the glorious joy-filled presence of her sovereign Savior Substitute – her eternal Lord and Redeemer forever and ever and ever! While she closed her eyes here — her faith and hope became sight and reality there! What she couldn’t grasp of some spiritual things here — she entered into the peace, rest and pure understanding of God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit — there!
She experienced — unto its glorious completion — 2Cor.5:2 — which says: “For, also, in this (earthly house) we groan — earnestly desiring to be clothed upon — with our house which is from heaven…” And again — 2Cor.5:4: “For, also, we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened — not for that we would be unclothed — but clothed upon! That mortality might be swallowed up by life!” Yes — she bore witness to the culmination of a life drawn to — and held tight — in the grip of the gospel of the glory — only — of the Lord Jesus Christ, “who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light”! She was faithful because her Lord had called her to be so. Praise his name!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Feb 19, 2014 | Ministry News
Prayer Requests
We do want you to be in prayer, however, for Sheri. When the ice storm was first happening and she was driving home from school where she teaches — she had to take to the ditch to avoid a collision with a school bus and rolled her car! It was a total loss. She seems to be physically alright — but is now having to seek out another vehicle. Please pray that the Lord will preserve her — and lead her as she undergoes this task.
As always dear ones, pray for our staff and all the children that He has sent to us to minister to. Satan — the roaring lion seeking whom he may devour — is ever at their heels in order to deceive and destroy them. If this letter does nothing else — but move you to pray for us — Praise the Lord our wonderful Savior!
Last month we gave to you our camp schedule — when you pray — lift up those camp sessions before the Lord — and seek from Him His grand blessing upon each one. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood — but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world — against spiritual wickedness in high places!” Eph.6:12
