by John Carpenter | Jul 7, 2013 | Devotional
“Great is the Lord — and greatly to be praised — in the city of our God — in the mountain of His holiness!(2) Beautiful (lit.) on high — the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion — on the sides of the north — the city — of our great King!” Ps.48:1-2
The first phrase of this Psalm — actually — explicitly — ascribes greatness (in magnitude of importance and glory) to the eternal Lord, as having been manifested to be none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, He is to be greatly (or, exceedingly and abundantly) praised! Therefore, He is the great King — of all kings!
And, truly our Lord is great! He is the great Shepherd of His sheep! Who through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant– His own shed blood — [He.13:20] — has laid down His life — just for them [Jn.10:15]! He knows who they are — and He calls them all by their name — and they follow Him — and He gives unto them — eternal life — and they shall never perish [Jn.10:3, 27-28]!
He is the one and only great High Priest [He.4:14] — that ministers before God in the holy heavens on behalf of all those whom God the Father has given unto Him [Jn.6:37; 17:2]. Through Him — as our great High Priest — we, in full assurance of faith in His blood — have bold access into the heavenly Holy of holies [He.10:19-22].
As our eternal — great High Priest — He officiates His perfect ministry for us in a “greater and more perfect Tabernacle — not made with hands — that is to say — not of this creation!” [He.8:1-2; 9:11]! Through Him — and Him, alone — there is, indeed, provided — “so great salvation”! Therefore, He is a great Savior [Is.32:20]!
This brings unto us — great joy [Lk.2:10] — as we traverse through the wilderness of this fallen world. We inevitably discover that Jesus is, indeed, a “great Rock — in a weary land” [Is.32:2]. We find that — in Christ there is commended unto us — God’s “great love — wherewith He loved us” [Eph.2:4] — and there is bestowed upon us His great grace — which gives us great power — to speak His word with boldness [Acts 4:31,33] — bearing witness of the great things that He hath done [1Sam.12:24].
In truth — the eternal person and work of the Son of God — the Lord Jesus Christ — is, indeed, a great Light [Is.9:2]! Everyone who has walked this world in darkness — unto whom this Light has been revealed — is a true witness of this fact. This is the Light that shined unto the lost Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus — arresting him — and changing him into the apostle, Paul — when he was on his way to Damascus [Acts 22:6]. “Suddenly there shone from heaven — a great Light”– he says.
In a principle of His grace — dear ones — this is how it happens with each of us! He reveals Himself unto us — and we then exclaim: “Oh how great is thy goodness — which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee…” [Ps.31:19] Praise His great name!
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable!” Ps.145:3
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Ministry News
Please be in prayer for Sheri DeSchepper and Jeff Hall — who head up our staff of young warriors for Christ Jesus. They are — this very week — training new additions to our staff — as well as giving guidance and direction to returning staff members. The Lord has heard and answered prayer where our need for additional male help is concerned. Again, praise His Name! We continually thank the Lord — and all of the help that He sends our way — especially in our urgent time of need.
We constantly thank and praise Him for all of you as well. Some of you who have been faithful to provide those small monthly stipends — this will not go unrecognized at glory time! Your steady gifts always seem to come at just the right time! Our God is the perfect governor — of our lives. He is Wonderful!
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, please do not ever forget to be in prayer for the boys and girls that come to camp. Pray that the Holy Spirit of God — prepares their hearts — for hearing and responding to — the gospel. It is just such prayers as this — which are well used by the Spirit of God — in the accomplishment of His holy will and purpose. Thanks to you all — for being right where the Lord wanted you!
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Ministry News
Through your prayers for us — we have been amply provided for with food and paper goods. We appreciate so much — pastor John Jones, along with his wife, Donna — of Faith In Christ Fellowship Church in Oak Grove, MO. They have been a wonderful source — of truly bountiful supply for us. Their display of genuine Biblical love — in deed and in truth — has launched us leaps and bounds in being prepared for meeting head on — this year’s boys and girls — whom the Lord will send to camp.
We had a real need for redoing our kitchen floor and repairing our kitchen attic fan. Theresa Carpenter contacted the good people at Con-Carpet in Blue Springs, MO — and the Lord obviously went before her — for she was well received. We were able to get brand new linoleum for the floor — for just $200! This was a real blessing! And, the attic fan has been down for at least a couple of years. We thought we were going to have to get a brand new one — until the Lord sent to us some folks from another church in Oak Grove, MO — Paradise Outfitters Ministries. They were able to fix it — so it runs like new! They also repaired our broken down riding mower! There truly is no god — like our sovereign almighty Lord God! We thank and praise — His matchless Name!
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Ministry News
Well, dear ones, the 2013 Camp Del-Haven season — is right upon us! And, we are — right now — in the midst of a desperate tribulation. We have an irreparable tear in our pool liner. It must be replaced! We were able to find a new liner for $2,000! Please make this a prayer priority. We simply cannot have camp without a swimming pool! If just 20 of you could supply $100 more than you regularly give — this immediate need would be met. Or, if just 40 of you could provide an extra $50 — this would do it! Please help!
We need to replace the swimming pool liner.
by John Carpenter | Jun 16, 2013 | Devotional
“These things I have spoken unto you — that in me you might have peace. In the world — you shall have tribulation — but be of good cheer — I have overcome the world!” Jn.16:33
Jesus spoke this wonderful word of encouragement shortly before He went to Calvary. When He suffered the affliction of the cross He endured the worst of conditions — for those He came to save.
Although His outward physical condition was about to become one of unbelievable agony, yet His inner-spiritual position was one of unshakable security. Earlier from Jn.14:10-11 — He told the disciples that He was “in the Father” and that the things He said and did were not of His own authority, but of the authority of the Father. Even so are we in a like relationship with Christ — having been eternally positioned in Him. For in Jesus (who is our peace) we have peace — whereas in the world we have tribulation. But, praise His name — the Lord Jesus has overcome the world.
The grace of faith readily receives this word from God. What an understatement it truly is that in this world we will have tribulation. Everyday proves the veracity of this declaration, and it is certain that our Lord knew this to be true when He said it. What He means to convey unto us — for the strengthening of our faith — is that even though we must endure the tribulation that fills up the conditions of this world, we who are positioned in Him will have peace…because He has overcome the world of tribulation.
“Tribulation” connotes the pressures that we are under on virtually every level of our life. Whereas the word for “peace” communicates the thought of our being in union with our Lord. We are, therefore, by grace united with the only one who has indeed “overcome” the world. That is to say that He has subdued it and brought it completely under His reigning control…Hallelujah! It is no wonder, then, that He also encourages us to “be of good cheer” — which literally means that we are to, in Him, be brave and courageous in the presence of all the world’s trials and pressures.
Is.48:10 declares that the Lord has literally chosen and tried His people “in the furnace of affliction”. We are reminded from this passage of the experience of the three Hebrew boys in the midst of the fiery furnace…with the Son of God. They came out without even the odor of smoke on their clothes.
And finally, Acts 14:22 relates to us how Paul and Barnabus went back through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God’.” And, positioned in Christ — we cannot fail.
– For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”
