Devotional for September 2012

by John Carpenter | Sep 6, 2012 | Devotional

“It is a good thing to give thanks — unto the Lord — and to sing praises — unto thy name, O most High! (2) To show forth thy lovingkindness — in the morning — and thy faithfulness — every night. (4) For thou, Lord — hast made me glad through thy work! I will triumph — in the works of thy hands! (5) O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep.” Ps.92:1-2,4 -5”

Isn’t it wonderful — in and through the course of this fallen and cursed world — to experience the continual preservation and provision of the Lord! It just makes you so very thankful that — among all the other fallen and sinful inhabitants of the human race — that you are one of His! It makes you traverse through these days — with a song of praise in your heart — knowing that — in spite of all the struggle and affliction that goes along with living in this cursed world — you are just so happy to be in Jesus — and all the blessings of the victory that He has won on your behalf!

It is then that your life becomes a veritable revelation of His lovingkindness and faithfulness. And, that is the case — both day and night! In times of prosperity and adversity — thankfulness and songs of praise fill your days — because of Him!

That which makes us so glad is His work — that He performs — in and through us. Why – it is in His works — that we truly triumph — as a victor — and shout for joy for their greatness! It is in His works — that we come to exercise — our genuine dependence upon Him — for the provision of His guidance and deliverance.

It is His thoughts toward us — that are what assures us — that we are His — and under His perfect Will and good pleasure! “His thoughts — are very deep” — it says.
Ro.11:33 tells us: “O the depth — of the riches — both — of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable [or, incomprehensible] are His judgments [or, decisions] and His ways [or, means of doing things] past finding out!”

And to think that God the Holy Spirit [whom both God the Father and God the Son have sent unto us — to seal us and to dwell in us — in an eternal covenant union with Him, the One triune God] — has shown (or, has revealed) unto us — a reflection of the riches of His glorious wisdom and knowledge. It is, indeed, unfathomable!

No wonder Ps.139:17 says: “How precious are thy thoughts unto me — O God! How great [or, how mighty] is the sum of them!” His thoughts toward us are not only deep into the riches of His wisdom and knowledge — but they are also of great value to us in that they are — according to Jer.29:11 — “thoughts of peace — and not of evil” — unto the eternal salvation of our souls. Praise His Name!

Truly and indeed, “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord! And to sing praises…” unto His wonderful Name!

For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter

Devotional for August 2012

by John Carpenter | Aug 16, 2012 | Devotional

“But now hath He obtained — a more excellent ministry — by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant — which was established upon better promises.” He.8:6

This is a description of our Lord Jesus Christ and His divinely declared ministry as a holy, heavenly and eternal High Priest/Substitute for His people. When it says that He “obtained a more excellent ministry” — it is telling us that the governor of all of providence has finally brought to pass the time for the manifestation of His eternal Son — as our eternal Savior Substitute and Mediator.

The Levite priests had an outstanding ministry — that they were divinely appointed to religiously perform according to the law of Moses. But, they acted only as a type of savior/substitute — for the Old Covenant children of God. But, the Lord Jesus Christ — the sovereign Savior/Son of God — manifest in human flesh — was divinely sworn to be the eternal, immutable and heavenly High Priest — whom God had promised would come into this fallen world and fulfill all that needed fulfilling — for all those whom He had covenanted with God the Father — to come into this world and save! Hence, it says: “He is the Mediator — of a better covenant”! Even a “New” covenant — that is — as it says — “established (or, legislated) — upon better promises”.

The word for “promises” — literally means: announcements, or assurances. And, they are said to be “better” — because they are announced and assured as being already fulfilled! 2Co.1:20 tells us: “For all the promises of God — in Him — are yea — and in Him — amen — unto the glory of God through us!” Christ has done it all — praise His Name! Indeed — Christ is — our all — and in all! (Col.3:13)

He.9:15 says: “And for this cause (Or, for this glorious reason) — He — is the Mediator of the New Testament — that by means of death — for the redemption of the transgressions…they (lit.) who have been called — might receive — the promise — of the eternal inheritance.” And, they receive it because they have been placed in Him! And 1Jn.5:11-12 plainly states: “And this is the record — that God has given unto us eternal life. And — this life — is in His Son! He that hath the Son — hath the life — and He that hath not the Son of God — hath not the life.” Hence, in the eternal Son of God — that is — in His person and work as the eternal Redeemer — the promised gift of eternal life — has been given — has been fulfilled — unto us by God.

Therefore, He.12:24-25 goes on to strongly substantiate this truth to us — by further saying: “And, to Jesus — the Mediator of the New Covenant — and to the blood of sprinkling — that speaketh better things than that of Abel (That’s because the blood of the Savior — speaketh better things than the blood of the saved one) — see that ye refuse not Him that speaketh (Or lit., see that ye deprecate not Christ). For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth — much more — shall not we escape — if we turn away from (Or, if we pervert) Him that speaketh from heaven!”