by John Carpenter | Jun 15, 2012 | Devotional
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord — so walk ye in Him. (7) Rooted and built up in Him — and established in the faith — as ye have been taught — abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Col.2:6-7
Paul is here writing to a church that — as far as we know — he had never visited. He is — in this text — also explaining some precepts of true Christian walk and worship that will be evident in and among all true believing Christians.
Faith, indeed, is an integral aspect of “receiving” the Lord Jesus Christ. But, even faith is a grace that only God — can and will — bestow upon all those that He has given unto Christ to redeem and save them from their sins. Faith is the divine means whereby a person realizes that they are accepted by God in the person and work of His eternal Son who came into this world to be their divinely appointed Savior and Substitute. They receive — by the grace of faith — the truth of their having been saved from God’s eternal holy wrath against their sins through their Substitute’s walk — and their Redeemer’s sacrifice — who is both one, and the same Christ. Therefore, does scripture say: “For by grace are ye saved through faith — and that not of yourselves — it is the gift of God” and “All that the Father giveth me — shall come to me — and him that cometh to me — I will in no wise cast out”. [Ep.2:8; Jn.6:37]
We are saved by God’s grace — and, by the same means of grace — we are “rooted in Him” and “built up in Him”. What is true of one — is also true of all of those that are given by God to His Son, their Savior. Collectively, all of the saved are said to be like trees — planted by the rivers of water. Trees of righteousness — whose fruit will be seen in its season. And, it will be eternal fruit — that will never spoil. For it will have the eternal Savior, Christ Jesus, as its root! They are also regarded as God’s building — God’s temple — God’s house. God is the builder — and He has laid as a foundation — His eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! No other foundation will do for the holy habitation of God. Among this company alone will there be found the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit of true worship!
Next we see that those that have truly received Christ — will also be “established in Him” (i.e. in “the faith” of Him). Receiving Christ is the beginning of a learning process that concerns who He is as their Savior and Lord. One becomes stabilitated in the sound doctrine of the saving truth of the gospel of God’s great grace. This learning process — fills up the life and walk of the true believer in Christ. And, it becomes the source of an abundant exhilaration and joy — and thanksgiving — for all the times and experiences that they have of added illumination in the revelation of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
By grace, do we receive Christ Jesus — and by grace, do we walk and grow in Christ Jesus — all to the praise of His glory!
-For Christ’s Glory Only!
J. Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2012 | Ministry News
June 4-7 (Staff Training)
June 18-21 (6 to 8 year olds)
June 25-28 (9 to 12 year old girls)
July 9 – 12 (9 to 12 year old boys)
July 16-19 (6 to 8 year olds)
July 23-26 (9 to 12 year old girls)
July 30 – Aug. 2 (9 to 12 year old boys)
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2012 | Ministry News
Please be in prayer with us for our coming camp sessions. The Lord is sending the campers and our summer sessions are filling up quickly. We are still in need of staff to work with the campers. It is a wonderful ministry opportunity for people ages 15 and older. If you or someone you know is looking for a summer ministry opportunity or if you just want more information please contact Sheri at 816-690-8465 or sheri@campdelhaven.org.
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2012 | Camp News, Ministry News
We are one month away from the kick-off of the 2012 Del-Haven camp season! There are still a couple of work Saturdays left — to get a few loose ends met. Your prayers are needed very much for us to get everything ready. We have received one response from you all regarding our need for two refrigerators. Praise the Lord for that one! But, we still need one more. If anyone knows of someone, or something — somewhere — that can help us — the Lord be praised — we will greatly appreciate it.
Also, we thank our God and Savior for all of you who have helped us meet the need that we have for mattresses. We can now replace 19 of the 32! That’s just great!
Praise the Savior — funds keep coming in earmarked to help us retire the debt we owe for the renovations we had to have done on the lake campground. By God’s grace, we are making head way.
You are welcome to visit the camp anytime. Please call 816-690-8465 to make arrangements to have the security gate opened at the bottom of the driveway.
by John Carpenter | May 24, 2012 | Devotional
“My sheep hear my voice — and I know them — and they follow me. (28) And I give unto them eternal life — and they shall never perish — neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Jn.10:27-28
The Lord Jesus Christ declares from these verses — not the way that He hopes it will be with all those that are truly His sheep — but the way that it truly is! There is not being proclaimed here His intention — but rather His accomplishment! There is no doubt about it — that which He has said — His “sheep” hear. And, they hear — not because they know Him — but because He knows them!
The next thing the Lord Jesus says is that those He knows follow Him. A precedent is being revealed here by our Savior — as to how things are — as well as, how things are always going to be.
This is such a blessed text for us to learn how wonderful our Savior truly is! Every single one of us who have — by the grace of faith — fled for refuge to Jesus Christ realize all too well — two things simultaneously: 1. That we are fallen sinners and, therefore, we are in dire need for something that only God can do. Only God can get us safely through this wicked world — without ultimately ending up in hell. This kind of eternal salvation that the Bible describes — is completely under sovereign God’s government and control! And, 2. That the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God — sent into this wicked world to do for us exactly what needs to be done in order to eternally save us! The gospel declares that He has already accomplished this — for all who are His sheep.
That’s why Jesus says: “And I give unto them — eternal life and they shall never perish”. John says in another place: “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 — he that hath not — the Son of God — hath not the life!”
The only view that we sinners can have of “eternal life” — is in the Lord Jesus Christ and what the Word of God describes and declares of His person and work as our sovereign Savior and substitute! This is exactly what the Pharisees could not — and as a result — would not believe! Hence, Jesus told them: (26) “But ye believe not — because ye are not of my sheep!” Notice He did not say: “You are not of my sheep — because you do not believe”. No — believing does not make you a “sheep”. If one is a “sheep” — they will hear and believe the gospel of God’s grace! And, in this way — they will hear and believe the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will hear and believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ — throughout their lives. Praise His Name!
For His Glory Only!
John Carpenter
