by John Carpenter | Jun 26, 2023 | Devotional
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven – Now is come salvation and strength and the Kingdom of our God – and the power of His Christ – for the accuser of our brethren is cast down – which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb – and the Word of their Testimony – and loved not their lives unto the death.” [Rev.12:10-11]
“Of His own will – begat He us – with the Word of Truth – that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” [Jas.1:18]
These two texts reveal to us grace-quickened and awakened sinner/children – eight realities while we are still here in this fallen-in-sin world. First of all – right now in the present, it says – we have God’s eternal salvation, strength and a place in His Kingdom! This is a wonderful thing!
Second, all of this is ruled over and strictly maintained by the sovereign authority and power of Christ Jesus our Savior. Third, Satan – the accuser is defeated and cast down. Even though he is in a rage against God — and us – he is absolutely subservient to the will of Christ, our God! Our spiritual warfare goes on all around us – day and night – non-stop – but, by grace we stand and see the salvation of our Lord!
In fact, Fourth, we have overcome all his evil endeavors against us – by the “Blood of the Lamb” – having been shed for all of our sins at Calvary! Praise the Name of the Lord!
And, Fifth, we have overcome the devil by – it says – the “Word of our Testimony”! That’s the Word (the logos) of God that was instrumentally used by the Holy Spirit of God to awaken us unto the reality that we truly are one of His chosen-sinner-saved-by-grace-children! This refers to our genuine born again (or, more lit., born from above) experience. Just like Ro.8:16-17a says: “The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ…”.
This brings us to the Sixth reality that also descriptively declares the fact of our spiritual birth from Jas.1:18> “Of His own will (not our will) – begat He us…”; or, He caused us to be begotten of Him.
The Seventh reality serves to substantiate the all important role that God’s Word plays in providing us with a true testimony from God unto us personally that we are one of His children – He communicates it to us “with the Word of Truth…”!
In fact, all three persons in the Godhead participate in an ongoing communication with each of His elect throughout their entire earthly walk – all the way to glory land! Jesus says that none of us can come to Him for His abundant life – except they be drawn by God the Father! [Jn.6:44]
And, He describes how that drawing process is worked out when He says from Jn.6:45> “It is written in the prophets – And they shall be all taught of God (or, more lit. taught by God the Father). Every man therefore that hath heard and learned (lit.) from the Father – cometh unto me.”
And, finally, Eighth, our Lord Jesus is not left out of this scenario: Eph.4:20-21 plainly says, “But you have not so learned Christ; (21) if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.” Indeed, Christ Jesus – is – the Truth!
For Christ’s Glory Only! — John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | May 22, 2023 | Devotional
“But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased!” [Ps,115:3] “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven and in earth – in the seas, and all the deep places.” [Ps.135:6] “For in Him we live and move and have our being…” [Ac.17:28] “Jesus answered and said unto them: This is the work of God – that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” [Jn.6:29] “And when the Gentiles heard this – they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord – and as many as were ordained to eternal life – believed!” [Ac.13:48] “For of Him – and through Him – and to Him — are all things – to whom be glory forever. Amen.” [Ro.11:36] “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit – that we are (the) children of God…” [Ro.8:16]
Each of these texts declare the absolute and total Sovereignty of God over absolutely all things throughout absolutely all of our lives! From the Old Testament it is written from Is.46:9-10 that God tells us: “Remember the former things of old – for I am God and there is none else I am God and there is none like me! (10) Declaring the end from the beginning – and from ancient times the things that are not yet done – saying – my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure!”
Then in the New Testament from Rev.22:13 Jesus – the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the eternal Son of man descriptively declares of Himself: “I am Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end – the first and the last!” In fact, the Ro.11:36 text above is referring specifically of Him as well — when it speaks of all things in this fallen world of fallen men – and, He is the one who gets all the glory if any of them are saved from their sins! Once again – it’s all Christ in regards to absolutely all that pertains to our eternal salvation.
The Holy Spirit inspired apostle wrote in 1Co.2:12-13 these words: “Now we (have) received – not the spirit of the world – but the Spirit which is of God – that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things we speak – not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth – but (in) which the Holy Spirit teacheth – comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
All of this alludes directly to what Jesus teaches us from Jn.16:12-13> “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when He – the Spirit of the Truth is come, He shall not speak of Himself – but whatever He shall hear (that) shall He speak: and He will show [or, more lit. “announce to”] you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me – for He shall receive of mine – and shall show [or, more lit. “announce it”] unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine – therefore said I that He [the Holy Spirit] shall take of mine, and shall show it [or, more lit. “shall announce it”] unto you!”
In other words, dear ones, our absolutely Sovereign-over-all-things Triune God has purposed and decreed – from His vantage point (which is eternity) – everything that pertains to our eternal Salvation! And, it is the mighty work of the Spirit of God to bear testimony unto us – to unfold to us – we, who are truly His children – all the pertinent things within our capacity to understand — while we are still in this world – that pertain to our having been eternally saved! And, Praise His Name, He unfolds it for us – from and through His wonderful magnanimous Word! Ro.10:17 tells us that true and saving “Faith – cometh by hearing – and hearing by the Word of God!” Amen.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Apr 15, 2023 | Devotional
“My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one – and come away. (11) For, lo, the winter is past – the rain is over and gone. (12) The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.(13) The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. (14) O my dove, that art in the clefts of the Rock – in the secret places of the stairs. Let me hear thy voice – for sweet is thy voice – and thy countenance is comely.” [Song.2:10-14]
This wonderful text of scripture is a representation of a special communication that comes from the heavenly Bridegroom unto His Bride – awakening her from her sleep. This contextually seems to reflect the way that our Savior comes and rouses each one of His eternally saved ones who have finished their course of life in this world and finally fallen to sleep in their physical death. We will close our eyes here – and open them in our Lord’s glorious presence – where we will abide forever and ever. And, it will be like getting through a season of the death of winter (by God’s grace of course) and entering into an eternal-life-season of springtime…in the loving presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praise His Name!
That this revelatory experience – of divine communication — includes each and every one of those particularly given by God the Father unto God the Son is evidenced by what Jesus says from Jn.6:37-40> “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven – not to do mine own will – but the will of Him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me – that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing – but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of Him that sent me – that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on Him – may have everlasting life – and I will raise him up at the last day!”
When it says from vs.39 “but should raise IT up again at the last day” it’s talking about the whole great congregation of all those whom the Father has given to the Son from out of the whole history of fallen-in-sin humanity! This whole company of particular persons is precisely what the Holy Scriptures mean by “the Bride of Christ”! And, just as the Lord God made Eve out of Adam and brought her unto him (see: Ge.2:22-24) even so are all the saved-by-grace of fallen-in-sin humanity created in Christ Jesus and ultimately by the Father drawn unto Him. Jesus said, “No man can come unto me – except the Father which hath sent me – draw him – and I will raise him upat the last day.”[Jn.6:44] Hence, all the Father gives to the Son to save – are all the Father draws to Him. And, these are all the ones that Jesus will raise up at the last day.
Plus, this resurrection of us by the Lord Jesus is according to God the Father — who has given us to Christ – and drawn us to Christ – He has also eternally saved us by Christ! Even at the very moment the Spirit of God makes His saved one to know that their eternal salvation has happened – He does so by speaking – testifying unto us — that we have been saved! Ro.8:16-17 confirms this true spiritual experience. It says: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (17) and if children – then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”. This happens at our regeneration – our new birth! And, it is this same “still small voice” that effectually awakens us (see: Eph.5:14: “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead – and Christ shall give thee Light.”) This makes Christ’s Resurrection Day a real celebration!! Christ’s Resurrection takes us from Regeneration to Glorification! Hallelujah!!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Mar 13, 2023 | Devotional
[Jer.31:3] [Eph.3:17-19] [2Co.5:14-15]
(11) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (12) Then shall ye call upon me – and ye shall go and pray unto me – and I will hearken unto you.(13) And ye shall seek me — and find me – when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord – and I will turn away your captivity…” [Jer.29:11-14]
The scripture references above the Jer.29 text — are what last month’s devotional touched upon. They are all obviously scriptures that describe and explain something of God’s great love for each of those whom He has determined and decreed to be eternally chosen, redeemed and saved by His great grace. In regards to the great works and ways of the gracious reality of our Lord God’s infinite and eternal love in our personal and individual salvation experience – we are now ready to address the last scriptural reference from Jer.29:11. We will have to include vs.12-14 for contextual purposes. For there is in this text described a real Cause and Effect reality – on an individual and personal level – that is being pictured! And, in the picture that is being drawn from Jer.29:11-14 — it is the none other than the loving longing of our Lord that is the real Cause. In other words, the “Expectation” of vs.11 is – God’s “expected end”. Which in itself works out in becoming that which fulfills in each one of His eternally saved-by-grace children – their prayerful seeking after Him! Hence, this text – in it’s entirety – becomes one of the eternal foundations of a true believer’s real assurance of their eternal standing in Christ.
All that is said in vs.11-14 is sourced in the Omniscience of our eternally loving and saving God. It is His thoughts and His ways – which are not at all our thoughts and our ways [see: Is.55:8-9] – that make up the expectation of our Almighty God who has loved us and done all that is both necessary and required to save us. Which includes all that He, in turn, Causes us to become as being His true children! Because He fulfills His loving longing for us – we, in turn, become all that through Him we (as a result) pray for — hope for – and strive for – even while we are still here in these earthly bodies and circumstances enduring all that is a part of this age of sin and death! We have the Spirit of God – whom – both God the Father and God the Son has sent unto us; and through whom the Triune God– eternally abides in us(!) [see: Jn.14:16-17,23,26; 15:26].
This is what Phil.1:6 alludes to when it says: “Being confident of theis very thing, that He (our Lord God) which hath begun a good work in you – will perform it (or, perfect it) until the day of Jesus Christ.” Likewise, everything in Jer.29:12-14 is the Effect of what the Lord God declares to be true of Himself being the gracious Cause in vs.11. The Spirit of God bears witness unto the spirit of each one of His children that His divine and holy thoughts toward him are all His thoughts of Peace and not of evil. And, that sinner/child receives that gospel of grace message and then cries out “upon the Name of the Lord” to prove that they’re one of His saved ones! [see: Rom.10:13] Then a change of behavior takes over His sinner/child. He begins to seek the Lord in prayer like never before. This is a behavior that takes hold on him and does not let him go. No; instead this behavior becomes even more and more intense. It becomes an unbreakable and holy habit! He longs for the Lord to be in his daily life and walk throughout the struggles of this fallen-in-sin world. He is bound to praying and seeking the Lord until he finds Him and gets ahold of Him and will not let Him go. And why is this victory so certainly to be realized? Even because all of God’s thoughts, intentions and motives are “of Peace – and not of evil” – Forever!
by John Carpenter | Feb 20, 2023 | Devotional
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying: Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love! Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” [Jer.31:3]
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God..” [Eph.3:17-19]
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all – then were all dead: (15) and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.” [2Co.5:14-15]
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” [Jer.29:11]
Three out of four of the above texts obviously have to do with God’s Love toward His sinner-saved-by-grace-children – while they are yet in this fallen-in-sin world. That being said – actually all four of these texts speak specifically of the Love of Christ our God!
The first text out of Jeremiah declares that all those who have been saved – are being, or have been — drawn by God’s lovingkindness into the reality of knowing and understanding that He has loved them from eternity – with His eternal love – and has ultimately provided an eternal atonement for all of their sins! How so very wonderful is that?!
Then, from here we jump over into the New Testament where the apostle Paul – inspired by the Holy Spirit – tells us that the “whole family of God” (Eph.3:15) by the power of the Holy Spirit will be made able to understand the great eternal love of our great eternal Savior! A love that has brought to pass and wrought for us every aspect of God’s eternal salvation from all of our sins.
And, why is this true? How does this happen to us? Even because Christ’s love for us literally blows our fallen minds! The Spirit of God causes us to receive and understand the glory of God’s great grace that He has exercised unto us – and in us – in His saving us from our sins. The knowledge of this surpasses anything and everything that has ever happened to us – and it’s all because of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise His all glorious Name!
In fact, as the next text from 2Co.5 conveys unto us: “…the love of Christ constraineth us” [or, more lit.> “the love to us – from out of Christ – controls us”] so that we rightly do judge – that Christ as our Sovereign Savior Substitute has satisfied all of God’s perfect Justice upon our sins in His dying for us at Calvary! And, His having been raised from the dead for us – we have through Him — a perfect atonement for all of our sins! Because of this – we absolutely want to live only for Him and His glory throughout the rest of our lives in this fallen world!
The last text from Jer.29 further reveals something special concerning God’s love for us. It tells of the very specific loving longing that our God has for each of His saved sinner children. Whatever God thinks – comes to pass (see Is.14:24). And, He says that He knows the thoughts that He thinks toward us – “thoughts of Peace and not of evil” in order to give to us His “expected end”.
We will discuss deeper and further this text in next month’s prayer/newsletter.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jan 7, 2023 | Devotional
(30) “And the angel said unto her, fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. (31) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son – and thou shalt call His Name, Jesus. (32) He shall be Great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest – and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father, David: (33) And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever – and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. (34) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (35)And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee – therefore also that Holy One which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” [Lk.1:30-35]
In the light of the dawning of a New Year – we shall consider the last four of Ten pure gospel descriptions that are unfolded in the angel, Gabriel’s announcement unto young Mary — who was chosen to be the mother of the Son of Man, Christ Jesus. Having last month looked at the first six of the ten descriptions – we are ready to consider the last four. Hence, the Seventh pure gospel description of Christ is found in vs.33, which says: “And He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever – and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.” Now Jacob represents all the individual persons whom God has loved from eternity! Jacob, also, has been — from the Word of God — depicted as being the sinner/child of the household of Isaac – the miracle son of Abraham and Sarah! Jacob proved to be the sneaky – lying – sinner that surreptitiously got what he wanted by trickery — in regards to Esau’s birthright and his father Isaac’s best blessing. And, God declared to Rebecca — before the twin boys were even born – that He loved Jacob and He hated Esau [see: Ro9:13]! Gabriel tells Mary that her Son will be the promised Seed through whom the Serpent, Satan, will be destroyed. And — He will also be the Sovereign Savior Substitute for all His people; His family; His Church; and His elect-to-eternal life. He will reign over the “Household of Jacob” forever — and His Kingdom shall have no end! These are obviously all of God’s chosen sinner/-children who will be eternally saved by God’s grace through the meritorious and vicarious person and work of His only-begotten, beloved Son! Praise His Name!
When Mary hears this news – she is beside herself in amazement and asks a most obvious question: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” To which Gabriel answers by delivering the Eighth pure gospel description of Christ! And this one comes from the first part of vs.35. He said to her, “the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee…”. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit was in charge of the performance and the success of absolutely everything that had to do with the incarnation of the eternal Son of God – and, as well, the creation of our world – and — the eternal Salvation of our souls! Therefore, the Holy Spirit’s presence and power is also absolutely necessary for the performance and success of all of us making it through this fallen world following Christ Jesus every step of the way – on into His (and consequently our) heavenly glory!
This brings us to the Ninth pure gospel description in this wonderful portion of scripture. The next thing that Gabriel is sent to tell Mary is: “…and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee…”. This obviously refers to God the Father! So, we have the presence and power of the whole Trinity at work in the performance of this most wonderful miracle of God’s grace in order to effectually save all the souls of His entire eternal family! The incarnation of the eternal Son of God was the supreme preternatural act of omnipotent divine intervention of God’s love and grace. It is completely unprecedented as far as God’s miracles are concerned! Glory to His Name!
The Tenth pure gospel description is that Mary’s son – will also be called the Son of God. Amen.
-For Christ’s Glory Only! John Carpenter
