The Camp Meeting

“Come for all things now are ready” Luke 14:17

“At these yearly assemblies the hearts of old and young would be encouraged in the service of God, while the association of the people from the different quarters of the land would strengthen the ties that bound them to God and to one another.” PP 540; Lev. 23:33-44.

Building Mature Relationships

The camp meetings are important occasions for all our people. It is designed that at least one week may be given up to seek God without interruption. The whole heart should be engaged in this service, that a better knowledge of the scriptures may be obtained, that the plan of salvation may be better understood, and that there may be a deeper realization of what salvation means, and what it will cost to meet the high requirements of God. Those who carry the truth into their daily lives, will see a decided change in their characters. If you are brought into close sympathy with Christ, you will not engage in light and trifling conversation, you will not be indifferent to the great themes of redemption, you will not enter in flirtation, and show preference one for another on these solemn occasions. The spiritual sensibilities will be aroused. Christ Himself will be the honoured guest in every meeting. We know that Satan will also be in the assembly, seeking to win the thoughts and hearts away from Christ.

We are living in the anti-typical Day of Atonement, and our High Priest is in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, pleading His blood in behalf of His people. The mighty achievement upon Calvary, should not become an old, forgotten story to any of us. The object of these camp meetings is to arouse the mind to a more vivid sense of the solemnity of these things. Grasp the truth as it is presented to you for your soul’s sake. Cherish every new idea, every divine enlightenment, lest you let the truth slip from your heart, as water from a leaky vessel. Seek to walk in every ray of light that comes to you through the ministration of the word. As we grow in the knowledge of the truth, we shall have fellowship one with another, and the more we think of Jesus and His matchless love, the deeper will that love take possession of our heart, mind, and soul, and we will enter into the scenes of Christ’s humiliation, and become partakers of the divine nature. RH, June 26, 1888.

Attendance Of Church Members

It is important that the members of our churches should attend our camp meetings. The enemies of truth are many; and because our members are few, we should present as strong a front as possible, individually you need the benefits of the meeting. God calls upon you to number one in the ranks of the truth. 6T, 38:3.

Some will say: “It is expensive to travel, and it would be better for us to save the money and give it for the advancement of the work where it is so much needed.” Do not reason in this way; God calls upon you to take your place among the rank and file of His people. Strengthen the meeting all you possibly can by being present with your families. Put forth extra exertion to attend the gathering of God’s people.

Brethren and sisters, it would be far better for you to let your business suffer than to neglect the message God has for you. Make no excuse that will keep you from gaining every spiritual advantage possible. You need every ray of light. You need to become qualified to give a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. You cannot afford to lose one such privilege.

Anciently the Lord instructed His people to assemble three times a year for His worship… Faith and love and gratitude were to be kept alive in their hearts, and through their association together in this sacred service they are to be bound closer to God and to one another. 6T, 39:1-3.

Preparation

While preparing for the meeting each individual should closely and critically examine his own heart before God. If there have been unpleasant feelings, discord, or strife in families, it should be one of the first acts of preparation to confess these faults one to another and pray with and for one another. Humble yourselves before God, and make an earnest effort to empty the soul of all rubbish – all envyings, all jealousies, all suspicions, all faultfindings. “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the spirit of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” 5T, 163:2.

At home is the place to find Jesus; then take Him with you to the meeting, and how precious will be the hours you spend there… Prepare your children for the occasion. Teach them that it is not so much consequence that they appear with fine clothes as that they appear before God with clean hands and pure hearts… Even unbelievers will feel the holy atmosphere as they enter the encampment… It will be to your soul even as the gate of heaven. 5T, 164, 165.

Visiting & Careless Conversation

There can be no influence so detrimental to a camp meeting, or any other gathering for religious worship, as much visiting and careless conversation. Frequently men and women assemble in companies, and engage in conversation upon common subjects which do not relate to the meeting. Some have brought their farms with them, others have brought their houses, and are laying their plans for building. Some are dissecting the characters of others and have no time for disposition to search their own hearts, to discover the defects in their own characters, that they may correct their wrongs and perfect holiness in the fear of God. If all who profess to be followers of Christ would improve the time out of meeting in conversing upon the truth, in dwelling upon the Christian’s hope, in searching their own hearts, and in earnest prayer before God, pleading for His blessing, a much greater work would be accomplished than we have yet seen. Unbelievers who falsely accuse those who believe the truth, would be convinced because of their “good conversation in Christ.” Our words and actions are the fruit we bear, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” 2T 598:1; DA 83:1-3.

Guidance For Leaders

1. Needs of the church 6T 52:2,3.
2. Help men to find deliverance from sin. 6T 53:1.
3. Straight forward presentation of truth. 6T 53:2.
4. Present the sin-pardoning Saviour. 6T 53:3-54:2.
5. Never lose sense of the Divine Watcher. 6T 56:3.
Finally, brethren: “We should ever bear in mind that angels of God are walking through the encampment, beholding the order and arrangement in every tent. 6T 35, 34:3.
AMEN.

Golden Kayawa Hingabantu,
Kalomo, Zambia