CAMP MEETING OBJECTIVES

HOSEA 9:5

A. OUR TEXT POSES A SOLEMN QUESTION TO EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS CAMP GROUND -- "WHAT WILL YE DO IN THE SOLEMN DAY, AND IN THE DAY OF THE FEAST OF THE LORD?"
  1. We are living in the most solemn day:
    1. The day of a world encompassing crisis - 6 T, p. 16.
    2. This is the prophetic hour of God's judgment - Rev. 14:7; 11:19, 5 T, p. 573.
  2. And yet, it is the day of God's gospel feast:
    1. This suggests a plan for this camp meeting.
    2. Our opening text excludes all lightness and worldly gestures - Joel 2:14-18
    3. It indicates a spiritual feast - Eph. 5:15-20; Rom. 13:11-17
B. SOME PRIMARY OBJECTIVES FOR THIS GATHERING
  1. To devote a few days exclusively to seeking the Lord in prayer: 2 T, p. 601
    1. A revival of the family altar - 1 Ki. 18:30-35
    2. To make every tent a prayer chamber - Zeph. 2:1-3; Joel 2:15-17
    3. A time when every one of us will do some very serious self-examination - 2 Cor. 13:5
    4. Follow the example of the early disciples in the upper room - Acts 1:13, 14
  2. Another worthy objective of this gathering is that we may feel our constant danger of being overcome with the cares of this life: Luke 21:34
    1. This danger is very real to all of us - Compare Matt. 13:24-40 with Luke 21:34-36
    2. The daily cares of life engulf us so much that we are tempted to forget our daily devotions at the family altar.
  3. A third objective of this gathering must be:
    1. To promote more spiritual life among our own people - Phil. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:2-9
    2. This necessity is clearly indicated by the testimony of the true witness - Rev. 3:14-17
    3. A deeper experience in the realm of the Spirit is overdue by all of us - Rev. 3:18
  4. Still another worthy objective for this gathering must be to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:
    1. That was the important objective of the gathering of the disciples in the upper room - Acts 1:8-15
    2. We cannot do less at the close of the gospel dispensation - Rom. 13:11-14
  5. And, finally, all the great objectives stated serve this great objective:
    1. To become better equipped to finish the work God has given this people to do - John 9:4
    2. To lead us to remove out of our personal lives the things that are sinful - Heb. 12:1-11
    3. Thus we shall hasten the coming of our blessed Saviour for whom we are waiting - Rev. 22:20
C. HOW DO THESE OBJECTIVES APPEAL TO YOUR HEARTS, DEAR FELLOW BELIEVERS?
  1. Do these sentiments express your own conviction?
    1. We know that it is high time for us to seek the Lord - Jer. 30:7; Hos. 10:12
    2. The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light - Rom. 13:11-14
  2. God will watch our personal attitude during this encampment:
    1. Who knows but what the angel of the Lord, with the inkhorn is in our midst - Ezek. 9:1-11
    2. What makes this hour so solemn is the investigative work now going on in the courts of heaven - Rev. 14:7, 8
    3. We know not when the cases of the living will come into review before God - 1 Pet. 4:17, 18
  3. Our young people are still another reason for us to make this occasion the special time for us to seek the Lord in prayer:
    1. Many of the sons and daughters in Zion, the precious gold of the church, are without a living connection with the Saviour.
    2. We need to claim the promise of God in Joel 2:28; 3; Acts 2:17
    3. Let us take courage from God's promise in Isa. 49:25, 26. That promise belongs to us!


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