Young People's Group

PREPARATION FOR BETHANY FAMILY CAMP 2011

by Pastor Mitch
March 13, 2011

Looking Forward To A Great Time Of Learning From The Scriptures

I am excited about Family Camp 2011. Not only am I looking forward to the time of fellowship with all at the campsite, it is also with a heart of great anticipation that I am thrilled about what we are going to learn concerning “the gift of the Holy Spirit”. In this day and age, where there is so much misunderstanding and abuse concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit, we need to study this theme well and seek to learn how to relate to the Spirit of God Biblically and correctly.

As The Holy Spirit Says

Does the Spirit of God speak to us today? The answer is an absolute “Yes”.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says” 
Hebrews 3:7

The writer of Hebrews was most sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. The verb “says” is in the Greek present tense. In other words, it is a continuous thing. The Spirit of God spoke during the times of the early Church and He continues to speak to us today through the Scriptures. The writer of Hebrews quoted from the text of Psalm 95:7-11. The Spirit of God will always use the Scriptures as His basis of speaking to us. As we take time to study the Scriptures during camp, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will speak to our heart again and again.

Do Not Harden Your Heart

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, 
I n the day of trial in the wilderness, 
W here your fathers tested Me, tried Me … 
Therefore I … said, 
‘They always go astray in their heart, 
And they have not known My ways.'” 
Hebrews 3:7-10

When we hear the voice of the Lord speaking to us, our challenge is not to harden our hearts. This is what the Spirit of God continues to emphasise to us today. The people of Israel hardened their hearts and rebelled against the Lord as He spoke to them. They tested and resisted the Lord and His word on many occasions. They went astray in their heart because they had an evil heart of unbelief. Because they did not respond to the word of the Lord, He had to deal firmly with them. Young people, let’s deal with problem areas of sin in our lives that may affect our listening to the voice of the Lord. Let’s check our heart that we may respond well to the hearing of His word. Let’s seek not to harden our heart as God speaks to us.

Exhorting Each Other Daily

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” 
Hebrews 3:13

The word “exhort” means to “encourage” and “strengthen”. We are to take the time to encourage each other with a sense of urgency. Family camp will last only four and a half days. We do not have much time. Let’s make each day count for God. Let’s take the time to edify and to encourage each other lest some of us end up being hardened through being deceived by sin. Let’s seek to exhort each other daily that we may grow in our faith and walk in His ways.

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