The Church of God » camp meeting

West Milton, Ohio – June 10, 2011

jhilbun — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:12:40 +0000

Morning Prayer

Bro. Rick Wiebe exhorted the saints to pray this morning.
There is real instruction in the Bible on how to pray.
Matthew 6:5, 6.
From this passage we see that prayer is not something to be showy about. The burden here is not necessarily that you open your coat closet and try to find some room in there for yourself to pray, but rather that you find a place of privacy where it is not so busy or so distracting. Sometimes it’s not so much the place that is the concern, but the time. Your living room may be a wonderful private place of prayer at 5 AM, but at 11 AM it may be different.
The verse says, “…and when thou hast shut thy door…” You need to know how to shut the door of your mind to the distractions that so often come when once you set your mind to pray. You can pray, “Lord, you created my mind, help me think of nothing other than what I am doing right now.” Ten minutes of prayer with your “door shut” is better than an hour or two with your door open.
Make sure that time in prayer is time with the Lord. Make sure your door is not halfway or partially closed, but fully closed and your time with the Lord profitable.
Amen.

Morning Service

This morning we observed the ordinances of Feet Washing and the Lord’s Supper to the glory of God.
Bro. Layne instructed us in the Scriptures regarding the meaning and the import of what we were about to do.
The Lord knew that our limited human understanding would not allow us to fully take in what He had done for us, and so He made a way for us to understand by giving us these ordinances.
The more that we intellectualize the sacrifice of Calvary the more mysterious it becomes.
I Corinthians 11: 27-30 contains a warning. This is not to be partaken of casually, but thoughtfully. You are to examine yourself. God wants you with your faults and failures, but not with your direct disobedience.
Romans 12:5. The Lord has made us members one of another. We are attached to every other one of God’s children. We cannot be independent here. God put you in the body so that you could be refined.
The real saints paint a spiritual bulls-eye on themselves for all of the other saints. They are open to the faithful wounds, the help, of the brethren.
Being a part of the body and taking part in feet washing creates a humbleness of mind.
Galatians 6:10.
John 13:1-17.
We don’t need to go to or come from feet washing sad. The Lord wants us to feel the pleasure of it.

The brethren adjourned to another meetinghouse while the sisters remained in the main meetinghouse.
Following feet washing, we all assembled together again at the main meetinghouse and Bro. Layne instructed us further regarding the Lord’s Supper.
I Corinthians 11:23-26
Hundreds of saints (saved men, women, young people and children) partook of the bread and the cup, a hymn was sung and the saints quietly left the meetinghouse.
Amen.

Evening Service

Bro. Stephen Hargrave preached a message entitled “Being Connected”.
There is no necessity to discover something that has already been discovered. No need to take a kite on a stormy night and attach a key to discover something about electricity. Benjamin Franklin has already done that for us. No need to attempt to design a light bulb and get it to burn for five hours. Thomas Edison took care of that. The farmers don’t have to experiment to see which plants strip and which add to the quality of the soil. George Washington Carver has taken that in hand.
To have a success you must be connected to the successful; you must enter into and be a part of what is successful.
Genesis 17:4-7. God, of His own doing, chose Abram and renamed him Abraham. No nation in the world is blessed outside of Abraham. If you didn’t want Abraham, you didn’t want God.
John 14:6. Jesus is the way, not ways. There are no ways to heaven.
There are no faiths. The question, “What faith are you?”, does not compute…there is only one! Only one faith is going to heaven.
Jesus didn’t say, “I am the truths.” There is one truth.
Jesus said that He was going to build His church. The church that Jesus was going to build would be His. He is the owner and possessor of it. Nobody in the world is allowed to have their own church. It is spiritually illegal and furthermore impossible. No one else in the world died on the cross for us.
In I Kings 18 Elijah didn’t just go to prayer when the prophets of Baal were finished vainly calling on Baal. He first restored the altar. He connected to what had already been done successfully in the past and built it not with 15 stones but with 12 stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel. By pouring an abundance of water on, he made sure that man’s fire could have no effect on what had been done. Then he prayed a short and simple prayer that further connected him with men who were known to be connected to God—Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
If you’re saved and we’re saved, we have to do something about that. We have to be connected. We have to be together.
Ephesians 2:19. Saints are with saints. Saints are together.
Revelation 21:9-11. There is a ministry that’s coming to you to pour out on false religion, and if you will get help, you will talk to one of these ministers.
If we want to be a success, we will be vitally connected and joined together with the church of God.
Since you can’t beat God, join Him. Amen.

West Milton, Ohio – June 8, 2011

jhilbun — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 04:09:36 +0000

Morning Prayer

Sis. Patricia Braun exhorted the saints to pray with faith. Let us not grow weary in our seeking and working for the Lord in this meeting. There are still souls here that need to get through to God.

Mark 9:17, 21-23.

In this passage a man had a son with a deep-seated, serious problem. He was desiring the Lord to deliver his son. The Lord turned the desire back on the man and said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

There is no question whether God can, but He’s waiting on us to have faith that He can. He wants to do more if we will just believe Him.

Fervent, corporate prayer followed.

Morning Service

Bro. Peter Hildebrandt preached “The Blessings of Israel”.

There are some things already settled.

Numbers 22:3-6, 12.

In verse 12, the Lord declares to Balaam, “thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”

This is a settled thing and cannot be changed. Israel is blessed.

Now what is it to be blessed? Many people are confused that money is the blessing. If that were so, then the politicians are some of the most blessed of God. No, this is not necessarily the blessing.

Perhaps then it is the number of people. If that were so then a football game with its ten thousands has the blessing of God. No, numbers of people gathering together is not necessarily the blessing. Hard things are often not the sign of the displeasure of the Lord, but a sign of His love.

What do you see as a blessing today?

Victory over sin and self and being given over to the work of the Lord; this is true blessing! The lack of this real blessing is what sent us looking for the church of God.

Unity and harmony are blessings of Israel. It doesn’t take much unity to fit a thousand people in a building together; the real blessing is real unity and harmony in the Spirit.

Understanding of the Word of God is a blessing of Israel. To have ministers who truly understand the Word of God is a blessing! In Babylon, most “churches” don’t touch Revelation. Why? They don’t understand it and there is too much controversy about it, but not in the church of God. Praise the Lord!

A church that gets better as time goes on is a blessing of Israel. Here, we have deeper and deepening spirituality and holier living. When we look back on the places we’ve come from we see that things have gone from bad to worse there.

Balak saw that Israel was blessed and he didn’t like it. Some don’t like that the church of God is blessed, but if a thing is settled with God, it cannot be changed. We have for an example the understanding that the earth is round. This understanding didn’t come until around the year 1492. Until then, it was commonly supposed that the earth was flat and that one could fall off of the edge of it. So since when has the earth been round? It has always been! It was settled long before it was understood. It is the same with Israel. Israel, the people of God, the church of God is blessed and that won’t be changed.

It matters more to you than to us whether you bless us or not. In Genesis 12:3, God told Abraham, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.“

I may not have “godspeed” from your mouth, but I’ve got “godspeed” from God. If you curse Israel, can you bear the curse you’ll get from God?

Amen.

Evening Service

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful rejoicing service tonight. The saints took to the aisles in numbers with walking and leaping and praises to God! Oh, the wonder of this great salvation! The joy cannot be contained!

All glory be to Jesus

I’ve been lifted in my soul

From one heaven to the other

May the waves of sweetness roll!

Bro. Jacob Braun preached a message called, “The Price”.

Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

There is a price to get God’s truth. You have to pay to get it. Salvation never goes on sale. The price that the martyrs paid and the price that Paul paid is the price that you must pay. Thousands physically died for this same thing that we are rejoicing in tonight. If something is not worth dying for, it is not worth living for.

The truth has a strong, drawing effect, and the truth has a dwelling place. It is the church of God.

The truth has a way of dealing with you so that you know exactly what the price is. Some don’t want to pay the price so they “get very concerned” about the head covering or this or that thing, but the real problem is…the price. But there is no escaping the price.

John 15:22-25. In this passage we see religious people faced with the reality of the truth. One meeting filled with the glory of God puts you under obligation to pay the price.

People will do almost anything to avoid the issue of the price.

Luke 13:23-26. People hate the strait gate. They want the wide way that gives liberty to the flesh. They want to smuggle in things that the strait gate (by virtue of its straitness) will not allow. There is no smuggling at this gate!

David said in II Samuel 24:24, “…neither will I offer…unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”

We must line up with the martyrs to go where the martyrs have gone.

People are going to seek a way around the straitness of the gate. This is why the scripture says that many will seek to enter and shall not be able. Many people have trouble with Bro. Layne because for 30 years Bro. Layne has not been letting people get by the gate.

In I Samuel 15, King Saul acted like he had given it all, but Samuel saw beyond that and said, “What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep…?” The church of God is not just listening to your words, but is also listening to the sound of the world that we hear coming from you.

In Mark 10, Jesus knew just what to tell that young man. Jesus knows how to tell you that “one thing”. This man went away, but he didn’t go away confused. Jesus never leaves anyone confused.

Luke 14:25-27 is the standard of the church of God.

In Luke 14: 16-20, the master of the feast did not understand the excuses of those who were invited, and they were passed over for others who would pay the price and come to partake of what was prepared. There is no way around the price.

Amen.

West Milton, Ohio – June 7, 2011

jhilbun — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:53:27 +0000

Morning Prayer

Bro. Robert Bourn exhorted the saints to wait on the Lord as it says in Psalm 27:14.

We live in a “push-button age” and this has an effect on us. Things concerning the Lord are not always “push-button” or instant gratification.

Psalm 37:7 says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him…” Now this is not a sleepy, casual waiting. We are to take courage and have faith in the waiting.

“In your patience [endurance] possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19.

Waiting produces spiritual strength.

Galatians 6:9.

Don’t faint in the waiting.

Morning Service

The saints traveled from West Milton, Ohio to Greenville, Ohio for a street meeting.

The saints passed out tracts and invitations to the camp meeting throughout the downtown area as the singers sang hymns and special songs from a prominent area in the town center. It was reported that the singing could be heard from a great distance.

The saints drew a lot of attention and were able to have conversation with passersby and others interested in who we are.

We have prayed for and thank God for the exposure of the holy saints of God to the world.

Evening Service

Bro. Isaac Thiessen preached a stirring message on being in the work of the Lord With All Your Heart.

We live in a time when most people don’t put their whole heart into anything.

Matthew 6:24 tells us that we cannot serve two masters. Neither your heart nor your mind are capable of serving two masters.

Those who come here and try to live half-hearted in the midst of this whole-hearted people find it a hard way while those who come and put their whole heart into the work of the Lord find joy and never want to leave.

Ezekiel 11:19.

The Lord said that He would give us one heart and a new spirit; He would take away the stony heart.

This new heart is what makes the saint’s one.

The heart is the most important place in your body. Other parts of the body can stop working and the body can live, but the body cannot survive without the heart and neither can the saints survive without this new heart, God’s heart. The new heart that God gives has the same feelings as the others who have received a new heart from God.

Ezekiel 36:25-27.

The reason why most of us are here is because our heart did not connect with the heart of the others around us in the places where we used to go.

If your heart is clean, it draws other clean hearts to you.

In the church of God, the lion and the lamb have the same heart and are together eating the Word of God, but not eating each other.

Thank the Lord for this wonderful message and for the souls saved tonight. Glory to God!

West Milton, Ohio – June 6, 2011

jhilbun — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:34:02 +0000

Morning Prayer

Sis. Tamara Tinsman exhorted the saints to prayer this morning.
There are times when we look at other saints and desire to have their words or manner of praying and we feel like our feeble prayers are not worth much, but if you are living holy, you can be confident that your prayer is being heard and that the Spirit is helping you pray.
Romans 8:26. There is a confidence in knowing that the Spirit Himself is interceding for us.
This exhortation was followed by a time of fervent, corporate prayer.

Morning Service

The service began with several songs from the children led by Bro. Ernest Benion, Jr.

Bro. Stephen Hargrave preached regarding the Authority of the Ministry.
Those who have a problem with the authority of the ministry do not have a problem with the Scriptures that clearly show this authority, nor with the Apostles Paul or James who had it. The problem is that there is a living ministry that holds it.
Jeremiah 3:15. The Lord has pastors after His own heart who will feed the people of God. These pastors are in Zion (:14) and nowhere else. If someone is not in Zion, he is not being ministered to by the pastors that God intended to feed and instruct him. In places other than Zion, sheep have not known what it is to have a pastor after God’s heart. In Zion there are pastors (plural).
Someone who feeds you occupies a high place in your life even in the natural because they assist in keeping you alive.
I Thessalonians 2:1-8. Many people have a problem with your obedience to this ministry and they don’t feel like you should obey. It is a general fact that people as a whole do not obey just anybody. There is some reason why they submit themselves. We submit ourselves to this ministry for they indeed watch for our souls and have the same testimony as Paul did in I Thessalonians 2:8. A true minister’s life is swallowed up by the people to whom he ministers and he preaches people out of his heart. We are all a product of somebody’s heart - the heart of God in sending His Son and in sending His ministry.
We highly recommend that you hear this message in its entirety.

Evening Service

Bro. John Strizu preached the message entitled, “The Error of Baalam”.

“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward…” (Jude 11).

There are those whose salvation experience is an experience of personal gain; not specifically financial gain, but in some way a selfish profit to them.

Though known as a prophet of the Lord, the only account we have of Balaam begins in Numbers 22 and it is bad. Balaam was sought for the purpose of cursing the people of God, and though he knew that the will of the Lord was to bless His people, he didn’t take a clear stand with the children of God. Nor did he give a clear answer to Balak who continued to press him after receiving his answer. Finally the Lord let Balaam go with the princes of Moab which is what he really wanted to do.

Psalm 106:15 says regarding the Israelites in the wilderness:

“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

We also have Shechem and Hamor for an example. In Genesis 34, they were willing to do what the law required for the wrong reason, so that they could gain personally.

In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer had a reputation and he was moved to protect his interests. His motive was his name, not that the people of Samaria would hear the gospel, not the help of the souls he had previously bewitched.

Why are you a Christian?

There are people in the world losing their lives for their business, for their name, but the call is lose your life for the Lord’s sake and the gospel’s.

Do you just like the “good, Christian life” or are you actively seeking the prosperity of the gospel?

Do you give just to get from the Lord?

Where is your burden?

West Milton, Ohio – June 5, 2011

jhilbun — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:16:33 +0000

Morning Prayer

Bro. Marcus Tovstiga exhorted the saints to prayer.
Revelation 8:3-5.
The earthquake in verse 5 is a direct result of the prayers of the saints. Be encouraged to pray for the shaking in yourself and in the world around us. Pray: “O Lord, shake me that only things of true value can remain.”
This exhortation was followed by a time of fervent, corporate prayer.

Morning Service

We enjoyed an especially wonderful song service. There was much rejoicing and shouting and many saints in the aisles. Glory to God!
Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga preached a message on the Wind of God. Jeremiah 6:30 was his text.
In Revelation 7:1-4, there are four angels and these are more powerful than the United States Military or the President, for they hold the four winds of the earth.
This wind that the angels held was never meant to be held indefinitely though; there was a set time for its release. It was to be held “…till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
The time of sealing is now over, the saints are a product of the sealing, and it is time to let the wind blow. There has been a divine release.
In Jeremiah 6:27-30, the Lord is speaking to the prophets concerning a people who have the dross so connected to the silver that though the founder gets the fire to the correct temperature and takes all means to melt and purify the silver, they refuse to be separated despite the founder’s best efforts.
So the Lord rejects the silver, or the people who thus cling to their sin and corruption, and then men call them “reprobate silver”. We have a divine responsibility to acknowledge God’s judgment and call it as He sees it.
In this time the Lord has restored the ability to “write men off” if they will be as those in Revelation 9:20, 21 and “repent not of the works of their hands”.
The wind will accomplish this work! Let it go! The wind knows how to hit things and how to miss things!
Wonderful message! Please listen to it in its entirety.

Evening Service

Sis. Susan Mutch preached to us tonight.
What a time to be a minister of the Gospel here in the end of time! These are the last messages, the last exhortations, the last urgings that souls will ever hear! God is exceedingly moved and burdened for souls who are speeding so unpreparedly to the Judgment.
Revelation 15:1-4. This is a description of the end time ministry and the Scripture says that it is a wonder, a sign, and that the work that is accomplished by this ministry is “great and marvelous.”
This ministry has plagues from God. The word ‘plagues’ means, “a strike, a blow, a wound.” This ministry is called to send forth wounds and blows from the Lord.
Verse 2 is an example of people who have been recipients of the blows. They are standing on a sea of glass, a mirror; and the mirror is lighted by fire. The people on the sea of glass are very comfortable that who they really are is clearly shown by the mirror.
If there were never a Revelation 15:1, there would never be a Revelation 15:2. So much depends on us dealing very honestly with ourselves.
God puts His heart in His preachers and they “cry aloud, spare not”.
In Revelation 2, we see that there has been a change in the condition of the congregation in Ephesus. In the intervening time since Paul had written the epistle to the Ephesians, something had happened to a congregation of people who had been doing well. Lukewarmness is contagious. Be disturbed about lukewarmness in yourself and in others around you.
This ministry is not going to spare, but will administer the plagues from the Lord and make ready a people who will make it to heaven.
Deal honestly and swiftly with yourself.
Amen.

West Milton, Ohio – June 4, 2011

jhilbun — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 03:05:03 +0000

Early Morning Prayer Meeting began at 7:30. Saints sang “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus“.
Bro. John Strizu exhorted the saints to Earnestness.
Song of Solomon 3:1-4.
There comes a time to get out of the bed and do some earnest seeking if we will get ahold of God.
You’ve been patting around on the bed long enough to know that He is not there. You’re not going to find God in your bed/in your comfort zone. You have to arise.
Exhortation followed by a season of fervent, corporate prayer.

Morning Service

Bro. Randy Hargrave preached a message to the young people called Coming Out of Youth. Everyone, regardless of nationality, culture, financial status, etc…, passes through a series of stages of life. In this passing, it’s not so much that you pass through these stages, but how you pass through them.
It’s not possible for earthly mothers to catch everything that needs to be caught and dealt with in their children, but there is a heavenly mother who misses nothing.
Galatians 4:26
Our lives were lopsided until we came to the heavenly Jerusalem, the mother of all living.
Joel 2:23-25
Every one of us needs to have restored to us the things that the worms have eaten off. He restores through Zion.
Proverbs 30:11-17
There is a generation like the generation depicted in these verses; then there are ones like Joseph.
Genesis 39:9-12
Joseph was very concerned that he not fail God in his youth.
Young people must get past embarrassment, which is a trapping of youth. It’s going to take you doing something about your situation for you to get what you need, though all that you need is here.
There was a good response as numbers of young people, as well as older ones, sought help at the prayer bench.

Evening Service

Bro. Ray Tinsman preached a message to those who were not at tonight’s meeting, but will hear the recorded message by some means. The message is perhaps entitled Wisdom Is Justified of Her Children and was directed to those who have never been to one of the services here, but continue to talk about this way.
People don’t want to be bothered with the facts, but would rather believe hearsay, rumor and the like.
Luke 11:14-20
The response in verse 16 was ridiculous, but the spirit that caused this response to the Lord is alive and well today.
Luke 7:31-35
There are people who look at us and they see that we are a holy people in deed and not in word only. They see that our standards are good and our young people and children are in line, but because we unashamedly have women preachers or don’t teach an additional “covering” for our women, they will overlook the facts that we are a truly holy people and refuse to even come to a service.
To acknowledge that this work is of God puts a burden on them to do something about it.
If you love God, you will love the church of God too!
What you are reading here are brief overviews of the messages that we are hearing each day. We encourage you to listen to the full message.
Amen.

Upcoming Events

admin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:43:39 +0000

Upcoming in 2012

May 9 – May 16 Ciego de Avila, Cuba
May 19 – May 20 Victorville, California, USA
Jun 2 – June 10 West Milton, Ohio, USA
Jun 18 – Jun 24 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
Jul 22 – Jul 29 Colonia Viana, Chihuahua, Mexico
Aug 30 – Sep 3 Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA
Sep 17 – Sep 23 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada

Meetings Completed in 2012

Jan 6 – Jan 8 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
Jan 11 – Jan 18 Ciego de Avila, Cuba
Jan 19 – Jan 22 Ontario, California, USA
Jan 20 – Jan 22 Coaldale, Alberta, Canada
Feb 6 – Feb 12 Greenville, Ohio, USA
Feb 21 – Feb 26 Blumenort, Durango, México
Feb 23 – Feb 25 Kanyonyoo, Kenya, Africa
Feb 25 – Feb 26 Victorville, California, USA
Feb 27 – Mar 4 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
Mar 6 – Mar 10 Chapultepec, Baja California, Mexico
Mar 9 – Mar 11 Sallisaw, Oklahoma, USA
Mar 10 – Mar 18 Colonia Chihuahua, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Mar 12 – Mar 18 Moreno Valley, California, USA
Apr 6 – Apr 12 Bad Friedrichshall, BAD-WUE , Germany
Apr 14 – Apr 15 Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria
Apr 19 – Apr 22 Colonia Viana, Chihuahua, Mexico
Apr 23 – Apr 29 Honey Grove, Texas, USA
May 4 – May 15 Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines
May 11 – May 12 Muncie, Indiana, USA

Meetings Completed in 2011

Jan 7 – Jan 9 Beeville, Texas, USA
Jan 21 – Jan 23 Greeneville, Tennessee, USA
Jan 17 – Jan 25 Hopelchen, Campeche, Mexico
Feb 7 – Feb 13 Greenville, Ohio, USA Doctrinal
Feb 19 – Mar 1 Manitoba Colony, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Feb 28 – Mar 6 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
Mar 7 – Mar 21 India / Nepal
Mar 14 – Mar 20 Moreno Valley, California, USA Camp meeting
Apr 14 – Apr 17 Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA
Apr 22 – Apr 24 Victorville, California, USA Outreach
Apr 22 – Apr 28 Bad Friedrichshall, Germany
Apr 30 – May 1 Bludenz, Austria
May 9 – May 15 Anchorage, Alaska, USA Outreach
May 13 – May 15 Benton, Ohio, USA
Jun 4 – June 12 West Milton, Ohio, USA Camp meeting
Jun 27 – Jul 3 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada General
Jul 1 – Jul 3 Russellville, Tennessee, USA Outreach
Jul 4 – Jul 10 Honey Grove, Texas, USA
Jul 12 – Jul 17 Hopelchen, Campeche, Mexico Outreach
Jul 15 – 17 Anchorage, Alaska, USA Outreach
Jul 24 – Jul 31 Colonia Viana, Chihuahua, Mexico General
Aug 5 – Aug 13 Postolivka, Ternopil, Ukraine Outreach
Aug 12 – Aug 22 Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines General
Sep 1 – Sep 5 Bonduel, Wisconsin, USA
Sep 12 – Sep 18 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada General
Sep 23 – Sep 25 Vevay, Indiana, USA Outreach
Sep 23 – Sep 25 Nuevo Ideal, Durango, Mexico Outreach
Oct 3 – Oct 9 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada Doctrinal
Oct 16 – Oct 23 Neuenstadt, Germany
Nov 21 – Nov 27 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Nov 30 – Dec 11 Kenya, East Africa Mission
Dec 9 – Dec 11 Victorville, California, USA
Dec 17 – Dec 25 Ontario, California, USA Ministerial

Meetings Completed in 2010

Jan 8 – Jan 10 Peace River, Alberta, Canada Outreach
Jan 26 Inyuu, Kitui, Kenya Ministerial
Jan 26 – Jan 31 Blumenort, Durango, Mexico Study
Feb 1 – Feb 7 Greenville, Ohio, USA Doctrinal
Feb 5 – Feb 7 Sacramento, California, USA Outreach
Feb 12 – Feb 14 Peace River, Alberta, Canada Outreach
Feb 12 – Feb 24 San Jose City, Luzon Island, Philippines General
Feb 26 – Feb 28 Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico Outreach
Mar 1 – Mar 7 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada Outreach
Mar 5 – Mar 7 Victorville, California, USA Outreach
Mar 15 – Mar 21 Moreno Valley, California, USA General
Apr 2 – Apr 8 Bad Friedrichshall, Germany General
Apr 2 – Apr 12 Marinduque Island, Philippines Outreach
Apr 10 – Apr 11 Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria Outreach
Apr 22 – Apr 25 Santiago Isabella, Philippines Camp meeting
Apr 23 – Apr 25 Benton, Ohio, USA Outreach
Apr 26 – May 2 Anchorage, Alaska, USA Outreach
Apr 26 – May 4 Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal Outreach
Apr 30 – May 2 Vevay, Indiana, USA Outreach
May 8 – May 9 Richmond, Virginia, USA Outreach
May 22 – May 30 West Milton, Ohio, USA Camp meeting
Jun 21 – Jun 27 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada Outreach
Jun 21 – Jun 27 Upland, California, USA Outreach
Jun 23 – Jun 28 Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands Outreach
Jul 2 – Jul 4 Greenville, Ohio, USA Weekend
Jul 5 – Jul 11 Honey Grove, Texas, USA Outreach
Jul 9 – Jul 17 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England Outreach
Jul 25 – Aug 1 Colonia Viana, Chihuahua, Mexico General
Aug 1 – Nov 1 Paniqui, Tarlac, Philippines Gospel Company
Aug 3 – Aug 8 Blumenort, Durango, Mexico General
Aug 7 – Aug 8 McAlester, Oklahoma, USA Outreach
Aug 12 – Aug 22 Manitoba Colony, Santa Cruz, Bolivia Mission Trip
Aug 18 – Aug 28 Postalovka, Ternopil, Ukraine Mission Trip
Aug 20 – Aug 22 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada Outreach
Sep 2 – Sep 6 Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA General
Sep 13 – Sep 19 Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada General
Sep 24 – Sep 26 Bulls Gap, Tennessee, USA Outreach
Oct 4 – Oct 10 Aylmer, Ontario, Canada Doctrinal
Oct 11 – Oct 19 Hopelchen, Campeche, Mexico Mission Trip
Dec 19 – Dec 26 Ontario, California, USA Ministerial

“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

International Camp Meeting 2010 Meeting Blog

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:10:32 +0000

International Camp Meeting of the Church of God 2010
West Milton, Ohio, USA

May 22, 2010

Bro. Ray Tinsman
Shining Faces

We are facing pressure by some to accept experiences that haven’t produced a shining face. When Moses met God his face was shining afterwards. Have you been changed? In our day people claim to be slain in the spirit and have a dark face – not the Holy Spirit. Outward changes don’t save, you need Jesus – He will take care of the outward. Have you left your first love? It’s not too late – be changed by an experience that will give you shining face.

Sis. Susan Mutch
How Is Your Obedience

The gospel is tailor-made for each of us. Angels are ascending and descending from heaven with the Word of God. The Lord wants each of us to make it to heaven and He is expecting each of us to obey His Word. Are you awake? This gospel fits all generations and all locations.

May 23, 2010

Bro. Randy Hargrave
Faith with Works

Saying you have faith has many implications. Faith produces works! After you believe, immediately you begin to do things no one has told you to do. Works provide the proof of your faith. Don’t stifle when the Lord urges you to do something. If you have faith, allow God to move you and exercise your faith. You will grow by obedience. If you don’t have faith, don’t resort to works – works alone will not save you.

Bro. Stephen Hargrave
Salvation from Sin

Salvation is available to us that will save and deliver you from all committed sin now and in the future. When we are truly saved we will be a new creature and sin will have no part in our lives.

May 24, 2010

Bro. Allen Bontrager
Why Delay?

You have been provided with a golden opportunity to get your help – why delay? This is your time to get what you need. There is no need to wait for days while you linger when you know that you have an unmet need or need to be saved.

Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga
The Yoke

God promises that His yoke is easy. But, there is a yoke – He makes that clear. Yokes are very restrictive and confining. This is for your own protection and safety. Cornering an animal brings out the worst in it, people are much like that. Then it shows what you are really made of. Kiss the Son and all that comes with the Son – Psalm 2.

May 25, 2010

Tuesday morning, hundreds of saints went to Greenville for a 2 hour street meeting in downtown with live singing and much distribution of Christian literature and invitations to the camp meeting.

Bro. John Strizu
An Experience of Fire

God answers by fire. Every true experience of salvation will come by fire. Elijah’s God answered by fire and still does. The proof of your salvation will be by the fire that will be apparent in your spiritual life. Let the Lord burn up what is combustible and get the fire.

May 26, 2010

Bro. Johnny Friesen
The Wind Blew

The wind will blow to test what you have built with. It will crack your structures of mud and dirt. You must build on the rock (lively stones) in order to stand the wind, rain, and flood.

Bro. Stephen Hargrave
The Harvest

The Lord is once again sending his reapers – the ministry – to gather the wheat and the tares and do a separating work. There is no room for a white, black, one-work, or German Church of God in this time. All must come to be in complete unity and do the work the Lord has commissioned. It is a shame to see what has become of the Church of God of Bro. D. S. Warner’s time. They have lost the power and only claim the name without the Biblical authority and truth.

Oklahoma City Meeting 2009

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Church of God General Meeting Blog

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

November 23-29, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Bro. Ray Tinsman preached on: One Mind!
It cannot be understood in the flesh. The natural man cannot understand the spiritual things. The “one-mind” is not something you learn. It is an experience. This is the minimum standard of any saint. No matter what people think of it; they may call it what they will, the people of God have ONE mind.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

1st AM session: Bro. Daniel Layne spoke about the importance of these doctrinal meetings and the importance of our people knowing the doctrines. Doctrine is not given to us. It has to be learned – we are people of the Book.

2nd AM session: Bro. Daniel Layne went over the new tract called: 27 Marks of the True Church. After that he taught on the subject of Women in the Ministry. He emphasized the unanimity of the Word of God. We do not use two scriptures to explain twenty scriptures but we use twenty to explain the two. The Bible is very clear that women may prophesy which according to I Corinthians 14:3-4 means speaking unto men for exhortation, comfort, and edification.

PM service: Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga preached on: Divine, Physical Healing!
He said it is of utmost importance that we “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” If we let down on one point, we soon have a flood on hand. He reminded the saints how important it is to remember that we must die. At its best, divine healing is a temporary fix to the problem. All those that were healed, have died. Paul said it would be far better to die and be with the Lord than to live. Why do so few people want the “far better?”

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

1st AM session: Bro. John Strizu preached on: The Gifts of the Church!
If God calls someone, it will not be a secret. The gift will speak for itself. GOD gives the gifts in the church. God does not allow just anybody to lead his people, which is his peculiar treasure. To have a desire to preach, teach, sing, etc. is not enough. You need a calling.

2nd AM session: Bro. John Redecop preached on: The Sure Foundation!
It was a very encouraging message to build on the sure foundation which is the rock, Jesus Christ. In order to find this rock, you must DIG. This is the reason many do not build on this rock; the price is too high. Those on the rock are the only, sure winners, no matter what comes their way. The gates of hell cannot prevail against them! GLORY!

PM service: Sis. Susan Mutch preached a serious message Our Eternal Destiny. Where will your soul be after this life has passed? Surely, each and everyone of us is going somewhere – it will be heaven or hell.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

1st AM session: Bro. Henry Hildebrandt preached on: Cursed, except you continue! Unless we possess perpetual (ongoing) obedience, we will be cursed. Don’t pray for revival unless you are willing to accept revival when God sends it. Simeon was ready to accept God’s salvation when it came. Galatians 3 was used in this lesson.

2nd AM session: Bro. Abe Redecop taught on Baptism. Baptism does not save and does not make you a member of the church of God. Baptism is God’s way for us to testify about what happened to us when we got saved. Immersion is the only mode that describes this.

PM service: Bro. Randy Hargrave preached on: Must they be gathered? The answer is YES! We cannot “hang on” to what we had or what we liked. Some liked Moses, some liked John the Baptist. John pointed them to Christ. Christ is the finisher. We must ALL be gathered in Christ. You will be gathered or you will end up in darkness.

Friday, November 27, 2009

1st session: Bro. Peter Hildebrandt preached on: Keeping the Unity! There is a big difference between seeking unity or keeping the unity we have. We are spread out far from one another as far as locality is concerned but we are all working on the same wall. God’s unity is more important than you are. God hates the one that sows discord among brethren. The Bible says to mark them which cause division.

2nd session: Bro. Patrick O’Shea dealt with the subject of: Our conscience! The church was not called to adjust itself to the conscience of the people. Your conscience should never override the Word of God. Your conscience might tell you that you are right when you are wrong. Your conscience alone is not a safe-guide. We need a body-conscience, governed by the word of God.

PM service: Bro. Stephen Hargrave taught on: Speaking in Tongues! He showed us very clearly by the Bible that it is talking about spoken languages that can be understood. What is known today as “speaking in tongues” in so-called “pentecostalism” is NOT what the Bible teaches at all. Something is working in those people but it is NOT the Spirit of God.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

1st AM session: Bro. Ray Tinsman did a study on: The Head Covering! He stressed the importance of understanding that there are 10 chapters before the 11 chapter of 1 Corinthians. If you read the previous chapters you will see that Paul was putting a lot of weight on not being an offence. In the 11th chapter he explains that the social custom in Corinth required the head covering but the Church of God does not have such custom. The hair is the covering instead of a veil.

2nd AM session: Bro. Daniel Layne taught on: The Kingdom of God. He gave us plenty of scriptures to prove that we are not to wait for a future kingdom, but that it is presently on earth – within the hearts of the people of God.

PM service: Bro. Randy Hargrave taught in the evening on: The Fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11). There is mass confusion in the religious world about the phrase “all Israel shall be saved.” This scripture has been manipulated to form teachings that all Jews of the literal Israel will believe before the end of the world. God is impartial, he shows no favoritism toward anyone. If you believe, you will be saved – Jew or Gentile. It is clear that Paul is explaining the guidelines for the salvation of the Jews: all would be saved, IF they believed.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

AM service: Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga taught this morning on Ministerial Authority.
Isaiah 9:6-7 God has ordained government – His government is not a free-for-all, nor is it a democracy. Spiritual government is just as normal and necessary as physical government.
Isaiah 16:17 God has policemen! They will be peaceable with you, as long as, you are peaceable with them.
Matthew 16:17-19 and 18:18 The key is the Word and the Spirit. Jesus didn’t say he would do the binding and loosing, He said the ministry will do it.
II Peter 2:12 If someone opposes the judgment God backs up, they are opposing God. When we see something wrong, we should cry out, “BIND HIM!” We won’t cry out in vain. The ministry will lay hold on “the man”.
John 20:23 The ministry can discern professors and say, “You are not right. Your sins have not been forgiven yet”. Others, may be going through accusations and the ministry can discern and say, “You are fine.”
Isaiah 30:20 Carnal people feel comfortable around cornered preachers. In the Church of God there are no cornered preachers.
Hebrews 13:17 The ministry must have authority over you if they have charge over your soul. They have authority to deal with anything that would harm your soul.
Revelation 2:14 The Lord was going to fight with the ministry, if they didn’t take care of the problems that were there.
Acts 15:5-6, 22-32 The apostles did what seemed good to the Holy Ghost and them.
I Corinthians 14:37-38 If anyone thinks he is spiritual, let him acknowledge what the ministry says.

PM service: Bro. John Strizu dealt with The Second Resurrection. The first resurrection is Salvation, and the second resurrection is the literal resurrection of the dead at the day of judgment. We went through most of I Corinthians 15. There were some during Paul’s time that said there was no resurrection. I Corinthians 15 tells us that if there is no resurrection: Jesus did not rise, the truth is vain, our faith is vain, we are liars, Jesus is still dead, we have not been resurrected from sin, the saints who have died have perished, and we are of all men most miserable.
Romans 6:4-5
Baptism contains symbolism of the resurrection.
Some ask “How are the dead raised?” Paul says that’s a foolish question. We don’t know exactly how. All we know is it won’t be hard for God, and the new body he gives us will be a body that pleases him. Acts 24:14-15 and John 5:28-29
Tell us that saints and sinners will both be resurrected.
Philippians 3:20-21
Our physical bodies cannot take eternity. If we are faithful, there is a time coming when we will be able to lay down these vile bodies to inherit the glories of heaven.

International Camp Meeting 2009 – Ohio, USA

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The Church of God International Camp Meeting Blog

Sunday, June 14, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

Bro. Ricky Hernandez exhorted the saints to be prayerful in all that we do. Whether in conversation or elsewhere, keep a spirit of prayer with you.

The Sea of Glass
Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga

Text: Revelation 15:1-4

The sea of glass (glass meaning mirrored glass as in a looking glass), mingled with fire is powerful. It is used by God to bring people face to face with themselves. Some spend hours in front of a literal mirror. This is generally a waste of time, but come and stand on the sea of glass. Take a good look – how is it with you? Many people come and take one look and run, as they cannot deal with how they appear. Do not get upset with what you see – it is only a mirror, after all. Save your energy for the washing. Do not rail at something innocent. Get a burning bush experience so you will not be consumed.

The camp meeting is now ended – what a meeting it was! Blessings poured down from heaven, souls were saved, sanctified, unified, and strengthened. There was a tremendous influx of people there for the first time and as a whole, were encouraged by what they saw. May the Lord continue to bless each and every one to bloom where they are planted and be light in this dark world.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

In the prayer meeting this morning, Bro. Ken Harger iterated how vital it is that we spread ourselves out to receive was much as possible from God. If we are parched, the wider we stretch our arms, the more rain (blessings) we will get.

Shiloh
Bro. Stephen Hargrave

Text: Zechariah 8:20-23

Shiloh=peace. Jesus=peace. Peace comes with a sword – some things have to be divided before there can be peace. The Body of Christ is peace. It is not normal for Christians to be separated. It is abnormal to have a church only for black/white/Hispanic/German people. That is manufactured unity. A lot of people try to manufacture arks. Some have only zebras or gorillas. In the middle of the arks are many creeping creatures. Many a zookeeper is deployed to keep the peace. Regardless of your race or culture, if you are a Christian you are in! All of us Christians look alike the whole world over. It is not about the clothes you wear, but your spiritual personality – we all share the same Spirit. You cannot be a Christian and withhold your hand of fellowship to any of the saints. These kinds of actions only happen outside of Shiloh. But, the Lord can heal withered hands so that they once again reach out to every blood washed one as He first intended. Is this Amish/Mennonite/Catholic/Baptist? No! It is the Ark – all Christians are one congregation, separated simply by locality. If you are separated from another brother in the Lord, that is not between him and God. That is between you and him and God. The religious world is declining so quickly around us that true Christians are running out of options – it is time to come home and unite as God has ordained in His Word.

Following the morning service, a baptismal service was held nearby. Many were baptized by immersion – it was a blessing to see the outward symbol of what had already taken place inside the heart of each participant.

The saints were greatly inspired and encouraged in the evening service through the numerous songs that were sung.

The Spirit of Prophecy
Bro. Randy Hargrave

Text: Revelation 19:10

In order to operate a piece of heavy machinery, you must have someone teach you that has experience. It is not enough to read the owner’s manual or get some classroom training. The only way to learn is hands-on. People are puffed up in their own minds and think they know so much. But even most so-called Church of God people have never touched the real thing. They only have head knowledge. But God has put together a people that actually know how the machine works. It may not be how you imagined it to be, but it works! The spirit of prophecy speaks expressly. You are accountable for what you see and what it tells you. There is not much time left – are you going to heed its speaking? People by the multitudes are feeling the pressure – it is the spirit of prophecy. Do not refuse Him that is trying persuade you to yield. It may seem hard, but will Heaven not be worth it?

Friday, June 12, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

Bro. Patrick O’Shea Jr. exhorted the saints in the 7:30 AM prayer meeting to pray effectively. Do not just pray generally, but identify the need and pray accordingly.

The ordinances of foot washing and the Lord’s supper were observed in the morning service. It was a blessed time of fellowship as the brothers and sisters separately washed each others’ feet as hymns were sung and the saints rejoiced in the bond of perfectness which binds us all together in Christ. Afterward all the saints reunited in the main tabernacle and an open communion was observed in accordance with the example Jesus left us in the New Testament. Unleavened bread was used to represent the body of Christ, wheat mixed with water and baked. Pure grape juice was used to represent the blood of Christ that He shed on the cross of Calvary for our sins. Individual communion cups or bread portions are not used by the Church of God as that is a modern, sterile dilution of the ordinance that is meant specifically to be used as a type of the exclusive unity of the Church and the resistance to personal, spiritual independence. As each saved person participated in the communion, an air of solemnity prevailed over the audience as we meditated on the gravity of the sacrifice of Christ’s death. The service was all together inspiring, unifying, and sobering.

Bro. Byron Benion opened the service tonight with a rousing testimony of his salvation from sin and spoke of his lifelong quest to be a winner through football, coaching, etc. Through all of these avenues his quest continued, but he testified that since he got saved last September he had finally attained his goal – he was a winner with the best coach in the universe – God! A number of saints testified tonight and the special singers from Aylmer, California, and Ohio sang.

The Witness
Bro. John Redekop

Text: Romans 8:16

A witness is the assurance of approval. God gives each of His children a witness of their salvation. In the Old Testament God gave His people a stone. Do you have a stone? A stone will make doubts disappear. When the devil comes to you with accusations and questions – show him the stone. There is a prevalent false teaching to “take it by faith”. Yes, faith is necessary, but God is faithful to bear witness with His Spirit in your heart. He also bears witness to His people as a body. That is why we do not hesitate to invite anyone to the meeting – come and see the witness. Try the Spirit – does it bear witness with your soul? Many have tried to manufacture a witness through various means, but this will not last. If you do not allow yourself to be talked into it, no one can talk you out of it. Elijah’s sacrifice was answered by fire – when the fire falls, you have the witness. If you are unsure tonight, get the witness – it is available for all.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

An ordination service was held this morning. Bro. John Redekop of Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada and Bro. Johnny Friesen of Paris, Texas, USA were ordained to the Ministry of the Church of God. May the Lord richly bless them as they labor in the Lord’s vineyard.

Let Us Go On
Bro. Ray Tinsman

Text: Hebrews 6:1

After you have been saved, the Lord has more for you. Last words are generally very important. Jesus specifically instructed

His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they should received the Holy Spirit. They were saved – Jesus explicitly mentions that their names are written in heaven – but they needed to go on to perfection. The experience at Pentecost is known by numerous names: Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Sanctification, Entire Sanctification, Perfection, etc. It has always been the desire of God to have man in His own image. God never meant for His creation to be separated from Him by sin. After Adam sinned, the root of sin was inbred into each child born subsequently. This is also know as the Adamic nature, the carnal nature, the old man, the carnal mind. After you are saved, you have victory over sin, but the carnal mind is still present and causes something to rise up within you involuntarily. The carnal mind also causes doubts and confusions. Your biggest enemy is yourself. After you have experienced the second work of grace or been sanctified, this root is entirely removed and the Holy Spirit takes full charge of your being. All temptations come from without, not within. Character flaws, impatience, and other carnal traits are eradicated. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible clearly distinguishes between the two works of grace, salvation and sanctification. If you are saved, that is wonderful! Now, do not tarry there, go on to perfection, the Lord has a tremendous experience for you that will help you to excel spiritually.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

In the prayer meeting, Bro. Peter Hildebrandt reminded the saints not just to seek but follow the Lord’s instructions to receive your help. Naaman had preconceived ideas how he should be healed. He was not healed until he followed the prophets instructions exactly.

The Second Coming of Christ
Bro. Jacob Braun

Text: Acts 1:9-11

Everyone will see the Lord return, not just those that anticipate His coming. Prepared or not, you will witness His return. Some are refusing His pleadings today, but a day is coming when you have no choice but to face Him. That day will surely find you out. Every teaching that allows for a second chance is a fallacy from the devil. People are pretending another chance exists after the judgment, but it is only a pretension. When Jesus returns, Mohamed will acknowledge Jesus as the only Savior, along with all other false religions. Every single knee will bow to Jesus Christ, every atheist will confess that He is Lord. God will answer His enemies to their face. The judgment will be fair, your verdict based solely on your actions. Now there remains an opportunity to determine your own outcome. We are responsible for all we hear and know. Is there a welcome in your soul for the Lord’s return? Do not be the last backslider before the Lord’s return. We do not know when He is coming – but this we know, prophecy is fulfilling and He promised He was returning.

Awake
Bro. Daniel Layne

Text: Isaiah 51:9

The Church of God is preaching the message of awakening, alarm, and restoration. The world around us is asleep and needs to be awakened. God wants a place where our children can excel and a place for our young people to be radical. When we stop to preach the come-out message, we need to hear it preached to us. We came out of places where mourning was the main occupation. After being in many different prisons, we are now free! We are living in Bible times, we are living the acts of the Apostles. The glory is here, the Lord is working mightily. Get people into the Book and they will experience real salvation – a life-altering experience. It will affect everything, your family life, finances, etc. It used to be that you could to service after service and never feel stirred. Those times are over – the Lord is working and moving freely in each service. We have no program, the Holy Spirit has free reign. Now we can sing Joy Unspeakable with joy unspeakable and full of glory! Quantity will come, the Lord is restoring quality so that He can send quantity.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

In the early morning prayer meeting, Bro. Rick Wiebe encouraged the saints to continue in prayer. We must persevere until we get through.

Restoration
Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga

Text: Isaiah 1:23-26

God is characterized by comfort. Outside of God there is no comfort. If God is the comfort of all comfort, surely He has the capacity to comfort Himself. Throughout history, God has comforted himself, by restoring His people. Restoration is the removal of counterfeit or substandard materials to be replaced by the genuine product. God is removing the tin in this time, to be replaced by Gold. For the last 100 years, the people have been collecting tin. Preachers turned into amateur tin collectors. Trying to collect something that has no value. Gold was too expensive, so people decided to divert to tin. Tin is everything besides God. God despises tin and everything that comes with it. Churches have turned into scrap metal junkyards. God is now comforting Himself by restoring the condition of the Church back to the beginning. Not a few years or eras, but right back to the beginning. We have come from places where it was more profitable to just sleep rather than to fight sleep. Adam was not yawning when He walked with God. It is good to see people getting up and moving, but when you get up, you are stained with the things you have been sitting on for 40 years. That is where fuller’s soap comes in. This is no delicate wash cycle – this is genuine get-the-dirt-out washing. People have been sincerely begging for revival in the past decade. Then when it arrives, they reject it because it did not come the way they expected it. Come and experience the joy of restoration!

We are thankful for the Lord’s great blessings this far – it has been a spiritually exhilarating time and the week is far from over. Many more have arrived and we are anticipating a great outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord.

Another Gospel
Bro. Stephen Hargrave

Text: Galatians 1:6-9

This scripture has been manipulated to keep people trapped in religions of tradition. That application is false. It is written on the basis of assurance that where you are is true religion. Verify that you are actually where the true Gospel is preached. A farmer’s work is self-evident – is the corn growing, are the rows straight? Check out the straightness of your rows. If there are curves and deviations, you know you need to first find the true Gospel that Paul was speaking of. He knew his personal revelation came from Jesus Christ. Paul preached the true gospel so well that the religious economy of paganism and idolatry went into recession. In the time of Primitive Christianity you did not have to figure out where to go. There was no black, white, liberal, or conservative church. There was only the Gospel. If in the future you hear one of us preach differently than what you know is right, let us be accursed. Do not accept something different than what you liberated you in the first place. The Gospel is to be communicated from the heart of the preacher to the audience. Any other is only talking – not the Gospel. We reach our hand to every blood washed one – that is the Gospel of unity – the Gospel of Paul.

Monday, June 8, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

Bro. Johnny Friesen exhorted the saints on Matthew 7:7 in the prayer meeting this morning. We must be persistent to have our needs met.

Godly Sorrow
Bro. Isaac Thiessen

Text: II Corinthians 7:10

Before we can get very happy, we must get very sad. Now do not be mistaken – salvation is wonderful and glorious. But, there are steps you must follow in order to get a true, crisis experience of salvation. There is no rest in this world until you have experience God’s rest. We are not looking for brief, shallow experiences that last for a day or two. Walk in the steps the Lord is leading you, go through the sorrow He is leading you through. Follow until you feel horrible as a sinner. He will lead you to become absolutely sick of yourself. This is true Godly sorrow. People want a “road to Damascus” experience, but this must be preceded by a genuine sorrow for your committed sins. A deep awakening must have taken place in the heart and a realization of the gravity of sin. Do not stop seeking – seek Him until you find Him. There is a real danger that our children may avoid this and never get a hold of true salvation. Each and every one of us must go through this sorrow and realization of sin to obtain salvation. The Bible way is to sorrow, repent, and be saved with complete, continuous victory over sin for the rest of your life. You never need to fall back into your old life. Godly sorrow will keep you faithful when you remember your old life. Would you like rest? Get tired of your life as it is and God can provide unparalleled rest in this world with wonderful, sustaining victory over sin.

Over 1,000 have people have registered on the grounds here up to this point and we are anticipating more as the week progresses. Many visitors and newcomers have arrived and are enjoying the rich blessings of the Lord as He moves among His children.

Meet Your Help
Bro. Abe Redekop

Text: Isaiah 35:4

If you have not yet yielded in this meeting, it is time that you did. Do not relax in an unsaved condition. We will keep digging around until we find your hidden spot. Sin will lull you to sleep. We are here to wake you up. What is holding you back? Do whatever you have to do to change your condition. Our goal is rest – beg for help from God in this meeting to get true rest. Admit your need, seek your help, and get your rest. You may be able to help yourself for a little bit, but in the long run it will not last. Get a lifting experience that will victoriously lift you above the waves of sin. Heed the warning – danger is in delay.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

In the prayer meeting this morning, Bro. John Redekop exhorted the saints not just to seek, but to find and obtain in prayer. He challenged us to go beyond the seeking and fulfil the obtaining.

Kicking Against
Bro. Ernest Benion Jr.

Text: Acts 9:1-5

Saul came to a point where he was in pain from kicking. God puts goads in place so that it will be painful for you to continue kicking against His dealings. Through this meeting our purpose is to at least insert something in your heart that will grow and prick you when you resist. How much time do you need to finally yield? How many songs need to be sung? If we yield in a timely manner, we will be saved. God’s voice penetrates the loud music, His spirit will follow you. He can cause things to go wrong for you and your health to fail. This is conviction! You may be covering up on the exterior, but inside your soul is crying. Allow God to water your dry condition.

The song service this evening was richly blessed as the Spirit of the Lord gave liberty. The saints were greatly encouraged through the songs – God Can, Nobody Helps Like Jesus!

Through Faith We Understand
Bro. Randy Hargrave

Text: Hebrews 11:1-6

In order not to believe in God, you have to be out of your logical mind. Faith causes you to think right. It gives you the capacity to think the way God designed you to think. Jesus speaks soul language. When your soul connects with Him, that is true happiness. When God smiles and you smile that is enough to make a man cry. Jesus demonstrates, then he asks you what you think. That is the test of faith. Your answer tells on you. Call it for what it is, do not hesitate and speculate. If you see a miracle, do not say “Hmmm, that was…” Just say it, “That was a miracle!” God sends lightning, thunder, and hail and asks you, “What is this?” Admit it and call it for what it is – something real. If you are not offering something real, seekers will walk away. God has established a strong salvation that will produce a strong faith – it will surpass anything this world has to offer. By faith – that is the key.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

West Milton, Ohio, USA

We are filled with praise and thanksgiving – another International Camp Meeting has begun! The saints have arrived with great anticipation to witness the glory of God in the midst His children and feel His mighty, working power in each and every heart.

In the prayer meeting this morning, Bro. Benjamin Tovstiga exhorted the saints to pray for this meeting in a mighty way. God’s expectations for this meeting far exceed our own expectations. We need to ask big – He is mighty!

In the morning service the special singers from Aylmer and Ohio encouraged the saints with songs, Christ Is Not a Disappointment, In Christ Alone, and God Is Glorious.

Fear Him
Bro. Ray Tinsman

Text: Matthew 10:26-28

God still hates sin! No matter what people say or how they excuse themselves, He still hates sin. God will exact vengeance on you if you do not repent. Your due date to pay for your sin is coming, can you afford to pay? If you are late, the penalty is clear. Do you have things you need to clear up? Now is the time to send a messenger to request terms for peace. It is settled – your payment due date has been set, you do not know when. Either it is cleared up or the Lord promises revenge on those who presumed on His mercy but did not act in a timely manner. Now is the time to stop being a hypocrite, terms for eternal peace are still offered. Children need to know they will be responsible for their actions when they know to do better and do not do it. This message needs to be instilled from a young age – God still hates sin!

The tabernacle is full and overflowing, more saints arrived by the time evening service had begun. The weather this first day has been pleasant, which we are thankful for.

Poor In Spirit
Bro. John Strizu

Text: Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in Spirit – the antithesis of mainstream Christianity today. If you feel like you have something to offer God when you get saved, you are not ready. God does not need your money, reputation, or intelligence. He already has what He needs. It is imperative that you declare personal, spiritual bankruptcy and realize you cannot continue alone. No sin is small. If you have only told one lie, you are no better than the drunkard staggering out of the bar. It is all in the heart. A Pharisaical nature is to downplay your own sins versus others. One committed sin gives you the capacity to stop at nothing. The Prodigal son had spent all his money, yet thought there was a little hope so he got a job. When reality hit him, he realized he was craving the food of vile creatures. The time has come to stop believing in yourself and believe in God. Imagine yourself as the dirtiest sinner around. The rich young ruler lacked one thing – the realization of his spiritual poverty.