It is indeed a time to consecrate yourself to the LORD in much needed prayers and preparation for all that he is set do in your life through this meeting.

Acts 3:19
New King James Version
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

The Bible talks about these times of refreshing being available for every believer in Christ. The Greek word for times there means opportune moments, in other words, several seasons or periods of refreshing. Not just one but many of them. Where you’re rejuvenated, revitalized, renewed in strength, and refreshed in your spirit. Amen!

The believer can experience these times of refreshing individually or corporately through special meetings and gatherings of the church, which is what we are focusing on today. In scripture, we see a consistent pattern of God using special gatherings of his people, to meet with them, empower them, strengthen them, and embolden them for more.

Acts 4:31
New King James Version
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

The men that went to pray together, were not the same men that left that time of prayer. The Bible said they were emboldened to speak the Word of God. So it is in fact possible for believers to gather and experience God collectively. We could see that they all experienced a change in their lives in just one special meeting.

The Christ Life Camp 2024, is going to be that special meeting for us as well, where we will all encounter God. It’s going to be that time of refreshing for all of us.

One of the ways in which God is going to also impact our lives is through the teaching of the Word; through teaching meetings.

What is a teaching meeting? This is one where the word of God is taught accurately and there is indoctrination. This is super important because that is primarily how we grow and learn in the faith- through the accurate teaching of the Word of God.

Jesus himself placed importance on teachings being the primary source of revelation

When he met with the disciples on the journey to Emmaus, he didn’t jump at them to show them that he is the risen saviour, he wanted them to discern him through the scriptures first of all.

Luke 24:27
New King James Version
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

He properly explained the things concerning himself in all of the scriptures to them. This was priority to him, that they come to discern him properly through the lens of scripture first.

Then again, we see the Apostle Paul having consistent teaching meetings.

Acts 19:8-9
New King James Version
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

The Apostle Paul continued daily with them speaking the word, reasoning with them, discipling and teaching them about God, till the point where the Bible says all the people in Asia had heard the gospel. These were teaching meetings that he had with the people in Asia.

There’s a reason why he could spend days, and even months teaching the Word of God, because primarily our faith is a taught faith. We learn by precepts upon precepts, by teaching upon teaching, so that our minds are transformed. It is through these consistent teaching that conviction is built, that men are raised and rightly discipled.

When you a look at the life of Apollos, you can see the effect of a teaching meeting in his ministry.

Acts 18:25-26
New King James Version
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

After Aquila and Priscilla had heard him, they took him aside to explain the word of God more excellently to him.

From this moment onward, he became a better teacher of the Word. He became more useful and effective for the work. He might have been getting few things right before, but the accurate teaching of the word of God made him a better minister. This is what a teaching meeting with other believers did for him.

These teaching meetings will literally transform your life. They will cause great impact in your walk with God.

The Apostle Paul also prayed for the church in Ephesus, that they grow in revelation knowledge.

Ephesians 1:17-18
New King James Version
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

The Spirit talked about here is not another spirit but the same spirit we received at salvation. A better rendition to this text is that he prayed for them they may receive wisdom and revelation that comes by the spirit of God.

He said the result of this would be that, their eyes of understanding would be enlightened! Greek word photizo which means, ‘to be flooded with light!’.

That they may know, Greek word eido which talks about knowledge that comes with clarity.

What the Apostle Paul was saying was that the revelation knowledge that they would receive, would come with light, and it would come with clarity. The important part is that he didn’t pray for them, he also taught them in the chapters before.

Ephesians 3:3-4
New King James Version
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

After teaching them, then they would experience growth in revelation knowledge. The eyes of their understanding would be enlightened! They would come to understand the hope of their calling in God!

This is what you will experience during the teachings at camp meeting as well. Indoctrination. Growth. The eyes of your understanding would be enlightened. That’s why you can’t treat them any how. It is not the time to sleep. It is the time to be awake and alert so that you can receive what is for you.

So, how do we to prepare for these teaching meetings?

1. Come with writing materials; come prepared to write with everything that you need.

2. Pray between sessions; make sure that you take out time before the session to pray and prepare your heart for the Word, because every season is for you. Pray for your heart to be ready and pray for the ministers bringing the word to you; that there is no form error by only accuracy.

Prayer Point
Father! I declare that my mind is prepared for every teaching you have for me at the Christ Life Camp 2024! I will be indoctrinated! The eyes of my understanding would be enlightened and I will receive all that you have for me.