This past week many of us went to Family Camp. As you have heard from some of the families who attended it was a great week. People had a lot of fun and learned more about the Lord and each other.
Throughout the week I learned a lot of things from God’s word through the ministry of both the morning speaker: Pastor Lynn Lapka. And the evening speaker: Pastor John Weasel.
This morning I would like to share some of the things the things that impacted my heart this week.
Family camp 2026
Sunday night: The worship leader for the week, Brother James Huey spoke about how the Children of Isreal were led by God in the wilderness out of Egypt to the land of promise. It was a process that God was doing in their hearts that took 40 years but in reality, the physical trip could have been made in 12 days. The distance between Egypt and the Promise land was not the challenge. The people’s hearts were not ready to walk into the fullness of what God had prepared for them, so they had to keep circling in the wilderness for 40 years. In our lives we can in the same way be stuck in our situations for an extended period of time, years in fact when we are just days from walking in the fullness of what God has prepared for us. This morning in want you to ask yourself this question? What is the thing that I keep struggling with or coming back to that I am done with and I want God to deliver me from, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to get freedom? ***Point #1 God is working in your heart and life to prepare you for your future.
Monday morning: Pastor Lynn started with us in Genesis chapter one verse one to walk us through the creation story from the perspective of the Children of Isreal who had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years. During this time, they were surrounded by all of the false gods and idols of the Egyptian society. We see through the creation story that God wants us to know him, and he shows up in Genesis 1:1 and says, hello this is who I am! He shows through creation he is above all the other gods that his people know and heard about. He did not start with Genesis 3 with the story of the Fall of Man because the Gospel is not about our bad our sin is, the Gospel is about how great God is.
***Point #2 The Gospel is about God’s desire to be in relationship and fellowship with us.
Monday night: Pastor John Weasel shared with us that Jesus asked a lot of questions in the gospels. As an example, Luke 18:8…... “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” There are some incredible insights we can discover when we study the more than 300 questions that Jesus asked recorded in the bible. Pastor John shared with us there are some questions that only Jesus can ask and that we should
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never ask. For instance, in when Jesus performed his first miracle of turning the water to wine at the marriage in Cana. It is recorded in the Gospel of John 2
John 2
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
So yes, we need to be careful about what questions we ask. But here is an amazing truth from a study of all the questions that Jesus asked as recorded in the Gospels…..In all of these he never asked a question about when something was going to happen. He never asked when? The reason is because Jesus has an eternal perspective. He does not view situations through the eyes of man that is limited by the days, weeks, months, years.
John 1
King James Version
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
*** Look at verse 14***
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Colossians 1:15-20
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ***Point #3 Jesus has an eternal perspective for your life. Can you trust him with your past, present and future?
Tuesday morning: We learned there is a pattern in God’s word of great things happening on the 3rd day. When we look at the creation story this begins that pattern when on the third day of creation God divides the water from the land and calls that good. God then speaks to the earth to bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit, and God says that is good as well. So, this day (The third day) God gives a double recognition of good. In our lives we have to stand in faith through the process and hold on to the promises he has made. God brings double blessing on the 3rd day. God gives us rest.
Hosea 6:2: A prophetic promise of national restoration and revival, declaring, "After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before us."
Exodus 19:10-11: God commands Moses to consecrate the people so they are ready for the third day, when the Lord would visibly descend upon Mount Sinai to establish His covenant and bless them with His presence
John 2:1-11: Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding in Cana "on the third day," turning water into wine and saving the hosts from embarrassment, which began the public revelation of His glory.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
****Point #4 Hold on because God has a double blessing for you waiting on the “third” day.
Tuesday night: We learned that time does not heal all things, truth does. Pastor John shared a story about a couple who had purchased property that had a beautiful tree right in
It is Time to Seek the Lord, Part II July 19, 2026
the middle of it. They wanted to build a house there but did not want to cut down the tree so they built the house around it. That started off kind of neat, and it was fun to show people their house that was built around this large tree but ultimately the tree destroyed their house. Have you built your life around a tree. We have learned to live with things that God wants to free us from. Pressures of life do not create what’s in you, it is just revealing what is in you. Conviction is not a punishment it is a gift. It is an invitation to be closer to God.
Proverbs 29:1
1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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***Point #5 God is calling you to a closer relationship with him, but we have to stop decorating around the sin in our lives.
Wednesday morning: The center of the creation story is about God making times seasons to meet with us. God creates a space to meet is us. God is a relationship God. He names us and calls us. He makes us with variety. God is not just the almighty but he is a God of personal relationship with me.
Revelation 3:20-22
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
**Point #6 The creator of the universe cares about you and wants to be in relationship with you.
Wednesday night: The message was based around the parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. Here are some truths from this parable: Comparison is the enemy of contentment. God gives us what we can handle and be trusted with. The Master (God) judges us individually on what he gives us individually. The source of false doctrines and idolatry comes from the fact we do not understand who God is.
A.W. Tozer famously wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy that what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. He argued that our mental image of God shapes our spiritual future, because we inevitably move toward the version of Him we conceive in our hearts. My friends that is what God calls idolatry when you make your own version of the God you serve.
It is Time to Seek the Lord, Part II July 19, 2026 Romans 1:16-32
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
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30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
***Point #7: Knowing the fullness of God is the most important thing you will ever learn, and your life depends on it.
Thursday morning: The Bible does not tell us what to think but how to think. Encounter with God comes and goes but the word of truth stands forever. Worship is more than singing a few songs, worship is doing what God has called us to do in partnership with him to guard, protect and cultivate what he has provided for us. God made us to be in relationship and not alone. God gives choice and consequences because that is love. We are royal but subjects. The enemy wants to take us away our position God has put is in order to trip us up from our potential. Building fences is good but do not elevate your fence to the position of the word of God. Jesus became sin for us to do what Adam could not do in order save us and restore us to relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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***Point #8 Worship is not singing songs; it is living our life each day as a living sacrifice that brings glory to God.
***In Closing***
Thursday Night: We come into God’s presence for transformation and not transaction. Consecrate yourself and God will do amazing things among you.
We want the experience, but we do not want to put in the work to get there. When we consecrate ourselves, it aligns our hearts with Gods heart. Most of us want God to move for us when God wants to move through us. We must Repair the altar of worship that is broken.
We must set things in order for the sacrifice.
The fire of God only falls on order; it will not fall on chaos.
We must make what we do all about God. It is not about you it is about God! God forgive us for being comfortable and consecrate me today.
Joshua 3:5
5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
ransliteration
|
qāḏaš |
Pronunciation
kaw-dash'
to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate
***Point #9 We must be willing to consecrate our lives to see God do the amazing things he wants to do in us and through us.
Friday morning: God can restart our lives over and over again but we need the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out as the problem is in us and not our environment. We need a new heart inside not a new environment “garden” outside. We stumble and fall but God gives us a hope and a future!
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
God is calling us back from the east to the west back into his presence and relationship to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We are the temple of the Lord.
It is Time to Seek the Lord, Part II July 19, 2026 Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.