Gems – Garangwe, Zimbabwe Convention 2018

• Isaiah 40:3, the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” A wilderness/desert are not the easiest places to make a road. We may feel it is not easy for the flesh to serve God – but His Way is prepared in the wilderness/desert

• Matthew 11:28, “Come ye that labour and are heavy laden,” – the invitation is to come just as we are – Jesus accepts the worst

• 3 burdens we can find hard to put down – sin, unwillingness, unforgiveness

• Hymn 175(e) /98(sh) – verse 2 [Shona translates], “Turn your back on everything of the world” – then we can have fellowship with God

• Jeremiah 8:22 – no balm in Gilead? – when we go to a doctor, we tell him everything so he can help us… we come before God, what do we tell Him?

• Luke 19 – Zacchaeus was short. I too am short – in faith!

• Joseph – he didn’t sin against his brothers – but they weren’t happy! He didn’t sin with Mrs Potipher- she wasn’t happy! Then he was jailed! But he forgave his brethren in tears.

• Jesus didn’t say, “Not me, I am the Son of God!”

• I want to be satisfied with what is spoken – it’s God speaking to me!

• Abraham walked by faith – without it, we cannot walk with God.

• Abraham had to leave some things behind. So do we… or thoughts, burdens…

• There is great power in the Spirit of the Lamb

• Soloman didn’t go to war but his greatest enemy was himself

• Eli fell as he heard of the Ark of God being taken – not as He heard of his sons’ death. The glory of God was gone. We want to understand what is precious

• Abraham payed 7 ewes to witness to Abimelech the well was his. There is a price to pay to keep the pure well of Salvation ours

• we must let the Saviour lead – He does much better. We go astray…

• Love is the greatest power because it comes from Above

• Mark 10 – Jesus looked on the rich young ruler and loved him. Jesus can look on me, love me – but what do I do about the one thing I lack?

• The richest man cannot compare with eternal life – we get eternal life if we follow Jesus.

• The world can believe on Christ if we walk as we have been taught

• “So strange it seems and wondrous what God had done for us” – we see that in the emblems

• On the cross, Jesus still worked a mission! That thief was at his lowest but the best day for him!

• The blood of the kid covered Joseph’s brethren’s deceit but not their guilt

• The greatest battle David fought was not to take Saul’s life – when to use the sword and when to not

• Be faithful – it is precious in God’s eyes