Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Tuesday, February 16, 2010Tuesday, February 16, 2010

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Memory VerseMemory Verse

John 15:13, John 15:13, “Greater love has no one “Greater love has no one

than this, that one lay down than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”his life for his friends.”

John 15:2John 15:2

Suffering for BlessingSuffering for BlessingPart 11Part 11

A. Introduction: Suffering acts as a A. Introduction: Suffering acts as a guardian or parent in life. guardian or parent in life.B. Suffering is used as a measure-B. Suffering is used as a measure- ment of life. ment of life.C. Suffering for Blessing C. Suffering for Blessing Rationale.Rationale.D. Five categories of suffering in D. Five categories of suffering in the spiritual life. the spiritual life.

E. Definition of the three stages of E. Definition of the three stages of Spiritual Adulthood and Spiritual Adulthood and accompanying Suffering for accompanying Suffering for Blessing. Blessing.F. Suffering and Spiritual Adulthood.F. Suffering and Spiritual Adulthood.G. Providential Preventative G. Providential Preventative Suffering. Suffering.H. Prayer and Suffering.H. Prayer and Suffering.

I. Momentum TestingI. Momentum Testing5 Categories5 Categories::

Disaster Testing Disaster Testing People Testing People Testing System TestingSystem Testing

Thought Testing Thought Testing Prosperity Testing Prosperity Testing

4. System Testing4. System Testing

Eph 5:22-6:9Eph 5:22-6:9Col 3:18-4:1 Col 3:18-4:1

1 Peter 2:12-3:7 1 Peter 2:12-3:7 Rom 13:1-7Rom 13:1-7

A system is an organization A system is an organization composed of people under composed of people under

the command of other people the command of other people functioning under a policy functioning under a policy

which is designed to fulfill a which is designed to fulfill a specific objective. specific objective.

3 Characteristics of a System:3 Characteristics of a System:

1) Authority 1) Authority 2) Policy2) Policy

3) Objective3) Objective

7 Categories of Systems7 Categories of Systems

1) Business org.1) Business org.2) Military services2) Military services3) Professional org.3) Professional org.4) Ecclesiastical org.4) Ecclesiastical org.

5) Athletic org.5) Athletic org.

7 Categories of Systems7 Categories of Systems6) Divine institutions, volition, 6) Divine institutions, volition,

marriage, family, …marriage, family, …

7 Categories of Systems7 Categories of Systems6) Divine institutions, volition, 6) Divine institutions, volition,

marriage, family, …marriage, family, …7) Government; federal, state 7) Government; federal, state

and local. Rom 13:1-7; and local. Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-8; Titus 3:1, 1 Tim 2:1-8; Titus 3:1,

Prov 24:21; Eccl 8:2Prov 24:21; Eccl 8:2

There are good and bad There are good and bad organizations, systems, organizations, systems, leadership, policies, and leadership, policies, and

objectives. Therefore, you objectives. Therefore, you have many areas of S.T. have many areas of S.T.

related to the people, policy, related to the people, policy, and purpose.and purpose.

Because no one is perfect Because no one is perfect and everyone has an Old and everyone has an Old Sin Nature, personality, Sin Nature, personality,

policy, and purpose policy, and purpose conflicts are inevitable.conflicts are inevitable.

3 Areas of System Testing3 Areas of System Testing1) Authority - unfair and 1) Authority - unfair and

unjust treatment from mgmt, unjust treatment from mgmt, Sr. officer, coach, professor, Sr. officer, coach, professor, bureaucrat, husband, parents, bureaucrat, husband, parents,

etc., exists. etc., exists.

3 Areas of System Testing3 Areas of System Testing 2) Policy may be 2) Policy may be

unreasonable or conflict unreasonable or conflict with normal living or your with normal living or your

personal norms and personal norms and standards.standards.

3 Areas of System Testing3 Areas of System Testing 3) Objectives may be 3) Objectives may be

unreasonable or impossible unreasonable or impossible to fulfill or pose a conflict to fulfill or pose a conflict

with your personal life.with your personal life.

The greatest enemy to any The greatest enemy to any org. is arrogance in its org. is arrogance in its

personnel both at the top and personnel both at the top and bottom. Also incapability, or bottom. Also incapability, or laziness, wrong priorities or laziness, wrong priorities or

ignorance.ignorance.

The believer is to “submit” The believer is to “submit” to every authority in regard to every authority in regard

to S.T., with the exception of to S.T., with the exception of disobedience to God and His disobedience to God and His

Word. Word. Mat 5:9-12, 1 Peter 2:19-20; Mat 5:9-12, 1 Peter 2:19-20;

Luke 6:32-36Luke 6:32-36

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday, February 16, 2010

Tape # 10-019

Suffering for Blessing, Pt 11Momentum Testing, Pt 4

Upper Room Discourse, Part 338

John 15:2-8;  1 Peter 2:12-3:7; Rom 13:1-7 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010