Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim RickardThursday, December 9, 2010Thursday, December 9, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

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

2 Tim 2:4,2 Tim 2:4, “No soldier in active service “No soldier in active service

entangles himself in the affairs entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he of everyday life, so that he

may please the one who may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”enlisted him as a soldier.”

John 15:18-21John 15:18-21 Obstructions to Divine Good Production:Obstructions to Divine Good Production:

Reason #1:Reason #1: Satan’s Cosmic System hates the Satan’s Cosmic System hates the believer! believer!Reason #2:Reason #2: We are not of this world-Election We are not of this world-Election

out from the World! out from the World!Reason #3:Reason #3: “The servant is not greater than “The servant is not greater than his Lord,” therefore we too will have his Lord,” therefore we too will have persecutions! persecutions!Reason #4:Reason #4: “The Cosmos does not know “The Cosmos does not know God and is ignorant to His Plan.” God and is ignorant to His Plan.”

John 15:22-25John 15:22-25Obstructions to Divine Good Production:Obstructions to Divine Good Production:

Reason #5Reason #5, Vs 22 - Their Old Sin Nature is , Vs 22 - Their Old Sin Nature is exposed.exposed.

Reason #6,Reason #6, Vs 23-24 - The world hates God Vs 23-24 - The world hates God the Father and it hates God the Son.the Father and it hates God the Son.

Reason #7,Reason #7, Vs 25 - The fulfilment of Old Vs 25 - The fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy.Testament prophesy.

Reason #5Reason #5: : Their Old Sin Nature is Their Old Sin Nature is

exposed. Those of the world exposed. Those of the world want to be held righteous by want to be held righteous by

their own acts and deeds. their own acts and deeds.

Principles:Principles:

1. Revelation brings 1. Revelation brings responsibility. Judaism taught responsibility. Judaism taught

that greater knowledge that greater knowledge brought greater responsibility. brought greater responsibility.

Jesus taught that revelation Jesus taught that revelation increases moral responsibility, increases moral responsibility,

Luke 12:41-46.Luke 12:41-46.

2. His works and His 2. His works and His words revealed the will of words revealed the will of

God the Father, that He God the Father, that He was the Messiah as was the Messiah as prophesied, and the prophesied, and the sinfulness of men.sinfulness of men.

3. Therefore, mankind has 3. Therefore, mankind has no excuse. Jews and no excuse. Jews and Gentiles alike, joined Gentiles alike, joined together in hating and together in hating and

crucifying Christ, is proof crucifying Christ, is proof that all people are sinners that all people are sinners

and guilty before God.and guilty before God.

4. The proof of Christ as 4. The proof of Christ as Messiah has been so clear Messiah has been so clear

that they cannot plead that they cannot plead ignorance. ignorance.

Likewise, the gospel has Likewise, the gospel has been so often presented been so often presented

that they cannot allege that that they cannot allege that they had no opportunity of they had no opportunity of

knowing it. knowing it. John 9:35-John 9:35-10:18 with Acts 26:1810:18 with Acts 26:18

5. The world lives in 5. The world lives in darkness and commits the darkness and commits the

works of darkness, works of darkness, John 3:18-19. John 3:18-19.

From the beginning of the From the beginning of the world’s creation men have world’s creation men have covered themselves with covered themselves with

fig leaves of excuses, fig leaves of excuses, Gen 3:7-13.Gen 3:7-13.

6. No matter what form the 6. No matter what form the excuses take, they give excuses take, they give evidence of the Truth of evidence of the Truth of the gospel message, (that the gospel message, (that

the light has been shining). the light has been shining).

7. There is no reason or 7. There is no reason or even excuse for sin. It is even excuse for sin. It is impossible to hide sin impossible to hide sin

behind transparent aprons behind transparent aprons of excuse after excuse.of excuse after excuse.

8. For the unbeliever, no 8. For the unbeliever, no matter what the excuse, matter what the excuse, rejection of Jesus Christ rejection of Jesus Christ

means eternal means eternal condemnation, condemnation,

Heb 10:29.Heb 10:29.

9. As for the believer:9. As for the believer:

Gal 5:24,Gal 5:24,“Those who are Christ’s “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh have crucified the flesh

with its passions and with its passions and desires.”desires.”

a. The natural life itself is a. The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must not sinful. But we must

abandon sin, having abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any nothing to do with it in any

way whatsoever. way whatsoever.

b. Sin belongs to hell and b. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. As a child of to the devil. As a child of

God, you belong to heaven God, you belong to heaven and to God. and to God.

c. It is not a question of c. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving giving up sin, but of giving up your right to yourself, up your right to yourself,

your natural independence, your natural independence, and self-will.and self-will.

d. Natural moral excellence, d. Natural moral excellence, ((human goodhuman good), opposes or ), opposes or counteracts surrender to counteracts surrender to

God. God.

e. It is the good that opposes e. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence, scale of moral excellence, ((human goodhuman good), a person ), a person

goes, the more intense the goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ.opposition to Jesus Christ.

f. The cost to your natural f. The cost to your natural life is not just one or two life is not just one or two things, but everything. things, but everything.

Mat 16:24, Mat 16:24, “If anyone desires to come “If anyone desires to come

after Me, let him deny after Me, let him deny himself …” himself …”

Beware of refusing to go to Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own the funeral of your own

independence.independence.

g. If we do not purposely g. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural,sacrifice the natural,

((self willself will), the supernatural ), the supernatural can never become natural can never become natural

to us. to us.

h. There is no high or easy h. There is no high or easy road. You have the means road. You have the means to accomplish it through to accomplish it through doctrine and the Spirit. doctrine and the Spirit.

It is not a question of It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, praying, but of sacrificing,

and thereby performing and thereby performing His will. His will.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, December 9, 2010Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tape # 10-136Tape # 10-136

Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 30Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 30No ExcusesNo Excuses

Upper Room Discourse, Part 449Upper Room Discourse, Part 449

John 15:22; Luke 12:41-46; Gal 5:24; Gen 3:7-13John 15:22; Luke 12:41-46; Gal 5:24; Gen 3:7-13        

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010