Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Sunday, May 16, 2010Sunday, May 16, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

John 15:7-8John 15:7-8

The Abiding Life of The Abiding Life of Prayer that leads to Prayer that leads to

Eternal Fruit.Eternal Fruit.

Divine Good is a work that Divine Good is a work that the Lord produces through the Lord produces through His branches (believers) His branches (believers) which remains forever, which remains forever, bringing Him glory, for bringing Him glory, for

which He promises reward.which He promises reward.

Typically, we look at our Typically, we look at our world and see only the world and see only the

storms; worry, uncertainty, storms; worry, uncertainty, financial problems, financial problems,

political upheaval, trouble, political upheaval, trouble, sickness, and death.sickness, and death.

In the world there is worry, In the world there is worry, but there is another we but there is another we

need to listen for: need to listen for: “the Voice of Truth”, “the Voice of Truth”,

John 16:33.John 16:33.

The Voice of Truth tells us, The Voice of Truth tells us, “to abide in Him”, remain “to abide in Him”, remain in, stay close to, make our in, stay close to, make our home with, dwell within, home with, dwell within, focus on, or be occupied focus on, or be occupied

with the Lord Jesus Christ. with the Lord Jesus Christ.

This requires This requires timetime with with Him, which can only be Him, which can only be

done with time in the done with time in the Word, not the world.Word, not the world.

Compare with Mat 14:22-Compare with Mat 14:22-31.31.

Fear and panic overtook Fear and panic overtook their faith. Yet Jesus sees their faith. Yet Jesus sees what is going on and has what is going on and has authority over the storm.authority over the storm.

He does not stop the squall, He does not stop the squall, instead He comes to them instead He comes to them

in the middle of the in the middle of the turbulence saying, turbulence saying,

“Take courage, it is I; do “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” not be afraid.”

We too have a choice: We too have a choice: Stay in the boat relying Stay in the boat relying on our own strength or on our own strength or take the walk of faith, take the walk of faith, trusting all to Jesus.trusting all to Jesus.

A life focused on Christ A life focused on Christ exacts a reward even now, exacts a reward even now, as He makes each step an as He makes each step an

exciting adventure!exciting adventure!

Moment by moment we Moment by moment we must decide, “where will must decide, “where will

I abide”, in the world I abide”, in the world or in the Lord?or in the Lord?

When you abide in the Work When you abide in the Work of God, “whatever you ask it of God, “whatever you ask it

shall be done for you”, shall be done for you”, whether it be moving whether it be moving

mountains (Mat 17:20; mountains (Mat 17:20; 21:21; 1 Cor 13:2) or 21:21; 1 Cor 13:2) or

walking on water.walking on water.

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchSunday, May 16, 2010

Tape # 10-054

The Abiding Life of PrayerUpper Room Discourse, Part 369

John 15:7-8; 16:33; Mat 14:22-31 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010