Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Sunday, August 15, 2010Sunday, August 15, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

John 15:12-14John 15:12-14

Biblical Applications for Biblical Applications for Being a Friend of GodBeing a Friend of God

PHILOS is used about 30 PHILOS is used about 30 times in the N.T., often to times in the N.T., often to indicate “a friend to whom indicate “a friend to whom

one is under a basic one is under a basic obligation.” obligation.”

Although friends and Although friends and relatives are sometimes relatives are sometimes

differentiated, Luke 21:16; differentiated, Luke 21:16; Acts 10:24, this need not be Acts 10:24, this need not be

the case according to our the case according to our passages, John 15:13-15. passages, John 15:13-15.

1. Friendship could only exist between good men, 1. Friendship could only exist between good men, men who lived pure lives, free from greed, lust, men who lived pure lives, free from greed, lust, and violence. and violence. 2. Friends had complete agreement on all subjects 2. Friends had complete agreement on all subjects and good will toward one another. and good will toward one another. 3. Friendship was based on love. 3. Friendship was based on love. 4. Friends would not ask one another to do what 4. Friends would not ask one another to do what was was wrong and only did good to one another. wrong and only did good to one another.5. Permanence and stability in friendship were the 5. Permanence and stability in friendship were the product of mutual loyalty. product of mutual loyalty. 6. The golden rule for a friend was to put himself on 6. The golden rule for a friend was to put himself on

the same level as his friend. the same level as his friend.

1. Friends of God have no 1. Friends of God have no fear, other than the fear fear, other than the fear

(awe or respect) of God in (awe or respect) of God in their lives, Luke 12:4.their lives, Luke 12:4.

2. Friends of God have 2. Friends of God have humility from a faith rest humility from a faith rest

life, Luke 14:10.life, Luke 14:10.

3. Friends of God have a 3. Friends of God have a mental attitude and actions mental attitude and actions

that are filled with that are filled with righteousness, Prov 22:11.righteousness, Prov 22:11.

Prov 22:11, Prov 22:11, “He who loves purity of “He who loves purity of

heart aheart andnd whose speech is whose speech is gracious, the king is his gracious, the king is his

friend.”friend.”

4. Friends of God have a 4. Friends of God have a servant’s heart, Luke 7:6.servant’s heart, Luke 7:6.

5. Friends of God are 5. Friends of God are persistent in their prayer persistent in their prayer

life, Luke 11:5ff.life, Luke 11:5ff.

6. Friends of God will be 6. Friends of God will be resurrected, John 11:11.resurrected, John 11:11.

John 11:11, John 11:11, “And after that He said to “And after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus them, “Our friend Lazarus

has fallen asleep; but I go, so has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out that I may awaken him out

of sleep.””of sleep.””

7. Friends of God will have 7. Friends of God will have tremendous blessing for tremendous blessing for

time and eternity because time and eternity because of His Word resident in of His Word resident in their souls, Job 29:1-5ff.their souls, Job 29:1-5ff.

Job 29:4,Job 29:4,“As I was in the prime of “As I was in the prime of

my days, when the my days, when the friendship (friendship (counselcounsel) of ) of God God waswas over my tent.” over my tent.”

8. Friends of Jesus Christ 8. Friends of Jesus Christ keep His mandates, keep His mandates,

John 15:14.John 15:14.

9. Friends of Jesus Christ 9. Friends of Jesus Christ have an admiration for have an admiration for

Him as His bride, Him as His bride, Song of Solomon 5:10-16.Song of Solomon 5:10-16.

Song of Sol 5:16, Song of Sol 5:16, “His mouth is “His mouth is full offull of

sweetness, and he is wholly sweetness, and he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved desirable. This is my beloved

and this is my friend, O and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”daughters of Jerusalem.”

10. Friendship with the 10. Friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ is based Lord Jesus Christ is based

on having His Word on having His Word metabolized in your soul, metabolized in your soul,

Prov 7:4.Prov 7:4.

Prov 7:4, Prov 7:4, “Say to wisdom, “You are “Say to wisdom, “You are

my sister,” and call my sister,” and call understanding your understanding your

intimate friend.”intimate friend.”

Occupation with Christ Occupation with Christ provides a new focus in provides a new focus in life, away from eyes on life, away from eyes on self, on people, and on self, on people, and on

things. things.

How you are treated and How you are treated and loved by people, is no loved by people, is no

longer an issue.longer an issue.

It is your fellowship with It is your fellowship with God that counts, and God that counts, and

consistent fellowship leads consistent fellowship leads to friendship with God and to friendship with God and

the Lord Jesus Christ. the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Sunday, August 15, 2010Sunday, August 15, 2010

Tape # 10-088Tape # 10-088

Friendship with God, Part 2 Friendship with God, Part 2 Upper Room Discourse, Part 402Upper Room Discourse, Part 402

John 15:13-14; Luke 7:6-7; 11:5-10; 12:4-5; 14:7-11 John 15:13-14; Luke 7:6-7; 11:5-10; 12:4-5; 14:7-11 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010