Grace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, April 18, 2010 Grace Fellowship Church www.GraceDoctrine.org

John 15:1-8Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ

In John 15:1-5 we are given the process by which we “bear fruit”, producing Divine Good.

1) Establishment Principle: the “True Vine” – Jesus Christ our spiritual sustenance, and the “Vinedresser” – God the Father‘s Predesigned Protocol Plan.

2) Encouragement Principle: “Removal and Pruning of branches”, = Divine Discipline and Suffering for blessing, inside the Plan of God.

3) Environment Principles: “You are already clean”, our Eternal Security / Positional Sanctification, designed for confidence in execution of God’s Plan for our lives.

4) Empowerment Principle: “Abiding in Christ”, which is our Experiential Sanctification / Walk / Fellowship / Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ.

5) Exceleration Principle: “Brings forth much fruit”, which is the result of the Supergrace life when you have had maximum Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Doctrine of the Occupation with The Lord Jesus Christ

1) Occupation w/ TLJC is the 10th of the 10 Problem Solving Devices.

10 Problem Solving Devices • Rebound • Filling of the Holy Spirit • Faith Rest Drill • Grace Orientation • Doctrinal Orientation • Personal Sense of Destiny • Personal Love for God the Father • Impersonal / Unconditional Love for Mankind • Sharing the Happiness of God • Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ

2) Occupation with Christ is also defined as fellowship with the Son. 1 Cor 1:9

1 Cor 1:9, “God is faithful, through Whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

3) There are two divine mandates with regard to Occupation with Christ.

Heb 12:2, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross and disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

4) Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is necessary for the execution of these mandates.2 Cor 13:14; Phil 2:1-2, 5

2 Cor 13:14, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love for God [the Father] and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.”

5) O. w/ C. is personal love for the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum metabolized Bible doctrine circulating in your heart.1 Peter 1:8

1 Peter 1:8, “And even though you have not seen Him, you love Him (occupation with Christ); and though you do not see Him now but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with inexpressible happiness (+H) and full of glory.”

6) The basis for O. w/ C. is having the mind of Christ, 1 Cor 2:16, by the intake of Bible Doctrine through the Grace Apparatus for Perception, (G.A.P.), Jer 9:24; Eph 3:17-19, 4:20.

7) The attainment of O. w/ C. is gradual where the Lord becomes your role model. 1 Cor 2:16; Eph 3:19

1 Cor 2:16, “For who has known the thinking of the Lord that we should instruct Him; we have the thinking of Christ.”

Eph 3:19, “And to come to know the love for Christ which goes beyond GNOSIS that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

8) Occupation with Christ is the standard operating procedure for the mature believer and continues to develop in the three stages of spiritual adulthood. Heb 12:1-2

9) Occupation with Christ is illustrated by the Doctrine of Right Man/Right Woman. She is to be occupied with her right man as we are to be occupied with Christ. 1 Cor 11:5-9; Eph 5:22-33; Col 3:18

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchSunday, April 18, 2010Tape # 10-044Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ, Part 2Upper Room Discourse, Part 359 John 15:1-5; 1 Cor 1:9; Phil 2:1-5; Heb 12:2; 1 Peter 3:15James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010

Grace Fellowship Church