Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.orgSunday, Jan. 8, 2012Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012

John 17John 17

The Great High Priestly The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:6-19John 17:6-19

John 17:13John 17:13Sharing the Happiness of God!Sharing the Happiness of God!

+H+H

John 17:13, John 17:13, “But now I myself come “But now I myself come face to faceface to face to You, (to You, (God the Father)God the Father) and I kept and I kept on speaking (on speaking (teachingteaching) these things ) these things

((Bible DoctrineBible Doctrine) ) whilewhile in the world in in the world in order that they (order that they (the disciplesthe disciples) might ) might keep onkeep on having and holding My joy having and holding My joy

(+H) made full in themselves.”(+H) made full in themselves.”

What was our Lord’s joy? What was our Lord’s joy?

Heb 12:1-2Heb 12:1-2

Rom 14:17, Rom 14:17, ““For the kingdom of God isFor the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and righteousness and peace and

joy in the Holy Spiritjoy in the Holy Spirit.”.”

Principles of Happiness (+H)Principles of Happiness (+H)::

Isa 65:18, “But be glad and Isa 65:18, “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I rejoice forever in what I

create; for behold, I create create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.”her people for gladness.”

Eccl 2:26, Eccl 2:26, “To the man who pleases Him, “To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge God gives wisdom, knowledge

and happiness, but to the sinner he and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and gives the task of gathering and

storing up wealth to hand it over storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.” to the one who pleases God.”

1. The key to true happiness is 1. The key to true happiness is a change in your mental a change in your mental

attitude. Happiness is not the attitude. Happiness is not the various stimuli of life, which various stimuli of life, which has no ability to sustain you has no ability to sustain you

in daily living.in daily living.John 15:11; Heb 11:25John 15:11; Heb 11:25

John 15:11, John 15:11, ““I have taught you these I have taught you these thingsthings that My happiness that My happiness

might be in you, and that your might be in you, and that your happiness might be fulfilled.”happiness might be fulfilled.”

2. Happiness depends upon 2. Happiness depends upon the quality of your thoughts; the quality of your thoughts; you should guard the type of you should guard the type of thoughts you allow to enter thoughts you allow to enter

your soul. Phil 4:8-9your soul. Phil 4:8-9

3. True happiness does not 3. True happiness does not come as a result of getting come as a result of getting

something you do not have, but something you do not have, but rather of recognizing and rather of recognizing and

appreciating what you do have. appreciating what you do have. Phil 4:11-13; 1 Tim 6:7-8 Phil 4:11-13; 1 Tim 6:7-8

1 Tim 6:7-8, 1 Tim 6:7-8, “For we have brought nothing “For we have brought nothing

into this world, and it is into this world, and it is obvious that we can take obvious that we can take

nothing out of it. But if we nothing out of it. But if we have food and shelter, we have food and shelter, we

shall be content with these.”shall be content with these.”

4. Whenever we use our 4. Whenever we use our capacities to the greatest capacities to the greatest

extent to learn and apply the extent to learn and apply the Word of God, we attain the Word of God, we attain the

greatest success and greatest success and happiness possible in this life. happiness possible in this life.

Phil 4:11, Phil 4:11, “I have learned to be content” “I have learned to be content”

(Aorist, Active of (Aorist, Active of MANTHANO - educated)MANTHANO - educated)

Phil 4:12a, Phil 4:12a, “I know how to get along” “I know how to get along”

(Perfect, Active of OIDA - to (Perfect, Active of OIDA - to know, to learn)know, to learn)

Phil 4:12b, Phil 4:12b, “I have learned the secret” “I have learned the secret” (Perfect, Passive, MUEO - (Perfect, Passive, MUEO -

initiated into the secret)initiated into the secret)

Phil 4:13,Phil 4:13,“I can do all things” “I can do all things”

(Present, Active of ISCHUO - (Present, Active of ISCHUO - to be strong, have the power)to be strong, have the power)

5. The only way to happiness 5. The only way to happiness is to cease worrying about is to cease worrying about things that are beyond the things that are beyond the

power of your will. power of your will.

6. You will never realize how 6. You will never realize how much of God’s happiness you much of God’s happiness you have in your life until you go have in your life until you go through certain problems, and through certain problems, and find out that your happiness find out that your happiness

has not been taken away.has not been taken away.Psa 31:7; 1 Peter 1:3-8Psa 31:7; 1 Peter 1:3-8

Psa 31:7, Psa 31:7, “I will rejoice and be glad in “I will rejoice and be glad in

Your lovingkindness, because Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles You have known the troubles

of my soul.”of my soul.”

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchSunday, January 8, 2012Sunday, January 8, 2012

Tape # 12-003Tape # 12-003

Jesus Prays for His DisciplesJesus Prays for His DisciplesSharing the Happiness of God Sharing the Happiness of God

Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 53Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 53

John 17:13; Phil 4:8-13; Heb 12:1-12; 1 Peter 1:3-8John 17:13; Phil 4:8-13; Heb 12:1-12; 1 Peter 1:3-8  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012