1. #7 Difficult D’s Series Grace Baptist Church 4/13/14 PM

2.  Distraction  Denial  Devotion  Daily  Direction  Development  Dependence

3.  The life of dependence is not easy to discuss as believers – as disciples – because we are all so INDEPENDENT.  But a disciple is to be dependent on his master – his teacher – his Lord.  At the end of this message I want you to give us a Bible passage or a Bible character that teaches “Dependence.”

4.  NKJ John 15:1 ¶ "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

5.  6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 " As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

6.  Total Reliance  Deep Restfulness  Abundant Fruitfulness  Intimate Communion  Unconditional Surrender  Adapted from Andrew Murray  Three results of this type of dependence:  Effective Prayer (vs. 7)  Bearing Fruit (vs. 8)  Fullness of Joy (vs. 11)  Taken from Hendriksen’s Commentary on John

7.  For all those Difficult D’s!  Matthew 11:28-30 28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

8.  What passage or person has come to your mind from God’s Word that illustrates “dependence?”

9.  Abraham – leaving Ur and sacrificing Isaac  Joseph – his brothers and Egypt depended …  Gideon – God’s direction  Ruth and Naomi – God’s provision  Solomon – asked for wisdom  Elijah and the Widow  Daniel and 3 friends – when taken captive  Esther – If I perish I perish  Proverbs 3:5,6  Psalm 50:15  Paul in II Cor. 9 and 3:4,5  Philippians 4:13,19  Thanks Grace – The faithful Sunday Evening Crowd

10.  Degree – forsake all  Went away sorrowful  Distance – followed afar off!  Can advance or retard our degree  It is progressive