Transforming Prayer: Aligning with God's Character
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor encouraging the congregation to participate in an activity where they write down what they want God to do for them. This activity is part of a series called "Supernatural Nonsense," which explores the difference between religion and the wisdom of God. The pastor emphasizes that religious practices such as singing, praying, and teaching can become routine and lose their supernatural significance. However, when approached with the wisdom of God, these activities become supernatural and transformative. The pastor uses giving and communion as examples of how these religious practices can be infused with supernatural power.
The pastor then reflects on various prayer requests he has received over the years, highlighting the importance of prayer in times of crisis and the intervention of the Holy Spirit in these situations. He encourages the congregation to shift their perspective on prayer, viewing it not as a crisis but as an opportunity to connect with God. The pastor introduces the concept of the green card, which represents the prayers of God's people. These prayers are taken into the Heavenly realms and held by an angel in a bowl, emphasizing that every prayer is heard by God and is not a crisis, but rather an offering that is presented to Him.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of understanding God's character in order to fully surrender oneself to Him. He reassures the congregation that God is not angry with them and is not trying to prove anything to them. Instead, God's anger was placed on His Son, Jesus. The pastor encourages the congregation to have a correct view of God's character, as the devil seeks to distort it in order to prevent people from fully surrendering to God.
The pastor addresses the challenge of unanswered prayers and the disappointment that can arise when God doesn't do what we ask. He shares the example of a woman who feels let down because her marriage wasn't saved despite her prayers. The pastor encourages the congregation to let go of their hurt feelings and trust in God's ability to answer prayers. He concludes by urging the congregation to never stop praying, to continue believing, and to stretch their faith, assuring them that God is forever faithful and they will never be disappointed.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of aligning our crisis with God's character in order to effectively pray. He shares his own experience of praying for over 30 years, with some prayers answered and others seemingly unanswered. He encourages the congregation to examine their thoughts about God and ensure that they align with His character in order to have a powerful and effective prayer life. The pastor affirms his belief in God's love and compassion, declaring that he belongs to Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that religious practices can become routine and lose their supernatural significance. However, when approached with the wisdom of God, these activities become supernatural and transformative. This transformation is not just about the activities themselves, but about the individual's connection with God. [12:45]
- Prayer is not a crisis but an opportunity to connect with God. Every prayer is heard by God and is not a crisis, but rather an offering that is presented to Him. This perspective shift can change the way we approach prayer and deepen our relationship with God. [25:30]
- Understanding God's character is crucial to fully surrendering oneself to Him. The devil seeks to distort our view of God's character to prevent us from fully surrendering to Him. Therefore, it's important to have a correct view of God's character. [35:20]
- Unanswered prayers can lead to disappointment and hurt feelings. However, the pastor encourages us to let go of these feelings and trust in God's ability to answer prayers. He assures us that God is forever faithful and we will never be disappointed. [45:50]
- Aligning our crisis with God's character is essential for effective prayer. If our understanding of God is incorrect, our prayers will be affected. Therefore, it's important to examine our thoughts about God and ensure that they align with His character. [58:10]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 3:9: "But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'"
2. Hosea 2:14-20: "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord."
3. Revelation 5:6: "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders."
Observation Questions:
1. In Genesis 3:9, what is the significance of God asking Adam, "Where are you?"
2. In Hosea 2:14-20, what does the wilderness represent and how does it relate to the relationship between God and His people?
3. In Revelation 5:6, what does the image of the slain Lamb at the center of the throne signify?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does God's question to Adam in Genesis 3:9 reflect His desire for connection and relationship with us?
2. How does the imagery in Hosea 2:14-20 illustrate God's love, compassion, and faithfulness towards His people?
3. What does the slain Lamb in Revelation 5:6 reveal about God's character and His plan for redemption?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Genesis 3:9, when have you felt God asking you, "Where are you?" How did you respond?
2. Considering Hosea 2:14-20, how can you better respond to God's alluring call into the wilderness in your current life situation?
3. In light of Revelation 5:6, how does understanding Jesus as the slain Lamb impact your view of God's character and your relationship with Him?
4. What is one specific way you can shift your perspective on prayer, viewing it not as a crisis but as an opportunity to connect with God this week?
5. Can you identify a prayer request that seems unanswered? How can you continue to trust in God's faithfulness in this situation?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Unconditional Love
God's love for us is not based on our performance or our worthiness, but on His nature as a loving Father. He loves us unconditionally, even when we fail or fall short. [!!07:40!!]
Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent time when you felt unworthy of God's love. How can you remind yourself of His unconditional love in those moments?
Day 2: Trusting God's Sovereign Plan
God's plan for our lives is perfect and sovereign. Even when we don't understand His ways, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good. [!!15:20!!]
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one situation in your life that you're struggling to understand? How can you trust God's sovereign plan in this situation?
Day 3: Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude
A heart of gratitude is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our perspective. Even in trials, we can choose to be thankful for God's presence and His promises. [!!22:50!!]
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What is one difficult circumstance you're facing right now? How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude in this situation?
Day 4: Living Out Authentic Faith
Authentic faith is not just about believing in God, but living out our faith in our daily lives. It's about being genuine in our relationship with God and others. [!!30:30!!]
James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: What is one way you can live out your faith in a practical way today?
Day 5: Seeking God's Kingdom First
Our primary focus should be on seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness, not on the things of this world. When we seek Him first, everything else will fall into place. [!!38:10!!]
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you're focusing more on worldly things than on God? How can you shift your focus to seek His kingdom first?
Quotes
1. "Prayer is interesting to me because it's Humanity talking to Divinity and most of the time prayer is connected to a need that I have and a desire that I have. I want the Divinity the Divine to do something for me and most of that can be in a crisis moment." [05:32]
2. "There's something about coming to understand God, giving yourself to God when you understand the kind of God he is... when people start realizing who he really is, they easily start giving themselves... they come as a creature." [25:34]
3. "Put your prayer in that bowl today and watch what the Creator God can do. He can do more than you could ever do, he can stop the sun if he wants to. Now give him your faith, now that card is your faith, it's not your crisis, it's your faith." [50:04]
4. "Get out of your mind that your prayer is a crisis. Your prayer is not a crisis, it's an offering that you present to God. And when it goes up into him and it leaves the crisis of your moment and it enters into his character." [43:13]
5. "Giving is Supernatural because it connects us to God's Supernatural intervention communion connects us to a supernatural Covenant at the end of church today what we're doing specifically every week is we're taking our giving and our [02:20] communion very intentional because it's supernatural it's not just you dropping a dollar in a basket if doesn't matter what a it is if you're giving it to God it's connected to Supernatural intervention communion is not just a piece of bread dipped in juice and then you walk home communion is a way to connect you to God's Supernatural Covenant uh the teaching that whoever"
- [02:20]
6. "I don't care how many times you pray prayed well he hadn't answered it I prayed 10 prayers he's only answered six I don't know I no no no no no no no you're letting your crisis define his character." [47:31]
7. "Disappointment is powerful because a disappointed Christian when God doesn't do what they want him to...will just stop praying...disappointment gets into anger...why did they tell me to bring my prayer and I brought my prayer...but everybody else seemingly got the answer but me." [10:44]
8. "Don't let your crisis Define God's character if you are not careful your crisis will determine the character of The Creator and just so we all are humble in this room his character was established far greater before your car before your crisis and if Mark is not careful I will exalt my crisis to lordship and my crisis becomes my God it it manipulates me it it it moves me it it irritates me it controls my emotions it controls my day it controls my attitude so that my crisis has become my Lord." [16:59]
9. "If my thinking of his character is wrong, I'm going to pray more of oh my God I'm in trouble rather than uh he's the creator of it all...how I pray is determined on how I view his character." [21:18]
10. "Not one prayer you've ever prayed goes forgotten... it's the offering given to the creator of the world... it's going to be brought before the Throne of God and put in a bowl and smoke is going to rise and the Creator is going to sniff and the incense of your prayer." [43:53]
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