Prayer

Series: 12:24: A Lent Series

Summary

A People of Prayer

Pastor Aaron Sutherland

Great things come from that which is set aside for a noble purpose.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Prayer is what moves me from knowing who God is to knowing God.

The Bible lets us know who God is, but prayer lets us know God.

I. IN PRAYER WE EXPERIENCE CONNECTION TO GOD

2 Chronicles 7:14a

If my people, who are called by my name...

We want to make prayer transactional, God wants to make it relational.

II. IN PRAYER WE EXPERIENCE TRANSFORMATION FROM GOD

2 Chronicles 7:14b

(If my people) will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways ...

Among the most significant things that prayer changes, is the fact that prayer CHANGES ME.

Condemnation is both the presence of shame and the absence of hope.

Condemnation is shame minus hope, Conviction is correction plus hope.

III. IN PRAYER WE EXPERIENCE REDEMPTION IN GOD

2 Chronicles 7:14c

...then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

James 5:16b

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

God is not IN my circumstance and can therefore have an effect ON my circumstance.

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you felt a stronger connection to God in prayer?

2. What has changed in your life as you have said yes to putting Jesus first?

3. Are there some further places of redemption in your life that you see Jesus beginning to work on? If so, how can you respond to Jesus in those areas?

Speaker: Aaron Sutherland

March 12, 2023

Aaron Sutherland

Lead Pastor