Prayer to a Generous, Delighted Father
May 01, 2024      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Recap

Payer is like a windshield

Who is He? What kind of a God?

Acts 14:15-17 (NIV)
15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
16 In the past, he let all nations go their own way.
17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Acts 14:15-17 for Nonbelievers
- The living God!
- Kind and generous
- His testimony

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 for believers
- The living God!
- Kind and generous
- We are his testimony

An invitation for us to become like God himself. A generous giver. Rich and overflowing with good gifts to provide to others for the pleasure of their enjoyment.

Prayer is the way we work our way out of the comfortable but cramped world of self and into the spacious world of God.
- Eugene Peterson

Joy is linked to strength

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

1 Chronicles 16:27 (NIV)
27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

- Joy -
- second fruit of the Spirit
- third manifestation of the kingdom
- fullness in his presence
- lives in the house of Prayer

Nothing brings such leanness into a Christian's soul, as lack of prayer.
- Charles Spurgeon