EVAN ALMIGHTY (2007)

Directed by: Tom Shadyac
Written by: Steve Oedekerk
Studio: Universal Pictures
Starring: Steve Carrell, Morgan Freeman
Rated: PG

About the film:
Newly elected congressman Evan Baxter is out to “change the world.” At least that’s what his campaign slogan stated. God decides to take him up on it and commands him to build an ark.

Movie Quote:
"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"
God (Morgan Freeman) in Evan Almighty (2007)

Bible Quote:
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)


Commentary:
From God’s mouth to our ears… by way of Morgan Freeman, of course…

All kidding aside, the statement being made resounds with the sting of truth. Too many of us treat prayer as a wish list – asking God for unattainable things like he was Santa Claus. What many forget is that God has made all things available to us. Our prayers should not stem from a desire of what we do not have. They should be expressions of thanksgiving for all that he has already given us.

Do we desire health? God has already given it to us. (1 Peter 2:24) Thank Him for it and expect healing. Do we desire wealth? God has already given it to us. (Philippians 4:19) Thank Him for it and expect His abundance. Do we desire wisdom? God has already given it to us. (Ephesians 3:4) Thank Him for it and believe to grow in understanding.

God does not do for us. He merely enables us to tap into His power, strength, wisdom, and knowledge in order to do for ourselves. Replace the word opportunity in the above quote from Evan Almighty with the word ability and the entire passage could be printed in the Scriptures verbatim without contradicting any of God’s truths.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. How does Evan deal with the unbelievers around him? Could we have done any better? What we would do differently?
2. What is prayer? How and why does it work? What are examples of effective prayers that are recorded in the Scriptures?

Michael Elliott
http://screensermon.blogspot.com