Prayer Week 2 - Adoration & Worship

Prayers of adoration and worship

Focus on the first line of the Lord’s prayer:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Explain what it means to address God as Father and to praise his name as holy.

Give some examples of prayers of adoration and worship from the Psalms and other biblical sources.

Encourage the participants to practice praying with reverence and gratitude for who God is and what he has done.

“What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

A. W. Tozer

For Discussion:

What characteristics make God a perfect Father?

What Scripture/Bible stories can you think of that show what kind of Father God is?

Why is the order in which approach prayer so important?

Read 1 Kings 19:3-13 to get started

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. 4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the LORD came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

The LORD Speaks to Elijah

But the LORD said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

WHAT DIFFERENCES DO WE SEE IN HOW ELIJAH APPROACHES GOD COMPARED TO HOW GOD APPROACHES ELIJAH?

PRAYER PRACTICE: Approaching God as a Loving Father

Look up the following verses and share with the group what truth it tells us about God (make a list for visual learners): John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 7:9-11, Matthew 18:12-14, Matthew 6:8, John 14:15-17

Use this to praise and worship God together!

Confession. Have you struggled to trust God as a perfect Father? Model confession to your House and give opportunity for others to confess. Example: “Lord, I confess I view you only as a disciplinarian.” “Lord, I confess I believe you are distant and not a close Father.” “Lord, I confess you are my last resort and I don’t treat you as my Father.”

What is the significance of praying “OUR” Father instead of “MY” Father?

Jesus lived out his life in three relationships:

Up—with his Father

In—with his chosen followers

Out—with the hurting world around him.

JESUS LOOKED UP

Jesus was in constant contact with his Father, whom he spoke of in a very personal, intimate, and familiar way. The source of Jesus’ fruitfulness was in his Up relationship with the Father. Jesus did what he saw the Father doing. Jesus also introduced his disciples to this very personal relationship with God, calling us into the same kind of intimacy with the Father that he himself has always known. We are to live out the reality of that relationship always.

“Prayer was as fundamental an element in the life of Jesus as breathing... He inhaled his Father’s presence so He could exhale His Father’s will.”

– Mike Breen

Jesus was in constant contact with his Father, whom he spoke of in a very personal, intimate, and familiar way. The source of Jesus’ fruitfulness was in his Up relationship with the Father. Jesus did what he saw the Father doing. Jesus also introduced his disciples to this very personal relationship with God, calling us into the same kind of intimacy with the Father that he himself has always known. We are to live out the reality of that relationship always.

JESUS INVITED OTHERS IN

JESUS REACHED OUT