We are a passionate, Bible and Torah believing and teaching congregation … and we want to share what we have learned with others! We do not describe ourselves with labels like “Charismatic”, “Pentecostal”, “Evangelical”, or “Fundamentalist”, but rather we are simply seeking to be Biblical people who do everything we can to honor Y’hovah (God) with all of our hearts in worship, in the Word, and as Spirit-filled disciples of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) on a daily basis.
This information sheet presents a brief overview of worship from a Biblical point of view. It will help you understand what you might see and experience at Sought Out Assemblies – House Of Israel as we worship God in spirit and truth.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Psalm 100:4 Just as there is a protocol for entering into the presence of an earthly king or queen, so too, there is a way to enter into the presence of Y’hovah. Psalm 100 teaches us that we are to enter his gates (opening, door, gate) with thanksgiving and then are to move further into the King’s inner courts by way of praise. The words thanksgiving (towdah in Hebrew) and thanks (yadah) means “with hands extended to revere, worship, or adore.” This is why we sometimes raise our hands in worship. The word praise (barak) in the second part of Psalm 100:4 means to kneel in order to bless our Living God.
“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” Psalm 150:3-6 David’s last Psalm, 150, has the word “praise” (halal) 13 times which means to be clear with sound and color, to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, and to celebrate. This is why you will see dancing or “jumping”, why we use musical instruments and tambourines, and why we are so passionate about sacred holy dance!
“Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner (flag) for the nations.” Isaiah 62:10 As we worship and praise Y’hovah and his Son, Yeshua, we pass through the gates, we prepare the way for the people, and we build up the highway of our God. Banners or flags are beautiful but are also weapons of spiritual warfare.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Y’hovah; let us shout aloud to the rock of our deliverance.” Psalm 95:1 Singing for joy and shouting aloud to our Savior should be “normal” in churches but this is unfortunately not the case. It is so easy for pride to get in the way of praise.
“Yeshua said, ‘Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 What did Yeshua mean? That outward expressions of worship, including the personally connecting with him through the Holy Spirit (our spirit to his Spirit) and without the object of worship being our true Messiah, Yeshua.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26 “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” 1st Corinthians 14:14-15, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:18 These scriptures absolutely support the activity of Spirit-filled tongues in prayer and worship. If you hear someone praying or singing “in the Spirit”, it is real and genuine and is a tremendous strength to them (1st Corinthians 14:4) and a supernatural blessing to Y’hovah’s kingdom.
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Master, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Yeshua reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately, he was cured of his leprosy.” Matthew 8:2-3 (see other ref. from Matthew: 8:14-15, 9:27-30, 20:29-34 “Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:17 “Is any one of you sick"? He should call the elders of the assembly to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Master.” James 5:14 Following the example of Yeshua and his Apostles, we lay hands on people to minister to them for encouragement, healing, and imparting the power of God through the Holy Spirit. At times, people become so full of the Spirit that they are overcome and have to lay or sit down. This is normal and beautiful – and at Sought Out Assemblies – House Of Israel it is totally genuine. Praise Y’hovah that he loves us so much that he works in our lives supernaturally!
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10 Praise and worship at Sought Out Assemblies – House Of Israel usually goes for about an hour, sometimes more. In addition, time is given for fellowship, ministry to one another, testimony, and teaching the Word of God – all as the Holy Spirit leads. Our total time together on Friday evening is usually two to three hours. Where else would we rather be? “In the presence of The Lord is the fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11 And “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” On the Sabbath, nothing is more important than time with God and each other.
Y’hovah says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13 Akin to worshipping in Spirit and truth, is making sure our hearts are in our worship. We must lay down our worries and discouragement in order to put our whole heart into worship. When we do, we will most certainly be blessed with supernatural joy and peace. For far too long, the believing community’s worship has become crippled by structure and rules, including an expectation to be done in a set time.
We encourage you to have an open mind, heart, and spirit. When people aren’t used to Spirit-filled worship, they sometimes have the inclination to leave. As humans, we tend to want to do things that are familiar to us. Without intending to be harsh – God’s primary goal isn’t for us to be comfortable – but for us to connect with Him and to grow in love, life, and joy through Messiah Yeshua and the Holy Spirit!
God led you here for a reason!