Questions and Answers

Many people, when considering a place of worship, wonder exactly what they’re walking into. At Lion of Judah Family Worship Center, we’re a community of believers who are simply striving to worship our heavenly Father in Spirit and in Truth.

Below are the answers to some questions about why we do the things we do in our worship services. If you don’t understand something, we encourage you to ask questions after services. We are committed to receiving you where you’re at.

 

Question I’m Jewish. Can I attend?
Answer Absolutely! Our Messiah is Jewish and we are excited to be pursuing the Hebraic roots of the faith. We would be delighted to have you join us!

Question I’m not Jewish. Can I still attend?
Answer Yes! Jew or Gentile, we are all one in Messiah! Anyone who has a heart for the truth and a respectful attitude is welcome in our gatherings.

Question Are children welcome?
Answer Yes! We love children – they are our future and our legacy and they’re always welcome in our gatherings. Although we don’t currently offer separate activities during services for children, we are excited at the prospect of starting up a children’s ministry in the near future. We request that parents take responsibility for the actions of their children while at Lion of Judah Family Worship Center.

Question Why does the whole congregation pray at once for specific needs?
Answer One of the secrets to the power and impact of the 1st century Body of believers was their prayer life, not only individually but corporately – they prayed together A LOT.  It’s been said that you become truly intimate with the One to whom you pray, the ones with whom you pray, and the ones for whom you pray.
“When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of Yahweh with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
“And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to Elohim with one accord, and said, O Yahweh, You that did make heaven and earth…” (Acts 4:24)
“When he (Paul) had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.” (Acts 20:36)
“When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.” (Acts 21:5)

Question Why do we have audible praise to Yahweh?
Answer Our praise is one of the ways that we express our love and devotion to our heavenly Father.  It’s ironic that many people in the world can scream, shout, and wave their arms for their favorite sports team yet can barely muster a whisper in praise of the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
“I will bless Yahweh at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)
“Make a joyful noise to Elohim, all the earth” (Psa. 66:1)
“Oh come, let us sing to Yahweh; Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation” (Psa. 95:1)
“Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises… With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh” (Psa. 98:4,6)
“Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all you lands” (Psa. 100:1)
“Bless Yahweh, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name.” (Psalm 103:1)
“And be not drunken with wine, in which is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking one to another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to Yahweh.” (Ephesians 5:18-19)
“Let the word of the Messiah dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to Yahweh.” (Colossians 3:16)

Question Why are musical instruments a part of the worship service?
Answer “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with psaltry and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance. Praise Him with the stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with high sounding cymbals.” (Psalm 150:3-5)
“And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” (Revelation 14:2)
“It happened, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, saying, For He is good; for His lovingkindness endures forever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Elohim.” (2Ch 5:13-14)

Question Why do we stand when we sing?
Answer “And the Levites… of the children of the Korhites, stood up, to praise Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chronicles 20:19)

Question Why do we lift our hands during prayer / praise & worship?
Answer “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless Yahweh.” (Psalm 134:2)
“So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in Your Name.” (Psalm 63:4)
“I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land.” (Psalm 143:6)
“And Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and he said, O Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, there is no Elohim like you… And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication before Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling with his hands spread forth toward heaven.” (1 Kings 8:22-23, 54)
“Let us lift up our heart with our hands to El in the heavens.” (Lam 3:41)

Question Why do we clap our hands?
Answer “Oh, clap your hands all you peoples; shout to Elohim with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1)

Question What are spiritual gifts?
Answer Supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers.  There are diversities of gifts, manifestations, and operations, but it is all the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:1,4,11; 14:1,26).

Question Why do we allow the gifts of the Spirit to operate in the local assembly?
Answer The gifts were given by the Holy Spirit to operate within the assembly for the purpose of edification (upbuilding).
“I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the assembly may receive edification … So you also, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound (excel) to the edifying of the assembly… How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Corinthians 14:5,12,26)
“But as it is written, ‘Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And Which entered not into the heart of man, Whatever things Yahweh prepared for them that love Him.’ But to us Yahweh revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of Yahweh. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so none knows the things of Yahweh, except the Spirit of Yahweh. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from Yahweh; that we might know the things that were freely given to us by Yahweh. Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Now the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of Yahweh: for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)

Question What is the Body?
Answer The many-membered congregation, the Body of Messiah, on earth. (1 Corinthians 12:12-15, 27)

Question What is revelation?
Answer Spiritual understanding and enlightenment of Yahweh’s will and purposes.
“For this cause I also… making mention of you in my prayers; that the El of our Savior Yahshua the Messiah, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of our heart enlightened…” (Ephesians 1:15-18)

Question What does it mean to minister?
Answer To serve or help one another by the anointing of the Holy Spirit
“… but our sufficiency is from Yahweh; Who also made us able as ministers of a New Covenant…” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
“But all things are of Yahweh, Who reconciled us to Himself through the Messiah, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Question What is the anointing?
Answer The power, presence, and working of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life.
“even Yahshua of Nazareth, how Yahweh anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power: Who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil; for Yahweh was with Him.” (Act 10:38)
“Now He that establishes us with you in the Messiah, and anointed us, is Yahweh; Who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment (earnest) of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
“And as for you, the anointing which you received of Him abides (remains) in you…” (1 John 2:27)

Question What does ‘apostolic’ mean?
Answer ‘Apostolic’ means ‘of or characteristic of an apostle’. The term ‘apostle’ actually derives from the Greek apóstolos – literally, one who is sent out; akin to apostéllein, to send off. As it is applied to a local assembly, the term apostolic denotes a ministry sent and established by the sovereign will of Yahweh and that is characterized by a strong sense of mission, Biblical order, and strength, stability, & balance. Yahweh’s Spirit is apostolic; Yahshua was and is apostolic:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Yahweh is on me, Because He anointed me to preach good news to the poor. to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to the captives, Recovering of sight to the blind, To deliver those who are crushed,” (Luke 4:18)
“Yahshua said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.’” (John 4:34)
Yahshua therefore said to them again, ‘Peace be to you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.’ (John 20:21)
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.’” (Mark 16:15)

Question What is prophecy?
Answer Prophecy is the speaking forth of the divine will and purpose of Yahweh through His preceding Word. It does not necessarily mean foretelling the future, but it does mean ‘forth-telling’ what is on the heart of the Father at a given moment in time. Prophesying in the local assembly is generally for the purpose of edifying, exhorting, and comforting.
“…Adonai Yahweh has spoken, who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8)
“But he that prophesies speaks to edification, and exhortation, and consolation.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal…To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 and 10)
“For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.” (1 Corinthians 14:31)
“And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the others judge (discern).” (1 Corinthians 14:29)
“For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from Yahweh, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)

Question Why do we anoint with oil and pray for the sick?
Answer Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of Yahweh; and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and Yahweh shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:14-15)

Question How should I dress for worship services?
Answer We don’t have a formal dress code for worship services at Lion of Judah Family Worship Center. At the same time, we do recognize that it makes a positive impact on us when we “dress the part”. After all, we are coming into the presence of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, so our dress ought to reflect our reverence for Him. We encourage everyone to dress comfortably but in a way that allows them to present themselves in a special way to our King. Of course, the most important thing is our spiritual garb – putting on the garment of praise and the robe of righteousness. Modesty for both men and women is expected.