Our Worship

The mission of our worship is to corporately praise and worship the Lord In spirit and in truth, using Biblical expressions of praise (John 4:23-24; Psalms 103:1; 111:1; 150).

To read more about our worship, click on any of the links below.

The Great Commandment
The Father's Search for Worshippers
The Worshipper's Focus
The Worshipper's Pattern: The Tabernacle of David
Biblical Expressions of Praise
Ways to Praise
Dancing
Banners
Colors

The Great Commandment

The greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). One of the ways to obey this commandment is by worshipping God.

The Father's Search for Worshippers

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (John 4:23)

The Father is looking for true worshippers (John 4:23-24) - those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. To worship in spirit is to worship sincerely and by the leading of Holy Spirit. To worship in truth is to worship according to the principles of the Word (John 17:17) and the person of Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

At Jubilee Worship Center we want Father to find us in His search for true worshippers.

The Worshipper's Focus

Our focus at JWC is praising God the way He wants to be praised, rather than the way we want or are comfortable praising Him.

The Worshipper's Pattern: The Tabernacle of David

God's pattern for worship is the praise which took place in conjunction with David's tabernacle (1Chron. 15:1, 16, 28-29; 16:4-6). God said in Amos 9:11 that He would restore this type of worship. This began to be fulfilled with the early church in Acts 15:16-17.

Biblical Expressions of Praise

Davidic worship, which was the worship of the New Testament church, includes singing (Ps. 33:3; 47:6; 95:1), lifting the voice (Ps. 26:7; 66:8), shouting (Ps. 20:5; 47:1, 5; 95:1), clapping hands (Ps. 47:1), lifting hands (Ps. 63:4; 134:2; 141:2; 143:6), musical instruments (Ps. 150:3-5), and dancing (Ps. 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; 2Sam. 6:14).

At JWC, we desire to follow the example of the early church and devote ourselves to praising God (Acts 2:42, 47).

Ways to Praise

There are seven Hebrew words, which are translated "praise" in the Old Testament: Yadah, Towdah, Barak, Zamar, Shabach, Halal, and Tehillah.

Yadah
This word, used 114 times, means to worship God with raised hands.

"I will praise (yadah) You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works." (Psalms 9:1)

"Let the peoples praise (yadah) You, O God; Let all the peoples praise (yadah) You." (Psalm 67:3)

Towdah
This word, used 32 times, means to corporately worship God with raised hands. It means about the same as yadah, but emphasizes the corporate aspect of worshiping God with extended hands. Some scholars believe this word describes the palms being face up in a position of expectancy to receive from God.

"Whoever offers praise (towdah) glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God." (Psalms 50:23)

Barak
This word, used 325 times, means to worship God by kneeling in adoration. It is often translated "bless" and "kneel."

"...And daily He shall be praised." (Psalsm 72:15)

"Bless (barak) the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalms 103:1)

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel (barak) before the LORD our Maker." (Psalms 95:6)

Zamar
This word, used 42 times, means to celebrate with musical instruments, accompanied by the voice (singing).

"To the end that my glory may sing praise (zamar) to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever." (Psalms 30:12)

"Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises (zamar) to Your name." (2Sam. 30:12)

Shabach
This word, used 11 times, means to praise the Lord with a loud voice.

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise (shabach) You." (Psalms 63:3)

Halal
This word, used 166 times, means to boast, and thus be (clamorously - a noisy shouting, a loud continuous noise) foolish; to celebrate; to cause to appear foolish or stupid; praise; rave; rage; to act madly or act like a madman. It is the source of

"Hallelujah" a Hebrew expression which means, "Praise the Lord."

"I will praise (halal) the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving." (Psalms 69:30)

"Let them praise (halal) His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp." (Psalms 149:3)

"Praise (halal) Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise (halal) Him with stringed instruments and flutes!" (Psalms 150:4)

Tehillah
This word, used 57 times, means to praise the Lord with singing. It means the same as halal except that it means to sing halals.
 
"Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise (tehillah) in the assembly of saints." (Psalms 149:1)

"We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises (tehillah) of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." (Psalms 78:4)

Dancing

There are also several different Hebrew words translated dance which describe different types of dancing. God wants us to dance before Him (Psalms 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; 2Sam. 6:14)! Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is a time to dance. That time is now!

Banners

It was common for God to be worshipped with banners in the Old Testament. God Himself is a banner for His people (Ex. 17:15 NKJV; Isaiah 11:10 NKJV). The Israelites gathered under family banners (Num. 2:2 NIV). Armies marched under certain banners (Song of Sol. 6:4, 10).

We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions." (Psalms 20:5)

"You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah." (Psalms 60:4)

"Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles." (Isaiah 13:2)

When we worship God with banners, we are proclaiming God as our Banner, Protection, King and Victor.

Colors

In the Scriptures, colors often have spiritual significance. When we wave banners, we are also proclaiming the spiritual significance of the color/s being used.