Resurrecting -- Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matthew Ntele, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye

 

It would be no small thing to witness something like what they were remembering in 2015. That was what Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Matthew Ntele, Steven Furtick, and Wade Joye were saying essentially with “Resurrecting”, when they sang it as part of an album, an album that proposed that believers in the One with the power to raise someone to life start to live with that hope while still here on earth. Jesus demonstrated that He had power over life, to resurrect the dead (like when Lazarus was raised after four days, as shown in this painting by Leon Bonnat, France, 1857), so when these Elevation Worship band members sang about that in the Charlotte church where they were ministering, they were saying in effect ‘let’s think of that happening in Charlotte today’. What would you think if that sort of thing happened in front of your eyes today?

 

Oh, that must be a hoax! How did they stage that one? Where are the doctors to verify what they claim happened? There would be lots of skepticism, for sure, if someone were to rise from the dead today. And, there are plenty of so-called ‘faith healers’ that do put on a show (as depicted in the Steve Martin/Debra Winger 1992 movie Leap of Faith). But the fact of Jesus’ rising is the foundation of Christian faith, and really, what other better option is there for humanity than to stake our lives upon the hope that God through Jesus’ resurrection gives us? The issue of His rising has been the subject of much historical study, including in lots of books that could be listed here; three come to mind -- The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona; Evidence the Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell; and The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel. Those are all studies of what happened to Jesus, about a key historical event more than 2,000 years ago. But what about today, and what about the people whose lives are changed radically? The Elevation Worship team also seemed to indicate that that is something that resurrection today brings. Although they don’t spell out explicitly why they wrote ‘Resurrecting’, this team of five songwriters suggests in their lyrics that knowing Jesus has risen can alter someone’s outlook fundamentally. They begin with praise for Jesus and His revival, and use that as a stepping stone for us mortals to worship Him and exercise a new life here and now. ‘Fear’ recedes in this new way of living, because ‘His…breath’ is inside the believer (v.3). And, they sing repeatedly that yes, we can expect to rise in the future, but they follow up that thought with He ‘is resurrecting me’ – in the present. He’s the One who resurrected people while He lived on earth (three people: son of the widow of Nain [Luke 7:11-17]; daughter of Jairus [Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, and Luke 8:40-56]; and Lazarus [John 11:1-44]), people came out of the graves when He was resurrected (Matthew 27:51-53), and of course He came out of His own grave and appeared to many to prove it was fact. He knows all about resurrection.

 

This Elevation Worship team’s song was written probably at the Charlotte church where they are located, and where they recorded the live album on which ‘Resurrecting’ appears. It’s titled Here as in Heaven, evidently a reference to what Jesus prayed when teaching the disciples the proper way to address God, and how to regard His purposes for humanity (Matthew 6/Luke 11). Bring to earth and its inhabitants the ways of God. So, thinking of resurrecting as not exclusive to the realm of the afterlife is what Jesus wanted people to grasp. It can be now, and our engines are revved as we read about how He raised others physically, came out to the grave Himself, and plans to do that at the end of life for all who want Him and what He offers. That’s how we can start eternity-thinking today. As one of the apostles wrote, it’s now – you and I have it already (1 John 5:14). That is what the Elevation Worshippers in Charlotte also realized in 2015. Do you know it today? You can.  

 

Read some about the song here: Resurrecting - Wikipedia

Read about the album on which the song premiered here: Here as in Heaven - Wikipedia

Read about the group that wrote the song: Elevation Worship - Wikipedia

Watch an inspiring story about related to the song here: Bing Videos

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Reckless Love -- Caleb Culver, Cory Asbury, Ran Jackson

 

He shared the moment with a concert audience in 2017, an image that perhaps Cory Asbury and his two musical collaborators, Caleb Culver and Ran Jackson, could not get out of their minds. And so, as Cory sang and told the story to the audience, this “Reckless Love” that seemed to best describe what was so fundamental about the character of the Messiah was why they were on stage singing and inviting the crowd to worship with them. That’s the part of Him that draws people’s attention. Why would God be so concerned about us, or especially about one lonely sheep when He has 99 others that are standing with Him loyally? (See Jesus carrying the lost sheep on His shoulders.) To hear Cory describe it, His is the most absurd, irrational attitude. But, consider that He’s the Creator, the one who is the original bearer of the image which you and I are supposed to mimic. Do we have a choice, really? He made me, and so at least a piece of Him – or, is it much more than a piece? -- is involved with me and my life. That’s why He goes after me, and you too. He knows something innately will draw us to Him. That’s His most basic characteristic, and His best way to reach me.

 

Cory, Caleb, and Ran must have shared more than a few moments with each other in the first seven verses of Luke 15 when they were first conceiving the lyrics and the music of ‘Reckless Love’. The story begins with the religious legal eagles berating Jesus for eating with people they thought were the throwaways in their midst – tax collectors and other sinners. So, to them, the authorities who were so learned, Jesus was indeed reckless. But, the poetry that Cory, Caleb, and Ran penned begins by reminding us that He made us, was ‘singing’ over and ‘breathing’ into you and me (v.1), and thereby exulting over and investing a part of Himself in us before we even emerged from our mothers’ wombs. In verse two, these three songwriters project the human life into the time after birth, when the fully-formed person makes his/her own choices, even to be His ‘foe’, or perhaps to become despondent when one feels ‘no worth’ in existence. In any circumstance, He goes out to find and lift that person onto His shoulders, to bear his/her pain. Cory’s words at the 2017 concert reminded people that God’s not calculating His own cost at doing this ridiculous thing. Indeed, the depth of His apparent folly just might be the method for getting our attention; He hopes that you and I will take a long look at Him, and respond in kind. There’s nothing really reckless in God’s nature, Cory said at the concert. But, the way He’s loved is so far outside of the box of what we consider reasonable, that it helps us accept how and why He could choose the cross over His own safety. Think about for a moment…what if He had not decided to be so reckless?        

 

According to Cory, Caleb, and Ran, this God-Man did something that showed His love so completely, that it goes on, perpetually. There are other stories that Jesus told that get across the same point (like the lost/prodigal son story, later in the same bible chapter in Luke’s gospel). It doesn’t matter how many times I mess up, for He wants me back every time. He keeps ‘coming after me’ (song’s chorus) with this unrelenting desire to take down ‘a wall’, climb a ‘mountain’, or expose ‘lie(s)’ or ‘shadow (s)’ with His light to get to me. The hardest thing sometimes to understand about this Almighty, Omnipotent One is that He won’t force me to do anything. If He’s so powerful, why not just make me? But, He’s got a better way, and it’s not supposed to make earthly sense. Kindness and goodness, that’s how these three songwriters had re-discovered God’s way to ‘overwhelm’ (chorus) you and me. If you don’t respond to His way, consider the alternatives…and then choose which method/s you prefer.

 

Read about the song’s development here: Reckless Love (song) - Wikipedia

 

See the song performed and the story of its background told here: Reckless Love (Live with story) - Cory Asbury | Heaven Come 2017 (story told at 5:35 -  9:38 of video)

 

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Pour Out Your Spirit -- Gary Rhodes

 

Could he have been reading about what transpired in the 1^st Century, about an amazing day when the Christian church was born? Gary Rhodes had the musical gift in the early 1990s, including around the year 1994 when he prayed “Pour Out Your Spirit” in a musical petition, probably a method that was familiar to him from previous experiences. From the Glen Rose, Texas area (in Somervell County, see the map), where Gary and others had produced an inspiring musical story called The Promise (in 1989), Gary had really settled into his life’s passion, to tell stories of God through music. Asking for God to bestow a further measure of the Spirit might have seemed a bit unusual for anyone looking at what Gary was already doing. But, we all feel the need to call out to Him and sense Him more tangibly at times. Jesus’ entry into planet earth was fairly mild compared to what would happen some 33 years later, including after He ascended, when a strong wind inhabited 12 men who’d known God face-to-face. That kind of phenomenon doesn’t happen every day, and sure got the attention of the thousands who were in Jerusalem that day.

 

Did Gary want something amazing, a renewal of sorts as 1994 transpired? Had something in life grown a little stale? We do not know, since this composer has not openly shared any background regarding why asking for the Spirit was important to him in 1994. But, taking a look at what he penned does give us some ideas. He wanted a ‘fresh touch’ (v.1), and more ‘passion’ (v.2). When the apostles felt the Spirit come upon them (Acts 2), it was with great effect so that many who had not known Jesus were drawn to hear what Peter had to say to them about their Messiah. He was someone that many of them had heard about, and yet they had not been moved enough to cling to Him…yet. Could a similar experience have been on Gary’s mind? He’d been intimately involved in producing musicals (he wrote or arranged seven of the 25 songs in The Promise), and had already or would eventually be engaged in many other productions (Jesus, Son of God; Lift Up Your Eyes; He’s Alive; and Experiencing God, all musicals [and maybe others?] that would be attributed to him), but did he still feel that something was missing? Another fellow in history named Apollos and some other Christ-believers (Acts 18:24-19:6) had not received the Spirit, so something was missing until they received Him. Perhaps that was what Gary longed to see happen where he was, to observe people’s lives being changed more clearly and powerfully because of the Spirit’s presence and indwelling influence. One cannot tell stories about God in well-done musical productions without some sense of desire to see His impact on people. Just take note of the titles of the musicals that Gary touched – all of which direct the observer’s attention to God – and it must have energized Gary to keep up these efforts. Once a person gets a taste of God, the appetite only grows. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8a), David once wrote. That sounds something like what Gary might have felt, to have the ‘fire’ (v.1) of His Spirit ‘burn(ed)…deep in (his) heart’ (v.2), so that His ‘glory might be known’(v.2). In short, Gary wanted to be more like one of His disciples about whom he’d probably read many times, and a better good news-spreader.  

   

Are you and I any less capable than Gary Rhodes? I cannot write and produce musicals, but I can do other things. Do you write some (like me), teach classes, preach sermons, help run/repair equipment at a church, help feed others, send cards of encouragement to sick people, or any countless number of other activities that might not be noted as particularly powerful Spirit-filled activities? Gary apparently wanted something ‘fresh’, but that didn’t necessarily mean something in his kit-bag was tossed aside. Injection of new energy – ‘passion’ -- is how Gary characterized it. Jesus got tired, too, so He understands that tedium can invade the human spirit at times. It’s kind of amazing to be reminded that Jesus also experienced the Spirit coming upon Himself at times too, although He was already God. But, He was conceived through the Spirit, had the Spirit alight on Him after being baptized, was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, returned to his home region (Galilee) with the Spirit’s power, and more (try doing a search on ‘Jesus’ and ‘Spirit’ to see these episodes). He’s always there…perhaps Jesus just invited Him in more often than you and I do.  

 

See the link here to a still-running musical (The Promise) for which the composer arranged much of the music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Promise_(musical)

 

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