The church I've been a part of for the past year and a half is probably best known for its original music and recordings. Their songs have been sung by churches across the globe and although the church has been targeted for its success, after spending time serving on team I've seen nothing but a heart for growing the Kingdom and sharing the greatest gift any of us have received of salvation and relationship with Jesus.
The most recent album: Let There Be Light has so many outstanding songs, but the title track is the one which has been a stand out to me. The lyrics (especially that of the Bridge) are what in my opinion should be the prayer of every church. Taken from scripture these powerful words were Jesus' mission statement during his ministry.
// Good news embracing the poor
Comfort for all those who mourn
For the broken hearted
We sing louder //
What if words alone were not enough to reach the parts of a heart which has been broken? What if we let ourselves believe for a moment that music can touch part of a person where they will not let people in? What if people knew the sound of our songs and the lyrics they've been singing for years began to really come to life in a way that was powerful enough to heal? I will sing louder because maybe someone will hear. I will sing louder because maybe someone will listen. I will sing louder because maybe someone will be encouraged to keep going.
// Release from prison and shame
Oppression turning to praise
For every captive
Sing louder //
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened." Acts 16:25-26
There are people who have kept themselves in prison of fear/anxiety/stress/hopelessness/depression/doubt holding themselves to a trial that will never come. Awaiting the magical day when they are freed from guilt/shame/pain/worry. I will sing louder because maybe someone will hear. I will sing louder because maybe someone will listen. I will sing louder because maybe someone will realize they have the keys to the kingdom of life and are free from the sting of death.
// Restoring sight to the blind
Breaking the curse of the night
For all in darkness
Sing louder //
Blindness takes on many shapes and forms. There are those who have been blind from birth, who have never known what the light is and don't understand what they are missing.
There are some who have been blinded by tradition, or experiences or by misinterpreting the light. It is almost as if they looked at the sun for too long and the source of light became the very thing that damaged their sight because they didn't comprehend it.
There are those who don't realize how bad their sight is. They've spend years in the source and have studied it, but after some time their eyes faded and they began to see a little less clearly.
I will sing louder because maybe someone will hear. I will sing louder because maybe someone will listen. I will sing louder because maybe the lyrics of the song will cause scales to fall from someone's eyes.
// Proclaiming freedom for all
This is the day of the Lord
Beauty for ashes //
Today is the day of Salvation. I have been saved - past. I am being saved - present. I will be saved - promise. I will song louder because maybe someone will hear. I will sing louder because maybe someone will listen. I will sing louder because maybe someone will be saved.
// Let there be light
Open the eyes of the blind
purify our hearts in Your fire
Breathe in us we pray //
// Let there be light
Open our eyes to Your heart
Desperate just to know who You are
Shine in us we pray
Jesus have your way //
This is my prayer for the church: that we would become a little bit more passionate about Jesus with every day. That we would allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and change us, unify us and direct us. That our heart would become more like that of the Father. That we would never become too worn or passive to rejoice about the one lost sheep coming Home.
Xx