Experience and encounter Jesus| Posted March 13, 2014
From the first listen, I was totally captivated by the compelling live worship album Majestic by Kari Jobe, available everywhere March 25. Songs like “Hands to the Heavens,” “Only Your Love” and “How Majestic” each feature an engaging Brit-rock musical style while phrasing biblical truth in a creative, corporate, and also personal way. “Come like the Rushing Wind, Come like the Fire again, Come like a Burning Flame, Have Your Way, Have Your Way” is the Spirit-cry of the moving bridge of stirring eight minute opener, “Hands to the Heavens.” The song is a wonderful way to open your hearts and lift your hands in awe of the Presence of God, and ask for a fresh filling of His resurrection power in us.
That theme continues with the upbeat and exciting “Only Your Love” which proclaims, “Your love is overwhelming, brought me to life again, Your love it will last forever, In You there will be no end.” The song expresses the heart cry and hope of the believer in a similar fashion to “One Thing Remains.” I heartily recommend that the global church can add this expression of faith to our Sunday morning sets.
Many of the songs, like lead single “Forever,” co-written with Bethel Music’s Brian and Jenn Johnson, have me pondering God’s Majesty and eternity as the song boldly sings: “Now death where is your sting, our resurrected King has rendered you defeated, forever He is glorified, forever He is lifted high, forever He is risen, He is alive, He is alive!” The song is an emotive and poetic description of a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for us. The enemy is real and our best defense against his desire to destroy us is to cry out the victorious words of songs like “Forever” at the top of our lungs and know that our Redeemer has saved us from death, forever. We will be singing “Hallelujah, the Lamb has Overcome,” forever. This song is a foretaste of that beautiful ending that we are all running towards as we finish the race set before us.
“I Am Not Alone” is a gorgeous ballad. You’ll be worshipping our King Jesus right along with Kari as she sings “I am not alone, I am not alone, You will go before me, You will never leave me.” What a great way to profess your desire and ask the Lord to be in His Presence. If you feel alone, know that you can sincerely pray these words along with Kari “You amaze me, Redeem me, You call me as Your own.”
I can’t get enough of the stand-out song “Look upon the Lord” which also appeared on The Same Love by Paul Baloche. Kari’s tender, emotive and powerful vocals take listeners on an emotional journey that gives me goose bumps every time I hear this song. The chorus is very stirring, “You are good and Your mercy will endure, You are good and forever we are Yours, Hallelujah.” I’m a fan of a great bridge, and this song’s incredible bridge invites listeners to sing and reflect on these profound words amidst Coldplay-esque swelling guitars: “Holy, Holy with one voice Heaven and Earth are singing, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty.”
The closing track “Let the Heavens Open” is an epic Brit-rock tinged anthem for worshippers everywhere calling out for a fresh filling of God’s anointing and presence. I’m really engaged by Jobe’s emotional vocals and the deep, prayerful lyrics throughout the album. “Let the Heavens open, let Your Kingdom move, all our faith and hope in, Our Great God!” is the phrasing of the abandon of praise to close the album.
Closing Thoughts:
These excellent songs are all prayers, adorations and declarations about our Great God. There are only a few other live recordings of songs I can even try to compare this spine-tingling experience with. “God I Look to You” by Jenn Johnson and “Closer” by Steffany Frizzell-Gretzinger are the closest comparisons. If you like those Bethel Music artists, then you are in for a treat with this stellar worship offering. All of these songs invite you to express your own desire for God’s presence. I love how expressive these songs get such as in the emotive bridge, “We sing Hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome!” from guaranteed hit song “Forever.”
Majestic is about proclaiming the majesty of God and crying out for His presence throughout this incredible worship experience, which stirs my heart, mind and soul to bow before Jesus, our Majestic King. He alone is worthy. Kari’s powerful and gorgeous vocals keep me hanging on every word she sings. The songs completely focus me as a listener on joining her in praise, worship and adoration. You will experience and encounter Jesus in these captivating songs.
Song to download now: “Forever” (Get it on iTunes here).
to add lyrics if not listed.
