Singer songwriter John Tibbs has made his mark with users on music discovery website NoiseTrade. He offers a musical style reminiscent of John Waller, Brandon Heath and Josh Wilson. Audiences have had a taste of his sound and his songs on tour with Newsboys. John has strong vocals, personal lyrics and a testimony of grace that can be heard in each song. 

Dead Man Walking is his debut release with Fair Trade Services. I had the chance to speak with John about "Dead Man Walking."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song is an extremely personal song. Ever since I was about 6 years old, I have had an awful stutter when I talk. There are days where it's good and days where it's just horrible. It's something for a long time that I've chosen to hide and cover up, acting like I don't have any issues or struggles. That's something all of us do. 

The last few years I came to the point of deciding I can't keep hiding this. I'm open about it, and I've given it over to God and have asked that it be a way I can encourage people. Every single night at a concert I encourage people in understanding that you don't have to have all the answers, and everything isn't perfect, but God is active in everything. 

Shame in our life acts as chains and keeps us from who God wants us to be. Those things keep us from being happy and healthy people. The thing this song talks about is how thousands of years ago Christ came to earth, and His death on the cross tore those chains off. Yet you and I still exist chained up because of our struggles. I hope this is a song that encourages people and points them to Jesus and the understanding of how Christ has removed the chains of shame in our lives.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

What is the takeaway message?

I hold tightly to 2 Corinthians 12:9 since I decided to own the understanding that God's grace is sufficient. Culture says you have to be perfect and have all the answers, but that isn't a healthy attitude. I started being open about my speech difficulties in hopes that it would encourage other people. 

All of us have our struggles, but our God is active in everything. Everyone struggles, and there are things in each of our lives that act as chains and keep us from being the people God has called us to be. I want this to be an album that acknowledges our struggles and then points people to Jesus. 

The album opens with "Silver and Stone," which talks about how there is beauty in every hard situation. The album ends with "Hope," and I end every concert and ended this album with that song. I hope when people hear these songs that they are encouraged in the true, undeniable sense of hope. We are broken people on a broken earth, and we face broken situations day in and day out, but truly we all have hope and peace in Christ.

Lyrics:
Heaven knows I'm a broken man
These tired bones they can barely stand
The ways of the world oh I lay in my grave
To the darkest of nights when You call my name

Your love Your love oh it set me free
Oh no guilt no shame got a hold on me
Your love Your love well it opened my eyes
I was a dead man walking till You gave me life

Grace it comes with a price I'm told
Took the light of the world just to save my soul
But in the valley of the shadow of the cross you'll find
Oh no brokenness when I come alive

Your love broke the chain
And I'm free from the guilt and shame
Love opened my eyes

Oh Your love Your love it set me free
Oh no guilt no shame got a hold on me
Your love Your love well it opened my eyes
I was a dead man walking till Lord
I was a dead man walking till Lord
I was a dead man walking till Lord
You gave me life

I am extremely moved by this song and the story behind it. Just by talking with John, I was very blessed to hear about his affliction, his heart for God and how he has overcome his affliction by letting God bless him with his gift of music. This song celebrates how John lives out his calling as a singer despite a chronic stutter as a child. He discovered his weaknesses are nothing to hide; in fact, because of our weaknesses God's grace and strength are perfectly revealed. In identifying with our sin, Christ paved the way for us to become identified with the righteousness of God. It is not merely that we acquire a right standing or do good works; we actually become righteous. For in Christ we truly assume his righteousness, just as Christ assumed our sin.

The added benefit in John's songs and message is that people are able to see how God's grace works in a real person's life. When we come clean about our brokenness, Christ becomes the star of our testimony, and not us. I've been very blessed to enjoy John's songs and get to know his heart for God. "Dead Man Walking" is a profound song to sing to God with gratitude as we celebrate the gift of our salvation. Even once we are saved, we sometimes beat ourselves up about failure and feel unworthy of God's love. That's the point: we aren't worthy. We can't earn grace. It is a gift of unmerited favor from God for His children. Scripture tells us, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).

The opening lyrics, "Heaven knows I'm a broken man" is everyone's story. A cool sermon I've heard in the last couple of years from Louie Giglio's "Winsome" series, is how the irrefutable argument each of us can share is our personal testimony of God's grace in our lives. The one thing that no one can question is our story of grace. For those who get nervous about sharing, like John, because of the chains of shame that we carry, remember that it is the Enemy telling you that you're not good enough and inhibiting you from sharing about what Jesus has done in your life. 

Too often we get wrapped up in our circumstances and get down on ourselves with negative thoughts, allowing the Enemy to define self-worth. Jesus died on the Cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death, and He wants us to have abundant life in Him. Sing out and celebrate: "Your love broke the chain, and I'm free from the guilt and shame, Love opened my eyes." Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.