Husband, father, singer, songwriter, worship leader, campus director at his home church in Arkansas, Zach Williams has already been recognized for his impact as a new artist with Provident Label Group's Essential Records. Listeners have been blessed and encouraged by his lead single, "Chain Breaker," with the reminder that "we've all run to things we know just ain't right, and there's a better life."

The better life found in Jesus is what that song and his debut full-length album, Chain Breaker, are all about. I love the exhortation in the title track, "If you believe it, if you receive it, if you can feel it, somebody testify." With those words in mind, I had the chance to speak with Zach about his follow-up single "Old Church Choir."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I had this idea for this song from experiences I had growing up and going to small churches in the country and following gospel quartets with my grandparents. Memories of that are how God got my attention and got me interested in music at an early age and those experiences and encounters I had with Him. I didn't really know how to react or respond to that as I didn't play music at the time. I've also loved music and my dad is a musician, and I feel like at an early age God put a song on my heart. For years of my life I ran from that and didn't pursue God at all but He was constantly pursuing me and writing His story for my life that He wanted me to eventually tell. 

Through that process God allowed me to live through a lot of things in my life that weren't good but gave me this platform to share about it. The idea for this song is about an old church choir in my soul, and how I couldn't contain anymore all the things that God has done in my life. I wanted to tell somebody about it and no matter what anybody said or did, nobody could take that away. That's the idea for this song and I wanted it to have a church gospel choir sound to it and that's how we wrote the song. We need to rejoice at all times.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV): "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV): Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV): "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.'" 

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV): "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

What is the takeaway message?

The song wasn't written around any particular Scripture, but you can take it there with passages like John 10:10. God wants us to have life abundantly and the enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy. Jeremiah 20 talks about how the fire that's burning outside is so bright and wants to jump out of you. My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11. My parents prayed that over me. Those are Bible passages that tie in for me personally relative to where some of the lyrics come from. For me, that's what the song is about. It's based on experiences I had as a kid and something I've thought about for a long time. God really got my attention with this idea that I've had an old church choir living in me this whole time helping me get through all of these things. In reality, it was God that was doing that in my heart. This song is about rejoicing and being filled with joy.

Lyrics:
There's revival, and it's spreading
Like a wildfire in my heart
Sunday morning, Hallelujah
And it's lasting all week long

Can you hear it?
Can you feel it?
It's the rhythm of a gospel song
Oh, once you choose it, you can lose it
There ain't nothing, there ain't nothing gonna steal my joy

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation and it's beautiful
I've got a heart overflowing 'cause I've been restored
There ain't nothing gonna steal my joy
No, there ain't nothing gonna steal my joy

When the valleys that I wander
Turn to mountains that I can climb
Oh, you are with me, never leave me
Oh, 'cause there ain't nothing, there ain't nothing gonna steal my joy

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation and it's beautiful
I've got a heart overflowing 'cause I've been restored
There ain't nothing gonna steal my joy
No, there ain't nothing gonna steel my joy

Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Till you find that gospel beat
'Cause it's all you'll ever need, all you'll ever need
Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Till you find that gospel beat
'Cause it's all you'll ever need
All you'll ever need

I've got an old church choir, singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation, and it's beautiful

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul
I got a sweet salvation and it's beautiful
I've got a heart overflowing 'cause I've been restored
There ain't nothing gonna steal my joy
No, there ain't nothing gonna steal my joy
Oh, there ain't nothing gonna steal my joy

I love how the music of this album matches the excitement being expressed lyrically. Our God is worthy of all of our praise, and we'll be singing and dancing before Him for eternity. This song gives believers a foretaste of that celebration. One of my favorite things about "singing a new song to the Lord" is that the idea of worship in Heaven is an exciting picture for me, and that's the glimpse that we gain from this collection of declarative and upbeat songs.

A revival is something that God wants us to pray for, and biblically we are commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel. In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." There are no conditions or exceptions in that command. It's more of a lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as Christians. 

Regardless of our circumstances, we need to truly be free in Christ and be happy and filled with joy, like Paul and Silas in prison. One of the greatest witnesses that followers of Jesus can demonstrate to non-believers to show them the upside down Kingdom of God is to live out the words of this song and have that inner-joy, which is supernatural. That shows observers of Christians walking through valleys that they have the hope and joy of the love of God, living out His plans for them.

We need to pray daily that the Holy Spirit would shine the Light of Jesus through us. With a fresh filling and singing along with this song, you can have the courage and excitement to live biblically. If you are having trouble living a biblical lifestyle, this song is a great way to connect with God daily in a fun and exciting way. 

"Old Church Choir" is a song, a prayer, and a call for revival in our hearts. Believers can all sing: "I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul, I got a sweet salvation and it's beautiful, I've got a heart overflowing 'cause I've been restored, There ain't nothing gonna steal my joy." Amen to that!

Watch the music video: