Elevation Worship's most recent live worship album Hallelujah Here Below was one of my top 10 worship albums of 2018. The project features melodic, worshipful songs all focused on singing the truth of God's character and Word into the hearts of listeners.
 
Every song on the album compels listeners to praise, worship and adore Jesus. Each tune is poignant and powerful with earnest, worshipful lyrics. Without a doubt, it's one of the top worship albums of the year--a moving and prayerful worship experience. Elevation Worship's anointed worship leaders have consistently impressed me with their mature faith and sincere desire to serve Jesus. Worship is about submission. And, our roles as worshippers are defined on this album--to just be amazed and in awe of God. In connection with Christmas, I had the chance to speak with Chris Brown, one of the band's worship leaders, about "Here Comes Heaven."
Please tell me the personal story behind the song.

We've always found it an interesting dynamic at church when we enter the Christmas season. In our church, we like to play some traditional Christmas hymns in our services on the weekends. But, those songs don't always engage people in worship. It's nice to hear Christmas hymns in December, and we like to draw people into the presence of God. We've always had an interesting dynamic where we sing upbeat versions of "Joy to the World" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." We've been looking for a way to write a piece about the Christmas season where it's a worship song first, as well as a Christmas song. We attempted it once before with "Let Us Adore," a song on one of our prior albums. And, it served us well. That was about four years ago.

Within that context, about a year ago, we got together to write "Here Comes Heaven." We wrote it on a Monday and performed it in church the following Sunday. The song started with the lyric "Here Comes Heaven." Our pastor Steven Furtick was once a worship pastor and is an avid worshipper. When he prepares his Christmas sermons, he's always thinking about which phrases and themes from his sermons could translate into worship lyrics. That's how his mind works. He was thinking along the lines of "Here Comes Heaven" as an interesting way to approach a Christmas message.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV): "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Luke 2:15-16 (NKJV): "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."
 
Luke 1:68-69 (VOICE): "May the Lord God of Israel be blessed indeed! For God's intervention has begun, and He has moved to rescue us, the people of God. And the Lord has raised up a powerful sign of liberation for us from among the descendants of God's servant, King David."

Matthew 4:16 (NKJV): "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."
 
John 3:17 (NKJV): "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Luke 19:38 (NKJV): "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Matthew 18:20 (NIV): "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

What is the takeaway message?

We wanted to take the message of "Here Comes Heaven" to a vertical place. For us, it was about reminding people of God's promises. We sing about God's promises and His faithfulness in "Do it Again" and "There is a Cloud." We have many songs, like "Here Again" and "God of the Promise," on this new album that are themed around His promises. "Here Comes Heaven" is about God's promise being fulfilled for us in Jesus. Jesus is the answer to all of these years of promises and God making good on His Word that He'll always be able to and will come through on His Word. 2nd Corinthians 1:20 says, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." Releasing "Here Comes Heaven" at this time of year is a great way to help lift people's eyes to Him during the Christmas season, moving beyond our traditions that we love and adore that may not be as directly focused on Jesus. Let's sing a song that is reflective and also gives us a moment to respond in worship to Him.

Lyrics:
Children, weep no more
Hope is on the horizon
Weary world behold
Your promised Messiah

Angels, let your song begin
Here comes Heaven
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Here comes Heaven

Sinner, wait no more
Love has broken the silence
Come let us adore
The Savior is with us

Angels, let your song begin
Here comes Heaven
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Here comes Heaven
Here comes Heaven

Now, behold His glory
Glory in the highest
All the earth rejoice for Christ is born
Now, behold His glory
Glory in the highest
All the earth rejoice for Christ is born

Over all who mourn
Breaks the dawn of salvation
Darkness reigns no more
For Jesus is greater
He is greater

Angels, let your song begin
Here comes heaven
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Here comes heaven
Angels, let your song begin
Here comes Heaven
All creation worship Him
Here comes Heaven
Here comes Heaven

Closing Thoughts

What I love about the original Christmas worship song "Here Comes Heaven" is that it sets my mind on the Light of Christmas, Jesus. The message of the song strips away the commercialism and secular celebration of this most blessed season, and instead focuses in on the ultimate gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hear a yearning and longing from Elevation Worship to see Jesus face to face. And, the phrase, "Darkness reigns no more, for Jesus is greater" is something all believers can sing to God. That's one of those beautiful truths that we can all cling to. We can get through anything we might be dealing with on this side of eternity, knowing that we have a blessed hope waiting for us in Heaven. While we're here, Jesus taught us to pray for His kingdom to come, to do His will, and to tell others about His greatness. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Once the Light of the Holy Spirit is in you, you can show that light to others as you live your daily life, including outside of a worship context. And, that's ultimately the message behind "Here Comes Heaven," enjoying the beauty of God's presence, praising Him with your whole heart and letting your light shine in a world that needs to experience the true grace and hope found only in Jesus. Heaven on earth is something that God wants us to pray for, and biblically we're commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel in the Great Commission.

The ultimate gift of Christmas is to sing year round, "Come let us adore, the Savior is with us." That's cause for true community amongst God's sons and daughters, and true fellowship with Him and one another. Jesus wants to give you Himself this Christmas--Share His light in your life, so you don't have to walk in darkness. Now that Jesus has ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, He tells us in His Word that, through the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we're the light of the world. This song celebrates that amazing gift. Merry Christmas.