Coming off the success of The Art of Celebration, with "Immeasurably More," and "My Lighthouse,"as well as As Family We Go, with "You Will Never Run" and "Every Giant Will Fall," Rend Collective returned with Good News, featuring the lead single, "Rescuer (Good News)" and follow-up hit, "Counting Every Blessing." It was one of my top 10 worship albums of 2018. They named their band based on the Scripture, "Rend your hearts, not your garments."

Good News is one of the most meaningful and uplifting albums I've ever heard. In this era of bad news, it's so refreshing to hear a celebration of God's Word--a truth that Jesus gave His life to redeem all that was lost. This album includes a solid mix of folk-style indie-tinged worship. The musical and lyrical excitement of Rend Collective's engaging live performance is captured in these recordings. 

Fans got to see Rend Collective at Winter Jam earlier this year. In connection with their first ever children’s album release, Sparkle. Pop. Rampage., I had the chance to speak with band leader Gareth Gilkeson about their new single, "Your Name is Power," from their album, Choose To Worship. This is the 11th song I’ve featured by this talented band, making them one of the most featured artists in my weekly devotionals.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

When we were writing, When we were writing "Your Name is Power," we were coming out of the context about all the instability in the world. This song was born out of a need to remind ourselves of who is in control. 

Northern Ireland and the U.K. are going through a lot of political transitions that pose questions about the future that, at times, can feel overwhelming. But, we know it’s not just the U.K. that's in a season of chaos and unknown. Everywhere we turn, seemingly there are issues. Some of them global, like the crisis in Sudan or the protests in Hong Kong. Others are more private and no less overwhelming: loss of a family member or job, and seasons of doubt and confusion.
 
Originally, the song started, “Is there any answer to the darkness?” And, the song became, “Your name is power over darkness.” The song started from a place of questions. And, eventually, it became declarations of the answers to those questions and bold proclamations of what we believe and what is truth. A lot of people are struggling with a lot of personal things. And, we wanted a song that speaks about how good God is in all those circumstances. Our goal was to write a corporate worship song that could be sung in church and anytime.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Matthew 19:26 (NIV): Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Psalm 150:2 (VOICE): "Praise Him for His powerful acts, redeeming His people. Praise Him for His greatness that surpasses our time and understanding."
 
Acts 1:8 (NLT): “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
 
Romans 8:11 (VOICE): “If the Spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives inside of you, then you can be sure that He who raised Him will cast the light of life into your mortal bodies through the life-giving power of the Spirit residing in you.”

Romans 8:28 (VOICE): "We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan."

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV): "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Philippians 2:11 (VOICE): "And every tongue will confess "Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord," to the glory of God our Father!"

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."

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

What is the takeaway message?

The whole song and the big point in the bridge deals with the fact that there’s no point in singing out the power of God inside your church building walls if you aren’t walking out in the strength of that power and living in that power. We want to move the church to a place where we are the change. I suppose our message really hasn’t changed since, “Build Your Kingdom Here.” The church is supposed to be the change for good that is needed. When we declare who God is, we need to step into that declaration and live that out.
 
We have hope. There's an answer to the darkness. This is hope among the chaos. His name is Jesus. His name scatters darkness. His name brings the dead back to life. And, it’s at His name that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that "Jesus is Lord." There is power in the name of Jesus for his people to claim--that means you and me. Power to strengthen and encourage us. Power that only comes from Him. We hope "Your Name is Power" encourages you to speak the power of His name over your circumstances, whatever they may be.
 
Regarding our first-ever children’s album, we’ve been wanting to create organic, authentic worship music for kids that upholds the same standards that parents expect in their music. Our newly formed Rend Co Kids introduces children ages four to 10 to a creative, loving, adventurous God, along with sanity-saving music that moms and dads will want to leave on.
 
Lyrics

You’re the only Answer to the darkness
You’re the only Right among the wrong
You’re the only Hope among the chaos
You are the Voice that calls me on
Louder than every lie
My sword in every fight
The Truth will chase away the night
 
Your Name is power over darkness
Freedom for the captives
Mercy for the broken and the hopeless
Your Name is faithful in the battle
Glory in the struggle
Mighty it won’t let us down or fail us
Your Name is power
Your Name is power
 
I know it is written
Hope is certain, yeah
I know that The Word will never fail, oh
I know that in every situation, yes I know
You speak the power to prevail
 
Louder than every lie
My sword in every fight
The Truth will chase away the night
 
Your Name is power over darkness
Freedom for the captives
Mercy for the broken and the hopeless
Your Name is faithful in the battle
Glory in the struggle
Mighty it won’t let us down or fail us
Your Name is power
Your Name is power
 
When You speak You scatter darkness
Light arrives and Heaven opens
Holy Spirit, let us hear it
When You speak the Church Awakens
We believe the Change is coming
Holy Spirit, let us see it
 
When You speak You scatter darkness
Light arrives and Heaven opens
Holy Spirit, let us hear it
When You speak the Church Awakens
We believe the Change is coming
Holy Spirit, let us see it
 
Your Name is power over darkness
Freedom for the captives
Mercy for the broken and the hopeless
Your Name is faithful in the battle
Glory in the struggle
Mighty it won’t let us down or fail us
Your Name is power
 
Over darkness
Your Name is power
In the chaos
Your Name is power

Closing Thoughts

Rend Collective has been called to lead songs for the church in very singable styles, putting these biblical words of awe and reverence of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords into the minds, mouths and hearts of believers. Followers of Jesus can sing every word and agree with the beautiful sentiments of this great song. 

When we feel like we're on shaky ground and dealing with the uncertainty of our situations, the economy and our world, "Your Name is Power" allows us to dwell on the unshakable nature of God. When all else fades away, He will remain. We all need to remember that we're not able to save ourselves. Only Jesus can give us our true identity.
 
God is the source of all things and He works in all of us to bring glory to Him. He wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices out of gratitude for the forgiveness of our sins. God wants us to be "transformed by the renewing of our mind" and "set your mind on things above." 

Christians are new creations on the inside. The Holy Spirit gives us new life and we don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears or worries. We are born again and we need to live as children of God. He is worthy of all our praise and adoration. God tells us in the Bible that with faith, we can do anything through Christ. I'm convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song, filled with biblical truth.
 
A theme verse for the band's last few albums about God's resurrection power comes from Romans 8:11. This verse weaves its way through every song, as the band sings songs about being "more than conquerors" through Christ. Romans 8:11 has also been a theme verse for me these past several years. 

God keeps bringing the truth of His resurrection power of His Holy Spirit residing in believers to my attention. That's the beauty of His Word; it doesn't return void. It provides a constant source of comfort, guidance and truth of how to draw closer to Him and live for Him.
 
"Your Name is Power" is all about having a strong faith. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Sometimes we have a tendency to think we can try to know everything. God tells us in the Bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ. We can't know everything and we're not in control. Trusting God gives us assurance that we don't have to be afraid. God will be there to pick us up when we fall. 

A challenge for me when I listen to this song is picking an area of my life that I've been trying to control and instead putting all my hope and trust in God. 

As Christians, we all can loudly proclaim: "Your Name is power over darkness/Freedom for the captives/Mercy for the broken and the hopeless/Your Name is faithful in the battle/Glory in the struggle/Mighty it won’t let us down or fail us/Your Name is power." Amen to that