The worship collective Bethel Music has become a household name in the Christian music industry thanks to its unique sound, great lyrics, and exceptional worship leaders, such as Kalley Heiligenthal and Kristene DiMarco. Their songs are a great way to invite listeners into a place of worship. With unforgettable hits such as "One Thing Remains," "Forever," and "This is Amazing Grace," they have introduced listeners to a new level of worship that celebrates the depth of God's love.
In their latest single, "Holy Forever," captured live in the heart of the Redwoods of Northern California, Bethel Music offers an invitation to look up and take in the full magnificence of the celestial evergreens and reflect on the beauty of God's glory. The worship collective will include the song on their forthcoming album, Come Up Here. The album embodies everything that Bethel Music stands for musically, lyrically, and visually.
I spoke with Jenn Johnson, another of Bethel Music's worship leaders, about what "Holy Forever" means to her and how it can impact the world.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
In heaven, we will join the angels, the saints who have gone before us, and those who are yet to come in the eternal worship of the Lord. “Holy Forever” reminds us of this future, where we will lift our voices with a thousand generations in unison, praising God. This is an encouraging and inspiring reminder of our ultimate victory with Christ. As we sing these songs on earth, we anticipate when we will sing these songs forever to the Lamb in heaven.
The song’s inspiration comes from the book of Revelation, which declares, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." Other Scriptures testify how Jesus overcame death forever.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Revelation 5:11-13(NIV): "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures, and the elders. In a loud voice, they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever."
Hebrews 13:8(NKJV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Ephesians 2:13-16(NKJV): "But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."
Romans 15:13(NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
John 3:11(VOICE): “I tell you the truth: we speak about the things we know, and we give evidence about the things we have seen, and you choose to reject the truth of our witness.”
What is the takeaway message?
These songs were written to help people connect with God. We have witnessed God using these songs to touch hearts and transform lives. We hope and pray that God will continue to use these songs in ways beyond our imagination and that all glory will return to Him. As worshippers, there is something powerful when we surrender ourselves to God, inviting Him to move in us and have His way.
We believe in the power of songs that invoke heaven's presence on Earth and seek to remain aware of the movement of God's Kingdom. We want to be a part of that. We don't want to merely exist on this Earth but know that the Spirit of God wants to move in and through us.
Lyrics
A thousand generations falling down in worship To sing the song of ages to the Lamb And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Your Name is the highest, Your Name is the greatest Your Name stands above them all All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions Your Name stands above them all
And the angels cry holy All creation cries holy You are lifted high, holy Holy forever
If you’ve been forgiven and if you’ve been redeemed Sing the song forever to the Lamb And if you walk in freedom, if you bear His Name Sing the song forever to the Lamb Sing the song forever, and amen
With all the angels cry holy All creation cries holy You are lifted high, holy Holy forever
Hear Your people sing holy And to the King of kings, holy And You will always be holy Holy forever
Oh, ‘cause Your Name is the highest, Your Name is the greatest Your Name stands above them all Above all thrones and dominions and all powers and positions Your Name stands above them all
Oh, Jesus Your Name is the highest, Your Name is the greatest Your Name, oh, it stands above them all Above all thrones and dominions and all powers and positions Your Name, oh, it stands above them all
And the angels cry holy And all creation cries holy You are lifted high, holy Holy forever, hey
Hear Your people sing holy And to the King of kings, holy And You will always be holy Holy forever You will always be holy Holy forever
Closing Thoughts
As believers in Christ, we can rally behind the truth that God is our Father, and He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and defeat death. The song "Holy Forever" celebrates these truths and challenges listeners to rely on the power of Christ's resurrection. It encourages us to make Jesus the Lord of our lives and live out the song's sentiment by lifting our hands in surrender and celebrating God's unfailing mercy and never-ending love.
The song's enthusiasm and energy are infectious, and its message challenges us to think about our doubts and trust in Jesus to overcome fear and death. We can join in singing the chorus, "If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed/Sing the song forever to the Lamb/And if you walk in freedom, if you bear His Name/Sing the song forever to the Lamb."
The song is a poetic and emotive description of what Jesus did for us, reminding us of our salvation. We're overwhelmed by His love and mercy by abiding in His grace and blessing God. The song's theme should be the heartbeat of every faithful Christian, and it's a beautiful picture of our hope in Christ. The chorus is a heart's cry and a reminder that God will always be holy.
When we sing the song, we should do so in complete submission, making Jesus the Lord of our lives and pointing every activity and thought to Him. The song's sentiment represents something the global church can cling to and proclaim. We raise our hands to celebrate and surrender, confident in God's unfailing mercy and love.
The enemy is real, and our best defense against his desire to destroy us is to cry out the victorious words of songs like "Holy Forever" at the top of our lungs and know that our redeemer has saved us from death forever. Whether we’re just starting our walk with Jesus or have been walking with Him for years, this song is a salvation message that helps us remember that Jesus came to die, defeated death, and rose again to set us free.
Nothing we have been given is more valuable than our salvation. This song reflects how much Jesus endured for His bride to purchase us from the grave. It's a foretaste of the beautiful ending we are all running toward as we finish the race set before us. Worship is about giving God our best, offering all of ourselves to Him. That is a sweet aroma of praise. He created us to worship Him.
The Hebrew word "bless" literally means "to kneel." By giving our Lord all that is within us and blessing God, we are overwhelmed by His love and mercy in return. The song encourages us to trust God's Word completely, regardless of circumstances, personal distractions, or concerns. It’s an inspirational song and an exciting thought that all suffering and hurt will be left behind, and one day glory will be revealed in us through Christ. The chorus is a heart's cry and a fantastic reminder: "Hear Your people sing holy/And to the King of kings, holy/And You will always be holy/Holy forever/You will always be holy/Holy forever." Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime Christian music fan and an avid music collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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