Wondrous Gift
Posted April 25, 2014
By KevinDavis_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Worship Leader Misty Edwards and the worship team at the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, Missouri have breathed several new worship anthems into the Church from their annual Onething Live conferences. "You Won’t Relent," "You Satisfy My Soul," "New Jerusalem," "Baptize My Heart," “Arms Wide Open” and "Pour My Love on You” consistently bless me as a worshiper. I was excited to hear Onething Live: Sing Your Praises, recorded at Onething 2013. This compilation highlights some new songs and powerful performances of Laura Hackett singing Matt Redman’s “Holy” and Misty Edwards singing an incredible rendition of Kevin Prosch’s “The Gift.”
High energy electronic dance worship song "Sing Your Praises” by Matt Gilman opens the compilation with a call to worship with an exciting foretaste of what followers of Jesus will be singing for eternity: “You are great, and greatly to be praised, I will dance around Your throne, and Your presence is my home, and the rocks will not cry out, I will shout…I will sing Your praises, You are holy, You are holy, You alone are worthy of the glory.” Some recent examples of worship songs you can sing and dance along with are "Alive" and "Wake" by Hillsong Young & Free. If you like those songs, you’ll love this song.
“I Am Yours (First Love)” by Jonas Park introduces a theme found throughout this album, that Jesus is our first love and only One we need to be whole and holy. You’ll be raising your heart and hands in worship along with the song, “I am Yours, Yes, I am, wholly Yours, You are my first love, You are my only One Lord, there is nothing else for me.”
“For I was Far” by Anna Blanc celebrates her story and testimony: “For I was far away and dead in sin, I had no hope at all to live again, and then You came and drew me close in love, You washed away my guilt and filthy stains.” That is one of the truths we can cling to as believers. In our fallen and sinful tendencies, God still thinks of us as His children. Once you’ve accepted Jesus as our substitute and Savior, God views us white as snow through the blood of His son instead of in our dirty states. That alone is cause for celebration.
That idea of finding our peace, joy and identity in Christ is beautifully captured in Laura Hackett’s “The Love Inside.” The song compels me to worship Jesus and profess my own appreciation for the pure love of Jesus that “fills all of heaven with its light.” As Laura profoundly sings, “when we know Jesus sees us here now, this changes everything, Jesus Your love is so amazing, and this joy I can’t explain it, I’m caught up in the fellowship.” The song is a gorgeous profession of Laura’s sincere desire to serve Jesus.
“Let Me See Your Face,” led by Jon Thurlow, takes my breath away. He beautifully captures how Jesus feels about each of us with the extremely moving depiction sung in the Person of Jesus preparing a place for us in Heaven and assuring us: “I see it in your heart to finish the race with Me, I know if you just say yes again, together we can make the longing reality.” What a gorgeous description of the heart of Jesus.
“Worth it All” led by Justin Rizzo gives another glimpse of Heaven and what followers of Jesus will be singing for eternity. If you have put all of your hope and trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation, you'll be singing along: "Thank You Lord that I am free, Your blood washes me, Your blood makes me clean.”
“The Gift” led by Misty Edwards closes the compilation with a stunning song about the “wondrous gift” and “aching longing to see Him face to face” given to us by the Bridegroom Jesus, Who takes us in His arms and makes us pure by His love. The song captures the Truth expressed in John 3:28-29 (NKJV): “You yourselves bear me witness that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” You’ll feel the aching for Jesus in your soul as you sing along with Misty, “It’s the joy of being lovesick…the pleasures of loving You,” along with “We are not another, we are Your beloved” and “Let love flow now.” Amen.
Closing Thoughts:
This is a completely worshipful album, in the style of Jesus Culture, Bethel Music, and Misty Edwards’ previous offerings of Spirit-led praise and worship directly to our King and Savior, Jesus. Every single song could be added to your Sunday morning worship set. My favorites are “Sing Your Praises,” “I Am Yours (First Love),” “For I was Far,” “The Love Inside,” “Let Me See Your Face,” “Holy,” “Worth it All” and the gorgeous closer, “The Gift.” The worship leaders at IHOP-KC all write and sing songs with an amazing passion and with unashamed praise and gratitude to our Savior that is very inspiring and emotionally moving. The eternal Love of Jesus is beautifully expressed in these compelling songs.
Song to download first:
“The Gift” View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinDavis_NRT | View KevinDavis_NRT's Profile
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