Truth Set to Song: Awaken Worship

By BT Pickett

Every now and then, Southeast's own Awaken Worship writes and releases original worship albums. Our hope and prayer is that we can continue to awaken all generations to the glory of God through authentic worship, creative environments, and excellence in production—on and off the stage.

You might be asking, “With all the other great worship songs and albums out there, why write another album?”

Our worship pastors see themselves as singing preachers. Our sermons are set to a melody. We take very seriously the responsibility of teaching Biblical doctrine and theology through music. When we preach our melodic sermons, we are placing words into the mouths of our congregation. So we make certain that what we are singing is Biblical truth. What better a lyric to sing than Scripture itself!

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
-Psalm 40:3

God already put a new song into our mouths. We don’t have to conjure up something. We just have to get it out.

Unashamed Proclamation

In Matthew 16, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They reply with what they’ve heard others say about Him. “…Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Matthew 16:14) Then, with pinpoint accuracy, Jesus goes straight for their hearts and asks, “But what about you? ...Who do you say I am?” (16:15)

We believe God has asked us that same thing as a church and as a Worship Ministry. We’ve sensed Jesus coming to us, as singing preachers and worship pastors, with the same pinpoint accuracy with which He approached His disciples. “It’s great to sing what others have said about Me—but what about you? Who do you say I am?”

This is why we write songs. We don’t write with an album in mind. We don’t write songs with a concert or a tour in mind. We write songs with people in mind: our church. We write songs with a great God and mighty Savior Jesus Christ in mind. We want to celebrate His excellencies. For us, a worship song is not complete until it is sung through the mouths of our church family.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
-Colossians 3:16

Unhindered Praise

As a church, we celebrate that Christ has set us free. But we were never set free only for freedom’s sake. We were set free to worship.

In the Old Testament, the Lord spoke through Moses to boldly tell Pharaoh, “…Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” (Exodus 8:1) God wasn’t just after their freedom—He wanted the praise of His redeemed people.

We see this even more fully in the New Testament when Christ’s death on the cross caused the veil in the Temple to be torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). The curtain that separated sinners from God’s holy presence was obliterated. In Christ, we are set free—free to worship our Savior God, now and forever.

This unhindered, unrestrained worship is what Chris Jackson and I had in mind when we were writing the Awaken song, Christ Has Won. When we finally reach Heaven, we will stand totally unhindered and free before the King of Kings. Free from sin, guilt, and shame. Free from physical pain, limitations, and inadequacies. Free from emotion, strife, and insecurities. “His grace and peace rush over me,” the third verse goes. Finally, we are free!

Unending Glory

The Apostle John paints a picture of what Heavenly worship is going to look and sound like. In Revelation 19:4-7, he writes this:

“The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: ‘Amen, Hallelujah!’ Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!’ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!...’”

John has an extremely difficult time even putting to words what he is witnessing. It’s almost as if he says, “It’s like the sound of a great multitude! Wait, that’s not quite it. It’s like the roar of rushing waters! Wait, that’s still not quite it. It’s like the loud peals of thunder!”

I picture John struggling to adequately describe the amazing worship he is experiencing and do it justice. Why? Because it’s unhindered. It’s finally free. We have zero limitations. Our voices are louder than they’ve ever been. Our hearts are fuller than they’ve ever been. We are in utter and complete awe, standing in the presence of a holy God. Our only response is unhindered, unending worship.

“I hear the church and angels sing, Our God has won the victory!”