Photo by Kenny Orr
Elevation Worship is a church-led band that was created in 2007. They, alongside Bethel Music and Hillsong, are the âbig threeâ with the most extensive reach in modern Christian music. They released many albums and EPâs.
They also won eight awards, including two Billboard for Top Christian Artist (2021) and Top Christian Song (Graves into Gardens, 2021), and two GMA Dove awards for Spanish Language Album of the Year (Aleluya (En La Tierra), 2020) and Worship Recorded Song of the Year (The Blessing (Live), 2020).
Also, check out my other Elevation Worship reviews.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review. I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artistâs theology by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
Elevation Worship implores their audience to watch and listen. Elevation Worship sees and hears evidence of unbelievers’ spiritual condition reawakening from their deadness in lawbreaking to revitalization in the Son of God. They see manifestations of God’s power working in us through signs and wonders that point to God’s power. Yet, this is only possible because Jesus paid for our lawbreaking and rose again.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The whole song is Scripturally oriented.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Intro]
Come on, hands up!
A call for Elevation Worship’s audience to worship God with their hands in the air.
Do you see what I see?
Elevation Worship is asking a question that they will answer in Verse 1.
Do you see what I see?
Repeats line 2.
[Verse 1]
Oh, I see lightning, I hear thunder
Something stirring six feet under
Dead things coming back to life again
I believe there’s about to be another resurrection
Oh, I see signs and I see wonders
I see bursts of living color
Elevation Worship sees souls migrating from deadness in sin to alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24). Signs and wonders are the manifestations of many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), including healing, miracles, and speaking in tongues.
Dead things coming back to life again
I believe there’s about to be another resurrection, oh
Repeats lines 1 and 2, combined with a call to Casper the friendly ghost.
[Chorus (1)]
Come alive
Wake up, sleeper
Quotes from part of Ephesians 5:14.
He is risen
Jesus resurrected from the dead (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
We are risen with Him
According to Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12, we are raised up with Christ.
Yeah!
Yes.
[Verse 2]
Oh, hallelujah, it is finished!
The word âHallelujahâ is a compound Hebrew phrase, with âhalleluâ meaning âa joyous praise in songâ and âjahâ or âyahâ, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, Elevation sings âwe joyfully praise God in songâ when they use this word.
The phrase “it is finished” or more literally, paid in full, comes from John 19:30.
See that grave, no body in it (Yeah)
References the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10).
Dead things coming back to life again
I believe there’s about to be another resurrection (Resurrection, oh)
Essentially repeats Verse 1, lines 7 and 8.
[Chorus (2)]
Come alive
Wake up, sleeper
He is risen
We are risen with Him
Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-4.
Paradise
Flung wide open
The resurrection of Jesus makes forgiveness of sins possible (Hebrews 9:22), thus, Christ-followers can spend eternity with God (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).
He is risen
And we are risen with Him
Repeats Chorus (1), lines 3 and 4.
Come alive
Wake up, sleeper
He is risen
We are risen with Him
Paradise
Flung wide open
He is risen
We are risen with Him
Repeats lines 1-8.
[Interlude]
Yeah
Come on, now!
Elevation Worship draws their audience in.
Hear the resurrection life in the room today
The worship at Elevation Worship’s concerts is the result of Christ’s resurrection life (the Holy Spirit) who lives inside them (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).
[Bridge]
If you see what I see
That the grave is empty
Then you know what I know
Anything is possible
The resurrection proves that through Christ, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
If you see what I see
That the grave is empty
Then you know what I know
Anything is possible
Do you see what I see? (Yeah)
Do you see what I see? (Oh)
Do you see what I see?
I see signs and I see wonders
Do you see what I see?
I see lightning, I hear thunder
Do you see what I see?
Oh, something stirring six feet under (Do you see?)
Repeats from portions of Intro and Verse 1.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
It’s difficult to say. Those who have some sort of an inkling of Christianity will probably interpret “He is risen” as the resurrection of Jesus. The word “hallelujah” and phrase “it is finished” are often associated with Christianity.
The massive rising from the dead is potentially perplexing, especially for people who aren’t privy to the concept of Christian spiritual resurrection. Is there going to be a Christian zombie uprising? It certainly sounds that way from the unbeliever’s perspective!
Score: 5/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as the One responsible for our spiritual resurrection.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Elevation Worship’s What I See is full of life. Specifically, life that comes from our spiritual deadness, raised by Jesus, who Himself died and rose again. This glorifies Christ. However, unbelievers unfamiliar with the finer details of spiritual transformation will probably think our uprising is akin to a zombie apocalypse.
This song is inspirational but focuses more on our transformation than proclaiming to God His value and worth. Thus, it is inappropriate for corporate worship.
Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: What I See (Live) (listen to the song)
Artist: Elevation Worship (Feat. Chris Brown)
Album: LION
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2022
Duration: 4:37
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright Š 2022 Housefires Sounds (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) My Magnolia Music (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
Ramsis Martinez
You mentioned that it is inappropriate for corporate worship, although I would argue that there are moments where I believe itâs important and beneficial (if done correctly) for the congregation to understand and recognize that the fact that they have been or can be resurrected with Christ can bring glory and honor to God because we are rejoicing in what His marvelous work, through Jesus, has done for us. This could possibly be refreshing to many in the congregation that might not always be necessarily thinking that them singing about that can be worship. Again, I do think you have to be careful with how you set up the song before hand, with some scripture to clarify how rejoicing that you have personally been saved by Christ through song can be glorifying to God. đ
Vince Wright
Ramsis Martinez,
Thank you for your comments!
I agree, yes, there are a few moments here and there that could have congregational benefit. Thus, why I stated that it’s inspirational. This is also why on the Song Review Index Page, at https://www.thebereantest.com/song-review-index, it has a Corporate Worship rating of “Other”. A rating of âotherâ represents songs that are not recommended or appropriate for corporate worship, but could still be useful during a church service.
I hope this clarifies things.
-Vince Wright
racefangurl
My church plays songs before service and sometimes has played a song on video, if relevant to the topic, in the latter case. Is this a song for that, to play at church?
Vince Wright
racefangurl,
Great question!
If you look on the Song Review Index page, I gave this song a corporate worship rating of “other”. Before service videos qualify.
-Vince Wright
Patricia Utley
Scripture only mentions âtwo peopleâ being resurrected, Jesus and Lazarus. However, Godâs Word has a lot to say about âbeing born againâ. God transforms sinners into new creations who have been restored âspirituallyâ. They are given the Holy Spirit who helps to transform the mind by helping them discern âRight and Wrongâ. As the ânew believerâ studies Scripture and chooses to live a godly life they will be more like Jesus.
âDo You Seeâ is not sound doctrine and should never called a Christian anything. Yes saying Jesus was resurrected is correct. But,âdo you see more resurrectionsâ sounds too much like âreincarnationâ and New Age teaching. I rate this song 0/0.
Vince Wright
Patricia,
Thank you for your comments!
First, Jesus and Lazarus are not the only two resurrections in Scripture. There is also:
Second, the artist is speaking of spiritual resurrection, which is about being “born again”.
-Vince Wright