Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm
Elevation Worship formed in 2007. They, alongside Bethel Music and Hillsong, form the top three artists of modern Christian music. They released 20 albums and 8 EP’s.
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.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Elevation-worship-my-testimony-live-lyrics.
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 artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
Elevation Worship testifies to the following facts:
- God give them strength to resist Satan.
- They are dumbfounded that their names are written in the Book of Life, likely due to their unworthiness.
- They received the Holy Spirit, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead.
- Christ’s sacrifice justifies them; His shed blood purchased their redemption.
- God, who started a good work in them, will see it to the end of their earthly life.
- They will do greater works.
- In response to God’s lovingkindness, they will continually praise Him and ask others to join them.
Some may interpret “My best days are up ahead of me” as a Word of Faith sort of statement; However, I understood it as a continuation of the “greater works” that Jesus spoke of.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The entire song is in agreement with God’s inspired Word.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1 and 2: The first line quotes from Luke 10:18, which was witnessed by Christ. Taken with line 2, alongside Luke 10:19, this signifies His strength over Satan given to Elevation Worship, that they can resist the devil and render him powerless over them (1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 4:7).
Lines 3 and 4: If we read the next verse, Luke 10:20, it says “rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven”. Elevation Worship calls this a “miracle”, which, if Matthew 7:13-14 is of any indication, is indeed rare. Though they did not state their reason, their source of bewilderment is likely that they don’t deserve God’s grace (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).
Lines 5 and 6: Jesus’ power, the Holy Spirit, is the same resurrection power that lives in Elevation Worship (Romans 8:11). Also, for Scripture on the Holy Spirit living inside us, see Acts 6:5, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14.
Lines 7 and 8: Repeats lines 3 and 4.
Line 9: Elevation Worship eternally praises God (Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).
[Chorus]
Lines 1-6: Elevation Worship will not waver from their message (Hebrews 10:23), prepared to sacrifice themselves to tell it (Luke 14:25-33). Also, Elevation Worship’s testimony is that Jesus justifies them, giving them righteousness for their lawbreaking. They were once dead in their sin, but are now alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).
LInes 7 and 8: Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.
[Verse 2]
Lines 1 and 2: Elevation Worship speaks directly to their brethren and sistren, those purchased by the blood of Jesus (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9) and washed by water, that is, an appeal to God through Christ’s resurrection (1 Peter 3:21).
Line 3: Elevation Worship calls Christians to worship the trinity (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11).
Line 4: He who began a good work in us will see it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
LIne 5: Essentially repeats line 4.
[Bridge]
Line 1: See Verse 2, line 3.
Line 2: God will continually work of Elevation Worship for good works until they physically die (Ephesians 2:10).
Lines 3 and 4: Elevation Worship, who believes in Jesus, will do greater works (John 14:12).
Lines 5-14: Repeats lines 2-4.
Line 15: See line 2.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers will think Elevation Worship is spreading their Christian message about Jesus, going to heaven, and Satan’s defeat. Christianese terms like “resurrection power” and “I’m justified” require some understanding of Christian theology, that they reference the Holy Spirit’s power and Christ’s sacrifice that legally declares us righteous before God. The rest of the song is plain language and easy to interpret.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies God that Elevation Worship testifies to God’s sacrifice for them, that He will continue to do good works through them, and that their names are recorded in the Book of Life.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Elevation Worship’s My Testimony is pretty good. As the title indicates, Elevation Worship testifies to Christ’s payment for their redemption and justification, the Holy Spirit’s power in them, their names etched in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and God’s continuance of His good work in them. These glorify God. Unbelievers should be able to piece this together, though perhaps requiring deeper study to comprehend “resurrection power” and justification.
I don’t normally recommend testimonials for corporate worship, as they are generally about us and not about proclaiming to God His value and worth. However, this song is focused on doing just that: praising God. I’m willing to make an exception for this song.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: My Testimony (Live) (listen to the song)
Artist: Elevation Worship
Album: Graves Into Gardens (Live)
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2020
Duration: 4:52
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Updates:
02/19/2022 – Based on Daniels’ comments, I combined my commentary on Chorus lines 1-6, with an additional line that explicitly states Elevation was dead in sin, and are now alive in Christ.
Comments
Daniel
hey vince! i had another interpretation of the Chorus lines 1 and 2. ‘death to life’ meaning Jesus brought us to life through him, our dead souls brought back from the grave of sin and that is our lifelong Testimony! Yes, they could also mean that they’ll take this testimony to the grave, but based on the context of the next two lines, I think the death deads souls back to life interpretation is more appropriate. Let me know what u think! God bless!
Vince Wright
Daniel,
Thank you for your comment!
I wrote this in my commentary to lines 3-6, but it makes sense to combine it with the first two lines. I also explicitly stated “dead in sin; alive in Christ” to ensure your point sticks out.
-Vince Wright
Blake
I have strong discomfort with the opening line being written in the first person, especially when put in the context of the proceeding lines:
I saw Satan fall like lightning
I saw darkness run for cover
But the miracle that I just can’t get over
My name is registered in Heaven
Christ saw Satan fall like lightning (many also see this as a deliberate reference to Isaiah 14), but we most certainly did not. This verse doesn’t suffice as a pure quote of Christ, because “my”, not “your” name is registered in Heaven. This issue is further compounded by Steven Furtick, the pastor of Elevation, stepping into Christ’s shoes when he recently proclaimed, “I am God Almighty” in a sermon, which I do not believe he has publicly repented of. I would feel much different about this song if “I saw” was removed.
Vince, I’m very interested in your take on these things?
Vince Wright
Blake,
Thank you for your inquiry!
My commentary on this line is that Jesus gives Christians authority over the devil. Prior to writing this review, I examined commentary from experts for their input. Their consensus is that “I saw Satan fall like lightning”, which means Jesus observed His disciples exercise His authority to cast out demons in His name. This makes sense of the overall encounter between Jesus and His disciples.
In Luke 10:1-16, Jesus sent 36 pairs of disciples to various cities that Jesus intended to visit. He gave very specific instructions on how they go about it. After they return, in Luke 10:17, they report to Jesus that the demons are subject to them in His name. His commentary, “I saw Satan fall like lightning” in Luke 18:18, is a response to the disciples’ report. Right after that, in Luke 10:19, Jesus explains to them that He gave them authority over Satan, that nothing will injure them. Yet, He warns them in Luke 10:20, that they should rejoice because their names are registered in heaven, not that they can trample the devil in the name of Jesus.
What I really like about this song is that Elevation Worship has the same attitude. They claim to have authority over Satan, but they don’t rejoice in it. Rather, they just can’t get over that their names are registered in Heaven, consistent with Jesus’ warning in Luke 10:20.
I hope this helps.
-Vince Wright
Lachlan
Thanks for this, I came here specifically to read your commentary on this line in particular! If this line is intended to refer to observing followers of Jesus exercise his authority to cast out demons in his name, I feel like I would rather it read “I’ve seen Satan fall like lightning, I’ve seen darkness run for cover”. To me that would make it more obvious that it means any time we see Jesus’ power over evil rather than implying a fallen angel moment pre-Creation. Just my two cents though.
Micah
Very appreciative of this as I examine some of the lyrics in this song. I do disagree with the interpretation of this song being a testimonial, rather I see this as Elevation attempting to create a song of testimonial declaration for the specific purpose of corporate worship, thus the I see the bridge more as a personal declaration to be sung in a corporate context. But very appreciative, as I said, this article was very helpful as I was going back and focusing on some of the lyrics, specifically relating to the 2nd verse of the song!
Rich Smith
I have studied and studied to try to find validation for line 5 “I have resurrection power” (and in the song they follow with the statement “yes, I do”). The statement shows possession of the power to resurrect. The only one in possession of that power is God, which is also in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. And while that power may reside in us, as the Holy Spirit resides in us, it does not belong to us. We do not possess it. It is still the possession of God. It merely is housed in us.
Upon studying this, I find a few other sources making the claim, or at least the implication without a straight-forward claim, that we (believers) do have resurrection power. The problem with their reasoning is trying to equate God’s gifts to us as being equal to His own abilities. For example, if He gives us His righteousness, which is not our own, then we are also given his resurrection power (using Phil. 3:10). But righteousness is an adjective describing our state of justification whereas resurrection power is a noun that is a real ability that God alone has. He has not given that noun to us as He has given His likened adjective of righteousness. Another example is because we are connected to Jesus by the gifting of the Holy Spirit, that we are somehow equipped the same as the Holy Spirit. Thus giving us resurrection power. This gets into the realm of how superheroes and villains being endowed by mystical or other-worldly energies now possess the powers of that energy. But Holy Spirit is not an energy that gives us power. We have to submit to the Person of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to use His powers in our lives, whether by His wisdom, His foreknowledge, His insight, His resurrection power, or otherwise. We can quench the Spirit or let Him do His work. But we do not have capacity to use resurrection power at our own disposal. We do not have resurrection power.
Jason
I was reading your comment and I began to think of my computer, and house, having electrical power. Then I started to think of the source of that power… it isn’t in my house.
I don’t think that to claim having power implies being the source of it.
Mike
It’s interesting to me that Blake and Rich Smith both voiced my 2 primary lyrical concerns with this song. 1) Quoting Jesus in the first person and 2) “I have resurrection power.”
Even after Vince’s response and Jacob’s response, I’m not convinced that it’s an appropriate song, but that’s JMHO.
I also struggle with singing anything by Elevation because I’ve heard some things that Furtick has said and promoted that are at best unbiblical and at worst heretical. It’s hard for me to promote something like that (even if I 100% agreed with the lyrics) – especially for corporate worship.
For others on here who support use of the song, you’ll find no condemnation from me. Just in my conscience, I can’t go there.
Vince Wright
Mike,
Thank you for your comments!
Your reservations are understandable; However, remember that this site is purely about lyrical examination. I would appreciate it if in the future, we could keep the focus on the song lyrics and not on the artist’s teachings/theology, even if they are unbiblical/heretical. I have en entire page dedicated to that, at https://www.thebereantest.com/resources.
-Vince Wright
Mike
Vince, my apologies for just now seeing this and my apologies for posting a comment that didn’t comply with your criteria for this site. (Truly I mean that; please no one read that with a sarcastic tone. I had simply not seen that stipulation on other posts.) I’ll certainly comply with that in any future posts. Although, I’ll admit that it’s hard to separate the two.
Vince Wright
Mike,
Forgiven! Understood.
-Vince Wright
Robin
My husband and I are also wary of the opening lyrics. The sheet music does not have quotation marks on the first line to indicate quoting Jesus. This is combined with the continuation in the 1st Person in the second and third lines.So either Jesus is also amazed at being registered in Heaven OR “I” the believer saw Satan fall. Neither of which is true.