Photo by Jose Castillo
Katy Nichole (not to be confused with Katy Nicole) is a brand spanking new artist whose single, In Jesus Name (God of Possible), is making waves. Her self-titled album will be released on June 24th of this year.
Side Note: This review is for the piano version.
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.
1. What message does the song communicate?
Nichole prays in Jesus name, that we would experience healing, restoration, and faith. Jesus has the might and authority to perform the things that Nichole is declaring; However, some might be drawn into the false Word of Faith doctrine that our words compel God to respond. One way to mitigate this is something like Daniel 3:18, that even if God doesn’t respond, we will praise Him. Christ is faithful to keep His promises, but it’s helpful to tell others that He answers prayers on His timing, not ours.
Score: 8/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
This song is Biblically accurate.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow
I will ask my God to move
I speak the name ’cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven
And pray this for you
Not in the “Word of Faith” matter, that is, this power comes within Nichole to cause change in your life, but that Nichole prays for you in the name of Jesus who, as the Great Physician has the power to heal (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31).
[Chorus (1)]
I pray for your healing, that circumstances would change
See commentary on Verse 1.
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
That is, for Jesus to intervene, making you realize that His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name
In Jesus’ name
See commentary on Verse 1.
[Verse 2]
I speak the name of all authority
That is, the name of Jesus, who is sovereign over creation (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).
Declaring blessings, every promise
We need to be careful with this line. As stated in my commentary to Verse 1, the dangerous aspect of Word of Faith is the teaching that my words in faith have the power to cause God to respond. While I acknowledge that faith is required for God to respond and move (Acts 3:6 is a prominent example), declaring blessings has potential to push people into this teaching. Yet, this is more an issue about the song’s message than Biblical accuracy. For this review, I’ve given this section a pass.
He is faithful to keep
God is faithful and cannot deny Himself, even if we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13).
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
References Jesus, who conquered death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).
He is greater, He is stronger
He is greater (Deuteronomy 10:17, Psalm 8:3-4, Psalm 147:5, Job 26:14, Isaiah 40:28, and Isaiah 55:8-9) and the most powerful being in existence (Genesis 1:1-31, Job 11:7-11, Psalm 33:6, Jeremiah 32:17, Romans 4:17, Hebrews 1:3, and Jude 1:24-25).
He’s the God of possible
All things are possible with God (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Zechariah 8:6, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 1:37).
[Bridge]
Come believe it, come receive it
Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Nichole asks us to receive the Holy Spirit through repentence and faith (John 14:16-26, John 15:5-15, John 15:26, John 16:7, Acts 1:8, and Acts 2:38).
Come believe it, come receive it
Repeats line 1.
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible
Essentially repeats Verse 2, line 6.
[Chorus (2)]
I pray for your healing, that circumstances will change
I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus’ name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus’ name
Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-5.
I pray for revival, for restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come to life in Jesus’ name
Nichole prays that masses of people come to faith in Jesus, that they would repent and trust in Him.
In Jesus’ name
Repeats Chorus (1), line 5.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Those outside Christianity will conclude Nichole prays for them in the name of Jesus, that they would experience His healing. Some have bought into the idea that God will always heal those who ask, not realizing that there might be reasons why God says no to their prayers. Those who aren’t aware of Word of Faith may become trapped into thinking that God always says yes when asked with enough faith, causing them to leave Jesus when it doesn’t work. Yet, such faith declaration is not prominent in the song, making it less likely that entrapment will occur.
Score: 7/10
4. What does this song glorify?
While it glorifies God that Nichole calls on the name of Jesus to assist us, His glory is slightly veiled when some might take her declaration as Word of Faith on her own steam.
Score: 8/10
Closing Comments
Katy Nichole’s In Jesus Name (God of Possible) is decent. While it glorifies God that that Nichole prays over us, that we would receive Christ’s healing and changed circumstances, we must also understand that God can say “no” to us for reasons that befit His will. This helps us and unbelievers to avoid thinking that our words have the power to cause change.
This song is more about the worship leader praying over their congregants than proclaiming to God His value and worth. Thus, I cannot recommend it for corporate worship.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Artist Info
Track: In Jesus Name (God of Possible) (listen to the song)
Artist: Katy Nichole
Album: Katy Nichole
Genre: Pop
Release Year: 2022
Duration: 3:43
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2022 Centricity Songs (BMI) BrentHood Music (BMI) Meaux Mercy (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Hulse House Music (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) David Spencer Songs (ASCAP) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
fossmano1
I agree with the author. When I heard the song, there was no denying its beauty, however it smacked of treating the power of Christ as a “vending machine:” speak his name and something miraculous will happen. I think the author said it correctly that “This song is more about the worship leader praying over their congregants than proclaiming to God His value and worth.”
Vince Wright
fossmano1,
Thank you for your comments! I am glad you agree.
-Vince Wright
racefangurl
Maybe an altar/prayer time song? Like maybe it could be sung at the end, when some churches do benediction. I was born Mennonite and that’s how I know about benediction.
Alexis
Thank you for this gracious commentary of the song. I was asked to sing it as a special and I declined because I never want to confuse congregants with the lyrics as they sound way too close to “name it and claim it” declarations. Always appreciate the time you spend!
Vince Wright
Alexis,
Thank you for your feedback and gratitude!
-Vince Wright
James S. Frazier
Firstly, great review. I completely agree with everything you said in it.
Secondly, I agree that this song can be sung leaving with the “name it and claim it” mentality. However, I think if the song were to be explained beforehand or that story in Daniel 3 be read, I think it would be completely fine to sing in church. I feel as though the worship leader, or whomever is singing a particular song, should be talking to the congregation about the songs that are being sung and should tie them back to the bible anyway. And it doesn’t need to be said in a way of caution, but something like “before we (or I) sing this next song, I want to read a passage out of the book of Daniel. *Reads the verse* I want to encourage you in that our God is all powerful, just, mighty, etc. and He has loved us so much that He has given us the opportunity to pray to Him and have a relationship with Him. God also encourages His followers to ask for things from Him, not for our Glory, but for His, so that His will may be done. And that even if He doesn’t answer our prayers exactly how we want Him to, we know that His will is being worked out for His glory… So, let’s sing this next song together…” Or something like that. The explanation is not really an explanation, but rather an encouragement to the other congregant members, and I feel as though worship leaders should be doing this for songs that don’t necessarily need it as well.
Obviously, some songs completely fall apart if you’re going to explain them. For example, an explanation for the song “reckless love” would basically turn into the worship leader saying, “so God’s love is not reckless… but we’re gonna sing this song anyway.” If this is your explanation, I feel as though you probably shouldn’t be singing that song at all in church. In the case of “In Jesus name (God of possible)” I think a quick encouragement and reading of the scriptures would easily clear up any confusion that could originate from some of the lyrics.
I know an individual in the comments mentioned that they turned down the opportunity to sing this song in church because of the possible confusion it may cause, and there is nothing wrong with that. I think if an explanation/encouragement was given beforehand, there would be nothing wrong with that either.
Those are just some of my thoughts on the issue this song is tied to.
– James Frazier
Vince Wright
James,
Thank you for your comments and compliment!
The chief reason that I can’t recommend this for corporate worship is that I believe that worship is about telling God how awesome He is and why He is awesome. Yes, there are elements of that in Verse 2; However, the majority of the lyrics are the artist speaking directly to their audience. This is useful as it shows Katy Nochole leading by example, that congregants should be prayed over. However, it’s not proclaiming to God His value and worth back to Him. I know some worship services that will take a moment to sing something that speaks directly to their audience, and perhaps this song, alongside a reading of Daniel as you suggested, would suit this purpose as a one-time deal. However, it doesn’t strike me as worship.
-Vince Wright
Jonah Buck
I love doing this song with my worship team, but prefacing it as a time to sing these lyrics over our friends and family who need it. I try to make it more about remembering that Christ has the power to move in life’s circumstances (instead of “name it and claim it” stuff).
Amy Wentzel
The name of the song is Jesus Name God of Possible. Possible. Not magic genie or Santa claus. God of possible – with Him anything is Possible. This shuts down word of faith theology. The Bible tells us to pray and not doubt. Pray with authority because we are God’s children, yet as children we know the answer can be no. We know God is all powerful and sovereign, this all things are possible. The songs doesn’t say God of certainty.