Today’s song story is on the song ‘Holy Ground (Jesus You Change Everything)’ by Passion and is a song that speaks to the glory of Jesus, the beauty and wonder and power and authority of our saviour. It is an invite to Jesus to have his way, to change us, grow us, prune us, shape us more and more into his image, the image of his father.
This song takes inspiration from the life of Moses in the Old Testament, to the times when he experienced the presence of God throughout his life. He experienced God’s presence in many ways, one of which was through the burning bush and another time where he stood on the mountain.
…the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up….God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! …Do not come any closer…Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:2-5)
“And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:17-18)
“When Moses encountered the presence of God at the burning bush, God told him to take off his shoes because where he was standing was holy ground. When we come into the presence of God, we must recognise that he is holy and glorious, coming in reverence and holy fear because of the magnitude of who he is. Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 tells us to guard our steps when we enter the house of God and not to be “quick with our mouth”, or “hasty in our hearts” to utter anything before God that we do not truly mean or understand. We can be so quick to just jump straight into worship because it’s what we do and just pay lip service to the words that we sing. But the bible teaches us to carefully consider each word that we choose to say (or sing) to God. It’s so important that we get a right perspective of God when we choose to enter into his presence.
As we sing this song on Saturday, we will echo those words of Moses, ‘Show us your glory’. What is different from when Moses encountered God’s glory, however, is that on this side of the cross, we don’t just experience the power and the presence of God at a place. We don’t have to be in church, or at a prayer meeting, or in a congregation to experience him. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, the presence, the spirit of God, lives inside of us.
‘Let every burning heart be holy ground’. This lyric is saying let me be like that burning bush, not only observing your presence from a distance, but carrying your presence with me wherever I go.
Everywhere we go we are carrying Jesus with us, the life of Jesus, the hope of Jesus, the message of Jesus. We need to declare that Jesus comes and it’s Jesus who changes things, not us. He changes us and the world around us. There is so much power in the name of Jesus; the name that is above every other name, the name that at which one day every knee will bow, and tongue confess that he is Lord. Jesus is mighty, victorious, the king of kings (Rev. 1:8; 17:14; 3:21). He was there at the beginning of creation and through him everything was made and life itself is sustained (John 1:1-4).
And there’s something powerful when we speak it out loud. Over and over again in Scripture we read, “In my name,” “In Jesus’ name,” or “In his name.” The demons tremble at his name (James 2:19). Healing miracles are in his name (Acts 3:6, 3:16, 4:10). Salvation comes in his name (Acts 4:12, Rom. 10:13). We are to baptise in his name (Matt. 28:19). We are justified in his name (1 Cor. 6:11). Everything we do and say is to be done in his name (Col. 3:17).
When we hear the truth of who Jesus is, what he is able to do, what he has done, coming out of our own mouth, it does something to us. It grows our own faith, it encourages us to move.
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)
No matter what circumstance we are facing, we can believe that chains will be broken, fear no longer has a hold of us, lives will be healed, because there’s power and there’s hope in the cross. We fall down in wonder and surrender at the feet of Jesus because he is the light of the world, Lord over everything (Phil. 2:9-11; John 8:12). He is our hope, our deliverer, our joy and our comforter (1 Thess.1:10; 1 Tim. 1:1).
He is called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6).
When we look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, it changes us. Our lives become worship back to Him as we respond to the glorious truth of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Show us Your glory Lord. Let every burning heart be holy ground.
Thank you God that as I wait on you, you will meet me wherever I am and make Your throne upon my praise.
Thank you that it’s because of the cross that our hearts become carriers of your presence and that I get to meet with you personally, anytime, anywhere.
Show me your glory Lord. Help me to understand more of who you are, of your character, of your nature and of your love for your people.
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