Photo by Jong Marshes
Christian juggernaut Bethel Music started producing in 2001. This Redding, California organization morphed into a powerful influencer, with a commanding 40 albums in the wild. Their music is deep-seated within our radio stations, houses of worship, youth events, and padded, anti-COVID prison cells homes. Christians all over their world have heard their music, including hits such as Reckless Love, Ever Be, and You Make Me Brave.
Check out my other Bethel Music reviews!
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Bethel-music-god-of-revival-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?
As witnesses of God’s measureless power, Bethel believes that He can save all souls because Christ defeated the grave and will do greater works through us than the works that Jesus did. Christ sits at the Father’s right hand. Bethel prays for revival, that our hearts would awaken to glorify God.
Side Note: For those sensitive to excessive repetition, it’s common for live versions of songs to rely on repetition during a song’s second half. This song is no exception.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it aligns with God’s inspired Word.
[Verse 1]
Line 1: Bethel will inform us of the great things God does.
Line 2: This describes God as omnipotent (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).
Lines 3 and 4: This references John 14:12-14, that God will do similar and greater works through us that Jesus did. Naturally, this would not include the cross as Jesus’ sacrifice was “once and for all” (Hebrews 7:27 and Hebrews 10:10-14).
[Pre-Chorus]
Lines 1-4: God is in the rescue business, to set prisoners free from slavery to 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). He can also perform miracles because He 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). These things are impossible for man, but possible for God (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Zechariah 8:6, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, and Luke 1:37).
[Chorus]
Lines 1 and 2: God’s light drives out the darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).
Line 3: Repeats line 2.
Lines 4-7: Christ overcame death by rising from the dead (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).
Line 8: Repeats line 4.
[Verse 2]
Lines 1 and 2: Jesus rose 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) and is currently seated at the Father’s right hand (Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:55–56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22, and Revelation 3:21).
Line 3: Great question! God says to trust in Him and stop fearing (Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18).
Line 4: Me too!
[Interlude (1)]
Lines 1 and 2: Bridge tells us what Bethel prays about.
[Bridge]
Lines 1-3: Bethel prays for a revival, that God would remove barriers.
Line 4: Repeats line 2.
Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.
[Interlude (2)]
Line 1: Repeats Chorus, line 1, with several Casper the friendly ghost calls.
Line 2: Essentially the same prayer as Bridge.
Line 3: Repeats line 1.
Line 4: Repeats Bridge, line 1.
[Interlude (3)]
Line 1: This is precedented in Acts, where the disciples of Jesus laid their hands on people and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17 and Acts 19:6).
Line 2: Possibly a reference to Psalm 40:3.
Line 3: Repeats Interlude (2), line 1.
Line 4: Sing louder, people!
Line 5: Repeats Interlude (2), line 1.
Line 6: Essentially the same prayer as Bridge.
Line 7: Repeats Interlude (2), line 1.
Line 8: Essentially the same prayer as Bridge.
Line 9: Repeats Interlude (2), line 1.
Line 10: Essentially the same prayer as Bridge.
Line 11: Repeats Interlude (2), line 1.
[Outro]
Lines 1-5: Essentially repeats Pre-Chorus.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Bethel uses common, everyday language to communicate their message of God’s wonders, power, and resurrection, calling for revival to break out, and proclaiming their unwavering trust in God. I see nothing in these lyrics that unbelievers could reasonably misconstrue.
Score: 10/10
4. What does this song glorify?
This song glorifies God as it exalts God as the One who revitalizes, restores, and saves.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Bethel Music’s God of Revival is highly Biblical. Its focus on God’s wonderful works, that He uses His unlimited power to destroy barriers that prevent us from an abundant and loving relationship with Him brings Him glory. Unbelievers should easily comprehend it.
Though it’s not my favorite, it’s worth considering for corporate worship.
Final Score: 10/10
Artist Info
Track: God of Revival (Live) (listen to the song)
Artist: Bethel Music
Album: Revival’s In the Air (Live)
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2020
Duration: 8:34
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
06/11/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Bethel Music’s theology.
03/17/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. Changed my commentary on repetition to a side note, raising section 1’s score. This changed my overall score, from 9.5/10 to 10/10.
Comments
Holly Marcheck
My concern is Revival will not occur no matter how loud we sing unless we are brought to our knees in repentance first. God has made that come about through taking down our protection and carrying us off to the enemy.
Janet Blessing
Thank you, Holly for your insightful comment. I was a worship leader for over two decades in various churches, singing many songs like this one, so I know intimately the non-biblical mindset behind the many “loud roars” and the emphasis on singing louder….it’s not only all rooted in a totally man-centered, inaccurate definition of that word revival, (as though WE have some sort of power through OUR loud, emotionally saturated music, to “call down fire from heaven.” (Make God send a “revival.”). I was taught/and ashamed to say I taught others the false notion that loud, repetitive lyrics set to rock music with lights flashing and working people up emotionally was somehow the equivalent of “spiritual warfare.” (After all, the musicians went ahead of OT Israel, singing songs of victory, right?). Only such is not at ALL the biblical, New Testament definition of spiritual warfare.
I do believe God IS going to send the “fire from heaven” I am now ashamed to say I too once called for…..but that those who already have within them the Heavenly Dove of the Holy Spirit won’t be in the audience when that fire (of judgement) falls upon so many of our churches for placing “strange fire” upon the altars. True, Holy Ghost revival, (thank GOD I learned this) is something GOD sends in response to broken hearts and crushed Spirits crying out in prayer closets for God to stay His Hand from judgement. I personally believe this type if music is calling down the fires of judgement upon Christianity as a whole, myself. I resigned my position as a worship leader 2 years ago when God mercifully called me to enter into full time Biblical counseling ministry for women and children survivors of Domestic Violence and abuse because our churches are FULL of it, deeply convicted by the BIBLICAL definition of “worship” and how “true religion” is defined in the New Testament, how the Old Testament defined “what God requires of man, and what constitutes a “true fast/real worship” that God finds acceptable. Would encourage anyone who reads this to conduct a thorough Strong’s Concordance informed search on those topics. That, and many tears and prayers of repentance in private revived ME—-the music I described earlier had actual been “drugging/hypnotizing” me in a strange sort of way I had not even realized until God “revived” and snapped me out of it.
Justin
Great work here, brother.
**Edited by Vince Wright**
Heather Thyne
My main objection to this song is not the content, it is sing-ability for a congregation. It’s very syncopated in many sections, there are many vocal jumps some of more than an octave, and I am afraid that the congregation isn’t going to be able to follow these jumps. There’s no observation of “C to shining C” with an additional three notes on the bottom (you can go down to maybe the A below middle C and that’s pretty much it). So whilst it passes the Berean test for content it is, for me, a thumbs-down for congregational worship.
racefangurl
I’m a visitor for a while here now and he looks at the lyrics only on whether or not it’s okay for worship. Some songs he says aren’t okay at least without tweaking due to theology, others are for mature churches only or more for seeker sensitive churches and others are for a particular time, like Christmastime services, communion, opening or closing. Others are more inspirational or testimonial than worship, so they might be okay to have playing when walking in, if they fit with the sermon topic could be played at the relevant point (like an assistant pastor at my family’s church at one time did) or at a church event. My church has played K-Love at church events and their songs are sometimes worship and some are more inspirational or testimonial type songs. This site isn’t about the tunes, but do you think he should have sing-ability as a side note, like repetition now became?
Vince Wright
racefangurl,
Great question!
It’s not my area of expertise so I can’t comment on it. But, it’s certainly worth considering for corporate worship.
-Vince Wright
Dylan Johnson
Liked your review. I actually have been checking all of my songs to see if they are accurate because I’m a singer myself and want to be correct in what I say. I would have to disagree with you on repetition though. Not entirely though as too much of it can be a distraction. But as long as it’s lining up with scripture and glorifying God and as long as we see it that way we should sing it. However you are right in that we should be careful with songs that go completely overboard on it.
Vince Wright
Dylan,
Thank you for your compliment and comments!
Admittedly, my view of repetition is subjective. Three is a good rule of thumb, four at most if it’s short. Any more than that, I consider excessive in most cases. At the moment, I’ve chosen to only deduct points for it within section 1 and, possibly, section 3.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
I have often used the “Three or Four” repetitions rule myself 🙂
This is definitely the case with songs that have, not just lyrical repetition, but melodic repetition as well.
There are songs (unfortunately I can’t think of any at the moment) that the melody changes enough that more than four repetitions doesn’t seem so “offensive” (at least to me) but they are few and far between.