Previously known as Vertical Church Band, Vertical Worship formed from their home church in Harvest Bible Chapel. They did not begin recording and selling music until 2012, signing with Essential Records. As of this writing, they have released five albums: Live Worship from Vertical Church (2012), Rock Won’t Move (2013), Church Songs (2015), Frontiers (2016), and Bright Faith Bold Future (2018). Though some of these albums appeared in the top 10 US charts for Christianity, they have no prestigious awards to their name.

As the title suggests, I will review Spirit of the Living God from their 2015 album Church Songs.

Update 3: Steve Barhydt challenged my update since Gilbert commented. I examined the context of the entire song and the Scriptures he brings to his commentary. I had forgotten my initial comment that the entire song is about the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I restored the score to its former 8.5/10.

Update 2: Commenter Gilbert Johnson challenged me on my Scripture references for Jesus falling. I realized that it was not referring to His death, but his physical falling three times, which is not supported in Scripture. I altered its score, slightly lowering it from 8.5/10 to 8/10.

Update: Thanks to commenter Elaine Goedde for pointing out that I did not address “when you fall” at the end of the bridge. I updated my commentary for this entire part in light of this context, which in my mind, is not about every knee bowing, but rather a response to Christ’s sacrifice.

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?

I am pleased with Vertical Worship’s topic of choice: the often neglected Holy Spirit! We have so many songs about Jesus and the Father, so to see one dedicated to the Holy Spirit excites me. While I did not see any attributes of God specific to the Holy Spirit in these lyrics, the song’s title and opening verse cemented it for me. He is often referred to as God’s Spirit throughout the entire Bible. Vertical Worship expresses their desire to:

Hear from Him; Know Him personally, Change under His power, Put Him before their family and lives, Remove fears and tears, and Bow their knee to God’s throne.

I would have liked to see attributes of God given to the Holy Spirit and some of the things He has done. His role would have also been a nice touch.

Score: 8/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Most of it is Biblical. There is an unclear line and another unnecessary line.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God

Refers to the Holy Spirit.

We only want to hear Your voice

We’re hanging on every word

Given that the Holy Spirit guides us (John 16:13 and Hebrews 3:7-11) and speaks through us (Matthew 10:19-20 and Mark 13:11), the desire to hear His voice is a good thing.

Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God

Repeats lines 1 and 2.

We want to know You more and more

That is, personally, relationally.

We’re hanging on every word

Repeats line 4.

[Chorus]

‘Cause when You speak, when You move

When You do what only You can do

We could do without this line. It’s not anti-biblical, but it’s not terribly exciting either.

It changes us

It changes what we see and what we seek

When You come in the room

When You do what only You can do

It changes us

It changes what we see and what we seek

You’re changing everything

In one instance in Acts 10:1-48, Peter’s obedience of the Holy Spirit resulted in the gentile house of Cornelius to be saved, with his entire household. This changed the way Peter saw gentiles: they too are beings created in God’s image. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, it will transform us as well, with the renewal of our mind (Romans 12:2).

[Verse 2]

Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God

Repeats Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.

We’re leaning in to all You are

Everything else can wait

Reminiscent of Jesus’ call in Luke 14:26-33, where He calls His followers to hate their families and lives. The word “hate” in the Koine Greek is the word “miseō”, meaning “to love less”. Jesus is not advocating for disdain towards our relatives! Rather, we are to love them less than God or, put in the reverse, to love God more than family.

Spirit of the living God

Spirit of the living God

Repeats Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.

Come now and breathe upon our hearts

Come now and have Your way

Probably comes from John 20:22, where Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them. If we follow John the Baptists’ advice to decrease as God increases (John 3:30), this gives room for the Holy Spirit to move through us.

[Bridge]

When You move, You move all our fears

The Scriptures call us not to be afraid because God rescues (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,and 1 Peter 5:6-7). It is His perfect love that drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

When You move, You move us to tears

This is a bit vague. Why does the Holy Spirit bring us to tears?

When You move, You move all our fears

When You move, You move us to tears

Repeats lines 1 and 2.

When You fall, we fall on our knees

When You fall, we fall at Your feet

Refers to the promised Holy Spirit, prophecied by Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28-29, and Zechariah 12:10), John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:32-33, and Acts 1:5), and Jesus (John 14:15-17, John 14:26, and Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples of Jesus in Pentacost (Acts 2:1-4 and Acts 2:38) and later in other areas, both with Hebrews and Gentiles (Acts 8:15-18, Acts 10:44-47, Acts 11:15-16, and Titus 3:5).

When You fall, we fall on our knees

When You fall, we fall at Your feet

Repeats lines 7-8.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those who do not follow Jesus will probably not understand that the Spirit of the Living God is the Holy Spirit. However, they may understand it as God. This loss of nuance takes little away from the overall message and what Vertical Worship communicates to their audience.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Holy Spirit, though slightly veiled due to lack of attributes.

Score: 8/10

Closing Comments

I am ecstatic for the rare opportunity to hear a song dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Vertical Worship’s Spirit of the Living God is highly biblical, with some vagueness regarding why He moves us to tears. It would also improve to include some of His properties, acts, and role in the Trinity. Nonetheless, it brings God glory through what Vertical Worship does provide and gives the unchurched something to ponder upon.

Music directors may want to consider this one, especially since there are such few songs specifically about the Holy Spirit.

Final Score: 8.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Spirit of the Living God (listen to the song) (buy the song)

Artist: Vertical Worship

Album: Church Songs (buy the album)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 5:39

Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2015 HBC Worship Music (ASCAP) All Essential Music (ASCAP) Upside Down Under (BMI) Be Essential Songs (BMI) Jingram Music Publishing (ASCAP) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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