I recently sat down with Centric Worship to talk about the song It is Finished, written with Matt Papa.
Originally posted on Centric Worship.
CW: The powerful sentence “It is finished,” that Jesus’ spoke while He was on the cross has so much amazing depth behind it. In the New Testament greek, the tense of the verb means that an event happened at one point in history and it’s effects will continue on forever. How does “It is finished” speak to you personally?
Jennie: “It Is Finished!” The words still echo out across the span of ages and reverberate over the human condition, moving and reshaping everything in their transformative wake. Every place in me that is not conformed to His image and His work yields at the power of that final, triumphant war cry of our Jesus! Every day, a different place in us has need of the “It is finished” work of the cross.
I can only imagine that day when Satan and his demons heard what they may have thought were words of defeat, “It Is Finished.” Then imagine the dawning…Their slow and sudden horrible realization that Jesus actually meant every promise God had ever made (including the death of death itself).
“It is Finished!” What? Curses broken? Hell completely defeated? Mercy freely given? Pardon bestowed? Liberty to the full? Eternal life? No more chains? Strengthening joy? Ridiculous peace? Wholeness? Healing? His SPIRIT BREATHED OUT, INDWELLING, and REANIMATING dead bones?! MORE and MORE and MORE OF JESUS?!
Simpletons have now been given wisdom, a song and CO-HEIR status as BORN-AGAIN children? There is nothing left untouched by the ever-altering, “IT IS FINISHED” victory song! It’s the song that never ends! How ironic…! Hallelujah!
CW: What words of wisdom would you like to give to worship leaders and worship team members?
Jennie: Don’t settle. Settle for nothing less than transformation into the likeness of Christ. Use the opportunity of choosing your set lists to waken and fan the flame of real faith and obedience. Choose what is healthy and true.
Give lyrics that change the heart by revealing Jesus and self. Give lyrics that aid in repentance. Give music that is “sticky” enough for the saints to walk away with the song forever theirs, so they no longer need you or your instruments. Their voice does the job with the Holy Spirit as they move into their sphere of influence. GIVE THEM THEIR SONG. Arm them with triumph!
CW: If you could communicate one thing to the universal Body of Christ, what would it be?
Jennie: Rise up saints of God! Rejoice in your God and SING your SONG! With every fiber of your being, sing your song. The “It Is Finished” war song trumps every circumstance you face with the victory that is yours through Jesus!
The kind of song that can’t be outsourced to worship leaders and that bypasses feelings, breaks lies and pushes past the comfort zone into the land of the supernatural. The kind of song that originates out of BELIEF and COURAGE and OBEDIENCE! Sing the song you were born to sing and fill the air with the glorious name of Jesus!! Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain and has risen!
IT IS FINISHED!