I am always on the lookout for God-centered worship projects. Recently, I wrote an article about how our praise is a weapon of warfare against the enemy. In order to walk in this level of victorious warfare, I am convinced that we need to change our song and our focus.
Warfare praise has little to do with singing songs about victory over the enemy and claiming the miracle … and everything to do with moving everything to the peripheral and declaring that Jesus Christ is truly Like No Other. We desperately need worship to flow from the church again where Jesus is truly at the center. This is why it is with my highest applause that I recommend to you the latest worship project from Christ Fellowship Church, Like No Other.
I see the worship songs on this recording powerfully impacting three areas of our lives:
Our Corporate Worship
Like No Other features some exceptional declarations of high-energy praise that will instantly connect with churches. Very much in the flavor of Gateway Worship, Hillsong Live, and New Life Worship—and yet with a fresh sound all their own—the Christ Fellowship worship team offers energetic statements of praise like “Favorite Word” and “From This House.”
In addition, there are sweeping anthems of God-centered worship such as the title track “Like No Other,” “Greater” and “Immortal Invisible.” These songs have been incredibly refreshing to me personally, and I believe they will be a blessing to the church corporately because they summon us to elevate our gaze. Worship is not about singing about what we are going to do for God, nor should be praised focused on how we are going to gain victory over the enemy. Though both kinds of song have their place, it is limited. More than anything, we need modern expressions of worship that basically say, “How great Thou art!”
Personally, one of my favorites is the cross-themed, “Hallelujah for the Savior.” This makes an ideal song for communion, Easter/Good Friday celebrations and other reflection times when the goal is increasing our corporate mindfulness of the redemptive work of Jesus.
Our Personal Devotion
While some modern praise and worship albums seem to be exclusively focused on resourcing churches with new songs for their corporate gatherings, Like No Other provides a selection of beautiful, more contemplative tracks that can be powerfully refreshing for your personal devotion times with the Lord. Of course, any of these songs can still be sung effectively in a church context.
I really enjoy listening to the reflective “Mercy Tree,” as its beautiful, well-crafted lyrics vividly take me back to the scene of Calvary, invite me to personally consider the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins, and finally, crescendo into a powerful declaration of victory.
Also, “My Reward (Found in You)” is a tender reminder of God’s faithfulness and unchanging nature that infinitely satisfy our heart’s desire.
Our Prophetic Declaration
One of the most popular worship songs in recent years has been the powerful, Jesus-exalting anthem, “Your Great Name,” which was made most popular by singer, Natalie Grant. The Like No Other album features a song that is certainly in the same vein of “Your Great Name,” but is much more prophetic in nature. In fact, the songwriters behind “Your Great Name” collaborated once again for “See You Again.”
If I could say anything about this song, it would be that it beautifully captures the purpose behind the Testimony. One reason we share testimony of God’s miraculous works in our lives to stir faith and expectation in those listening to our stories. After all, the God who healed will heal again because He is Healer. The One who delivered will deliver again because His very nature is Deliverer. Every miraculous work that God performs actually creates a very healthy longing within our hearts: “Lord, do it again. Move again. We want more!”
“See You Again” challenges us as believers not be satisfied with yesterday’s stories, miracles and testimonies of God’s power at work. If Jesus Christ is literally the same yesterday, today and forever, and the book of Acts is really still in progress, and the promise of Jesus that we would do His works, and even greater works is in fact true … we must press in for more. Michael Neale and co-author, Krissy Nordhoff have blessed the body of Christ once again with a prophetic song that helps put this hunger for “greater things” into words.
I encourage you to invest in Like No Other on iTunes. It is a masterful album that the Christ Fellowship team should be very proud of. Not only is the project exceptionally produced and the songs well-crafted. Most importantly, there is a distinctive Presence of the Lord on the album that will help you lift your eyes and behold God in a greater way.
When the people of Judah went to battle against their enemies in 2 Chronicles 20, what was their song? They weren’t singing songs about defeating the enemy, or destroying the threatening armies. Rather, their declaration of praise was exclusively God-focused, as they sang, over and over:
“Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chr. 20:21).
Like No Other puts anthems of praise and worship into the mouths of the people of God that truly, silence the enemy. It’s one thing to sing warfare songs about going to battle; it’s another level of faith to declare anthems of praise, exalting the unchanging nature of God even when the battle is raging and the frustrations of life seem all-consuming. Praise keeps us anchored. Though seasons come and go, and though life comes with its share of difficulties, Jesus is Like No Other and He is absolutely constant. This fact alone is certainly a reason to worship!
Want to know more about the next great move of God? Click here to see Jennifer LeClaire’s new book, featuring Dutch Sheets, Reinhard Bonnke, Jonathan Cahn, Billy Graham and others.
Larry Sparks is author of the book Breakthrough Faith: Living a Life Where Anything is Possible, and co-author of the upcoming book The Fire That Never Sleeps, with Dr. Michael Brown and John Kilpatrick (June 16, 2015). Larry is a columnist for Charisma, teacher and revivalist who is committed to training the body of Christ through 3 key seminars: 1) Sustaining a Lifestyle of Revival, 2) Revival in Media, and 3) Breakthrough Faith. Featured on CBN, TBN, and Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural, Larry is passionate about raising up communities who usher in regional revival and awakening.
You can visit his website at lawrencesparks.com. Also, you can “like” Larry on Facebook (LarryVSparks) and Twitter (@LarryVSparks) to receive empowerment keys to experience and sustain a revival lifestyle.
Billy Hallowell 
Shawn Akers 
James Lasher 
