He is the National Director of Music and Worship for Champions for Christ a high impact ministry to college and professional athletes with Pastor Greg Ball. He also leads worship regularly at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. with Pastor Joel Osteen. Israel and Meleasa founded New Breed Ministries in 1995. Comprised of world class musicians and singers who are all ministers in their respective churches. They travel extensively with a message that crosses cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries.
Known specifically for their diverse sound effectively captured on the 2001 Hosanna! Integrity release of New Season as well as 2002's Lakewood Live 'We Speak to Nations', their heart is to deliberately diminish the lines that separate the Church, and bring all people together through worship. Once a member of Fred Hammond and RFC, he has also worked with the Young Messiah Tour, TBN, Crystal Lewis, Anointed, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, and is currently finishing an Israel and New Breed- Integrity Gospel / Sony release produced by Tommy Sims due in October. With a heart for the Nations, true worship, and a passion for the Presence of God, Israel and New Breed add purpose to any event.
If Not For Your Grace
Israel Houghton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If not for Your grace?
Carrying me
Through every season
Where would I be
If not for Your grace?
Came to rescue me
For Your grace
Grace that restores
Grace that redeems
Grace that releases
Me to worship
Grace that repairs
Visions and dreams
Grace that releases
Miracles
The lyrics to Israel Houghton & New Breed's song "If Not For Your Grace" speaks of the power of grace and how it has been pivotal in the singer's life. The first two lines ask a rhetorical question, asking where the singer would be if it were not for the grace of God. The following line talks of God's support through every season of the singer's life, emphasizing how God's grace has been constant and unfaltering. The next line talks of how God rescued the singer, and the singer is grateful for His grace.
The next two stanzas go on to talk about the different facets of grace. The first one being grace that restores and redeems, which means that the singer sees the power of grace in restoring and redeeming different aspects of their life. The line about grace releasing the singer to worship speaks to how the singer can worship God freely and without reservation because they are aware of grace's power. Finally, the last stanza talks about grace that repairs visions and dreams and releases miracles.
Overall, the song talks about the transformative nature of God's grace in the singer's life. It acknowledges the singer's awareness of their past and how it could have been far different if not for the grace of God. The song emphasizes the singer's gratitude for God's grace and the incredible things it has brought into their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Where would I be
I wonder where I would be in life if it were not for the grace of God.
If not for Your grace?
What would have become of me if not for the unmerited favor and help of God?
Carrying me
Because of God's grace, I am being carried through life with all its ups and downs.
Through every season
God's grace sustains me through every season of life, both good and bad.
Came to rescue me
God's grace came to my rescue when I was helpless and needed help the most.
And I want to thank You
I'm grateful to God for His grace and all that He has done for me.
For Your grace
God's grace is what makes all the difference in my life, and I'm thankful for it.
Grace that restores
God's grace is what brings restoration into my life whenever things are falling apart.
Grace that redeems
God's grace is what pays the price for my liberation from the bondage of sin.
Grace that releases
God's grace is what sets me free to worship Him according to His will and purpose for my life.
Me to worship
God's grace empowers me to give Him the worship and honor that are due His name.
Grace that repairs
God's grace is what makes all things new, repairing the broken areas of my life and making me whole again.
Visions and dreams
God's grace is what renews my vision and dreams, giving me new hope and a better future to look forward to.
Grace that releases
God's grace is what sets me free to experience the miraculous in my life, those things beyond my ability or understanding.
Miracles
God's grace is what makes the impossible possible and causes miracles to happen in my life every day.
Contributed by Grace O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.