Eschewing the typical small talk that usually happens before a conversation really gets started, Papa wastes no time digging into the heart of the matter. As an artist who isn’t interested in simply making music for music’s sake, Papa writes songs that center around God’s word and doesn’t consider his job done until the lyrics have taken permanent residence in a listener’s gray matter.
“If you can write a song that’s full of God’s word, and that song gets in someone’s head, that’s a powerful thing,” Papa says. “I often don’t remember a sermon I heard yesterday, let alone a year ago. But with songs, there’s a hook, and people remember it. So that’s why I want to write about Scripture. I don’t want to waste time.”
Staying right on point, the call to live intentionally is a theme that resonates deeply through the songs of Papa’s new Centricity Music release, Your Kingdom Come.
“The main thing that’s been on my heart is missions and how I can inspire students to be the hands and feet of Christ and go to the places where people haven’t even heard the name of Jesus,” Papa shares. “I heard someone say once that it’s easy to lift your hands before God in worship, but if you aren’t reaching those hands out to the world, those hands lifted to God are worthless. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against lifting our hands in worship. But we also must love this world with those same hands.”
That idea of being flexible and available to do whatever God calls us to do—even if it’s (gasp!) inconvenient—is what inspired the album’s central thesis and first single, “Open Hands” that Papa co-wrote with fellow independent singer/songwriter James Tealy.
“You have to live before God with open hands. We may have our plans and ideas, but at any moment, Christians, unlike the world, have to be ready to drop anything and totally do something else if God is calling us to,” Papa says. “It’s a very strange life, yet it’s exactly how Jesus wants our hands to be—open and available. We need to embrace the idea of anything He wants to change, anything He wants to take, it’s Yours now.”
In addition to issuing a challenge for himself and fellow Christians to continually leave a lasting impression of God’s goodness and faithfulness wherever we are, Your Kingdom Come is also filled with several buoyant, unabashed declarations of praise on “Hallelujah, Our God Reigns,” “Trinity” and “Here Am I, Send Me.”
“With ‘Here Am I, Send Me,’ it was Isaiah who uttered those famous words after seeing The Lord, high and exalted,” Papa says. “The Church has forgotten to pray those words for too long. It is wonderful and necessary to demonstrate acts of kindness, service and love, but those by themselves aren’t enough. The world must hear the Gospel. They must hear the name of Jesus. And we, the Church, must surrender all we have and go tell them!”
But Papa’s message isn’t the only thing that’s bold about his work. Like his previous albums, Papa continues to draw from a progressive palette of musical genres. Incorporating classical timbres, earthy Middle Eastern textures and moments that are straight up rock ’n’ roll in the vein of Foo Fighters and Delirious, the tracks are rich, complex and beautifully showcase Papa’s diversity as a musician, worship leader, singer and composer.
When asked who his biggest influence was making Your Kingdom Come, however, Papa doesn’t namedrop a bunch of his favorite bands. Instead, he credits his bride, Lauren.
“My recent marriage was a huge part of this album,” Papa shares. “My wife has always had a big heart for missions, and for me, this album has reflected my personal journey of surrender. It’s not about me traveling around, going from place to place and making a name for myself. I want God to use me for His kingdom, not me using God for my kingdom.”
As Papa looks to his future in ministry, he acknowledges that his focus has shifted. In addition to playing his music, he’s also starting seminary in the fall.
“I’m going to be taking it slow, but I’m so excited because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Papa shares. “We [my wife and I] want to challenge and inspire students and be sending people to the nations. And whether it’s through what I’m learning in class or through these new songs, we want to fuel The Great Commission.”
Trinity
Matt Papa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trinity, mystery
God in three persons
Father, Son, Spirit, One
Your Kingdom come, Amen
Reigning in all majesty
Crucified and risen King
Now living in our hearts
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy forevermore
Who was, and is, and is to come
Wonderful, Counselor
Mighty God, Jesus
Prince of peace, King of kings
Every knee will bow
And every tongue confess
Chorus
Everlasting, Righteous Father
Faithful, precious Son
Mighty, rushing, Holy Spirit
He’s Father, Spirit, Son
The Lord our God is One
The song "Trinity" by Matt Papa is a beautiful ode to the Christian idea of the Holy Trinity - the belief that God exists in three distinct yet inseparable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The lyrics use a variety of biblical references to explore the concept of the Trinity and its significance in the Christian faith.
Beginning with the opening lines, the song references several key Scriptures - Duet 6:4 (Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one), Isaiah 9:6 (For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace), Matthew 6:10 (Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven), Luke 3:22 (And the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”), 1 Corinthians 3:16 (Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?), Philippians 2:10-11 (so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father), and Revelation 1:8 (I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”) - each of which help to establish the basis for understanding the complex and beautiful nature of God.
As the song progresses, it builds on this foundation to offer praise and worship to the Holy Trinity. The chorus of the song emphasizes the divine attributes of each person of the Trinity, hailing each one as "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Worthy forevermore". The verses highlight the centrality of each person of the Trinity in Christian theology, describing Jesus as the "Crucified and risen King" who now lives in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit as the "mighty, rushing" force that empowers us to do God's work in the world.
Overall, "Trinity" is a powerful testament to the awe-inspiring nature of God as revealed through the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity. Its lyrics draw on the rich biblical tradition of the Trinity while simultaneously offering a contemporary expression of worship that resonates with modern believers.
Line by Line Meaning
Trinity, mystery
Acknowledging the three persons of one God, an incomprehensible but true mystery.
God in three persons
One God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each equally God yet distinct in role and function.
Father, Son, Spirit, One
Emphasizing the oneness of the triune God, while recognizing the distinct persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Your Kingdom come, Amen
A prayer that God's kingdom would continue to advance on earth, and a statement of faith that it ultimately will.
Reigning in all majesty
Acknowledge's God's sovereign and majestic rule over all creation.
You are the Sovereign God
Affirming God's complete control and authority over everything.
Crucified and risen King
Acknowledging Jesus Christ as the King who died for our sins and rose from the dead, triumphing over sin and death.
Now living in our hearts
Acknowledging the Holy Spirit's work in indwelling believers, enabling them to live a life that honors God.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord
Quoting Isaiah 6:3, which describes the holiness of God and emphasizes His unique and perfect nature.
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy forevermore
Stating the infinite worthiness of God, and His rightful place as the only one truly deserving of worship.
Who was, and is, and is to come
Echoing language from Revelation 1:8 which speaks of God's eternal nature, as the one who has always existed and always will exist.
Wonderful, Counselor
Describing Jesus as the one who offers wisdom and guidance through the Holy Spirit to those who follow Him.
Mighty God, Jesus
Affirming Jesus' divinity, as He is both fully God and fully man.
Prince of peace, King of kings
Describing Jesus as the one who brings true peace to those who follow Him, and as the ultimate ruler over all creation.
Every knee will bow
Referencing Philippians 2:10, which speaks of the day when every person will acknowledge Jesus as Lord and bow before Him.
And every tongue confess
Continuing the thought from the previous line, emphasizing that every person will not only bow but also confess Jesus as Lord.
Everlasting, Righteous Father
Describing God the Father as just and eternal, with no beginning or end.
Faithful, precious Son
Describing Jesus as faithful to His mission of bringing salvation to the world, and as infinitely valuable to our faith.
Mighty, rushing, Holy Spirit
Depicting the Holy Spirit as powerful and quick to work, bringing about transformation in the lives of believers.
He’s Father, Spirit, Son
Affirming the triune nature of God, and the distinct roles of the Father, Spirit, and Son.
The Lord our God is One
Stating unequivocally that God is one, and we worship Him as such - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit united in perfect harmony and love.
Contributed by Josiah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paige Cowell
on The Lord Is a Warrior (feat. Shai Linne)
Revalation 19
Heaven's open behold a white horse amazing the view
The one sitting on the horse called faithful and true
He judges and makes war, the reign of messiah
His eyes flames of fire, strange his attire
His robe dipped in blood but his name is not Joseph
His aim is explosive God's fame is denotive
Flashback long before this moment would end
He loved his opponents when he made atonement for sin
Resurrected at the Father's right hand he sat down
Well he's back now and found on his head a mack crown
Smack down
The sights and sounds amazing
A sharp sword's in his mouth to strike down the nations
Today is the day thats he's welcoming the foreigners
Well bet and believe that he hung up on the cross for ya
Otherwise you'll read him as a holy right distorter
Somebody call the (?)
The Lord is a warrior