According to his web site, Branch has been ministering Christian gospel since 1991. He states that his desire is "to be a model and a messenger of the gospel’s transforming power especially (but not exclusively) among the hip-hop generations."
Branch received a bachelor's degree in Bible from Lancaster Bible College and has a master's degree in theology from the Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). His master’s thesis, "Theological Implications of Hip-Hop Culture", provided the inspiration for his solo album, The Thesis.
Hands In The Air
The Ambassador Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nonbelievers are treating Jesus like a silly fad
Weak like the spot Achilles had they got me really mad
Talking 'bout relationships they never really had
The kill me dog but it's not about the skills we have
Because the city is sickly the need the Balm on Gilead
Known for doin' things that's odd to see like the Iliad
Like standing on top of the water like a lily pad
From when it was trashy and when it was nasty like lives
He fills His quiver with children with who follow His orders
Sons and daughters
Who've been changed like dollars to quarters
Holler, he'll pour you grace and then give you some more
Give you wisdom when you're in a trial like a court case
Can't show you the pure face but you can get the pure taste goodness
Never running out like you're raw space
All sing to the only acceptable offering
All things reconciled by His death on the cross beam
With blood that was clean, and blood that "ca-ching!"
He purchased men so that must mean worship the King
God the Son, the only One with a plan to redeem
Stronger that the Army-Navy, Air force, and the Marines
Elohim the A to Z and all that's in between
The Supreme who could have let us fall yet intervened
Called the elect made sure we accept
Roots us in Christ so we can grow like a chia pet
So hail the King, priest and prophet
The inexhaustible topic The Person
Of God you can peep with your optic
In the eyes of this world my life is trife
They don't understand when I say I've died to Christ died to my rights
Livin' selfless, render myself helpless
Trustin' God, set my heart where his eternal wealth is
What else is there to live for, what else is there to hope in still
I bow to Christ with a broken with a broken will
Becoming broken bread and poured out wine
When seen with the natural eye authentic
Christian livin' blows the mind
What validates my faith go check
You'll see from the holy scroll to the codex
That God inspires the whole text
The scriptural facts will surprise
And paralyze you like broke necks
Shake up your whole set
Leave your soul vexed
I pray you dream of his holiness and wake up in cold sweats
Can't dissolve the mixture
No matter how odd the picture
You can't deny the God of scripture equipped with tha
Truths that transform becoming a thorn where man swarm
We bring the real when we kingdom build upon the rock
He's the one you can either stand on
Or be the one whom he lands on
Weather the sinkin' sand storms
Until you realize there's no other God
Worth taking a chance on
We keep our hands on the plow breaking up the fallow ground
While Christ can found seek him and follow now
It's been told that men without
Christ would face insurmountable odds
And the greatest of these would be a close encounter with God
(and you don't want that) even though your free to give it a try
100% before the Most High
Either live it or die
Cause ever since Adam sinned life was done
But thanks to Christ the Son
When Death marked us up with it's pricin' gun
Jesus came and smiled and paid
For us all and brought the work of sin to an
End like the child labor law
When the wild and wayward saw
That in Jesus God forgave us all who repented
And consented that our way was wrong
Then they saw why the truth rocks us
So hard enough to work arduous
To bogard yo just pardon us. Like the
Marginous distance between mars and us
Understand men are from dust and
Smart enough or large enough to harness
Up and jump the marvelous distance
Between us and God we just tarnish up His image
My mission is to open eyes
And I'm steady mobilizin'
Because of the hope I find in Jesus, tougher than
Teflon, hung with the common thugs
Though He had more class than Upper Eshelon
I'm in love with the way He put us back together, life was broke
Then Christ came in handy like Black and Decker
The fact is pleasure could never measure up black
To Christ so tell us where's your treasure at
This song was not on the tapes you gave us
So I assume that you have it and can get the lyrics
The Ambassador's song "Hands in the Air" is a powerful declaration of faith in Jesus and a rebuke to nonbelievers who do not take him seriously. The lyrics emphasize the need for a relationship with Christ and the transformation that he brings when one surrenders their life to him. The song paints a vivid picture of the brokenness of humanity and the redemption that is available through Christ's death on the cross. It also acknowledges the challenges and opposition that come with living a life of faith, but ultimately points to the hope and joy that can be found in Jesus.
The song is a commentary on the state of society and the way in which people view and approach their relationship with God. The lyrics are a call to action for believers to live out their faith authentically and unashamedly in a world that often rejects or scoffs at it. The use of metaphors, such as standing on top of the water like a lily pad, and references to ancient texts like the Iliad, give the song a depth and complexity that reflect the rich history and tradition of Christianity.
Line by Line Meaning
From the Philly pad I've been servin' Christ and now it's really
I have been dedicated to serving Christ from my hometown of Philadelphia, and now it is truly
Nonbelievers are treating Jesus like a silly fad
People who do not believe in Jesus are treating him as if he is just a passing trend or something to be taken lightly
Weak like the spot Achilles had they got me really mad
They are weak, just like the vulnerable spot on Achilles, and it frustrates me
Talking 'bout relationships they never really had
They are discussing relationships that they have never truly experienced
The kill me dog but it's not about the skills we have
They criticize me, but it is not about the abilities we possess
Because the city is sickly the need the Balm on Gilead
The city is in a state of decay and requires spiritual healing
Known for doin' things that's odd to see like the Iliad
We are known for doing things that are unconventional and surprising, like the epic poem 'Iliad'
Like standing on top of the water like a lily pad
Performing miraculous feats, such as walking on water like a lily pad
The Life Giver who turns my heart like a river
God, who gives life, has transformed my heart like a flowing river
From when it was trashy and when it was nasty like lives
From when it was filled with filth and sin, like corrupted lives
He fills His quiver with children who follow His orders
God has a quiver full of faithful followers who obey His commands
Sons and daughters
Both men and women who have chosen to follow Him
Who've been changed like dollars to quarters
Those who have been transformed, just like exchanging dollars for quarters
Holler, he'll pour you grace and then give you some more
Call out to Him, and He will abundantly pour out His grace upon you
Give you wisdom when you're in a trial like a court case
He will provide you with wisdom when you are facing challenges, just like a court case
Can't show you the pure face but you can get the pure taste goodness
We cannot physically see His pure face, but we can experience the goodness of His nature
Never running out like you're raw space
His goodness and grace are unlimited, like the vastness of outer space
All sing to the only acceptable offering
Everyone should praise and worship Him, the one acceptable sacrifice
All things reconciled by His death on the cross beam
Through His death on the cross, He has brought reconciliation to all things
With blood that was clean, and blood that 'ca-ching!'
His blood was untainted and had the power to redeem and save
He purchased men so that must mean worship the King
He has bought and saved humanity, and therefore, we should worship Him as our King
God the Son, the only One with a plan to redeem
Jesus, the Son of God, is the only one with a plan to bring redemption
Stronger than the Army-Navy, Air force, and the Marines
He is more powerful than any military force or strength
Elohim the A to Z and all that's in between
He is the all-encompassing God from A to Z, in control of everything in between
The Supreme who could have let us fall yet intervened
He is the Supreme God who could have let us perish, but mercifully intervened
Called the elect made sure we accept
He has called and chosen His elect, ensuring that they accept His offer of salvation
Roots us in Christ so we can grow like a chia pet
He establishes our foundation in Christ, allowing us to grow and flourish like a chia pet
So hail the King, priest and prophet
Let us honor and praise Jesus, who is both our King, High Priest, and Prophet
The inexhaustible topic The Person
He is the never-ending subject of discussion - the very essence
Of God you can peep with your optic
You can catch a glimpse of God through your own perception and observation
In the eyes of this world my life is trife
In this world's perspective, my life appears troublesome and fruitless
They don't understand when I say I've died to Christ died to my rights
They cannot comprehend when I declare that I have surrendered myself to Christ and renounced my own desires
Livin' selfless, render myself helpless
Living without selfishness, I willingly make myself vulnerable and dependent
Trustin' God, set my heart where his eternal wealth is
Putting my trust in God, I focus my heart on the eternal riches He offers
What else is there to live for, what else is there to hope in still
There is nothing else worth living for or hoping in apart from God
I bow to Christ with a broken will
I humbly submit to Christ with a surrendered and broken will
Becoming broken bread and poured out wine
Being broken and poured out, just like bread and wine used in communion
When seen with the natural eye authentic
When seen from a worldly perspective, authentic Christian living is seen as genuine
Christian livin' blows the mind
Living as a Christian amazes and astounds those who witness it
What validates my faith go check
If you want proof of what validates my faith, go and investigate
You'll see from the holy scroll to the codex
You will discover the evidence from the sacred scriptures to historical records
That God inspires the whole text
God is the source of inspiration for the entire biblical text
The scriptural facts will surprise
The facts found in the scriptures will astonish
And paralyze you like broke necks
They will leave you stunned and immobilized, like a broken neck
Shake up your whole set
They will shake up your entire belief system
Leave your soul vexed
They will leave your soul troubled and disturbed
I pray you dream of his holiness and wake up in cold sweats
I hope that you have dreams of experiencing the holiness of God, waking up in a state of fear and awe
Can't dissolve the mixture
No matter how strange or confusing it may be, you cannot dissolve the mixture
No matter how odd the picture
Regardless of how bizarre the situation may seem
You can't deny the God of scripture equipped with the
You cannot deny or reject the God revealed in scripture, who is equipped with
Truths that transform becoming a thorn where man swarm
Powerful truths that bring about transformation and serve as a convicting thorn amidst the crowd of humanity
We bring the real when we kingdom build upon the rock
We bring authenticity and truth to our efforts in building the Kingdom of God on a solid foundation
He's the one you can either stand on
He is the one you can choose to depend on and stand firm on
Or be the one whom he lands on
Or you can be the one who experiences the weight of His judgment
Weather the sinkin' sand storms
Endure the turmoil and instability caused by shifting sands
Until you realize there's no other God
Until you come to the realization that there is no other God
Worth taking a chance on
Worth placing your trust and faith in
We keep our hands on the plow breaking up the fallow ground
We remain committed to our task of breaking up the hardened and unproductive soil
While Christ can found seek him and follow now
As long as Christ can be found, seek Him and follow Him now
It's been told that men without
It has been said that individuals without
Christ would face insurmountable odds
Christ would encounter overwhelming and impossible challenges
And the greatest of these would be a close encounter with God
The most significant challenge would be to have a personal encounter with God Himself
(and you don't want that) even though you're free to give it a try
(and you don't want that) even though you have the freedom to attempt it
100% before the Most High
Fully exposed and accountable before the supreme God
Either live it or die
You must either fully live out your faith or face spiritual death
Cause ever since Adam sinned life was done
Because ever since Adam sinned, life was broken and destined for destruction
But thanks to Christ the Son
But thanks to Jesus, the Son of God
When Death marked us up with its pricin' gun
When Death had marked us with its price tag
Jesus came and smiled and paid
Jesus came and willingly paid the price
For us all and brought the work of sin to an
For all of humanity, and He brought an end to the power of sin
End like the child labor law
Just like how child labor laws put an end to exploiting children
When the wild and wayward saw
When the rebellious and lost individuals saw
That in Jesus God forgave us all who repented
That in Jesus, God offered forgiveness to all who turned away from their sins
And consented that our way was wrong
And agreed that our own ways were misguided
Then they saw why the truth rocks us
Then they understood why the truth has such a profound impact on us
So hard enough to work arduous
Why it is worth the effort and toil
To bogard yo just pardon us. Like the
To uphold the truth and ask for forgiveness. Similar to how
Marginous distance between mars and us
There is a huge distance and separation between Mars and us
Understand men are from dust and
We need to understand that we are made from the dust of the earth
Smart enough or large enough to harness
We are not intelligent or capable enough to control
Up and jump the marvelous distance
Or jump across the vast and incredible distance
Between us and God we just tarnish up His image
That exists between us and God, and yet we continue to tarnish His image
My mission is to open eyes
My mission is to help people see and understand
And I'm steady mobilizin'
And I am continuously working towards this goal
Because of the hope I find in Jesus, tougher than
Because of the hope I have discovered in Jesus, stronger than
Teflon, hung with the common thugs
Teflon, and yet He associated with the ordinary outcasts
Though He had more class than Upper Eshelon
Even though He possessed greater dignity than the highest of elites
I'm in love with the way He put us back together, life was broke
I am amazed by the way He has restored and repaired our broken lives
Then Christ came in handy like Black and Decker
Then Jesus became incredibly useful, like a reliable tool
The fact is pleasure could never measure up black
The truth is that earthly pleasures are inadequate and fall short
To Christ so tell us where's your treasure at
Compared to Christ, so ask yourself where your true treasure lies
This song was not on the tapes you gave us
This song was not included in the tapes you provided
So I assume that you have it and can get the lyrics
So I assume that you have access to it and can obtain the lyrics
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network
Written by: ORVILLE THOMAS, RICARDO JAMMY JAMES, VICTOR PAUL EDMUND, John James, P. Howell, Victan Edmund
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heaven's Mentality
[Intro]
Gospel Activists
It's on again
Brothers born-again
I got my crew up in here
We got a question
[Hook]
[The Ambassador]
Tell me what you came in here for
Does anybody love God anymore (x2)
[Enock]
You know who it is when we come through your town
Look around the time for salvation is now
Who got their hands on the plow
Throw your hands in the air if you down
[Verse 1: The Ambassador]
From the Philly pad
I've been servin' Christ
And now it's really bad
Nonbelievers
Are treating Jesus like a silly fad
Weak
Like the spot Achilles had
They got me really mad
Talking 'bout relationships
They never really had
Yo they kill me dag
It's not about the skills we have
Cities are sickly
It's all about the Balm of Gilead
Known for doin' things that's odd to see (Odyssey)
Like the Iliad
Like standing on top of the water
Like a lily pad
The Life-Giver
Who turns your hearts like a River
From when it was trashy
And when it was nasty
Like liver
He fills His quiver
With children
Who follow His orders
Sons and daughters
Who've been changed like
Dollars to quarters
He'll pour you grace and
Then pour you some more grace
Give you wisdom when you're in a trial
Like a court case
Can't show you the pure face
But you can get a pure taste
Goodness
Never running out
Just like you draw space
All sing
To the only acceptable Offering
All things
Reconciled by His death on the cross beam
With blood that was clean
And blood that ca-ching
He purchased men so that must mean
Worship the King
God the Son
The only One
With a plan to redeem
Stronger than the Army-Navy
Air Force and the Marines
Elohim the A to Z
And all that's in between
The Supreme
Who could have let us fall
Yet He intervened
Called the elect
Made sure we accept
He rooted us in Christ so we can grow
Like a chia pet
So hail the King, Priest and Prophet
The Inexhaustible Topic
The Person of God
You can peep with your optic
[Verse 2: Enock]
In the eyes of this world
My life is trife
They don't understand
When I say
I died to Christ
Died to my rights
Living selfless
Render myself helpless
Trusting God
Set my heart
Where His eternal wealth is
What else is there to live for
What else is there to hope in still
I bow to Christ with a broken will
Becoming broken bread and poured out wine
When seen with the natural eye
Authentic Christian living blows the mind
What validates my faith go check
You'll see from the Holy Scroll to the Codex
That God inspires the whole Text
The Scriptural facts
Will surprise you
And paralyze you
Like broke necks
Shake up your whole set
Leave your soul vexed
I pray you dream of His Holiness
And wake up in cold sweats
Can't dissolve the mixture
No matter how odd the picture
There's no denying
The God of Scripture
Equipped with the
Truths that transform
Becoming a thorn
Wherever man swarm
We bring the real
When we kingdom build upon the Rock
He's the One
You can either stand on
Or be the one
Whom He lands on
Weather the sinking sand storms
Until you realize
There's no other God
Worth taking a chance on
We keep our hands on the plow
Breaking up the fallow ground
While Christ can be found
Seek Him
And follow now
[Verse 3: Phanatik]
It's been told that men without Christ
Would face insurmountable odds
And the greatest of these
Would be a close encounter with God
(And you don't want that)
Even though your're free to give it a try
One hundred percent
Before the Most High
Either live it or die
Ever since Adam sinned
Life was done
But thanks to Christ the Son
When death marked us up
With it's pricing gun
Jesus
Came
Smiled
And paid for us all
And brought the work of sin
To an end
Like the child labor law
When the wild and wayward saw
In Jesus
God forgave us all
Who repented
And consented
That our way was wrong
Then they saw
Why the truth rocks us so hard
Enough to work arduous
And bogard
He'll just pardon us
Like the marginous
Distance
Between Mars and us
Understand
Men are from dust
And arn't smart enough
Or large enough
To harness up
And jump the marvelous
Distance
Between us and God
We just tarnish up
His image
My mission
To open eyes and
Steady mobilizing
Because of the hope I find in Him
The Rope I'm climbing
Jesus
Tougher than Teflon
Hung with the common thugs
Though had more class
Than upper echelon
I'm in love
With the way He put us back together
Life was broke
Then Christ came in handy
Like Black & Decker
The fact is pleasure
Could never measure up black
To Christ
So tell us
Where's your treasure at
Ray Ross
This is too real! The beat, the lyrics, the message behind what's being rapped...These Christian rappers really represent the truth. All their music is top notch.
nycChristian4Christ John316
Christology is still the best gospel hip-hop album ever to this day when this album came out in 1999 I was bumpin it hardcore every day, that time I had given up secular hip-hop, if anybody is looking for a christian version of Nas illmatic this is the album believe me both albums can go tap for tap
rjpalmerin79
I concur! Christolgy is the best. The Ambassador was and still is instrumental in God's Kingdom. Praise God!
Cheryl Mills
nycChristian4Christ John316 ln Total Aggrement ever since I have been turned onto hip hop rap gospel this whole jonra of music has turned me into a beast and the gym I especially love cross movement for me I want to blast it to the world let it be known Jesus Saves you can definitely have your cake your ice cream your chips and all that, PUMP IT UP GLORY, HALAYLUYAH!!!!
nycChristian4Christ John316
Cheryl Mills praise God, He's due all the glory
Renaldy Calixte
I agree Im starting a YouTube channel think I should review this project on my channel? I think Christology is comparable to not only great Nas albums from back in the day but also Ghostface or Jay-Z and thankfully the content is God-centered.
Louis Williams
I love The Cross movement music!
Denise Paul
The Ambassador is awesome. Whether it's his new albums or a classic like Christology - in Laymen's Terms he's always on point1
CheyenneNascha23
I use listen to this song everyday when I was 17 years old and I love this song and I love God and I love Jesus Christ and I love Holy Spirit and I believe in God and I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe in Holy Spirit too 😊☺️
Heaven's Mentality
[Intro]
Gospel Activists
It's on again
Brothers born-again
I got my crew up in here
We got a question
[Hook]
[The Ambassador]
Tell me what you came in here for
Does anybody love God anymore (x2)
[Enock]
You know who it is when we come through your town
Look around the time for salvation is now
Who got their hands on the plow
Throw your hands in the air if you down
[Verse 1: The Ambassador]
From the Philly pad
I've been servin' Christ
And now it's really bad
Nonbelievers
Are treating Jesus like a silly fad
Weak
Like the spot Achilles had
They got me really mad
Talking 'bout relationships
They never really had
Yo they kill me dag
It's not about the skills we have
Cities are sickly
It's all about the Balm of Gilead
Known for doin' things that's odd to see (Odyssey)
Like the Iliad
Like standing on top of the water
Like a lily pad
The Life-Giver
Who turns your hearts like a River
From when it was trashy
And when it was nasty
Like liver
He fills His quiver
With children
Who follow His orders
Sons and daughters
Who've been changed like
Dollars to quarters
He'll pour you grace and
Then pour you some more grace
Give you wisdom when you're in a trial
Like a court case
Can't show you the pure face
But you can get a pure taste
Goodness
Never running out
Just like you draw space
All sing
To the only acceptable Offering
All things
Reconciled by His death on the cross beam
With blood that was clean
And blood that ca-ching
He purchased men so that must mean
Worship the King
God the Son
The only One
With a plan to redeem
Stronger than the Army-Navy
Air Force and the Marines
Elohim the A to Z
And all that's in between
The Supreme
Who could have let us fall
Yet He intervened
Called the elect
Made sure we accept
He rooted us in Christ so we can grow
Like a chia pet
So hail the King, Priest and Prophet
The Inexhaustible Topic
The Person of God
You can peep with your optic
[Verse 2: Enock]
In the eyes of this world
My life is trife
They don't understand
When I say
I died to Christ
Died to my rights
Living selfless
Render myself helpless
Trusting God
Set my heart
Where His eternal wealth is
What else is there to live for
What else is there to hope in still
I bow to Christ with a broken will
Becoming broken bread and poured out wine
When seen with the natural eye
Authentic Christian living blows the mind
What validates my faith go check
You'll see from the Holy Scroll to the Codex
That God inspires the whole Text
The Scriptural facts
Will surprise you
And paralyze you
Like broke necks
Shake up your whole set
Leave your soul vexed
I pray you dream of His Holiness
And wake up in cold sweats
Can't dissolve the mixture
No matter how odd the picture
There's no denying
The God of Scripture
Equipped with the
Truths that transform
Becoming a thorn
Wherever man swarm
We bring the real
When we kingdom build upon the Rock
He's the One
You can either stand on
Or be the one
Whom He lands on
Weather the sinking sand storms
Until you realize
There's no other God
Worth taking a chance on
We keep our hands on the plow
Breaking up the fallow ground
While Christ can be found
Seek Him
And follow now
[Verse 3: Phanatik]
It's been told that men without Christ
Would face insurmountable odds
And the greatest of these
Would be a close encounter with God
(And you don't want that)
Even though your're free to give it a try
One hundred percent
Before the Most High
Either live it or die
Ever since Adam sinned
Life was done
But thanks to Christ the Son
When death marked us up
With it's pricing gun
Jesus
Came
Smiled
And paid for us all
And brought the work of sin
To an end
Like the child labor law
When the wild and wayward saw
In Jesus
God forgave us all
Who repented
And consented
That our way was wrong
Then they saw
Why the truth rocks us so hard
Enough to work arduous
And bogard
He'll just pardon us
Like the marginous
Distance
Between Mars and us
Understand
Men are from dust
And arn't smart enough
Or large enough
To harness up
And jump the marvelous
Distance
Between us and God
We just tarnish up
His image
My mission
To open eyes and
Steady mobilizing
Because of the hope I find in Him
The Rope I'm climbing
Jesus
Tougher than Teflon
Hung with the common thugs
Though had more class
Than upper echelon
I'm in love
With the way He put us back together
Life was broke
Then Christ came in handy
Like Black & Decker
The fact is pleasure
Could never measure up black
To Christ
So tell us
Where's your treasure at