So, here are the words to the song, “Jesus your name is higher”.  I don’t have the music written out yet, but when I do I’ll try and make sure that finds its way onto here too.  

Jesus your name is higher

Verse 1

Wake us, revive us,
shake us, inspire us to believe.
Take us, mould us,
change us by your transforming love.

We are your hands and mouth and feet,
your great commission we’ll fulfil:
to tell all the world of all you’ve done.

Chorus

Jesus your name is higher,
Jesus your grace is greater,
Jesus your love has defeated our sin.
Jesus your church is listening,
Jesus your church is reaching,
Jesus, your people declaring your name.

Verse 2

Teach us, renew us,
inform us and change the way we see.
Fill us, empower us,
prepare us and send us to your world.

We are your hands and mouth and feet,
your great commission we’ll fulfil:
to tell all the world of all you’ve done.

Chorus

Words and music copyright (C) Matthew Dawkins 2009

It’s deliberately quite a simple song to learn, which makes it great for a worship slot, but the tune is also quite catchy and a good congregational anthem.  Thematically it’s about individuals coming together as the Body of the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the aim of actively demonstrating God’s love in the world around us.  God’s commission to us to spread the gospel isn’t a passive one; we need to be showing people God’s love through what we do every day, telling them of God’s passion through what we say in normal conversation.  We need to rise to the challenge and be God’s hands and feet in this land.

It’s a gathering song, speaking of our unity in Christ, so would go well at the beginning of a service.  I particularly like the end of the second verse, which says “trusting not in our own strength but in your power, saved by grace and not by what we’ve done”.  It helps us recognise how awesome God’s grace is, how he allows us into his presence despite our many failings, and the chorus invites God to “set our hearts ablaze with passion” to do his work.

Come Holy Fire

1. Every walk, every past,
gathered in your name;
fallen hearts, weary souls,
we whom you forgave.
Humbly now we bow before your mighty throne,
and recognise the power of your name.

Come holy fire,
set our hearts ablaze with passion.
Come breath of God,
fan the flames of our desire.
One heart, one mind,
we have gathered here to worship.
Closest friend, humble king,
you are worthy Lord.

2. So we turn from our sin,
drawing close to you;
set aside hopes and dreams,
we will follow you.
Trusting not in our own strength but in your power,
saved by grace and not by what we’ve done.

Chorus

3. Now to you we will sing
of your matchless grace.
Now our souls are set free
to worship in this place.
Earth and heaven open wide to praise your name,
reconciled, united in your blood.

Chorus

Copyright © Matthew Dawkins 2009.

“Come holy fire” by Matthew Dawkins is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

It’s my prayer that this song is useful.  If you like the song, please let me know and spread the word – it’s not currently associated with a publisher, so you can use it completely free of charge (for now at least).

Download the score for “Come Holy Fire” (PDF)