The Importance of Worship songs: Never Would Have Made It

Scripture: (Isaiah 25:1) O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Worship is the showing of reverence and adoration for God. Worship is an action word. When a person is worshipping, emotion is displayed. Just like hymns, worship songs are designed to be sung and expresses the worshipper’s attitude toward God or God’s purposes in human life. When worship songs are sung, the worshipper may have closed eyes and lifted hands. Some people may even cry because they are filled with emotion. Worship songs differ from praise songs usually in tempo but both are designed to honor God. These songs can be birthed out of pain, joy, or simple adoration. And in the midst of these situations, God speaks to the writer. Marvin Sapp’s, ‘Never Would Have Made It’ was birthed out of pain. At a time when he believed he was alone; God spoke to him. Here’s the story.

On September 29, 2006, Marvin Sapp’s dad died. Marvin was very close to his dad. His dad provided musical, spiritual, and emotional guidance to him throughout his life. It was Marvin that was responsible for his father’s funeral arrangements. Nonetheless, three days after the burial, Sapp was back in his church where he was the Pastor. Marvin said that the song, Never Would Have Made It, was created by divine inspiration right at that moment in the pulpit. Sapp recounted, “The Lord said to him, ‘Marvin, there’s something you need to understand. Although your father isn’t with you physically, I will never leave you nor will I forsake you. I will be with you always even until the end of the earth’. Sapp then picked up his Bible and went to the pulpit. With his heart heavy over the loss of his dad and with God assuring him that He was there for him, Sapp grabbed the microphone and started singing. (songfacts.com)

Never would have made it
Never could have made it, without You
I would have lost it all
But now I see how You were there for me

And I can say; Never would have made it
Never could have made it without You
I would have lost it all
But now I see how You were there for me and I can say

I’m stronger, I’m wiser
I’m better, much better
When I look back over all You brought me through
I can see that You were the one I held on to

I never (never would have made it)
No, I never (never could have made it without You)
I would have lost my mind a long time ago
If it had not been for You
I made it through my storm
And my test because You were there
To carry me through my mess

Right at the moment, God spoke to Marvin Sapp and that song was what came pouring out of his heart. Ironically, this was the first song Sapp wrote and his greatest hit. Wow, in that moment God assured and provided for him. That song, touched many and for different reasons. Worship is personal and active. Often, we are moved by the melody and the words of the song, but in true worship we are moved by the Spirit, the melody and words are secondary. With hands lifted and a heart open, a worshipper enters into a personal space with the Lord and in that place what others think don’t matter, where you are doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the outpouring of adoration and reverence to the Lord. The only thing that matters at that moment is your relationship with the Most High.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the ability to worship You. Your Word instructs us to praise You. It tells us why we should praise You. It tells us to use instruments to praise You. And it tells us who should praise You. Lord, thank You for the personal and corporate worship time we have with you. Thank you for the song writers, singers, and musicians that have been used by You. Your works are so good that we don’t have enough breath or time to honor you sufficiently. Thank You for accepting our worship. We love You, Lord. We adore You, Lord. We worship You, Lord. And we thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

(by Patricia Towns)