In an industry where recording artists commonly pay top-dollar producers to create a sound for them, Matt Papa shines all the brighter as one of the rare, raw musical talents. Whether shredding on guitar, crafting a melody on piano, or pouring out his soul vocally, Matt brings something truly fresh and creative to this ever-commercialized art. What’s more is that Matt actually has something to say. Whether between songs in a concert or through writing his lyrics, Matt delivers a clear and persuasive message to move his listeners toward the Word and graces of God. Spend any time talking with minister/artist Matt Papa, and one thing becomes immediately apparent: He’s clearly a man on a mission.

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 along 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.
“Hallelujah, Our God Reigns” is the first song on the album and grabs your attention immediately with the piano intro and rock beat. I got the chance to speak with Matt and this is what he shared with me about the song. You can listen to our entire interview here.

Please tell me about the background in writing the song "Hallelujah, Our God Reigns."

I read The Knowledge of The Holy by A.W. Tozer, an incredible book that goes through 20 or 30 attributes of God. I was inspired after reading the book to write about God’s attributes. The concept of the album Your Kingdom Come and the song title “Hallelujah, Our God Reigns” are a paradox in that God reigns over the earth but people who don’t know Him don’t acknowledge God’s authority over their lives. I wrote the guitar riff for the song first, but then I thought I needed 'kick butt' lyrics to go along with the riff.

Do you have a life verse or any verses you used in writing the song?

An example of Jesus ‘kicking butt’ is Revelation 19, with Jesus on a horse with a sword in His mouth and a ‘tattoo’ on His leg. To me, the guitar riff represented the attitude of Jesus coming back to reign on earth.

What's the takeaway message for listeners regarding the song?

The song is a good lead-in to the message of the album, that God reigns but there are over a billion people in the world who don’t know Jesus. The messages on the album illustrate God’s heart for the world and that Jesus is coming back soon. The Spirit of God is moving in His people to spread the Gospel to every corner of the earth. I believe we need to live for that mission and share His message with non-believers that God’s Kingdom is coming. I want this album to fuel the great commission, to challenge and call the church to ‘be the church’.

Here are the lyrics of the song:

Holy, Holy
Is the Lord Almighty

Infinite God, Great Mystery
Dwelling in Light which no man can see
Consuming Fire, lofty and near
Gentle and Strong, due both love and fear

Who was and is and ever shall be
Hallelujah for our Lord God almighty reigns
Just and Holy, He is worthy, Our God Reigns

Faithful and True, All-Righteous Judge
With eyes of fire, He is coming to the earth
Word of God, with fury and with sword
He is King of kings, He is Lord of lords

Who was and is and is to come
Hallelujah for our Lord God almighty reigns
Just and Holy, He is worthy, Our God Reigns

Almighty, All-knowing, Ever-loving, never changing
Transcendent, self-sufficient, self-existent, ever-present
Sovereign maker, jealous Savior, Righteous Father, Holy Spirit
Unchanging, unfailing, never-ending, everlasting

Hallelujah our God reigns
All glory and honor be unto the Lamb
Forever and ever and ever Amen

I feel that this album is meant to be experienced in the order that the songs are arranged. Worship starts out with revelation and ends with response. This song kicks off the concept of Jesus ‘kicking butt’ and creates a worshipful mood. Worship is a rhythm of revelation and response. During my interview, Matt Papa quoted Matt Redman saying “no one can sing of things they have not seen." This song really sets that mood.

You can listen to Matt talk about the song here.