This Is The Kingdom

Album: Lion (2022)
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Songfacts®:

  • "This Is The Kingdom" is a worship song about the Kingdom of God and the blessing of those who seek it.
  • Houseflies lead singer Pat Barrett performs lead vocals. Barrett co-wrote "This Is The Kingdom" with Elevation Church worship leader Chris Brown, Elevation lead pastor Steven Furtick and CCM songwriter/producer Jason Ingram (Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes," Lauren Daigle's "You Say").
  • Brown, Furtick, Ingram and Barrett took the two verses directly from The Beatitudes, eight blessings recounted by Jesus at the start of his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 3-10). The bridge references another part of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:33:

    But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
  • Elevation Worship recorded "This Is The Kingdom" for their 10th live album, Lion. They released "This Is the Kingdom" as a promotional single from the record on February 18, 2022.
  • The 10-minute-long song spills over into another four-and-half-minute track, "This Is the Kingdom (Flow)," filled with more spontaneous, free-flowing worship.

    "Pat carries this song so personally that it's hands down one of my favorite tracks on the album," said Chris Brown. "It was a beautiful moment the night of the recording and I'm happy that everyone gets to experience all 14 powerful minutes."
  • Other songs inspired by Jesus' eight blessings in The Beatitudes include:

    Howard Goodall's modern exploration of ancient chant, "Enchanted Voices."

    Stone Roses' Ian Brown's solo track "Crowning Of The Poor"

    Kendrick Lamar's contributions to the U2 Songs of Experience tracks " American Soul" and "Get Out of Your Own Way.

    Fanny Crosby and Phoebe Knapp's timeless hymn "Blessed Assurance " is based on the Beatitude "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

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