- Channel Views: 15,858
- Total Upload Views: 857,395
- Subscribers: 49
- Joined: October 01, 2010
- Last Visit Date: 2023-05-02T15:15:00
Artist Bio
Phil Wickham remembers the first time his father heard him play a song he’d written.
He wasn’t looking for an audience, but it nevertheless caught the attention of his father—a worship pastor in their San Diego church.
“That’s actually a good worship song,” Phil remembers his father telling him. “Can I play that in our sanctuary?”
It was the first worship song Phil ever wrote. It would not be the last.
In the ten years and nine records since Phil recorded his first worship album, whatever his father noticed has caught the attention of the world at large. Wickham has a passion for using music to create a community—a place where hearts and minds are inclined as one.
“There is nothing that brings the church together like worship music,” he says. “Not only are we all singing the same truth, we’re singing the same notes. Not only the same notes, but the same rhythm. To be one of the writers who gets to create songs that are used in a corporate setting where people thinking on the same truth and worshiping the same God and clapping to the same beat—it’s a beautiful moment.”
And Phil’s new album, The Ascension, is full of such beautiful moments. Though the title calls to mind bodies gently levitating towards the stars, Phil says the inspiration was much more grounded.
“I love the Psalms,” he says. "Fifteen of them are called Songs of Ascent. (Psalm 120-134) Some scholars believe that these psalms were sung by the Jews when they would "ascend" to visit the Holy Temple three times annually for the festivals. These festivals were like massive, country-wide parties. At that time, it was known that God’s presence on earth was in the Temple. So, to be in his presence would be to go to these annual feasts, and to walk up the hill to Jerusalem. They would ascend together and walk to Jerusalem with their families and their towns. They’d sing these songs of ascent that would be songs of anticipation and excitement and remembrance and worship.”
Such Songs of Ascent were exceptionally rare and especially treasured by the Hebrews. But today, Phil believes the songs take on a different, even more beautiful meaning.
“God no longer dwells in the city or in the temple,” he explains. “But the Church has become the city. The Church has become his temple. Every time we get together as a body—whether it’s a home fellowship or in a mega-church—his temple is gathering together. He’s living inside of us, creating a special moment that’s been ordained. I wanted to write modern Songs of Ascent.”
Phil’s modern Songs of Ascent do just that—they ascend. In gently symphonic guitars, these songs pull you up, out of whatever terrestrial troubles you’re feeling, and towards the heavens. It’s an easy sensation to feel on songs like the jubilant, celebratory title track, which all but insists you chant along with his vibrant chorus. But this general feeling of buoyancy lilts along The Ascension’s quieter tracks as well, such as the gentle, stripped down “Mercy,” which sounds like a classic hymn writer’s take on a lullaby. Wickham has a way of singing the word “mercy” that makes you reflect upon its profound immensity. Not only God’s mercy for us, but the call on us to show His mercy to the world.
That's the case with "This is Amazing Grace," The Ascension's first single. "The verses are all about his majesty and what he’s done," Phil says. "What he can speak into existence and how he brings our chaos back into order, and how he makes the sinner his son and daughter. How this King of glory, through his amazing grace and his unfailing love, took our place on this cross and bore our sin. I mean, it’s the story that God has written that he’s let us all be apart of."
This is what Phil does: explores the various aspects of these core truths. He compares theology to a diamond, glittering with many different facets. “I feel like God once in a while will turn it just a little bit so I can see a different facet of it,” he says. “And then I’ll say, ‘there’s a song I want to write from that perspective.’”
That’s been the mission of all of Phil’s work. As he says, repeatedly and insistently, “The goal is to create something where people can encounter something of God.” But with The Ascension, he brings the full force of his passion to the task with a renewed sense of vigor and a bit more wisdom.
“"As I grow up I realize more and more how desperate I am for God's love and grace in my life and I am so thankful he has infinite measures of both," he says. "I really do desire more of Him in my life, more of him in me, and I think that desire is reflected more than ever in this record."
In Phil’s mind, those realizations have led to a better, more complete album.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so satisfied and excited and confident in a project,” he says. “I don’t mean ‘confident’ like it’s going to have numbers. That’s not up to me. I mean, as far as the goal of this record to write the best songs I could, I feel like we pushed ourselves to make something really special. I’m so excited to share it with people.”
And when Phil does share The Ascension, it will call the people of God to make the joyful pilgrimage up that hill. Through worship, that journey can take on a glorious and glory-giving flavor, as we realize God’s greatness and reaffirm our desire to defy the status quo. Perhaps that’s what The Ascension is really all about—casting aside what passes for normal.
"It is my hope that this record would create a desire in people to ‘Ascend.’ That it might stir up a hunger in their hearts for the presence of God. I think many times in running this race we have weights we didn't even now we had. I pray that The Ascension would inspire listeners to lay down those weights, and look forward with hope in their eyes at the glorious future that awaits all who call Jesus their King."
Phil's Website
Phil on Facebook
All Videos
Phil Wickham Albums
-
Album Tracks
- All I Am
- The Victory
- Heaven Fall Down
- Joy
- One God
- At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh)
- This Is the Day
- All I Want Is You
- God of Our Salvation
- Sun & Moon
- This Love Will Last Forever
-
Album Tracks
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Prelude
- The First Noel
- Silent Night
- O Come O Come Emmanuel
- O Holy Night
- Christmas Time
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Little Drummer Boy
- Evermore
-
Album Tracks
- Because of Your Love
- Cielo
- Heaven Song
- In My Love (Bonus Track)
- Eden (Remix) [Bonus Track]
- Great In My Life (Bonus Track)
- One Who Overcomes
- Eden
- Coming Alive
- Heaven & Earth
- The Time Is Now
- Hold On
- Safe
- I'll Always Love You
- In Your City
- Your Arrival
-
Album Tracks
- Always Forever
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Jesus Lord of Heaven
- How Great Thou Art
- True Love
- Desire
- Cannons
- I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
- Messiah
- It Is Well With My Soul
- Because of Your Love
- I Adore You
- Divine Romance
- Nothing But the Blood
-
Album Tracks
- Because of Your Love
- Cielo
- Heaven Song
- Heaven & Earth - Behind the Scenes
- Eden
- Coming Alive
- Heaven & Earth
- The Time Is Now
- Hold On
- Safe
- I'll Always Love You
- In Your City
- Your Arrival
-
Album Tracks
- Jesus Lord of Heaven
- Home
- Spirit Fall
- Must I Wait
- After Your Heart
- Desire
- Cannons
- Sailing On a Ship
- The Light Will Come
- Shining
- You're Beautiful
- True Love
-
Album Tracks
- Fall Into You
- Holy Holy Holy
- Grace
- Messiah
- Mystery
- Divine Romance
- Yours Alone
- I Will Wait for You There
- I Adore You
- Always Forever
- Crumble to Pieces
- Channel Views: 15,858
- Subscribers: 49
- Last Visit Date: 2023-05-02T15:15:00
- Total Upload Views: 857,395
- Joined: October 01, 2010
-
Artist BioPhil Wickham remembers the first time his father heard him play a song he’d written.
He wasn’t looking for an audience, but it nevertheless caught the attention of his father—a worship pastor in their San Diego church.
“That’s actually a good worship song,” Phil remembers his father telling him. “Can I play that in our sanctuary?”
It was the first worship song Phil ever wrote. It would not be the last.
In the ten years and nine records since Phil recorded his first worship album, whatever his father noticed has caught the attention of the world at large. Wickham has a passion for using music to create a community—a place where hearts and minds are inclined as one.
“There is nothing that brings the church together like worship music,” he says. “Not only are we all singing the same truth, we’re singing the same notes. Not only the same notes, but the same rhythm. To be one of the writers who gets to create songs that are used in a corporate setting where people thinking on the same truth and worshiping the same God and clapping to the same beat—it’s a beautiful moment.”
And Phil’s new album, The Ascension, is full of such beautiful moments. Though the title calls to mind bodies gently levitating towards the stars, Phil says the inspiration was much more grounded.
“I love the Psalms,” he says. "Fifteen of them are called Songs of Ascent. (Psalm 120-134) Some scholars believe that these psalms were sung by the Jews when they would "ascend" to visit the Holy Temple three times annually for the festivals. These festivals were like massive, country-wide parties. At that time, it was known that God’s presence on earth was in the Temple. So, to be in his presence would be to go to these annual feasts, and to walk up the hill to Jerusalem. They would ascend together and walk to Jerusalem with their families and their towns. They’d sing these songs of ascent that would be songs of anticipation and excitement and remembrance and worship.”
Such Songs of Ascent were exceptionally rare and especially treasured by the Hebrews. But today, Phil believes the songs take on a different, even more beautiful meaning.
“God no longer dwells in the city or in the temple,” he explains. “But the Church has become the city. The Church has become his temple. Every time we get together as a body—whether it’s a home fellowship or in a mega-church—his temple is gathering together. He’s living inside of us, creating a special moment that’s been ordained. I wanted to write modern Songs of Ascent.”
Phil’s modern Songs of Ascent do just that—they ascend. In gently symphonic guitars, these songs pull you up, out of whatever terrestrial troubles you’re feeling, and towards the heavens. It’s an easy sensation to feel on songs like the jubilant, celebratory title track, which all but insists you chant along with his vibrant chorus. But this general feeling of buoyancy lilts along The Ascension’s quieter tracks as well, such as the gentle, stripped down “Mercy,” which sounds like a classic hymn writer’s take on a lullaby. Wickham has a way of singing the word “mercy” that makes you reflect upon its profound immensity. Not only God’s mercy for us, but the call on us to show His mercy to the world.
That's the case with "This is Amazing Grace," The Ascension's first single. "The verses are all about his majesty and what he’s done," Phil says. "What he can speak into existence and how he brings our chaos back into order, and how he makes the sinner his son and daughter. How this King of glory, through his amazing grace and his unfailing love, took our place on this cross and bore our sin. I mean, it’s the story that God has written that he’s let us all be apart of."
This is what Phil does: explores the various aspects of these core truths. He compares theology to a diamond, glittering with many different facets. “I feel like God once in a while will turn it just a little bit so I can see a different facet of it,” he says. “And then I’ll say, ‘there’s a song I want to write from that perspective.’”
That’s been the mission of all of Phil’s work. As he says, repeatedly and insistently, “The goal is to create something where people can encounter something of God.” But with The Ascension, he brings the full force of his passion to the task with a renewed sense of vigor and a bit more wisdom.
“"As I grow up I realize more and more how desperate I am for God's love and grace in my life and I am so thankful he has infinite measures of both," he says. "I really do desire more of Him in my life, more of him in me, and I think that desire is reflected more than ever in this record."
In Phil’s mind, those realizations have led to a better, more complete album.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so satisfied and excited and confident in a project,” he says. “I don’t mean ‘confident’ like it’s going to have numbers. That’s not up to me. I mean, as far as the goal of this record to write the best songs I could, I feel like we pushed ourselves to make something really special. I’m so excited to share it with people.”
And when Phil does share The Ascension, it will call the people of God to make the joyful pilgrimage up that hill. Through worship, that journey can take on a glorious and glory-giving flavor, as we realize God’s greatness and reaffirm our desire to defy the status quo. Perhaps that’s what The Ascension is really all about—casting aside what passes for normal.
"It is my hope that this record would create a desire in people to ‘Ascend.’ That it might stir up a hunger in their hearts for the presence of God. I think many times in running this race we have weights we didn't even now we had. I pray that The Ascension would inspire listeners to lay down those weights, and look forward with hope in their eyes at the glorious future that awaits all who call Jesus their King."
- Phil's Website
- Phil on Facebook
Phil Wickham Captivating 'Back To Life' Live Rendition - Christian Music Videos
Massively talented and hugely popular Christian musician Phil Wickham turned in an utterly captivating and stunning live rendition of “Back to Life.”
Death is sadly something that all will experience. It’s likely that it has already touched and impacted our lives in one way or another. Whenever those instances of death do occur in our lives, when we lose a loved one, it’s a season filled with immense pain, hurt and heartache.
However, whenever someone thinks about death, they immediately think of a physical death. Yes, all will experience a physical death. Our bodies are temporary and will eventually wear out and waste away. But there is another type of being dead, one that can and does happen when someone is still alive. It’s called being spiritually dead.
In his song “Back to Life,” Phil Wickham sings about being brought back to life by the life-changing power and love of Jesus Christ. The song is about being dead spiritually, living in sin and leading a life contrary to Christ's teachings and commands.
However, Christ does spiritually bring people back to life. He freely offers forgiveness, hope, love and a future. He can take someone dead in their sin, the absolute worst sinner and bring them back to life, giving them a purpose and future.
Phil’s beautiful lyrics capture the significant change that takes place when someone turns to Christ, and He brings them back to life spiritually.
“Where was dead religion
Now, there is living faith
All of my hope and freedom
I found in Jesus name”
As Phil adds in the song, when we are brought back to life by Him, it is no longer us but Christ who lives in us. The Bible mentions that if we are in Christ, we are actually made new and become an entirely different creation.
Praise His excellent name!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
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Phil Wickham Unveils Special 'Sunday Is Coming' Hometown Version Lyric Video March 18, 2024
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Phil Wickham Encourages Everyone To Share Christ’s Message Of Love And Hope February 26, 2024
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Phil Wickham Energetic ‘I Believe’ Concert Performance February 12, 2024
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Phil Wickham ‘I Believe’ Stirring Unplugged Live Performance February 08, 2024
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'This Is Our God Gratitude' Brandon Lake And Phil Wickham Perform At Dove Awards January 10, 2024
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'Psalm 23' Phil Wickham Official Music Video With Tiffany Hudson December 29, 2023
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This Is Amazing Grace, Phil Wickham - Official Music Video 311006 views
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Phil Wickham This Is Amazing Grace OFFICIAL Lyric Video 86077 views
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Acoustic Performance Of 'Doxology/Amen' From Phil Wickham 33412 views
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Phil Wickham - Beautiful (Live) 26625 views
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Phil Wickham plays "Divine Romance" 21119 views
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'My All In All' - Phil Wickham Acoustic Performance 14192 views
Phil Wickham Albums
-
Response
October 2011Album Tracks
- All I Am
- The Victory
- Heaven Fall Down
- Joy
- One God
- At Your Name (Yahweh, Yahweh)
- This Is the Day
- All I Want Is You
- God of Our Salvation
- Sun & Moon
- This Love Will Last Forever
-
Songs for Christmas
October 2011Album Tracks
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Prelude
- The First Noel
- Silent Night
- O Come O Come Emmanuel
- O Holy Night
- Christmas Time
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Little Drummer Boy
- Evermore
-
Heaven & Earth (Expanded Edition)
August 2010Album Tracks
- Because of Your Love
- Cielo
- Heaven Song
- In My Love (Bonus Track)
- Eden (Remix) [Bonus Track]
- Great In My Life (Bonus Track)
- One Who Overcomes
- Eden
- Coming Alive
- Heaven & Earth
- The Time Is Now
- Hold On
- Safe
- I'll Always Love You
- In Your City
- Your Arrival
-
Singalong
August 2010Album Tracks
- Always Forever
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Jesus Lord of Heaven
- How Great Thou Art
- True Love
- Desire
- Cannons
- I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
- Messiah
- It Is Well With My Soul
- Because of Your Love
- I Adore You
- Divine Romance
- Nothing But the Blood
-
Heaven & Earth (Bonus Track Version)
November 2009Album Tracks
- Because of Your Love
- Cielo
- Heaven Song
- Heaven & Earth - Behind the Scenes
- Eden
- Coming Alive
- Heaven & Earth
- The Time Is Now
- Hold On
- Safe
- I'll Always Love You
- In Your City
- Your Arrival
-
Cannons
October 2007Album Tracks
- Jesus Lord of Heaven
- Home
- Spirit Fall
- Must I Wait
- After Your Heart
- Desire
- Cannons
- Sailing On a Ship
- The Light Will Come
- Shining
- You're Beautiful
- True Love
-
Phil Wickham
August 2007Album Tracks
- Fall Into You
- Holy Holy Holy
- Grace
- Messiah
- Mystery
- Divine Romance
- Yours Alone
- I Will Wait for You There
- I Adore You
- Always Forever
- Crumble to Pieces