Imagine all people of all races from all the world’s nations bowing down and worshiping God in the throne room of heaven.
This is what artists from the “Come Together and Worship” concert at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night envisioned.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the presence of God,” said Michael W. Smith, a singer/songwriter who has been winning Dove and Grammy awards since the 1980s.
“What is worship?” asked special guest Max Lucado to a crowd of thousands. “Worship is taking our best and giving it to God. Our goal is to be in God’s presence.”
Lucado, author of many well-known Christian books, mentioned the importance of asking God to take all of one’s problems away. He spoke about Jesus’ death on the cross as taking the place of anything wrong one does.
He also added that humans need to spend some time in prayer as a way to get right with God before beginning to worship.
Bright, multi-colored lights danced across the arena when the worship band, Third Day went on stage. They opened with guitars rocking and Smith singing along with Rich Mullin’s song, “Creed.”
“You guys are the guinea pigs,” Third Day’s lead singer Mac Powell said to the crowd. “This is our very first show on the tour.”
Powell added that God has brought them a long way since the band first began 11 years ago in Atlanta, Georgia.
After a prayer of thankfulness, Powell and the band turned up the amps on the guitars and broke out with a very powerful song called “Consuming Fire,” Third Day’s first successful song.
Third Day performed many songs from their new album “Offerings II: All I Have to Give” and from some of their older albums like “Offerings: A Worship Album” and “Come Together,” released in 2001.
Two of the songs performed were “Show Me Your Glory” and “God of Wonders.” The two were major hits for Third Day.
Halfway into the performance, there was an intermission where people had the opportunity to sign up to sponsor children in developing countries through the Christian ministry Compassion International for $20 a month.
After intermission, the stage lit up again and beckoned to the audience. Smith returned on stage with his band and background singers.
Smith performed many worship songs from his albums “Worship” and “Worship Again,” as well as older works. “Breakdown,” a patriotic song dedicated to the troops overseas was touching. Smith fired up the crowd by waving a gigantic American flag on stage with U2’s melody “Pride, in the Name of Love” playing in the background.
Smith also encouraged the crowd to sing “America the Beautiful.”
Smith finished the concert with beautiful piano playing in songs such as “You’re all I want” and “Above All.” A very talented and heavenly violinist played along to many of the songs as well, helping to create the genuine atmospheric mood of praise.
Other than herds of people filling the arena, being stuck in a long bathroom line and the fact that my allergy-infected friend racked up $6.50 on water, the concert was a blast. These were small prices to pay for a good time of revival and renewal.
This concert was also well worth the price of admission, even though I was sitting on the left of the stage, entirely in side view.
At the end of the concert, Lucado spoke about Smith and referred to him as the David of our time.
“Worship is a lifestyle,” Smith said. He said it is not just singing.
The “Come Together and Worship” tour sponsored by Celebration Concerts and Rush Concerts will continue to tour the western states until the end of May.
Stephanie Anderson is a reporter for the Web Devil. Reach her at stephanie.j.anderson@asu.edu.
