He’s baaaaaaaaack… I’m talking about Jonathan Nelson, with his new single, “Expect the Great.”
Along with his group, Purpose, Nelson made waves through the gospel and CCM industry with “My Name Is Victory,” a few years back. “Expect the Great” is a worthy follow-up and an exciting preview of what we’ll hear when his new album is released later this year. I trust that choirs and praise teams across this U. S. of A. will be singing it en masse, and the slogan “expect the great” will run like wildfire.
In short– it’s more than dope.
For your listening pleasure, I’ve added it to the PunditPlayer.
And make sure you leave a comment so that Jonathan knows what you think of the new single.
I like! Nice lead single! Thanks for sharing Bro. E.J.!!!!
It is cool, it has a good hook. But only a B for me. I do like the arrangement and all the horns are a great touch. The blessing is on you part of the song could have been a whole other song.
Def a nice single! Great for choirs (I'm picky about P&W selections being about God and not people). He may be living in FL now but he's still reppin Bmore properly! Great Job!
I like it!! The horns are on point.
Great to see him back Brent Harvey Executive Producer / Co-Founder Hollywood Music In Media Awards Awards
I LOVE IT,He never disappoints.
Take notes Juanita Bynum THIS is how you make a proper comeback...
Hey, v4c: You said what I was thinking but in a much nicer, diplomatic way, esp. this part: "selections being about God and not people". I'm just saying: will gospel music ever get back to talking about WHO Jesus is versus what we can get from Him?
Great song. Excellent vocals, NASTY, NASTY HORNS. Unlike so many, this song actually has a discernible HOOK.
@v4c & tam tam (formerly ME... but this new comments app wont allow 2 letters) I just wanted to offer this thought. I actually believe P&W can also include songs about people. Praise is toward the Father. Worship I believe is our acknowledgment of who He is to us and what we recognize Him to be in our lives. As Christians, we worship Him with how we live and respond to Him. So In my opinion, worship can be "God, i'm financially strapped, but I believe You are God of provision and You will bless me." Now that's different than the whole prosperity teaching of, I want a bigger house and car because I'm not content with what You've already given me. Its simply saying, God, u are a provider so i ask for provision oh God of my life.
Just like we were taught to pray by first acknowledging who He is. (our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...) Then we were guided to petition Him (give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us...etc) Then praise (For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory...etc) I believe we can apply that as well to praise and worship music as long as its lyrically sound and intentional (which is a whole other topic). So again, just wanted to offer that view of what can be sung since we call it Praise AND Worship... Just my opinion tho.
@Ohmy ...lool now why did you have to bring 'Nita into this....lol
So noted.... maybe another way to look at it is in the distinction between the outer court and the inner court. Simply, the closer to the inner court/Holy of Holies one is, the less it is about flesh and circumstances, being financially strapped, what we want to get from Him, etc. and more and more about Who He is, what we can give Him (honor, glory, majesty, love, intimacy, etc)... the purity of His existence, the essence of His very being. I think this is what is lacking in this current phase of the gospel music genre, esp. the subgenre of praise and worship.
exactly... and i WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree that a lot of gospel music today is... well, less just say lyfically... we are lacking substance and we are pretty much repeating the same cliches OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN... This J. Nelson song is ok... doesn't move me, but then again, much of gospel music doesn't move me these days. But this is a motivational song and people like pep talks.
Hey Me! I hear ya. But, I'd really rather not focus on what I've come to get from God as soon as I walk through the church doors. Do I want things from Him? Of course! :-) But that's not why I go to church. I go to GIVE and be a blessing. What I get is a plus. So, when I walk in the door, I'm right at the beginning of the Lord's Prayer...and I want to stay there for about 30 minutes, lol. I don't think it's a sin to sing this song during P&W. But as a PT leader, I wouldn't pick it...simply my preference. I would teach it to my choir though!
I COULD NOT have said that better! But those songs don't sell. Those songs don't get us as emotionally charged. It's the sad state that the church is in. We don't trust that lingering in that place also meets our needs as a bonus. Like my Bishop said recently, "It's in your worship!" But I really like the song and I'm sure it will do well. Lord, knows I'm expecting a great blessing in my life!
I guess I'm confused. It seems like people who need the most have the biggest problem with prosperity. He's actually singing Word!! God's Word talks more about money than any other topic. Not in the vain sense, but there is a great importance and need for these things. For one thing Proverbs 13:22 says " A GOOD man leaves an inheritance for his children's children." I think it's safe to safe that the majority don't qualify to be considered a good man, because we don't have an inheritance set aside. That's Godly!!! The word also says that a man that doesn't provide for his family is worst than an infidel. Worship is not just in the words we sing but in our ability to actually DO what God requires. What happens on SUnday means little in the scheme of things. This song has blessed me. I'm Expecting More so that I can fulfill his command to leave my grandchildren blessed.
And not to make it personal, but my mother and father divorced very recently. He is a pastor and she is the first lady. Do you know what the cause was? Finances!! (Now that's not the case with everyone, but statistically it's high up as one of the causes for divorce-even in the church). I can only imagine how different things would have been if this word was actually lived out rather than sung on Sundays. Let's get out head out of the clouds. Yes we are seated in heavenly places. We need balance in the church. And in my experience I have not seen that balance. My goal is to live a balanced life before God, so that He can say 'Well Done'!!! -And even that Well Done came from a scripture talking about money. Even the Word says money answereth all things. But the LOVE of it is the root of all evil. So we don't worship money, but we use it for his glory!! God bless!!
In my humble opinion with respect to yours, I don't think the problem lies with anyone not understanding what the bible says about prosperity. It's only that we've heard this SAME TOPIC billions of times before in gospel music & within the walls of the church. So much so, that now most of us are just ready to move beyond it. It's like going to school & staying in one grade for 50 years, when we know that we should have made progress years ago. There's more to know about God than just his "blessings" to us. We ALL need finances on a day to day basis & I would think that we all want to be prosperous. But I also think that it's high time to focus more on what WE can give God & starting worshiping him for WHO he is, not always for what he does or can do. Just my thoughts :) Oh. by the way I like the song...those horns are killing!
There is nothing wrong with praising God for what He provides to us on the daily basis...and I don't think anyone is saying that. We need to be encouraged and reminded from time to time that God is our provision. I think what was said is that there's an IMBALANCE in gospel music in general...more of a focus on what God can do for us and less focus on being in awe of who God is. And none of that takes away from the song...I've been singing it since I listened to it! This is a really good song. I'm sure Jonathan has a perfectly balanced CD...as he normally does. That "Capacity/Only You/How Great is our God" Medley ushers me right to the throne room EVERY TIME I HEAR IT! "God erupt inside of me/inhale, exhale/freely breathe into me"...YES, LORD!
During Praise and Worship we are more effective by repeating his word to him The "Bible" this song is talking about the word in the book of Ephesians 3 chapter. God mysterious plan being revealed in paul's life. The it goes on further to show how Paul prayed for spiritual Growth. (see the scripture below). So yes this song can be sang during praise and worship.. It's an affirmation of WHO HE IS... and WHAT HE CAN DO, as well as WHAT HE HAS DONE. Expect the Great is an affirmation of FAITH. How can you "Praise and Worship with out faith.. Actually when we really think about it our opinions don't matter. It's all God's word and people are on different levels.. God gave this to Jonathan for someone to hear and be blessed.. If anyone is beyond that point fine but keep on living. We all in a storm or coming out of one or about to go into one. This song will be your declaration one day as long as you keep on living. Then wait till the rest of the album come out and you will see that there are songs on there with plenty of balance!!! the project is GREAT let just accept that. Scripture below if anyone wants to read it.. No word!!! no Opinion!!! "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
I REFUSE to play into the "prosperity player hating" that is being asserted here. Without question, I like to look good, drive good, smell good, taste good, etc. And I also believe that a man who doesn't work doesn't eat. And I also believe that my God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. So my criticisms have nothing to do with hating prosperity. And it's a stretch to say that he's singing "The Word". He's singing a message from the Word, which is ok, but it's even better to sing THE WORD because then there's no room for (mis)interpretation. With all of that said, I defer to busy04 and Mia_v4c's well-stated posts on the matter because my tact filter stopped working this morning.
I LOVE THIS SINGLE..GREAT JOB JONATHAN.
The "blessing is on you" vamp gives me CHILLS!!! Instrumentation, Lyrics, and Vocals are TIGHT! Purpose came correct; however, I'm not crazy about the outro. Solid first single!!!
Awesome single! Love it!! Thank you for sharing. What a talented family! I am expecting the GREAT!