COTK Music is the worship ministry of Church of the King, a multi-campus church led by Pastor Steve Robinson. The team is made up of gifted songwriters, musicians, and worship leaders whose hearts beat for one thing—to help people encounter the presence of God. Their songs are birthed from within the church, often written out of moments of prayer, scripture, and the shared testimony of what God is doing in our community.
Having served for many years as one of the drummers on the worship team, I’ve had the privilege of watching several of these songs take shape. I’ve shared the stage and the prayer room with some of the songwriters who helped craft this one. One of the songs on their first EP, “You Are Holy” stands out to me as a declaration of awe—one that captures both the grandeur of creation and the intimacy of worship.
When I first heard the song in service, it felt like stepping into Revelation chapter 4. The sound was majestic, but the spirit was humble. Every lyric drew the congregation’s gaze upward, reminding us that before we ask God for anything, we’re called to adore Him for who He is.
Written by Dan Rivera, Alex Haywood, Colton Price, Chris Duvall. © 2025 Songs of Church of the King Publishing and COTKMUSICPUBLISHING
Message of the Song
The message of “You Are Holy” is simple yet profound: God alone is holy, worthy, and above all creation. From the first verse to the final bridge, the song exalts His creative power, His kingship, and His glory revealed throughout heaven and earth.
It mirrors the gospel truth found in John 3:16–21 (NIV)—that the Creator who spoke galaxies into being is also the Redeemer who entered His creation to bring us light and life. The majesty of God’s holiness is not distant; it’s revealed through Jesus Christ. As Romans 5:9 (NIV) declares, “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” The worship of heaven is accessible to us because of the cross.
And like 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 (NIV), which proclaims the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the heart of the gospel, “You Are Holy” celebrates His victory by calling every believer—and all creation—to bow in reverence before the risen King.
Biblical Alignment
The first verse—“Mountains rise, stars align, earth responds as You speak”—draws directly from Genesis 1 and Psalm 33:6, reminding us that the world was formed by the Word of God. The next line, “Started time, started life, nothing’s out of Your reach,” reflects Colossians 1:16–17, affirming that all things were created by and through Christ. The verse then magnifies God’s incomparable holiness with the line, “Power that ignites the sun to shine,” a vivid reflection of Isaiah 40:26 (NIV), where God calls each star by name through His great power. This naturally leads to the confession, “Set apart, there’s no one like You God,” aligning with Exodus 15:11 (NIV): “Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness?” The verse culminates in a collective response of awe—“We cry”—mirroring the biblical pattern that when God’s holiness is revealed, worship is the only fitting reply.
The second verse shifts focus: “Armies fall, kings will bow at the glory of Jesus.” This echoes Philippians 2:10–11, where every knee will bow to Christ. The worshipful surrender in “We’ll come now, cast our crowns in the light of His presence” mirrors Revelation 4:10–11, where elders cast their crowns before the throne. The verse then turns deeply personal with the confession, “When we see Your power face to face, falling on my knees and I will say,” echoing 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV), which promises a future moment when faith gives way to sight. This posture of falling to one’s knees mirrors biblical encounters with God’s revealed glory—such as John’s response to the risen Christ in Revelation 1:17 (NIV)—where human pride dissolves in the presence of divine holiness, leaving worship as the only response.
The chorus becomes the song’s simplest and strongest confession: “You are Holy, You are Holy,” echoing the unending worship around God’s throne where His holiness is continually proclaimed (Rev 4:8 NIV). The line, “Worship is the only response,” captures the fitting posture of the creature before the Creator—our lives offered back to Him in reverence and surrender (Rom 12:1 NIV). The chorus then deepens the declaration with, “We’ll cry out,” and immediately names the reason worship is required: “You are worthy, You are worthy,” aligning with heaven’s own language of praise—“Worthy is the Lamb”—where honor is given to Christ because of who He is and what He has done (Rev 5:12 NIV). Finally, the lyric “We’re joining with the heavenly song, You are Holy” places congregational worship inside a larger spiritual reality: when the church sings on earth, it is harmonizing with the worship that already fills heaven, where holiness and worthiness are forever declared (Rev 5:13 NIV).
The bridge widens the lens from the gathered church to all of creation, beginning with the declaration, “Hear the oceans cry out and earth sings aloud,” echoing the biblical imagery of creation itself lifting its voice in praise (Ps 98:7–9 NIV). The line “As all creation gives You glory” reflects the truth that God’s glory is not confined to humanity alone, but is continually proclaimed through everything He has made (Ps 19:1 NIV; Rom 1:20 NIV). The worship then becomes personal again with, “I will join in the sound,” affirming the believer’s conscious decision to align their voice with this universal praise, much like the call in Psalm 150 (NIV) for everything that has breath to praise the Lord. The bridge then lifts the gaze heavenward with, “As angels bow down and all of heaven shouts Your glory,” drawing directly from Scripture’s portrayal of angelic worship and heavenly exaltation, where multitudes of angels and redeemed voices proclaim God’s glory in unity (Luke 2:13–14 NIV; Rev 5:11–13 NIV). In this moment, the bridge reveals worship as a convergence point—where earth’s praise and heaven’s worship meet in one continuous declaration of God’s glory.
Every lyric in “You Are Holy” is grounded in biblical truth. There’s no contradiction, no misrepresentation—just a pure proclamation of God’s glory. It’s fully biblical, not merely poetic.
Vertical or Horizontal Worship
“You Are Holy” is unmistakably vertical. Every line is directed to God, not about Him. The congregation isn’t merely describing who God is; they are declaring it directly to Him.
There’s no self-focus, no “I” statements about personal need or emotion. Instead, the lyrics elevate the congregation into God’s presence—joining heaven’s worship rather than centering on earthly experience. This is vertical worship at its best: heart-to-throne communication.
Theological Depth
This song carries both milk and meat. The simplicity of the refrain—“You are Holy, You are worthy”—makes it accessible to all. Yet its depth lies in its scriptural layers, which reveal the fullness of God’s nature.
The first-time listener receives milk—clear truth about God’s holiness. The mature believer receives meat—reminders of divine sovereignty, angelic worship, and eschatological hope. Like Hebrews 5:14 (NIV) describes, those “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” will recognize the theological richness embedded within the simplicity.
In corporate worship, the song’s structure allows time for reflection and revelation. The build from verse to bridge mirrors the ascent into the throne room. It’s not just emotionally stirring—it’s theologically grounding.
Biblical Themes
The biblical themes woven through “You Are Holy” include:
- God’s Holiness and Worthiness – Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8–11
- Creation’s Response to the Creator – Psalm 19:1–4, Psalm 98:7–9
- Christ’s Sovereignty Over Kings and Nations – Philippians 2:10–11
- Heavenly Worship and Eternal Glory – Revelation 5:12–13
- Human Surrender and Adoration – Romans 12:1, Revelation 4:10
These themes align with worship categories such as Focus on God, Adoration, Eternal Praise, Worthy of All, and Heavenly Worship.
Personal and Team Experience in Worship
I’ve played “You Are Holy” in worship services where the room seemed to shift. You could feel it—when the voices of the congregation rose with the line “We’re joining with the heavenly song,” it wasn’t just poetic imagery. It was a spiritual reality.
As a drummer, I’ve watched worshipers lift their hands, eyes closed, singing “Worship is the only response.” And that’s exactly what happened. The music faded beneath the sound of a thousand voices declaring His holiness.
In those moments, it felt less like we were leading a song and more like we were being led—drawn into heaven’s symphony. That’s the mark of true worship: when musicians disappear, and all that remains is Jesus enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3 KJV).
Final Thoughts
“You Are Holy” by COTK Music is not just another modern worship song—it’s a call to eternal perspective. It lifts the gaze of the church from the temporary to the timeless. It reminds us that worship begins and ends with God.
Every mountain, every star, every ocean—all creation declares His glory. And as His redeemed people, we join that anthem, not as spectators, but as participants in the unending worship of a holy God.
