Alive Youth Church Weekly,
PRAISE PARTY last week! I can't even describe what a bummer it was for me to miss it. But i only heard amazing things. I love how God is moving at AYC each week!
We love seeing you every Sunday night at 6:30pm for the best night of the week!!
No matter what we are doing, its always great to see YOU!
Reminder that AYC is here for you. You've got people and a God that loves you. Don't hesitate to reach out to a leader or the AYC Instagram (@Alivewsfc) for anything and everything at all!
!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS !!
- Baptisms: January 25th @ Main services 9 & 10:45am (talk to a leader if youre interested in taking that next step in your faith)
- Superbowl Sunday: Febuary 8th - NO YOUTH GROUP ): Everyone say "BRUH"
Enjoy the game, and more realistically enjoy the snacks. We will see you the following week!
Let's get into it:
When Praise Fills the Room EVERYTHING Changes
God's presence changes everything.
I am reminded of a story in the Bible. Paul, the guy responsible for many of the books in the New Testament, had a real encounter with Jesus that completely changed his life. He partnered with a man named Silas, and together they traveled to spread the gospel.
In Acts 16, we are given a powerful picture of praise and the power of God.
Paul and Silas were beaten, chained, and thrown into prison for telling people about Jesus. Instead of complaining or giving up, they prayed and praised God right in the middle of their suffering. That moment of praise led to a miracle. An earthquake shook the prison, doors were opened, and their situation was completely changed.
They praised God in one of the worst moments of their lives. Their praise opened the door for God to move, and He changed everything. Their praise opened the door for God to literally open the door of the prison. I love that.
Chains were broken. Shackles that once held Paul and Silas down were destroyed. The prison doors that kept them trapped were shattered. And it all began with praise.
This story makes me think... We may have a praise problem.
Many people see praise as a warm up.
Something we do before the real stuff starts.
And this might be a result of modern church culture and how our services are built.
We show up. Worship starts. People are still walking in. Worship ends. Then we settle in for the message and head out to continue our day.
We have been conditioned to think three or four songs of praise is enough before moving on to the next thing. We are blessed to worship together each week, even if its one song. But, how we view it is whats important.
Praise is not a warm up.
Scripture makes that clear.
Praise is the real stuff. The real deal.
The Bible never treats praise like background music or a lead up to something more important.
It's the main event, and it should be happening anywhere, and everywhere. Not contained to 3 songs on a sunday, 8 songs on a praise party night at youth. Anywhere and everywhere.
So, what is really happening when we praise?
It says in Psalm 22:3.
“God inhabits the praises of His people”
He lives in our praise. When we praise we invite God. And lets be clear, he's already there, he's at the door, praise just prepares our hearts for Him. Prepares us for when He begins to work.
He steps into our prisons, breaks our chains, and brings real deliverance. Praise is the key that unlocks the door to our heart and creates a space ready for Him.
Take a closer look at Acts 16 with me.
Paul and Silas were beaten, bleeding, and locked in prison. A moment where all hope felt gone. What looked like the end of the line. I am not going to pretend I know what prison is like, but I can imagine their prison cell had no fancy worship lights. No band. No group of believers surrounding them.
It was probably dark. Cold. Dirty. And honestly the last place I would ever think to praise God.
But at midnight, Paul and Silas did not complain.
They did not ask "why God".
instead they praised.
And God was there.
Let’s make one thing clear about Paul and Silas.
Praise did not change their situation.
God did.
Praise invited Him in.
Ask yourself, what prison in your life do you need to invite praise into right now?
Oof, what a lesson we can take from Paul and Silas. To praise even when we dont feel like it. Fighting every other voice in our world that tells us if we dont want to do something then you dont have too, if we dont feel it then its not true. I could stop right here and let that be the lesson to take away. But dont worry, there is more.
The Bible calls praise a sacrifice. (Hebrews 13:15)
Sacrafice means it costs something.
Anyone can praise when life is good.
But can you say:
"I will worship even when I do not understand."
"I will praise even when I am hurting."
"I will lift my hands before the breakthrough happens."
Lets all be real hear for a second. Sacrifice is a scary word. I do not wake up excited to sacrifice. I would be suprised if anyone was. It is not comfortable. It is not easy. But it is necessary.
When we change how we see praise, what it is, what it does, and what it requires from us, we begin to live in the power it holds.
What sacrafice is God challenging you with today?
Scripture is full of praise. Its one giant praise book. All pointing towards the glory of God. We see the word prasie over 300 times throughout the Bible. And thats just the word, not to meantion the hundreds of other instances, themes, and ideas about praise we see. I'm smart enough to know that when something is repeated, its important. Thats why come camp season you'll hear about it nonstop...
Summer camp July 6-10. There's the first one of many for you.
But for real... Praise is everywhere.
2 Chronicles 20. Yes, praise shows up in the Old Testament too.
The Israelites were at war and about to step into battle. As they approached the enemy, Scripture says they declared
"Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever."
And then it says
"As they began to sing and praise, the Lord entered the battle."
They praised before the victory, not after.
They praised in the unknown.
They praised while they were afraid.
Here is the lesson.
Some battles need more praising.
Some battles need less of our effort and more God.
What battles are you facing right now?
How can you praise first? Allowing God into your battle.
Praise is a sacrafice, praise is a need, praise isnt a warm up, praise is our only option. Because when we praise:
- God fills the room
- His Spirit fills us
- Fear loses its grip
- Faith rises
- Chains are broken
- Battles are won
Don’t wait for the room to feel right
Be the one who fills it with praise.
At youth group.
At home.
In your car.
In your hardest moments.
Cause when praise fills the room... When praise fills your heart...
Everything changes.
Be with God this week AYC, make time for praise beyond Sundays, see you all soon!
-Isaac Fehlen
Youth Pastor
W-O-W !!!
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