TITLE: I’M SO EXCITED
TEXT: PSALMS 122:1
INTRO: In the 80’s there was a song that said:
“I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it;
I’m about to lose control;
and I think I like it.”
We have come here today to Celebrate the presence of our God in our lives. We have a reason to be excited today. We don’t need to hide it, and if we get out of control, I think not only will we like it but I feel like it would please God.
ILL. Joy, Worship: Don’t grin in church
In church one Sunday a small child was turning around smiling at everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, humming, tearing the hymnbooks apart, or rummaging through his mother’s purse. He was just smiling. Suddenly his mother jerked him around, and in a stage whisper that everyone could hear, and said, "Stop that grinning. You’re in church." With that she gave him a slap on his thigh, and as the tears rolled down his cheeks she added, "That’s better," and returned to her prayers.
David was a man that was excited about God, a man who was stirred in his Spirit by the things of God. The day the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem he celebrated, he danced in the streets before the Ark “with all his mighty.”
We have a reason to be excited today
ILL. HAPPY TO GO TO THE FUNERAL
A woman testified to the transformation that had taken place in her life through her Christian conversion:
"I’m so glad I got religion!" she declared. "I have an uncle I used to hate so much I vowed I’d never go to his FUNERAL! But now - why, I’d be happy to go to it ANY TIME!"
I. Things That Excite Us
1. New Things
A. Everyone likes new things
- New clothes; we cannot wait to wear
- New car; That smell
- New baby; Everyone has just got to hold
B. Why?
- Because they are fresh
- They are untarnished
C. When we made our way to God we were:
- Dirty
- Stained
- Abused by the sin of this world
D. God didn’t just apply some BONDO on our dents
E. He didn’t just slap some KILTZ over the stains and scars that sin had left on our lives
F. He didn’t cover up but He removed the imperfections and replaced every part of me
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.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Colossians 3:9 seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Ill. The old song we would sing in kids church “Take off the old robe and put on the new”
G. What a reason to be excited today; that in our lives everything has been made new
2. Love excites us
A. We all enjoy that warm feeling that washes over us when we experience being loved.
B. Puppy love is not what I am referring to, but Real Love
- Puppy Love is nice but it doesn’t last
- Real Love sees beyond our flaws and imperfections and loves us in-spite of all our short comings.
- Real love endures a life time
C. This is the kind of love that God expressed on Calvary
- “Father forgive them…”
- John 3:16
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
D. We were so undeserving “But God…”
- In the middle of our vilest state
- Though completely unworthy of His love
- God Loved us
E. What a reason to get excited and shout
- When we were unlovable He Loved us
3. Winning excites us
A. Everyone loves to win
B. Old saying “2nd place is like kissing your sister
C. When you win
- There is a thrill that fills your heart that is unmatched
- You have met the challenge before you & have come out Victorious
- We are #1
- We are the Best
- We are the champions
D. In our selves we are not able to stand against the enemy of our soul and win
E. The battle is to great for us in our on might and strength
F. What a reason to shout; what a reason to get excited
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
G. In our own strength we are not able to accomplish anything but bondage and defeat; but in my weakness His power is displayed.
2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
II. Things that happen when we are excited
1. The battles will not seem as hard
A. Just because you are excited with God does not mean you will not face battles
B. Attacks will come against you; Hard battles will stand in front of you
C. But the way you handle these battles will change
ILL. Ten spies that brought back evil report only saw problems; but Joshua and Calab were just a little bit excited. Although they too saw the Giants they also knew that what God had promised He would do.
D. When you are excited about God,
- Gloom; depression; fear; & doubt will find it hard to bring you down.
E. I am not saying that you will never have a bad day; we are not in heaven yet.
- Moses had his days of anger and frustration
· Broke the tablets that God had written on Himself
· Struck the rock
- Elijah had his Juniper tree
- Jeremiah had that day that he wanted to quit
Nehemiah 8:10; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
F. But you can face those battles and those bad days with the attitude of excitement for God because you know the ultimate
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2. Others are drawn to what you have
A. This is what Christ meant when he told us to let our light shine before men
B. When you are happy others will be drawn to you
ILL. WHAT GOD CAN’T DO
A Sunday School teacher was questioning her pupils after a lesson on God’s omnipotence. "Now children," she asked, "is there anything God can’t do?"
The Pastors son thrust his hand into the air. The teacher, feeling certain that he had missed the point of the lesson, asked half-heartedly, "Well, just what IS it that God can’t do?"
Replied the boy: "I heard dad say yesterday that even God can’t make EVERYBODY, at this church happy!"
C. When you are excited it spreads and grows in the lives of everyone you come into contact with.
ILL. Minister, Funny: THE CHAIN LETTER
The chairman of the Church Board received the following chain letter in the mail:
"This chain letter is meant to bring you happiness. Unlike other chain letters, it does not cost money.
"Sit down and make a list of five other churches that are tired of their ministers. Send a copy of this letter to all five churches on the list. Then send your minister to the church on the bottom of the list. In one week you will receive 15,625 ministers, and one of them should be a hit! Have faith in this letter.
"P.S. Please don’t break the chain. In fact, one church broke the chain, and they got their old minister back."
D. No one wants to be around old sour faced people that look like they’ve been eating green persimmons
ILL. UNDERTAKERS
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for over 30 years. At one point in his life, Justice Holmes explained his choice of a career by saying: “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted like undertakers
E. They want some one that is full of the joy of the Lord
- Who wants a doctor with a depressed attitude
- Who wants a coached with a defeated spirit
- Who wants a lawyer with a pessimistic out look
F. If what you have from God does not lift you, Excite you, Stir you to celebrate, then the world will look at you and tell you I don’t want what you have.
3. You just have to tell somebody
ILL. WHO WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN?
A Sunday School teacher was telling her class about heaven. She spoke of the happiness there, and the beauty they would see. Finally, she said, "How many of you want to go to heaven?"
Everyone put up their hand, except little Robbie.
The teacher asked, "Don’t you want to go to heaven, too, Robbie?"
"Oh yes, I do," said Robbie, "but I thought you were making up a group to go right now!"
Conclusion: We have a reason to be excited, Happy and to celebrate our Lord today, He Loves us, He made us new, and through Him we win every time. When we get this attitude of joy and excitement in our spirits we will see this church, our families, and our lives start to grow.
