Filled with excitement
PSALMS 122:1, “ I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the LORD.”
INTRO: We sang a song some years ago that said:
Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King, Repeat….
Jesus Christ is the King of Kings.
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 "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 might.”
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
God didn’t just apply some BONDO on our dents--
He didn’t just slap some KILTZ over the stains and scars that sin had left on our lives-- 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 song we still sing today says, “Put on the Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up your voice to God…..!"
G. What a reason to be excited today; that in our
lives everything has been made new
1. New Things
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
1. New Things
2. Love
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.
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God’s desire is for us to be blessed and live a life filled with Joy, But the enemy of our soul’s desire is to keep us in the clutches of depression, fear and heartache. Today I want to tell you about the hindrances to our excitement and home to maintain our excitement.
I. Hindrances to our excitement
1. Failure to maintain a level of expectancy
A. What was on our minds this morning
- “I have to get up, it’s Sunday”
- Or “I wonder what God will do today”
- Everyday should be another day that we expect
something great from God
B. When we don’t, we cannot see God For who He Is
Creator - Savior - King of kings - Lord of
lords - Heavenly Father
C. We Focus on problems
Jobs - Bills - Relationships (Family, etc) -
Failures
D. When we ask, and look expecting, we get
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
2. Surrounded by Depressed people
A. We must come in contact with all kinds of People
- Depressed - Excited - Sad - Christian - Sinner
B. Cannot allow their lives to stop the flow of Joy
in our hearts
• “I just can’t live for God, I am surrounded by
unsaved people all day”
C. When we walk in the Joy that God brings into our
lives – we will also walk in the power and
strength to not be pulled down by others.
Nehemiah 8:10; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
A. The more time we spend with God the stronger
our relationship becomes
B. The stronger our relationship, the greater our joy
in Him
C. The greater our Joy in Christ, the greater a
threat we become to Satan’s kingdom.
2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
D. So Satan sets out to distract us from our walk
- Caught up in other things - • Work - • Kids -
• Things
II. How to maintain our excitement
ILL. Elijah must have been excited as fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. It must have stirred his spirit to hear the nation of Israel turn back to God. But after it was all over and Jezebel had made her threats it seemed that all of the life was sucked right out of Elijah.
- Have you ever experienced a mountain top
experience only to stand face to face with a
trial that destroys all of your joy and
excitement?
- We don’t have to lose our excitement
- We can keep that joy
- “This joy that I have the world didn’t give it
and the world can’t take it away”
1. Dwell in the secret place
Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place
of the most High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty.
A. It is not enough to just visit the secret place of
God.
B. Then you must dwell in the secret place of God
2. Renew your mind
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A. Think differently
Psalm 119:11Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You Your word have I
hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.
B. It is not just words it is a new way of life
C. We will never know the good will of God let alone
the acceptable or perfect will of God if our minds
are not renewed.
3. Don’t carry burdens
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you.
A. So many Christians feel that God expects them to
walk around with a long face, burdened by the
circumstances of life.
ILL. Man that joined monastery. Could only say two
words a year
1st year – Bed hard
2nd year – Food bad
3rd year – I quit
The head monk answers and says, “Doesn’t surprise me you have done nothing but complain since you have been here.”
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II. What 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
-Missed going into the promise land
- Elijah had Jezebel
- Jeremiah had that day that he wanted to quit
- Abraham –God tested him with his sacrifice
- Jacob had his Leah
- David had Goliath
- Paul had the Philippian jail
-John had the Isle of Patmos experience
-Jesus was faced with the temptations and the cross
Nehemiah 8:10; for the joy of the LORD is your
strength.
F. But you can face those battles and those bad days
with an 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 an 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. People 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 outlook
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.
