Some Things We Can Get Excited About Series

Some Things We Can Get Excited About

I Peter 1:1-6

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Before the current baseball season began, the Atlanta braves announced that this would be a "rebuilding year". As a result I went into this season not expecting much. But when the season began they started out with 5 wins in a row. On the team Facebook page there were some naysayers who said "don't get excited it won't last!". And unfortunately they were right! But then a few weeks ago the team rallied and made it back to .500 winning 7 of 9. And those same naysayers were there saying "don't get excited...it won't last". That is just how some people are. And if they were to go on a 20 game winning streak these same "fans" would say "don't get excited...they will fall apart in the playoffs like they always do!" ...That is the nature of the game, a teams success if often unpredictable.

- In this world there are many things that will bring you down. Everyday we hear that ISIS is growing in strength. In recent weeks and months there have been people devastated by earthquakes all over the world. Some people are suffering from droughts while others are dealing with massive flooding. The economy is and has been stagnant for some time. We still have soldiers who are fighting and living in harms way. There are an increasing number for social issues and religious battles being fought in the courts. Jeff Gordon is retiring and American Idol has been cancelled!!! (Sarcasm intended). Yes, there is much disturbing news out there! But I am here to tell you today that the born again child of God has much reason to rejoice!!!

- We are told in Philippians 3:20 (that) "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ". No matter what we face in this world, it is all temporary! We are strangers and pilgrims who are simply passing through this life! Our eternal home is in heaven! Here in I Peter 1:1-6, Peter shares many reasons that the Christian can ...and should REJOICE!!! I would like to take some time today and walk through the first 6 verses of this chapter and see "Some Things We Can Get Excited About!"

- The key to this text will be verse 6, where Peter says "Wherein ye greatly rejoice" The phrase Greatly Rejoice means to be exceedingly glad, with exceeding joy. This word has the idea of someone jumping for joy!

- Anyone who knows my Father will tell you that he doesn't get excited about much of anything! No matter what you get him for Christmas he will be very grateful, but don't expect much emotion. He loves sports but he is not the type to go crazy at a ball game. But every now and then (usually when he is watching Alabama football) he will get so excited that from the sitting position he can jump 3 feet into the air, cross his legs and land Indian style in his recliner. Sometimes...even the most reserved of people will get so excited that they cannot hide it! I am here to tell you, if you are truly born again there are some things to get excited about! And when you look to the scriptures and see what Jesus has done for you that excitement may boil over and spill out for the world to see!!

- In these 6 verses we see some things that the Christian can get excited about.

i. We Can Get Excited About Our Privilege

ii. We Can Get Excited About Our Hope

iii. We Can Get Excited About Our Inheritance

iv. We Can Get Excited About Our Security

- Obviously there is much more that we can rejoice about... but we don't have time to even scratch the surface. So let's just start in verses 1-2 and see that:

I. We Can Get Excited About Our Privilege v1-2

- There is no greater privilege than being a child of God. The fact that we could not get to Him, so He came to us is indescribable! The fact that He initiated this relationship is incomprehensible! And in these verses Peter reveals some exciting facts about our great privilege. Consider:

A. We Have Been Chosen - v1 ¶Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,

- Peter addresses this Epistle to the "strangers who were scattered". The literal word is "sojourner". - He is speaking specifically to the Jews who had been scattered as a result of persecution. But this also refers to the fact that they were strangers and pilgrims in this world. Notice verse 2 "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father". - Here Peter declares that God knew them and chose them long ago. What a great privilege! My dear Christian friend, we too have that same privilege. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth, our citizenship is in Heaven and we have been chosen by the Father! - Paul makes this verse clear in - Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: