Let’s Get Excited Emotions are Important May 2 - PM

Two Views Some remove emotion from religionSome remove emotion from religion –Just cold, hard study –Decide to obey or not Some make religion ALL emotionSome make religion ALL emotion –No facts – just feelings

Enthusiasm Origin of the wordOrigin of the word –“God in us” –Faith leads to “God inside us” Some go to an extremeSome go to an extreme –Jim Jones – Guyana – mass suicide –Cult groups – radical extremists –Muslim invasions – Crusades / Inquisitions

Enthusiasm Our enthusiasm must be founded in the truthOur enthusiasm must be founded in the truth Without a firm grounding, enthusiasm is destructiveWithout a firm grounding, enthusiasm is destructive

Motivation Motivation leads to changeMotivation leads to change Jesus motivated people to turn their lives aroundJesus motivated people to turn their lives around Paul did the same in our textPaul did the same in our text –Stop worshipping Diana –Worship the true, living God

Motivation The mark of a church is its impact on peopleThe mark of a church is its impact on people –Multitudes of programs often mask spiritual emptiness –Are people being changed? –Is there evidence of repentance?

Disturbing Those who don’t change – reactThose who don’t change – react SilversmithsSilversmiths –Worshipped a chunk of a meteorite –Thought it was a goddess of fertility –Built a temple – wonder of ancient world

Disturbing They resisted the idea of changeThey resisted the idea of change –They wanted to stay the same –Don’t rock the boat –We have a good thing going As we grow – some relationships might have to changeAs we grow – some relationships might have to change

Emotions Emotions are God’s gift to usEmotions are God’s gift to us –They make us human –No emotions = a machine Emotions are important to faithEmotions are important to faith –Salvation should be a JOY! –NT places emphasis on joy, love, glad, control anger, not hate, do good

Emotions There is a drawback to being extreme either directionThere is a drawback to being extreme either direction –Emphasis on knowledge – lose the feeling –Emphasis on emotions – lose understanding The place of emotionsThe place of emotions –Not the caboose – the end of the process –Actually – coal car – the fuel for the engine

Is God alive in you? Early Christians were known for their excitementEarly Christians were known for their excitement If you had a cause – How would you raise a million dollars for it?If you had a cause – How would you raise a million dollars for it?

Ignorant or Excited? Jesus had a zeal for God’s houseJesus had a zeal for God’s house John 2:17 -John 2:17 - Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

Ignorant or Excited? Paul was zealous for the JewsPaul was zealous for the Jews Acts 22:3 -Acts 22:3 - “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

Ignorant or Excited? Paul was zealous for the JewsPaul was zealous for the Jews Galatians 1:14 -Galatians 1:14 - And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Ignorant or Excited? Jews were zealous but lacked knowledgeJews were zealous but lacked knowledge Romans 10:2 -Romans 10:2 - For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Ignorant or Excited? Zeal is good – if consistent with knowledgeZeal is good – if consistent with knowledge Galatians 4:18 -Galatians 4:18 - But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.

Ignorant or Excited? Are you excited about your faith?Are you excited about your faith? Is your excitement based on knowledge of the Scriptures?Is your excitement based on knowledge of the Scriptures? Are you full of enthusiasm?Are you full of enthusiasm?