TITLE:  Let’s Get Excited
TEXT:  Acts 19:23-27
PROPOSITION:  Enthusiasm brings about change.
QUESTION:  Which?
KEY WORD:  Emotions
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. Some remove all emotion from religion – cold, study, decide
2. Some make religion all emotion – no facts, no faith, just feelings

 Enthusiasm

1. Word means – God inside you
2. Religion should be “God in us” = Enthusiasm
3. Some go to an extreme
   1. Jim Jones – mass suicide
   2. Cult groups
   3. Radical – Muslim; Radical – Christian; Radical – Jews
   4. Mohammed invasions and the Crusades Inquisitions
4. Without a firm grounding in truth – enthusiasm is destructive

 Motivation

1. Motivation leads to change
2. Jesus motivated people to turn their lives around
3. Our text – stop worshipping idol of Diana, worship Jehovah
4. The mark of a true church is the impact on people
   1. Multitudes of programs mask spiritual emptiness
   2. Are people being changed?
   3. Is there evidence of repentance?

 Disturbing

1. Those who don’t change – react.
2. Silversmiths and people –
   1. Worshipped a chunk of a meteorite – as a fertility goddess
   2. Her temple was a wonder of the ancient world
3. They resisted the idea of change –
   1. They want to stay the same – don’t rock the boat
   2. As we grow stronger in faith – some friendships and habits must change

 Emotions

1. Emotions are God’s gift to us
   1. They make us human
   2. No emotions = a machine
2. Emotions are an important part of faith
   1. Salvation = JOY
   2. NT emphasis on joy, love, glad, control anger, not hate, love
3. There is a drawback to being TOO rational
   1. Too much emphasis on knowledge – lose the emotional feeling
   2. Too much emotional emphasis – lose an understanding of God’s will
4. Place of emotions
   1. Some see emotions as the caboose – the end of the process
   2. Actually – the coal car – the fuel for the engine

When God is alive in our heart – there is excitement.

1. Early Christians were known for their excitement
2. Earthquake in Mexico City – small boy (8) started selling postcards for 25 cents.
3. “I’m raising one million dollars”
4. “Are you raising all that by your self?”
5. “No my little brother is helping me.”

 Ignorant Zeal or Excited Faith?

1. Jesus had a zeal for God’s house – John 2:17
2. Paul was zealous for the Pharisees – Acts 22:3 Galatians 1:14
3. Jews were zealous but lacked knowledge – Romans 10:2
4. Zeal is good; if consistent, for good reason – Galatians 4:18