Excited for Christ
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
How many of you are excited about Christmas? We sometimes get wore out with the whole idea of Christmas.
We hear Christmas music for literally two months, we bombarded with places we have to go to. There is all the rearranging and decorating of the house. Not to mention all the gifts that we have to buy.
There is just so much, that by the time Christmas is actually here, we aren’t excited about Christmas, we are just relieved it is over with.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Christmas is a special time. It really should be a reminder of Jesus coming into this world for us. But let’s be real, Christmas has taken on a more worldly persona.
It’s not about remembering that this is the Lord’s Birthday, it is more about the wrapping, lights and tinsel.
We have filled Christmas with so many other things, that we have lost the excitement.
But even more we have lost the excitement over Jesus. We have so many things to do all throughout the year now, that we lose our excitement in coming to church. We’re not excited about serving anymore. We’re not excited about singing anymore.
Oh, we may come to church, but it’s usually with the idea of “we have too” instead of “we want too”
Maybe this is you, maybe you can relate to that sentiment. No longer excited, but just coming because you know it is what you are supposed to do. And I think this is something we all can ask ourselves, where is our excitement for Christ?
[Read Scripture]
I believe this scripture helps us focus in on how we can regain our excitement. Think about what we read here.
Point 1. (vs 1) We don’t need to focus on the difficulties when we are coming to see Jesus.
(The wisemen didn’t allow distance to deter them from coming to see the Lord.)
· Are we allowing things to distract us from what we should be looking at?
· Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth do easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”
· The wisemen put away the distractions and they made it their intent to come see Christ.
Point 2. (vs 2) What is it that we are following, is what we are following, bringing us closer to Jesus.
(The wisemen were following a star that guided them to Jesus.)
· Following the wrong things will take away the excitement for Jesus.
· Matthew 4:19 “Jesus said, follow me…”
· Some of us are not excited because we are under conviction. And you are too prideful to let go and quit following the wrong thing.
Point 3. (vs 10) For us to find our excitement for Jesus, we have got to get back on the right path.
· It is easy to get off course, but it is wonderful to know that we can get back on track.
· John 14:6 “Jesus said, I am the way…”
· Think about how excited when these men saw that star again? They were on the right path.
Point 4. (vs 11) Excitement is found when we are focused on Jesus, and we truly worship him.
· Jesus is a baby, he is a little child – scared of a baby
· I think we are so scared to worship Jesus, because we are too focused on the sin that we have committed.
· This is the great news about what Jesus has done, he has forgiven you, quit beating yourself up for what you have done, and just worship Jesus Christ for who he is.
· John 4:42 “…this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
Point 5. (vs 11) How exciting it is to give to Jesus what he has given to us.
· There should be excitement in what we can give to Jesus.
· 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
· You will never find the excitement for Jesus in your life, if you are not willing to give to him.
What excites you today? Is it Jesus or is it something else? If you want to be excited and happy with coming to church and following Jesus, then maybe its time to quit looking at everything else and just fix your eyes on him.