I Was Glad

Ps 122:1 — I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Introduction

• excitement: a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness:
• What is convenient and what is WORTHWHILE. -- What does a slave do? What is put before him.
• Many led around by the devil, victims.

I. It is Good to be "Excited" about Good Things

• "Try not to get too excited." "Regulate your emotion."
• I would adjust my expectations so I wouldn't get disappointed. BUT with God "Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
• It is a sign that something is wrong, if we do not REJOICE when there is REJOICING (wrong where?).

Romans 12:15 — Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

• To be Excited is to experience a satisfaction and even an OVERFLOW.

2 Samuel 6:14 — And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

• At the laying of the foundation, the older generation wept, while the younger REJOICED!

• Our heart can be made FULL by God's grace, a there will be an OVERFLOW.

Exodus 18:9 — And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

• Hezekiah's Recovery [Perhaps]

Psalm 21:6 — For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

• Leah, Asher and Anna

Genesis 30:12,13 — 12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

• to be level, right, happy, blessed

• And Anna of the Tribe of Asher

Lu 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

II. Don't Get Caught Up in the Wrong Spirit, Test What You Feel with God's Word

1. Not every feeling will lead you in truth.

• You can get caught up in a feeling that could lead you away from God.
  • Israel's murmuring in the wilderness is embarrassing in hindsight.
  • In Matthew 21, "Hosanna", by Matthew 27 by largely the same crowd "Crucify Him"

Mt 21:9 — And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Mt 27:22 — Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

2. Why am I feeling what I'm feeling?

• Sometimes, I just FEEL GOOD and knowing that can be a fleeting thing, I consider the goodness of God.
• Even when Things are going wrong, if we are tuned into the right Spirit, we can be filled with hope, faith and optism instead of frustration.

3. "As God would Have it"

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

• delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, "AS GOD WOULD HAVE IT"
• Does this bring God pleasure? REJOICE

III. You cannot Live off a Spiritual High, but you Can use it to get some Momentum

• Pray, sing, rejoice, (The Microcosm of Youth Camp)
• REALITY sets in: there are OBSTACLES, its difficult to get a "FLOW" spiritually as there are many interruptions.
• When you are on the Mountain:
  • Sow plenty of seed. - I'm still gonna pray, I'm still gonna wait on God
  • Worthwhile things take time and care.

IV. When What is Worthwhile is not as Exciting as that which is Not

Ps 122:1 — I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Ps 33:1 — Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

• If I focus on what I want, I will surely be disappointed. My Spiritual growth can be measured in part in what I get excited about.

Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

• ILLUSTRATION: of the garden and investment. Who should I care?

• When I desire to walk with and please God, knowing I will need all provided in Christ to do it, the more I will desire spiritual gifts and rejoice in WORTHWHILE things.

• Pressing In, Being Serious about the things of God, Investing time and attention will result in GREAT JOY when God does what He does best — keeps His promises!

1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

CONCLUSION

• Do not think little of God.
• Do not limit God in your mind because of your own failures.

Jas 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

• Worthwhile things do not always feel EXCITING every moment, but WHEN IT IS TIME it will be joy unspeakable and full of glory!

1Pe 1:8 — Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: