Excited About Life - Sold On Jesus

INTRO.- ILL.- Monday, August 16th. The Graceland vigil marked 33 years since Elvis death. Elvis admirers from around the world descended on Elvis former home Sunday night to attend an annual candlelight vigil and procession that ran into Monday morning. CAN YOU IMAGINE STANDING IN LINE ALL NIGHT LONG FOR THAT VIGIL?

Elvis Presley died at age 42 at his Graceland mansion on Aug. 16, 1977. Memorials started the following year. Elvis purchased the 13-acre Graceland property in 1957 for a song - just a bit more than $100,000.

As night fell, fans took residence on Elvis Presley Boulevard, setting up folding chairs in the street after police closed the thoroughfare to traffic. Children wrote messages in purple, yellow and green chalk reading "We Miss Elvis" and "Elvis Lives 2010." (He lives somewhere but not in Memphis!)

Wim Postmus arrived last week from the town of Maarssen in the Netherlands. He came three years ago for the 30th anniversary vigil but gave up after spending many hours in line without even making it inside the walls.

The 47-year-old Postmus, who said Elvis music helps him get happy when hes depressed, made the trip despite losing his job in financial administration earlier this year. "It doesnt matter," he said. "I saved for it." (must have saved a lot for that trip)

Shelley Somerville flew from Australia with her husband for their honeymoon. Hours before the procession, she held an umbrella to shield herself from the sun. Its the third candlelight vigil for Somerville, who said she likes Elvis gospel music the most.

"Elvis has touched a lot of hearts, and theres something spiritual about him," said Somerville, a 31 year-old administrative assistant. "Theres a calming feeling around him."

Wow! Thats pretty extreme devotion, wouldnt you say? Ive always liked Elvis and most of his music, but there should be a limit. Its almost sounds like Elvis worship!

Many people around the world are sold on Elvis. But they shouldnt get too sold on him. He was still just a man. He was no savior! King of rock and roll, but not King of Kings!

But if it isnt Elvis, will be someone else or some-thing else! How about baseball? Well, yes, when the Cardinals are hot but when theyre not, Im not too sold on them!

Brothers and sisters, much of the time in life we find that our joy is short-lived. In the sense, that many things dont deliver the joy we thought they would. It could be a certain job, a hobby, a trip, or even a person. Weve all been disappointed by many things and many people in life. BUT THERE IS ONE WHO STANDS TALL IN OUR LIVES! He will never fail us nor forsake us even though we often fail Him!

II Timothy 2:11-13 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

I believe with all my heart that the greatest excitement to be found in life is in Jesus! If you havent found this to be true then perhaps you are still searching or else you are still trying other things.

PROP.- Let me share some scriptures in regard to what Jesus can do in our lives, which should make us sold on Him.

1- Jesus will increase your joy

2- Jesus will empower your life

3- Jesus will enrich your mind

I. JESUS WILL INCREASE YOUR JOY

Acts 13:52 "And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."

The disciples of Jesus were filled with joy. Doesnt this sound good to you? Wouldnt you like to crawl out of bed every morning feeling great even though your bones might not? You get up saying, "Good morning, Lord! Its going to be a great day, because this is the day that youve made and I will be glad and rejoice in it."

Doesnt this sound good? I think its highly possible. But its also dependent on our submission and surrender to the will of God. God can fill us with joy if we will allow Him to. And this joy is synonymous to being filled with His Holy Spirit. "Filled with joy and the Holy Spirit." The two go hand-in-hand.

And what does it take to be filled with the Holy Spirit? One thing is sure: it means to be filled with Gods word because the Holy Spirit helped to author these words. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the Holy Spirits words!

Romans 14:16-18 "Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men."