Witnessing - the business of spreading joy all around - Acts 8v4-40
8th May
Acts 8v4-40
Witnessing - the business of spreading joy all around
In a world filled with people like Simon the sorcerer, full of bitterness, jealousy and filled with people captive to sin (v19), it is refreshing to read of others - individuals - like Philip who carry joy with them everywhere they go!
- Philip, one of the 6 decons, escapes to Samaria due to the persecution of the church in Jerusalem and kept witnessing to the good news of Jesus Christ “So there was great joy in that city” (v8 )
- He obeyed the Holy Sprit’s prompting to go towards the south, on the desert road, meets the Ethiopian Eunuch, explains, the scriptures to him, brings him to faith, and got him baptized “and the Eunuch …. went on his way rejoicing” (v39).
Whether it was with a group or an individual, joy is the natural outflow of a genuine encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at the extent of joy that oozes out when I dare to lead anybody into an encounter with Jesus Christ - the joy of the world.
i) There is joy amongst the angels when a sinner comes repenting (Lk15v10) not only has the size of the heavenly choir increased but that is one person snatched from the jaws of hell and eternal damnation.
ii) There is joy in the environment (v 
- that is one extra person with a purpose in life, one extra man transformed to touch the life of others. One additional residence, here on earth, of the Holy Spirit of Christ the bearer of the fruit of joy.
iii) The individual is full of joy (v39). Suddenly, the individual assumes extra ordinary status! A temple of the living God. He becomes an ordinary man empowered to do extraordinary things - bringing joy to others. Somebody finds fulfillment in being the servant of the Most High God, serving in the King’s court, being His messenger, the bearer of good news!
Circumstances no longer determine his level of joy - not troubles, hardship, persecutions not famine, nakedness, danger or sword. Neither death nor life, angels nor demons, not present nor future nor power, neither heights nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from our source of joy - Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 8v35-39).
Lord, make me a source of joy as I live a life of witness daily in the power of your Holy Spirit. AMEN.
