There Was Great Joy

Acts 8:5-8, NIV

“5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.”


Introduction: "Good" is an excellent word: a good husband, good wife, good parents, good children, good pastor, and good church members! Above all things, our God is a good God. Indeed, God is good. When God created Adam and Eve, He provided a beautiful garden for them?not a slum. However, they disobeyed God's words, and gave us a dark world.

1. Jesus who forgives our sins.
1) God prepares everything for His beloved one. In this world, God prepared the land?a land flowing with milk and honey?and eternal heaven (Jn 14:1-3).
2) Jesus forgave all our sins. The Son of God who has no sin, came and forgave our sins through His death on the Cross.

2. Jesus who makes us holy and sacred.
1) Through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, humankind is freed from sin.
2) Through the precious blood of Jesus we are forgiven, and the Holy Spirit makes us pure and holy.

3. Jesus who heals us.
1) Jesus who heals us. By His wounds, Jesus paid the cost of our sickness, and He wants us to be healed.
2) Whoever believes in Jesus will be forgiven and will be healed from any kind of disease.

4. Jesus who sets us free from curses.
1) Suffering from the world and freedom. Because of Adam and Eve's fall, we suffered from thorns and thistles, but Jesus took our curse on the Cross (Gal 3:13-14).
2) The blessing of Abraham. By believing in Jesus, the suffering and curse will leave us, and we will be prosperous.

5. Jesus who gives us eternal heaven.
1) We are to die. Through death, humankind will take off the clothes of flesh, and through faith in Jesus, humankind will be saved and go to heaven. Those who do not believe will fall into hell.
2) Evidence of Philip's teaching. Jesus who gives us forgiveness, sanctification, healing, freedom from the curse, and heaven.

Conclusion: Christians can find great joy in Jesus even though they have no wealth, prosperity, fame, or honor. Something good will happen to you through Jesus. Your personal and family life will be changed, and you will have good times. All this is possible because Jesus is with us.