Joy in the city

Jeremiah 33:3New International Version (NIV)

³ ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Intro:  This verse is an introduction of the thought of God answering and hearing your cry.  He is the Lord of righteousness.  For a moment we are going to look at what God was doing in Samaria in Acts 8 under the ministry of Philip the Evangelist.

1.      Philip started out as a deacon but God then takes him to the next step to become an evangelist.  This is a person who has the ministry of reaching lost souls.

2.     The whole city because of his ministry was in great joy.  God was doing great things.  It was captured by the gospel.  Philip shows us that we can claim andarea for the Lord.  Claim your community for Christ. 

There were four things that made this revival come about.

1.      They prayed and then sent a gift evangelist.

2.     A desire to expand the gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

3.     A gift f love and desire for cross cultural ministry.

4.     Letting the Lord determine a style of ministry to bring great joy.

They results of this move of God was thee fold.

1.     Love.  Love is that connect with God that helps us to love ourselves and others.

2.     Joy is deep seated contentment knowing God has all things under control.

3.     Peace which is not having internal struggle, warfare or fights.  This comes from knowing the Prince of Peace.

The Samaritan Revival had some wonderful results.

1.      There were signs and miracles.

2.     New believers.

3.     Active faith and great joy.

4.     People responded to the gospel. 

5.     Hurt and unforgiveness was destroyed.

6.     Philip was a positive preacher and he presented living water.

7.     Planting a church brought great joy and it does.

Personal Application

1.      Out of your innermost being will come living water.

2.     We all have needs and hurts but they can be met as we turn our situation to the Lord and He will turn our mourning into joy.

3.     Growing in the Lord impact our churches and city so grow.

4.     Help each other.  Joy happens when we give back.

The Fivefold ministries of the apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist and foundational to bringing about joy in a community.  That is why we must get them going.  There is great joy when God moves.

So what have we learned today?

1.      When an evangelist is full released great things can happen to a community.

2.     There is a joy factor that needs to be released in our life and then into our world.

3.     God has called us to be a helper of joy.  First to people, then in ministry and then into people’s world.