“When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:6-8).
When the good news about Jesus reached Samaria it was accompanied with amazing demonstrations of God’s power. There was deliverance from evil oppression and healing of physical afflictions. All of that was a fulfillment of a promise that Jesus made to His followers before He went back to heaven. He had said that we would be empowered to do what He had been doing.
That is good news for us. He hasn’t left us powerless in the face of human need. We can not only tell people about Him but we can show them that He is still able to meet us where we are—whether it is a spiritual or emotional need.
The result then is still the result of His presence now. There is joy when Jesus shows up and demonstrates His power to meet the needs of those who long to believe in Him. That joy is personal. When someone is freed from guilt, condemnation, and limitation there is joy. When that happens in an entire region there is joy everywhere. Jesus designed His Church to bring joy where there is pain and that’s what we continue to see as we watch His power in action, changing people’s lives.
