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"THE GREAT JOY IN RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST" "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.And there was great joy in that city." (Acts 8:5-8)Philip, one of the seven deacons chosen earlier in Acts 6, is a common figure in this 8th chapter of the Book of Acts. But make no mistake about it, Jesus Christ is the central figure in the entire Book of Acts and throughout the Scriptures as well. We discover that Philip goes to Samaria to preach the Gospel, along with some miracles being performed, which led to great joy in the city (Acts 8:5-8). His role as an evangelist is highlighted by his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch later in this chapter (Acts 8:26-40).Now, I want to zero in on verse 8 for just a bit. I'm sure you'd agree with me that it would be wonderful to live in a city where it could be said there was "GREAT JOY." In Samaria that day, there wasn't just your run of the mill joy, nor that yoyo kind of joy where people are up one day and down the next day, The Bible tells us there was GREAT JOY. Hmm, how do you suppose that came about? Well, aren't you glad that the Bible tells us?If you look at verse 5, you'll see where Philip (part-time deacon and full-time preacher) went down to Samaria on what could be called an evangelistic city-wide campaign. Philip had one message for the folks there and that message was Christ (v.1). By the way, that's our message today. Be it from a pulpit to a crowd or be it in private to one, may it be Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, and risen again. You will recall what Jesus said John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life. And indeed, He is! He is the Way for those who are Looking, the Truth for those who are Learning, and the Life for those who are Living.But wait a minute, that great joy in Samaria didn't come about simply because Philip relayed the Truth to those folks. No! The great joy that Samaria experienced was because the people responded by receiving the Truth. Verse 6 tells us, "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake," Real joy that abides with us isn't about hearing the Truth, it's about heeding to that Truth, and that folks is what makes the difference in a person's life! Oh, what great joy awaits those who have received the Truth.Friends, only the Saviour Who seeks and saves offers the greatest joy that mankind will ever know, because it's that joy which remains with them! Do you have His great fulness of joy?