Harbinger of Joy

Anchor Scripture: Acts 8:5–8

Introduction: Faith in the Face of Pressure

In times of trouble, it’s easy to question God. Life hits hard, faith feels weak, and our instinct is often to retreat, complain, or analyze our pain. But if we look at Scripture—particularly Acts 8—we see something different.

The early church was under intense persecution, yet instead of withdrawing, the disciples spread out and preached the gospel with boldness. Joy broke out in unlikely places because they didn’t shrink back. They stepped up.

What if we did the same?

What if, instead of being paralysed by our pain or confused by our circumstances, we pressed into God, built our faith, and became harbingers of joy—people who spread healing, hope, and salvation everywhere we go?

The Struggle to Believe

Even as believers, we sometimes find it hard to believe in miracles—especially when we are facing issues ourselves. We pray, we hope, and when nothing changes, we question. But here’s a truth we must embrace: faith is a muscle, and like any muscle, it grows through use.

Faith isn’t a feeling; it’s a decision to trust God, even when nothing seems to be working.

When things don’t happen the way we expected, let’s not walk away. Let’s keep going. Let’s ask better questions. Let’s return to Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes. Let’s stay in the place of faith until something shifts.

Unlearning Religion, Building Faith

For many of us, our background in religion—rather than relationship—makes walking by faith difficult. We were taught rules, not relationships; tradition, not trust. Shedding those old beliefs is often the first step in building genuine faith.

Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

The question is: what are you hearing?

There is no such thing as “enough” of God’s Word. If you feel a hunger for more, feed it. You’re not being extra—you’re being prepared.

We’re in the end times. People are in pain. The world is desperate for hope. We carry that hope.

Everyone Was Used by God

In the early church, everyone was active in the Spirit—not just those with titles. They healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, and preached the gospel. No one said, “I’m just in the help ministry.”

Why not us?

Jesus once asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Too often, we rationalize pain, sickness, and difficulty instead of pressing in with faith. We look for alternatives to prayer—backup plans in case the miraculous doesn’t come through.

But that’s not how miracles work. They come through total belief—through unwavering trust in God.

The Power of Purposed Faith

The woman with the issue of blood didn’t pray a long prayer. She simply believed—deeply and completely. She said in her heart, “If I can just touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.” And she was.

It’s not the length of our prayers that moves God—it’s the depth of our faith.

Complication vs. Simplicity

As children, we believe easily. But as we grow, we begin to overthink. We complicate the simplicity of faith with questions like, “What if I pray and nothing happens?”

Here’s the truth: it’s not about us.

Our job is not to heal, save, or perform miracles. Our job is to believe, obey, and act. The results are in God’s hands. We must look beyond ourselves—our doubts, our reputations—and simply do our part.

Shifting Our Gaze

In today’s world, we’ve become too cerebral—too focused on strategy, logic, and “realism.” But faith isn’t rooted in what’s around us. It’s rooted in what’s above us.

It’s easier to give up than to believe. It’s easier to blame God than to fight in faith. But if we’re going to help people—if we’re going to bring joy to our city—we must stay in the Word, stay in faith, and push through the disappointments until we reach a breakthrough.

And when we do, we become unstoppable.

Die to Self, Live by the Word

There’s a cost to living this way. We must die to self—our pride, our fear, our logic—and cling to God’s Word with everything we’ve got. People may think we’re crazy. They may say we’re unrealistic. But this is the way of the cross.

Even Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him.

The mental work of faith is often harder than the physical. But if we want to move to the next level—spiritually, emotionally, and even practically—we must fight for it.

Start Small, Stretch Often

Faith grows when exercised. Let’s start with the small things—like headaches or daily needs—and build up to the bigger ones. Every time we stretch, we grow. And the more we stretch, the more natural it becomes.

In the waiting, we grow. In the believing, we strengthen. And with every result, our faith becomes bolder and more