15 in 5: Contagious & Highly Infectious

1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God Have you ever heard a child laughing with the kind of laugh that gets the video played on TV shows?  You can’t help but smile and join in the laughter.  Take a challenge and smile at everyone you see. You will find that you can change the atmosphere with a smile.  Laughter is contagious and joy is highly infectious.  Joy is the Fruit of the Spirit and to share our joy is to share the Spirit of Christ with others. Think back to when you were a kid and you saw a peer doing something really cool like riding a bike. You probably noticed that they were beaming with a joy so loud that they couldn’t contain it… you would do anything to try it out for yourself. When you experienced what they had, and it was more awesome than what you initially thought, it was on like Donkey Kong! You had to have it and you’d beg, rake the leaves, mow the lawn or carry groceries to be able to possess that one thing that captured your joy. To Be the One, to be an effective Kingdom Person, you must imitate Christ. Your joy in Him must be seen. You must stir up your gifts and accept your supernatural blueprint. You must be contagious and infectious! Walk in boldness and allow God to show up and show out as you are the Church each and every day. You don’t have to push it on people. All you have to do is live it - walk it, talk it, breathe it and meditate on it.  You’ll soon begin to notice that when you walk into a crowded room people will immediately take notice of you. You’ll light up the entire room! People will begin to see something unique in you, something different. People will become abuzz at the peace, joy and abundance that covers you. The Holy Spirit will be your guide.  Unspeakable joy will beam from your inner core and you’ll become infectious without even trying. Toby Mac said it best: If you gotta start somewhere, why not here… If you gotta start sometime, why not now!  Allow your actions, your transparent life and your zeal for the Lord to tell a story that causes others to draw near and a desire to experience for themselves.  Allow your joy to show, be contagious and infectious!   Prayer Point: ·    Praise God for the joy that is the Fruit of the Spirit ·    Thank Him that He allows you to experience abundant life in Him ·    Ask God to increase joy in you so that it affects every person you meet ·    Pray for those you encounter to be impacted for Christ Don Gibson