You Are A Contagious Christian When

Contagious believers infect the world with God’s love because they are becoming more like Jesus.

B. Contagious believers experience deeper levels of joy because of the Holy Spirit.

Not only are contagious believers infectious because they are becoming more like Jesus, but they are contagious because they experience deeper levels of joy because the Holy Spirit is in their hearts.

Paul speaks with admiration and wonder about the Thessalonian believers: “…In spite of persecution,” Paul said, “ you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

Aren’t you attracted to joyful people? I know I am. “Joy,” said Leon Bloy, “is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.”

Samuel Gordon reminds us, “Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”

E. Stanley Jones amplifies Gordon’s thought: “The Stoic bears, the Epicurean seeks pleasure, the Buddhist and Hindu stand apart disillusioned, the Muslim submits, but only the Christian experiences joy.”

People want more than mere happiness, they want joy and the only place they’re going to see it is in contagious believers. And, only contagious believers know how others may come to experience it.

C. People notice the difference—and that makes a difference to people!

We do not fully appreciate the significance of being a contagious believer. People notice the difference Christ has made in the life of a Christian, and that makes a difference to people. Paul told the Thessalonia believers that they, “7became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8The word of the Lord has sounded forth from you …. In every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.” That’s an amazing thing to say!

Paul said of the Thessalonians, “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere.” The Greek word for “rang out” or “sounded out” is where we get the English word “echo.” We echo God’s truth as we hear it from him. An echo only repeats what is originally spoken. God has put his voice in us to echo his love.

Let’s stop here for a moment and think this through. Is all this really practical? In my ministry I have had people say to me, “Pastor, I would be out to church more, but I am waiting for my life to get in order,.. I am having too many problems to be fully committed. When the situation in my life is right, then I will get right with God.”

You want to be real? The Thesalonians knew what real life was all about. Of all the churches that are mentioned by name in the N T, there are only two that receive commendations from Paul, and Jesus, with little or no criticism.

One church was the Philippians. Inspite of great poverty, Paul says they remained true and faithful to God. The Second is the Thessalonian Church. They had to endure intense persecution for their faith and were constanly being bombarded with the temptation to just go along with the world and it’s godless value system.