Gtcotr/ws092921
Acts 16 NKJV
11 Therefore, sailing from
Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to
Neapolis,
12 and from there to
Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And
we were staying in that city for some days.
13 And on the Sabbath day we
went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and
we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
14 Now a certain woman named
Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who
worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
v. 14 – The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
Three
great truths of the Gospel
1.
No
one comes to God except through Jesus.
a. John 14:6
2.
No
one comes to Jesus unless the Holy Spirit draws them.
a. John 14:6
3.
How
shall people know unless someone tells them.
a. Romans 10:14
The
Holy Spirit left us this account on purpose so that we might see the elements
and actions it takes to accomplish the Great Commission.
·
God
has a part
·
Paul
has a part
·
Lydia
has a part
·
Lydia’s
household has a part
· So many other nameless people have a part
Just like Cornelius, the Roman Centurion whose salvation is recorded in Acts 10, Lydia was faithful to what she knew, and God made a way for her and her household to hear the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved.
Let’s review:
Acts 16
13 And on the Sabbath day …
we went out of the city to the
riverside, where prayer was customarily made…
and we sat down and spoke to the
women who met there.
14 Now a certain woman named
Lydia heard us.
She was a seller of purple from the
city of Thyatira,
who worshiped God.
The Lord opened her heart to heed
the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her
household were baptized,
she begged us,
saying, “If you have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”
So she persuaded us.
Notes:
A
certain woman …
·
We
know God did His part to prepare her heart …
·
We
know Paul did his part to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her … first in
the group setting and then in a personal witness, water baptism, and then in a continuing
growing relationship.
·
We
also can easily see the scriptures pointing out that Lydia did her part as
well.
o Lydia was not a Jew
but rather she was a wealthy Gentile businesswoman from Thyatira in what is now
the country of Turkey.
o Lydia, much like
Cornelius in Acts 10, was evidently impacted by the dedication of the Jews
around her who worshipped Jehovah. We know this because:
§ Lydia observed the
Sabbath, which would have been a regular workday for everyone else.
§ She gathered, as was
customary, outside of the city by the river where prayer to Jehovah took place.
§ She even took her
household with her to Church.
§ She segregated herself
with the women as was fitting for the day and the doctrine.
§ Lydia worshipped God.
§ Lydia listened to the
teachers of the Bible.
§ Lydia acted on the
Word and included her household under her spiritual leadership.
§ Lydia participated,
she was not just a spectator
§ Lydia was hospitable to
strangers
o We can easily see that
Lydia did her part and made it easy to
·
Lydia
forever became the first convert by the ministry of the Apostle Paul on the
continent of Europe.
· Lydia led the way for us today …
What can we glean from this account in the scriptures?
The Holy Spirit inspired and guided the writer of the book of Acts to include such detail of the conversion of Lydia and her household so that the generations to come might see and know how to do our part as well. What does the Lord expect from us?
If you imagine yourself to be the Apostle Paul in this story, your part should be plain. Share the Gospel of Jesus with people you meet … and meet some people on purpose …
If you imagine yourself to be Lydia in the story … bring your family to Church, listen, pray, worship, and be hospitable.
If
you imagine yourself to be neither then you must be identified with those
people living around Lydia either in Thyatira or in Philippi whose life witness
provided encouragement and hope for Lydia to act like they acted, live like
they lived, worship like they worshipped, pray like they prayed, and go where
they went. We all make an impact on others … what is yours? If people follow
you, where will they go? Only God can open a heart, but we can be used by Him
to help get them into the right place to hear.
