A Mom of Faith

In the larger context of this pericope...Paul is on a missionary journey and expects to be dealing with the diaspora.

He desires additional help and takes Timothy along side he and Silas.

Timothy is of both Jewish on his mother’s side and Greek on his father’s side.

If you know the context of chapter 16 it follows the disagreement that separated Paul from Barnabas over John Mark.

He head from Syria and Cilicia and now, based on the text, he had a desire to go to Asia at large and preach.

They went through Phrygia and Galatia, but were most likely heading toward Ephesus...but the text says the Holy Spirit disallowed him to speak there.

God had other plans...The best laid plans of men are often altered as the Lord through His Spirit leads.

But we are told the Lord gave Paul a vision in vs. 9...a vision towards Macedonia.

God gave him a vision of a Macedonian man urging him for help and thus he sought to go in that direction.

Let’s look at our text from here:

Acts 16:11–15 ESV

11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

A Picture of the Work of Grace in the Life of a Mom.

Paul Proclaimed the Truth.

Acts 16:13 ESV

13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

Nothing conquers but truth, and the victory of truth is love.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

The Spirit Opened Lydia’s Heart.

Acts 16:14 ESV

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Open my eyes that I may see, Incline my heart that I may desire, Order my steps that I may follow The way of your commandments.

Lancelot Andrewes (Bishop of Winchester)

Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts.

Charles Spurgeon

Lydia Walked in Christ.

Acts 16:15 ESV

15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

God’s truth must be life for mom and dad if it is to be life for the children.

Tedd Tripp; Margy Tripp

To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive.

Charles Spurgeon

Walking Away, But In...

Speak Truth

Hear Truth

Walk in Truth