Lydia: Seller of Purple

Intro

Acts 16:1–15 KJV 1900

1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. 6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

This is Paul’s 2nd missionary journey...

He has Silas, Timothy and Luke with him...

They are going about planting churches...

Now, the Holy Ghost has steered them right through Philippi...

Basic facts:

She was from Thyatira

She crossed paths with Paul in Philippi

The city of Thyatira was known for creating the color purple...

It was a rare color and hard to find...

She was likely in Philippi selling her product...

**Of course this is just another example of God’s sovereignty to place people at the exact right place at the exact right time...

God speaks of the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:

He commends them for:

Their charity

Service

Faith

Patience

Works

He rebukes them for:

Allowing wicked Jezebel to influence them and turn to false doctrine

<<Transition

We see that the women of the city gathered together by the river to listen to Paul

Acts 16:13 KJV 1900

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

There was other women there, but the Bible mentions Lydia being the one to be saved and begin serving

**Being the first shows courage and leadership

We need men and women who will step up and be the 1st in their family to obey God...

1st generation Christians faithful to God are a special thing...

Think about it:

The Philippian Jailer was 1st to ask, “What must I do to be saved?”

He got saved, went back home and his family got saved also...

Immediately they all got baptized as well...

Cornelius got saved, went back home and his family got saved...

Immediately they all got baptized as well...

Noah was the first to build an ark

Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover the Americas

George Washington was the first president of the United States

William Tyndale was the 1st to translate the Bible into English

William Carey who was the one who stated, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” was the first to take the gospel to India

Adonirom Judson was the first to take the gospel to Burma

Jim Elliot and the Ecuador five who stated. “Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know so extraordinary a God.” were the first to the Auca (Waodani) people in Ecuador

The Caviness’ are the first, or at least first in a longtime to reach the Congolese people

The McKelroys are the first to reach the Tibetans

**In not one of these examples was it easy to be the first...

It’s not easy to stand up, be the first and say, “I’ll go first.” or “I’ll lead the way.”

But nothing great for God ever gets done without someone who is willing to stand up and be first among many to do something others have not done...

Illustration:

In 1878, a man named Evan Roberts was born in Whales.

He began working in the coal mines with his father.

At every chance he got, he would have his Bible in his hand and would read it between jobs.

One Sunday evening he responded to the preaching and decided to go to Bible college.

While at Bible college, God burdened his heart for his home town.

He returned there in 1904 at the age of 26 with a deep burden for those Welsh people.

At their first meeting, 18 young people showed up to pray.

During the meeting, one young girl stood up and said, “I love Jesus with all my heart.”

That one girl being the first to do that is what sparked the great Welsh revival of 1904.

Others began standing up and confessing Christ, repenting of their sins, and being saved.

Because of this, it is estimated over 100,000 people were saved in the Great Welsh Revival from 1904-1905.

It was one girl who chose to be the first...

Will you be the first to be faithful no matter what?

Will you be the first to get baptized?

Will you be the first to surrender your life to God?

If you desire to be a mediocre Christian where God can’t do much with your life outside of watch you attend church and every once in a while make a decision for God when everyone else is...

Than don’t ever be the first...

Looking at the attributes of Lydia:

I. She Worshiped God

Acts 16:14 KJV 1900

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God...

II. Her heart was opened

Acts 16:14 KJV 1900

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

The order of someone being saved:

The Lord calls to the heart of the unbeliever (the realization that we are lost)

Conviction

Repentance

III. She Attended to the Things of the Ministry

Acts 16:14 KJV 1900

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

What Paul preached was, “Christ crucified”.

IV. She had Influence in her home

Acts 16:15 KJV 1900

15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Notice was immediately followed salvation… baptism

There was no waiting or thinking of whether she should do it or not...

But we see her influence in this verse:

“And her household”

She was a positive spiritual influence for those back at home as well...