Acts 16:14-20 Three Encounters with the Gosepl
Notes
Transcript
What happens when the Good news of Jesus encounters those who are enslaved to the false gods of this world and the cultures that arise from human reliance on the powers of this world both human and spiritual?
What happens when Jesus demands the thrones of our heart?
Today we will be looking at two Gospel encounters as we continue to read through Acts 16.
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The Gospel Encounters a Woman of Means
The Gospel Encounters a Woman of Means
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And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Lydia is an oddity - She is a business woman of wealth
Land and property owner -
She is however a God fearer - (Does not know Jesus but interested)
The Gospel of Jesus verse the Gospel of Rome
The Gospel of Jesus verse the Gospel of Rome
The Roman system has made her life comfortable and given her the opportunity to succeed in life.
But that same Roman system enslaves millions.
Demands your loyalty to the Emperor above all gods.
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Paul spoke - Lydia listened - But the Lord did the work.
Paul spoke - Lydia listened - But the Lord did the work.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Paul did not save Lydia, it was the Lord who opened her heart.
Jesus stepped into the throne room of Lydia’s heart through the good news that Jesus is King.
The false gods and motivational values of wealth, success, and power were dethroned and Jesus was enthroned.
Jesus became the Lord and motivational value of her life.
Jesus became the Lord and motivational value of her life.
Leslie Newbigin wrote -
A preaching of the gospel that calls men and women to accept Jesus as Savior but does not make it clear that discipleship means commitment to a vision of society radically different from that which controls our public life today must be condemned as false.
Lydia began to practice a new system of life immediately.
They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Lydia’s home became the meeting place of the church of Philipi
The letter of Philippians went to her home address.
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Twice A Slave Encounters the Authority of Jesus.
Twice A Slave Encounters the Authority of Jesus.
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”
She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment.
Young girl was twice a slave.
The same culture that enriched Lydia enslaved this young woman
Slave to a demon - python
Slave to men who used her for financial gain.
Demon distracts people from the Gospel to have attention put on itself.
Gentiles would have interpreted her saying based on their religious culture - Appolos, Zeus , Baal, etc
The Authority of Jesus Brings Freedom
In the name of Jesus - By the authority of Jesus.
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Lydia was saved from a value system of worldly possessions.
The slave girl was saved from slavery to men and to the demonic.
Today maybe you find yourself enslaved to forces you do not understand.
Forces that you cannot control.
I want you to know that by the authority of Jesus and only in the authority of Jesus you too can be set free.
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Lydia - A woman of power and means enslaved to the values of this world - saved by the Lord opening her heart to the Good news that Jesus is King.
Slave Girl - set free twice by the authority of Jesus. Showing us that His authority and His Kingdom are above all other powers and authorities.
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Today there may be a Lydia here - you love the idea of God, you longed to know Him but you have been too busy working to listen and to recieve him.
Today Jesus is calling out, saying, “Let me be Lord”.
Today there may be a slave girl or slave boy - enslaved by addictions, depression, demonic powers. Today is your day of freedom - Jesus desires to command your slave holder to let you go and to flee.
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