Lydia's Conversion in Philippi

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 9th day of December— Wednesday!

Yesterday right here at “The Message” was another classical example of the Holy Spirit taking control over matters— when Paul and his companions planned to preach the gospel and to make the letter of the Jerusalem Council known to the province of Asia, the Holy Spirit altered their planned and through a vision— they were brought to a Roman province in the north of Greece— approximately 150 miles from the city of Troas across the Aegean Sea— it was the first time when Luke (author) mentioned himself implying that he was with Paul on this journey— from this we learned:

WE MAKE PLANS, BUT GOD’S PURPOSE PREVAILS

WE PLAN OUR COURSE, BUT THE LORD ESTABLISHES OUR STEPS

Let’s continue with chapter 16 and see what happened to Paul and his companions when they got to the province of Macedonia— open your Bible to ACTS 16:11-15

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 16:11-15

BOOK

Acts 16:11–15 NIV

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

WHAT: Lydia— a gentile businesswoman trading purple cloth was converted in Philippi

WHERE: Philippi— east of Macedonia— northeast of Greece— at a river outside of the city gate [apparently there was no synagogue— this indicates that there were only few Jews in Philippi at that time]

WHEN: During the early church— second missionary journey of Paul

WHO: Paul, Timothy, Silas, Luke and their companions— Lydia and her household

WHY: To preach the gospel and the letter of Jerusalem Council in Macedonia

LOOK

THE LORD OPENED HER HEART TO RESPOND TO PAUL’S MESSAGE

It is the Lord that opens peoples’ hearts— when Jesus told them about the Beatitudes, one of the beatitudes was— MATTHEW 5:8— After king David was rebuked by God through prophet Nathan— he repented from adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah [Bathsheba’s husband], this is what he said in one of his psalm [songs]— PSALM 51:10

SHE AND THE MEMBER OF HER HOUSEHOLD WERE BAPTIZED

Water baptism— though not a requirement for salvation, but an act of obedience— a public declaration of one’s decision to follow Jesus— symbolic of the beginning of a new life Christ [dead to sin— rise in a new life]— an external display of an internal transformation— an act using water to admit a person into the Christian community

It is a consequence of one’s decision to accept and follow the Lord Jesus— the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized [ACTS 8:36-37], the disciples were baptized [ACTS 2:38] , Jesus Christ was baptized by John [MATTHEW 3:16]

After all these— she invited them to her house— could be that the church in Philippi started in her home—

From our short devotional study today— two things came out clear— it is the Lord that open’s people’s hearts— and water baptism, though not a requirement for salvation, is a consequence of salvation

Now, let me put these in a couple of sentences that we will easily remember…

TOOK

I SHARE THE MESSAGE, THE LORD OPENS THE HEART

WATER BAPTISM IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT A CONSEQUENCE OF SALVATION

SING

Word for the World— Living Hope