Lydia Receives God's Grace
Notes
Transcript
Roadblocks and revelation - the journey filled with conflict, opposition and even God closing doors. But God had a plan. We talked about how often what we see as roadblocks are actually key points in our journey and how we can trust in God's plan because of His heart of and purposes for redeeming grace. Now we see the results of that plan as Paul and those with him begin to minister in the city of Philippi.
Today we will:
1) Meet the first convert in Europe (Lydia), realizing God saves all peoples.
2) Consider the driving force behind her (and every) salvation, that salvation is indeed - of the Lord.
Read Acts 16:11-15
Lydia - the first convert in Europe
Lydia - the first convert in Europe
Where she lived: (v.12)
Philippi, named for Philip II of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s Father)
v.12 - a leading city, and a Roman colony - This meant that it was self-governed, didn’t have to pay the same heavy taxes as others and held the right of holding land in full ownership.
This also meant there was very little Jewish presence (v.13)
Where she was found (v.13-14)
As there was no synagogue, those who desired to meet on the sabbath to pray and read the OT scriptures had to go outside the city gates to a place by the river. This is where we find Lydia. At a place of worship.
v.14 says she was a “worshipper of God” - One who had not gone through all the rites of Jewish conversion but still sought to worship the One True God.
Her Country of Origin and Vocation (v.14)
She was from Asia, from the Roman province of Lydia in the city of Thyatira. She apparently had a source of the expensive purple dyes for which Thyatira was famed and had made a living off of selling purple goods to those who could afford them. She could have been a widow. But had done well enough to be able to accommodate the missionaries (v.15), and the gathered church ( v.40).
The grace she received - v.14
What was it about this woman that commended her to God, or would entice the Lord to reroute these missionaries for a divine appointment with the gospel by the riverside?
She had many admirable qualities:
Sincerely sought to worship God - obviously not the popular thing in that city
She was industrious and apparently worked hard
She may have had influence in that city, rubbing shoulders with many rich and influential people of their region through her work
She was generous and hospitable
(ladies, these are all wonderful and commendable things to strive toward)
And yet, I can say for certain, that while missions agencies or missionaries may practice such strategies to target the most influential in an area - that isn’t necessarily how God works.
There is nothing that commends us to God. Nothing that commended Lydia.
Let me remind you of this truth from scripture
as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
No, God did not save her because she was such a good person or strategic convert. (the other two named in this chapter are a demon-filled slave girl and a pagan prison guard). God saved her because of His mercy, grace, and love.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
This brings us to our final second portion of the message: Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Lord
Salvation is of the Lord
Acts 16:14 (NASB95) ...the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. (God alone holds the key!)
Lydia’s salvation - and yours - and mine - is "of the Lord”
This expression involves several truths that we need to understand.
God is the only source of salvation for the human soul and we must cry out to Him for mercy and grace. (Desperation, Reliance on Him)
Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.
Stop looking to everything else! Our problem is not simply a lack of resources: lack of knowledge, lack of money, etc. It is sin.
Remember the critical issue is that of the soul! Every single human is guilty of violating the law of their creator. That guilt must be answered for and apart from the mercy of our Creator is enough to condemn us to a darkness, to utter isolation and torment in eternity. (Sin is that bad).
Not only is every human guilty, but every human is bent towards continuing in sin. It’s part of the curse. Adam sinned and now as his offspring, our natural tendency is to continue in sin. Even our acts of decency are mixed with sinful acts, motives and methods.
Mercy! Our only hope is to cry out to God for mercy.
God provides, initiates and accomplishes the salvation of every one of His children. (Gratitude, Security, Assurance, Faith)
When we pan out on this story, we see this.
While we don’t have Paul’s message that he spoke to these women, we have enough examples to know that he told them of the reality of sin (sometimes assumed - though not today), and reminded them of the promise of a Messiah. He certainly told them how Jesus came from God as the divine Son, died on the cross for our sins and rose again the third day. He explained that this Jesus was Messiah - the Savior and Lord and that all who trust in Him will receive the mercy and grace of God in the forgiveness of their sins.
This is God’s work from start to finish. He made us. He calls us to come to Him. He sent Jesus, raised Him from the dead and even sent the Spirit to work in and through us. He sent the missionaries with His message of salvation. He creates these divine appointments where we hear of Christ Jesus. He works a miracle in the human heart - opening eyes blinded by sin and satan, awakening the sinner to the realities of our own sin and need, granting the ability to hear and respond to the truth that Jesus has paid for sin! Salvation is of the Lord!
This in no way removes the responsibility for people before God. They must believe the gospel and be called and persuaded to do so! Indeed all who do will be saved! This means God’s people must continue to share the message with all, that all might be saved!
Salvation is a work of God in the human heart, not simply a decision we make. (Reliance on God in ministry, prayer, while persuading and calling all to respond in repentance and faith)
Salvation comes by faith but that faith is born in the miracle of regeneration. God gives faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
No one simply chooses to come to Christ. While it 100% involves us, with all of our heart (will, our mind, and our emotion) coming to Christ, it is God who awakens and unlocks the heart - without which we could and would not come to Him but stay in our determined, rebellious state. (Romans 3:11)
If salvation is a decision, then it can be undecided as soon as we change our mind. But it is something far more - a miracle of new spiritual birth, that cannot be taken away. (John 3:3-8, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26)
Conclusion:
The same God that sent Paul further on and out to Philippi so that He could unlock this lady’s heart to the truth of the gospel pursued you the same way.
Do you remember, Believer, that day He revealed the truth to your heart? Have you looked back and considered the path you took to get there, and the divine operations at work to bring you in contact with the gospel? Or how you, maybe having heard it 1000x before, were uniquely prepared that time to respond - like you eyed had been opened, or your heart awakened? Praise Him!
Do you remember when you understood for the first time how much favor and love He’d shown in sacrificing His Son for you?
What Grace! What Mercy!
And yet, the reality that Salvation is of the Lord - that He is sovereignly working and saving is difficult - especially when there are loved ones among us who reject Jesus.
Let me encourage you, friends, that it is far better that salvation is based on God’s love for them more than their ability or desire for Him. He can pursue. He can unlock their hearts. He can save to the uttermost any sinner.
We know His heart for redemption. We’ve experienced His grace and love and while we may get weary waiting for answered prayers, remember who He is and continue to cry out on behalf of those close to us.
There may be someone hear who is discouraged in their own soul. Through grief, or distraction, or just the undulation of the Christian walk you feel far from God. You’d been saved and know God’s grace but are struggling to walk in it this morning. Know this - that the God who began a work in you will complete it - and nothing can separate you from His love. He doesn’t let go. Take heart, and keep running to the One who holds you secure.
Other passages:
Acts 13:48, John 6:65, Colossians 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 5:1, Galatians 3:24, Romans 3:28, Romans 8:30-39, John 6:37, John 10:27-29.