An Open Heart For God’s Mission
My church family and I will be moving into our new church home next Sunday. All of the renovations, furnishings and equipment installations are complete. What a joyous entry we will have that first Sunday, and what great work we expect God to accomplish in that place. But the vision to purchase the property only came after several years of moves and failed attempts to go in other directions.
In Acts 16:11–15, 40, Paul had experienced multiple failed attempts to further spread the gospel in Asia. But Paul was open to God’s Spirit leading him to go into Macedonia. There in Philippi, he encountered Lydia whose heart God opened to the gospel message, and her home became the first church in Europe, fostering the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman empire and the world. I pray that we would strive to keep our hearts open to what God’s mission and plan is for our service to Him. Amen
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. (Acts 16:11–12)
Paul had received a vision of a man begging for them to come and help the people in Macedonia. In response, Paul and those with him traveled to Philippi. This was a Roman colony in Macedonia. Paul and his companions stayed there for several days, no doubt taking the opportunity to share the gospel.
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. 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. 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. (Acts 16:13–15)
On the Sabbath, Paul and the others went looking for the place where some might have gathered for prayer and worship. There was not a Synagogue there in the colony. They encountered a group of women by the river. Upon hearing Paul’s message and upon God opening her heart, Lydia, a leading businesswoman was converted and became a believer. She was a worshiper of God (Gentile who worshiped God). But now, she and members of her household were baptized into the faith. She invited Paul and the others with him to stay at her house, likely to hear more about the gospel.
After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left. (Acts 16:40)
Lydia’s house served as the church at Philippi. Paul and returned there after God shook the jail where they were being held, released them and made provision for the city magistrates and leaders to personally apologize and escort them out. They then went back to Lydia’s house and met with the recent converts there. After encouraging them to continue in their faith, Paul and missionary companions left to continue their missionary journey.
Conclusion
God’s Spirit opened Paul‘a mind, leading him to go into Macedonia and preach the gospel in the Roman colony of Philippi. The colony had a very small Jewish population as evidenced by the fact that there was no synagogue there. Normally, Paul would start out in a new city by preaching the gospel in a synagogue. Because there was no synagogue established in Philippi, Paul eventually went to the riverside on the Sabbath to preach to the women who gathered there for prayer. Although it was a man that Paul saw in his vision, pleading with him to come to Macedonia and help them, it was Lydia whose heart God opened to receive the gospel message and establish the first church in Europe. Importantly, from there, Paul’s missionary work led to the spread of the gospel throughout Europe and eventually the world. God used both Paul and Lydia by opening their minds and hearts to receive and act in accordance with His mission plan for the spread of the gospel. What is God trying to open up your heart and vision to do in accordance with His plan? When God opens your heart and you are willing to act on what He has called you to, God can use you to accomplish great things for His kingdom!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
