“Hope for Your House”
Acts 16:9-15
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.
One of the most interesting narratives in the NT is found here in this 16th chapter of Acts. While Paul was on a missionary journey with Timothy and Silas on two occasions the Holy Spirit would not allow them to go in the direction that they wanted to go but instead God sent Paul a vision (of a man) beckoning them to come to Macedonia which they obeyed immediately. It was while they were in area that they made their way to the city of Philippi which we are told was the “chief” city of that province. There was a group of women who were meeting for prayer and worship down by a river side on the outskirts of the city. Makes you think of the David Houston song:
I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside
Down by the riverside down by the riverside
Oh I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside, ain't gonna study war no more
Well I ain't gonna study war no more, ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more, I ain't gonna study war...
DAVID HOUSTON - GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDENS LYRICS
At any rate the missionary team found this group of women there and shared the gospel. That’s where we pick up our story.
First: Luke mentions a woman’s heart.
I. A Woman’s Heart
The heart of a woman is a marvelous thing.
A. Her Spirituality
ILL - Years ago there was a 12 year old boy who had never seen a circus in his life. Imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at shool announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus was coming to the nearby town. He ran home and asked his dad for permission and the money to go. His family was poor but his dad could tell how badly he wanted this, so he told him if he got his chores done he could attend the circus. That Saturday he got all his chores done early and ran to the breakfast table in his Sunday best to receive a dollar bill from his dad. That was the most money the little boy had ever possessed at one time in his life. The boy was so excited his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground all the way to town. As he neared the village he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening. Lo and behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade! The parade was the grandest thing he had ever seen. Caged animals snarled as they passed by. The band played a cheerful tune with loud drums and shiny horns. The acrobats astonished the crowd while flags and ribbons swirled overhead. Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, signaled the end of the parade. As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill. Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home. The boy thought he had seen the circus but he had only seen the parade! A lot of folks who attend worship spasmodically are like that little boy. They haven’t seen the circus, they’ve just seen the parade. Remember what Jesus told the devil? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) If you have been trying to live by bread alone its not enough. Bring spiritual groceries into your household and feed the souls of your family.
Brian Atwood from a sermon entitled “Be the Door to Your Household”
B. Her sensitivity
Paul and the missionary team made their way down to the river side where a group of Jewish proselytes had gathered for prayer. More than likely there was no synagogue in Philippi and this group had gathered to worship. We are told that they “…spake unto the women…” which resorted thither and among this group there was one in particular that paid heed to what was preached and taught. Her name was Lydia and she was to become the first European convert to Christianity. Notice that in verse 14 Luke writes that “…she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” It has been my experience that women are far more spiritually sensitive to the claims of the Gospel that men are. Maybe they are more intuitive or it just may be the way that God made them but that is what I have found and because of that a woman’s heart can be the doorway for the Gospel in her household!
C. Her Surrender
The most important thing that happened that day is summed up in the phrase found verse 14, “…whose heart the Lord opened…” We find the same thought in the Gospel of Luke where it is said that Jesus:
Luke 24:45 …opened …their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
ILL – Both the OT Hebrew word and the NT Greek words for obedience mean “…to listen, to hear, to attend to…” to a voice but this word obedience came to mean much more in the new covenant. The Word (voice) to be heard/obeyed is a Person.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
When God opened her heart, she believed the Word preached by Paul and in obedience to that Word, followed the Lord in believer’s baptism. (Verse 15a)
When Lydia “attended” to the word and was “baptized” she was doing what Jesus said His sheep would do, they would follow His voice!”
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Second: He mentions a woman’s household.
II. A Woman’s Household
A. Her example
There is unbelievable power in the heart and life of a woman that is fully surrendered to the Lord. It is the power of influence and she can be the instrument that God’s uses to bring her spouse, her spawn and in this case, her servants (household) to Christ. There are some in our audience today that have unsaved and un-churched husbands. What can you do to win your husband to Christ? You can follow the example of Lydia who was able to lead here entire household, both men and women servants, to faith in Christ!
1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
On the other hand she can also be the greatest barrier to the salvation of a household…
ILL – Dr. R. G. Lee in his sermon “Payday Someday” writes: “I introduce to you Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, King of Tyre (I Kings 16:31), and wife of Ahab, the King of Israel—a king’s daughter and a king’s wife, the evil genius at once of her dynasty and of her country. Infinitely more daring and reckless was she in her wickedness than was her wicked husband. Masterful, indomitable, implacable, a devout worshiper of Baal, she hated anyone and everyone who spoke against or refused to worship her pagan god. As blunt in her wickedness and as brazen in her lewdness was she as Cleopatra, fair sorceress of the Nile. She had all the subtle and successful scheming of Lady Macbeth, all the adulterous desire and treachery of Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:720), all the boldness of Mary Queen of Scots, all the cruelty and whimsical imperiousness of Katherine of Russia, all the devilish infamy of a Madame Pompadour, and, doubtless, all the fascination of personality of a Josephine of France. Most of that which is bad in all evil women found expression through this painted viper of Israel. She had that rich endowment of nature which a good woman ought always to dedicate to the service of her day and generation. But—alas!—this idolatrous daughter of an idolatrous king of an idolatrous people engaging with her maidens in worship unto Ashtoreth—the personification of the most forbidding obscenity, uncleanness, and sensuality—became the evil genius who wrought wreck, brought blight and devised death. She was the beautiful and malicious adder coiled upon the throne of the nation.”
B. Her effectiveness
The members of Lydia’s household could clearly see that her commitment to Jesus was real by the way it affected her lifestyle and so they followed the example of their mistress and became followers of the same Lord that she embraced so wholeheartedly. What do the members of your household witness in your life that indicates your faith is genuine? I have always wanted to pose the following question to a group of Christian women so here goes nothing: If your husband was not already a believer, if he was not already a Christian, would your behavior right now be enough to win him to Christ????? Could he see that your faith was genuine and that your profession was real? Lydia had an “unfeigned faith” in Christ and you could see it!
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works..." James 2:18
Finally: He mentions a woman’s house.
III. A Woman’s House
A. Her humility
Notice the modesty and humility in verse 15 when she says, “…If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord…” How different from what we see today from so many professing Christians. Again we return to Peter for a lesson about true Christianity.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
B. Her hospitality
All believers are endowed with spiritual gifts and one of her gifts is the grace of hospitality. She offers up her home for the use of the missionary team and insists that they “…abide there.” Never forget that we are to be “careful to entertain strangers” because there is always the possibility that we will have an angel for a house guest!
C. Her helpfulness
After the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas, we see the miracle of the earthquake and deliverance of these men from jail. Where do they go? They return to the house of Lydia, the seller of purple, the Macedonian (man), the woman “…whose heart the Lord opened.”
Acts 16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Conclusion: What do we do with this story of this woman from Philippi? What can you do to be more like her?
1. Make sure of your salvation. Lydia didn’t know that day she went out to the river to pray with her friends that she would return a new creation in Christ. She didn’t know that not only her life but the lives her household members would be forever changed.
2. Live a consistent life before your household. Can your husband and children see that your faith is genuine? Is Christ living in you? If He is then perhaps today will be the same kind of day for you and your household!
3. Use what God has given you for the kingdom. The house you are living in is more than just a roof over your head, it is a tool that He has blessed you with so you can be a blessing. I want to brag on my dear wife just a bit with your permission. Recently during a missions conference she opened our home up to a couple of ministry friends. At the start of the conference we learned that one of our speakers did not have a motel so Mrs. Preacher invited this man to come and stay with us also and the real point is that she not only did she do this for this particular event but she has been doing this for all 39 years we have been in the ministry. God has given you a house, so you can make a home, so you can extend hospitality to advance the cause of Christ!!!!!
Ill - Sara Babb 9 / 11
Let me tell you about a whole town that epitomized this scripture, Gander, Canada population 9,600 smack dab in the middle of Newfoundland, Canada’s eastern most province along the Atlantic it had a community center, an aviation museum, 4 city parks, and the Gander Mall, average town for most of history. That is until September 11, 2001. That day 52 trans-Atlantic flights were redirected to the Gander International Airport. Many passengers spent that night on their planes. The next morning a convoy of buses took the passengers to the terminal. People were told to relax and they would be notified when their flights would be redirected. That call came 2 days later. This is what I am to tell you about – those 2 days. This community and surrounding area showed great hospitality to strangers. All the high schools in the area, meeting halls, lodges, churches became places to house people;
Some had cots and some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows. All elderly passengers were given no choice – they stayed in private homes. Families were kept together. At least one pregnant woman was housed in a private home across from a 24-hour Urgent care. All high school students were required to volunteer somewhere. Phone calls and emails were available when requested. During the day, passengers were given excursion trips on boat trips or to see local forests. Local bakeries made fresh bread for the “guests” Food was prepared by all the residents and brought to the “guests” or were taken to local restaurants. They were given tokens to the Laundromats. One flight attendant put it this way, “Passengers were crying while telling their stories. It was absolutely incredible, when passengers came on board after their stay in Gander it was like they were on a cruise.” Sidelight – over $40,000 was collected on just one plane to fund scholarships for the high school students. Why, tell you this? Because some people in a faraway place were kind to some strangers, who happened to drop in on them, literally. WHY NOT? If you’re looking for a good definition of hospitality, I think you have just heard one. I guarantee the residents of Gander and surrounding area were changed because of their hospitality.
