LYDIA
Acts 16:9” A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
The expectations are sky-high and enormous when we are specially and specifically invited to a particular place or event? Am I right? We expect garlands, bouquets, smiles and excitement; however, today I am going to talk about handling an issue, when you have none of the above. There are profound lessons that we can learn from this chapter, let us delve deeper into the Word.
Lesson 1: NEED TO HAVE DISCERNMENT ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD: Paul journeyed to Macedonia because he saw a man in a vision who said:” Come over to Macedonia and help us.” This kind of supernatural invitation cannot be ignored; however, Paul did not emotionally react to it, he took it to the Lord in prayer and “concluding that God had called them to preach the gospel” only then did they start their journey.
Lesson 2: JUST BECAUSE GOD CALLED YOU , IT DOESN’T GUARANTEE SMOOTH JOURNEY: When theY came to Philippi, the chief city of Macedonia, to their surprise they found no excitement about their arrival, no invitation, no boarding, no friends, no doors for ministry and there was no synagogue of the Jews also there, This is terrible discouragement that people in the ministry face especially. Paul had taken a rented place in that city, paid their bills and lived on their own. Where was that man who appeared in the vision? Don’t look for humans to pamper you, stay committed to the cause. Paul stayed there, he did not leave. Perseverance and tolerance is predominant to face such situations. INITIAL EMPTINESS & HURDLES SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN NEGATIVELY, WE NEED TO PRESS ON AND PERSEVERE. Say Amen.
Lesson 3: LOOK BEYOND THE CLOSED DOORS: While they stayed there, Paul “ went outside the gate to a riverside” did you see that? Opportunities don’t come to you, we need to look for them, be a passionate seeker. By the river side, they found few godly women who gathered regularly for prayer on the Sabbath day, there God opened the heart of Lydia to listen to Paul and she said:” come into my house and stay." Nothing can stop a person who stays committed to his vision. ‘Likes or no likes’, he will still be in the will of God. Listen to me friends, don’t quit, don’t give up, wait for the game to be over, when God has invited you, He is working for you, He has got a LYDIA planned for you, clap hands for God.
