This is the third sermon in the series where we have been looking at the biblical word "household". We’ve looked at Aachan’s household and King David’s household. Today on Mother’s Day let’s consider a household spiritually influenced by the woman of the house.
Her name was Lydia.
While in Asia on a second missionary journey, God gave Paul a vision of a MAN saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us."
Interestingly enough, however, the first European convert to Christianity through Paul’s ministry was a WOMAN, not a MAN.
Now there might have been some MEN in Lydia’s household, but IT WAS A WOMAN WHO OPENED THE DOOR.
Not only did she open the door of hospitality to the traveling missionaries, but spiritually speaking, she opened the door to her household. Other members of her family came to know Christ because of her willingness to accept Him first and lead the way.
Men, like the Philippian jailor, would come to know Christ in Europe, but the women were first.
Think of how often in scripture it is the woman who is the catalyst for spiritual things, especially in home life.
The first witnesses to the resurrected Savior were women.
Women ministered to Christ during His public ministry.
I don’t believe it’s recorded that a man ever annointed the body of Jesus is it?
Who makes up the majority of the population of most churches today? Women.
Yes God gave Paul a vision of a MAN in Europe who needed Christ but that man was only representative. In this case, a woman opened the door.
On this Mother’s Day we should thank God for the spiritual sensitivities of women.
Notice HOW Lydia opened the door to her household and learn how you can do the same for your household whether you are a man or a woman, young or old.
THE DOOR TO OUR HOUSEHOLD CAN BE OPENED TO GOD BY SMALL GROUP PRAYER.
Acts 16:13 - "And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there."
Looking for people who already had an interest in spiritual things, the missionary team went to a place by the river in Philippi where people customarily met to pray on the Sabbath day.
Lydia was among those who met for prayer.
Why is meeting together with others to pray so important? Reconsider what Jesus taught in Matthew 18:19,20:
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Christ spelled it out for us. Prayer has even greater force when we unite! We can meet the challenges of life with much more confidence and spiritual success if we are part of a prayer group.
It has been said we live in a culture addicted to "anywhere/everywhere" communication. We have cell phones, fax machines, fast access Internet service...you name it. We are a generation that wants to be in touch with one another at the drop of a hat and we’re willing to pay for the expensive gadgets that help us stay "connected".
Can you imagine how our lives would be blessed if we applied the same investment to staying in touch with God and one another by praying together?!
Technology cannot take the place of prayer.
Our families need intercession more than they need the Internet.
They need supplication more than cell phones.
They need more fasting than faxing.
Last week we asked the mid-week prayer group to pray for our youngest daughter Bethany to somehow obtain the second half of her summer missions support to go to Japan. With several going from our church this summer and our having two graduate from college and one getting married next week we couldn’t give her the money ourselves.
Bethany called from the college library the other night to report a friend’s church had written her a check for the remainder needed.
God answered the prayers of our mid-week prayer group and Bethany’s friends’ prayer group.
Sunday night we had special prayer for Jean Tucker who was afraid she would have to have gall bladder surgery and was worried her already frail body would suffer greatly. Well God heard the prayers of our Sunday night attenders and she doesn’t need the surgery now!
You say, "I’d like to see God do things like that in my life." You are more than welcome to join with us in prayer. You just might be the door to opening up the blessings of God on your household!
Lydia was the open door to her household because she prayed. She got together on a regular basis with others to pray.
Give serious consideration to adding a prayer group to your weekly schedule. It will help open the door of your household to God. It will richly enhance your spiritual life!
THE DOOR TO OUR HOUSEHOLD CAN BE OPENED BY LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD IN WORSHIP.
Acts 16:14 - "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul."
Lydia was an active business woman but she took time out of her busy schedule to worship God.
God can certainly open hearts anywhere but I don’t know of a better place than sitting in a worship service listening to the Word of God.
Before the Lord can open the door to our household and let His presence and blessings flow in, attention must be paid to His Word and time must be given for worship.
Our society is overscheduled, overworked, and overloaded. So what event do we jettison from our busy schedules all too often? The weekly church worship service.
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, signalled 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.
THE DOOR TO YOUR HOUSEHOLD CAN BE OPENED BY GOOD WORKS.
Acts 16:15 - "And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us saying, ’If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ And she constrained us."
After making her faith commitment to Jesus Lydia was baptized. The members of her household were baptized also, indicating they too had accepted Christ.
Baptism is the first good work of a Christian. If you sincerely believe in Jesus you will be baptized.
But notice her good works did not stop there. She immediately began to exercise her spiritual gift of hospitality by inviting the missionaries to stay in her home.
All Christ followers don’t have the same spiritual gifts but all have spiritual gifts.
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, I do not want you to be ignorant:" (1 Corinthians 12:1)
"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." (1 Corinthians 12:7)
The members of Lydia’s household could clearly see that her commitment to Jesus was real by the way it affected her lifestyle.
What do the members of your household witness in your life that indicates your faith is genuine?
"But someone will say, ’You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18)
Now we’ve tried to consider practical suggestions together in every sermon in this series on the household. Here are some ideas based on Lydia’s example.
Get the members of your household together every so often and do a good work together.
- Donate some items to a food pantry. Ask each member of the family to contribute their favorite items.
- Work on a church project together.
- Sponsor a missionary by saving money through family work projects.
- Make your own encouragement cards and send them to someone who needs cheer.
- Take the entire family to visit someone in a nursing home or hospital.
- Teach the family a skit and present it at church.
The ideas are limitless and carrying them out will infuse your household with a renewed presence of God.
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.
Perhaps today will be the same kind of day for you and your household!
