Bible Character Studies: Lydia- A business woman whose life was changed by the Gospel.
Good morning...
Psalm 9: 1-2 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name; O thou most High.
This morning we are going to study about a business woman who hears about Jesus Christ from 3 men and immediately she and her household follow Jesus Christ and are baptized. Her life is transformed from this point forward. The scripture above is so fitting for a new believer as well as a mature believer in their faith.
Spirit Guided Travels
Acts 16:11-12 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
Photo above shows a portion of the Via Egnatia going to Philippi.
Luke gives us an important account of their travels where the gospel is going to make its first entry into what today is known as Europe. It was the chief port city of northwest Asia Minor. Samothracia was a Greek island in the Aegean sea and it was home to a religious mystery cult.
From Neapolis Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled on the Roman road named the Via Egnatia that went to the city of Philippi. This was an important Roman city that was in the colony of Macedonia. Paul previously received a vision from the Spirit of God about a man asking him to come to Macedonia to help them.
Photo shows some of ruins in Philippi.
Scouting the city for a place to preach.
Paul and his companions stayed in the city a number of days no doubt seeing if there was a synagogue where he could preach and determining the spiritual condition of the inhabitants.
Acts 16:13-15 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 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.
Paul, Silas and Timothy noticed that there was a place by a river where people went to pray. Paul and the other men sat down and began to speak to the people about the gospel. Several women were in attendance and the Spirit of God brought a lady named Lydia before us.
God was working in Lydia's heart!
First we are told that she was a seller of purple from Thyatira, one of the 7 churches in Revelation. The water of ancient Thyatira was ideal for dying fabrics used to make various items of clothing. Purple cloth from Thyatira was in high demand. Lydia was a very successful seller of those products.
Spiritually, Thyatira like many other Gentile cities was infested with darkness and pagan cults. In spite of her background, Lydia worshiped God. She heard the Word of God preached by Paul, Silas and Timothy and became the first European to be born again.
A prepared and open heart led to salvation for Lydia!
The Lord prepared her heart for this very moment of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord opened her heart. What does this mean? He opened the doors of her mind and soul and gave her a desire to learn the truth about salvation and being born again.
Because the Lord Jesus opened her heart and mind to receive the truth Lydia was very attentive to what they taught. She gave earnest energy to hearing and bringing it close in her mind and soul.
Lydia responded by exercising repentant faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know this? Because she requested to be baptized.
Romans 6:3- Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptism has been described as an outward sign of an inward change. This is a baptism for believers, those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God. When we go into the waters of baptism we are identifying with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins and when we are raised out of the water it is a picture of His resurrection and we believers will be a part of it one day.
Thus, we are to walk in newness of life or as Paul wrote to the Corinthians "old things are passed away; behold all things are made new" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Notice also that Lydia had gathered all those of her household to accompany her on her journey to sell purple cloth. Lydia and all who were with her responded to the gospel and were baptized.
Evidence of the newness of life is seen in the fact that Lydia immediately asked Paul and his companions to stay at her lodging place at her expense.
The last mention we read of Lydia is after Paul & Silas were beaten and imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. There was an earthquake followed by the conversion of the Philippian jailer and then they were released from prison.
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.
Paul and Silas returned to the home of Lydia and she ministered to their needs. In addition, all the new believers were present and they were comforted and encouraged by Paul and Silas. Lydia showed consistency of Christian character by giving hospitality to the apostles even though it was dangerous to do so.
Points to Ponder...
Psalm 9: 1-2 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name; O thou most High.
This morning we are going to study about a business woman who hears about Jesus Christ from 3 men and immediately she and her household follow Jesus Christ and are baptized. Her life is transformed from this point forward. The scripture above is so fitting for a new believer as well as a mature believer in their faith.
Spirit Guided Travels
Acts 16:11-12 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
Photo above shows a portion of the Via Egnatia going to Philippi.
Luke gives us an important account of their travels where the gospel is going to make its first entry into what today is known as Europe. It was the chief port city of northwest Asia Minor. Samothracia was a Greek island in the Aegean sea and it was home to a religious mystery cult.
From Neapolis Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled on the Roman road named the Via Egnatia that went to the city of Philippi. This was an important Roman city that was in the colony of Macedonia. Paul previously received a vision from the Spirit of God about a man asking him to come to Macedonia to help them.
Photo shows some of ruins in Philippi.
Scouting the city for a place to preach.
Paul and his companions stayed in the city a number of days no doubt seeing if there was a synagogue where he could preach and determining the spiritual condition of the inhabitants.
Acts 16:13-15 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 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.
Paul, Silas and Timothy noticed that there was a place by a river where people went to pray. Paul and the other men sat down and began to speak to the people about the gospel. Several women were in attendance and the Spirit of God brought a lady named Lydia before us.
God was working in Lydia's heart!
First we are told that she was a seller of purple from Thyatira, one of the 7 churches in Revelation. The water of ancient Thyatira was ideal for dying fabrics used to make various items of clothing. Purple cloth from Thyatira was in high demand. Lydia was a very successful seller of those products.
Spiritually, Thyatira like many other Gentile cities was infested with darkness and pagan cults. In spite of her background, Lydia worshiped God. She heard the Word of God preached by Paul, Silas and Timothy and became the first European to be born again.
A prepared and open heart led to salvation for Lydia!
The Lord prepared her heart for this very moment of hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord opened her heart. What does this mean? He opened the doors of her mind and soul and gave her a desire to learn the truth about salvation and being born again.
Because the Lord Jesus opened her heart and mind to receive the truth Lydia was very attentive to what they taught. She gave earnest energy to hearing and bringing it close in her mind and soul.
Lydia responded by exercising repentant faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know this? Because she requested to be baptized.
Romans 6:3- Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptism has been described as an outward sign of an inward change. This is a baptism for believers, those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God. When we go into the waters of baptism we are identifying with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins and when we are raised out of the water it is a picture of His resurrection and we believers will be a part of it one day.
Thus, we are to walk in newness of life or as Paul wrote to the Corinthians "old things are passed away; behold all things are made new" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Notice also that Lydia had gathered all those of her household to accompany her on her journey to sell purple cloth. Lydia and all who were with her responded to the gospel and were baptized.
Evidence of the newness of life is seen in the fact that Lydia immediately asked Paul and his companions to stay at her lodging place at her expense.
The last mention we read of Lydia is after Paul & Silas were beaten and imprisoned for the sake of the gospel. There was an earthquake followed by the conversion of the Philippian jailer and then they were released from prison.
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.
Paul and Silas returned to the home of Lydia and she ministered to their needs. In addition, all the new believers were present and they were comforted and encouraged by Paul and Silas. Lydia showed consistency of Christian character by giving hospitality to the apostles even though it was dangerous to do so.
Points to Ponder...
- Lydia was a woman of prayer. She sought to honor God to the best of her understanding in her business dealings.
- Lydia worshiped God. She saw the endless darkness of pagan practices and knew that there had to be a One, True God that she could have a relationship with.
- Lydia was faithful to bring all those who traveled with her to hear Paul preach the gospel. She cared about their spiritual condition.
- Lydia was ready to serve right away after her public confession of Christ and baptism. She had a consistent character of being ready to meet the needs of other believers.
Lydia never speaks in the text of scripture but the inspired record tells us so much about her in the actions that indicated a heart converted to Jesus Christ.
- She was honest in her business dealings. Are we honest?
- She worshiped the One, True God. Do we worship Him?
- She was faithful and cared about other people's spiritual condition. Do we care about lost people?
- She was ready to serve and willing to meet any needs? Are we serve others and meet needs?
May our Lord help us have a heart like Lydia that is pursuing the things of God and seeking His will in our own lives. May the Lord continue to change us and may we be found faithful servants of Jehovah.
Bob
Comments
Post a Comment