It is not enough to become a career woman. You need to become a Christian woman.

1 – An opportune heart (vs. 14)

Her heart is fertile for the gospel. She is a prime candidate to be saved.

• Her prosperity – She was a seller of purple. She dealt in goods that were dyed in purple. This purple came from a shellfish. Only a drop came from each shellfish. It was the colour of royalty and the rich. Thyatira was known for its purple dye. She was in a lucrative trade. Yet it did not satisfy her heart. See Luke 16:19 – The rich man wore purple garments.
• Her prestige – She hung out with the rich and well to do. The Lydia label would have been known throughout the region. Lydia had the prestige but it did not satisfy her. It is not the people you know on earth that counts but who you know in Heaven!
• Her piety (vs. 14) – She worshipped God. She was a devout Gentile. She had gone to Church but religion had not satisfied the deep longings of her heart. She needs an experience with God.

If Lydia gets saved she can influence a great number of people. She has all these things but she is not a liberated woman yet.

2 – An opened heart (vs. 14-15)

Paul had faithfully opened the Word of God but He could not open her heart.

• Divine sovereignty – It was God who opened her heart. We cannot open our own hearts. See Ephesians 2:1. It is God who opens the hearts of people. See John 12:32. What liberates a woman is when her heart is opened by the Gospel. God can open the hearts of the hard hearted.
• It was human responsibility – She had her part. God threw her a rope and she reached out and took it. It is not God’s will that anyone be lost. She applied what she heard to her life.
• There will be times of confrontation (16:9)

1. We are created to serve God.
2. We are saved to serve God. Ask yourself the question, “How can I serve God?”
3. We are called to serve God. Paul is called to serve God in a different way.
4. We are commanded to serve God.

God will carry you through the difficult times if you allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Categories: Acts