While in Asia on a second missionary journey, God gave Paul a vision of a MAN saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”

God SHOWS the door to a person’s heart through the words of the Holy Spirit (16:9-10)

God calls us to GO to them. (16:11-12)

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 jailer, 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 anointed 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. 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 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.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 to people around you to God. It will richly enhance your spiritual life!

THE DOOR 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 businesswoman 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 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.

ILLUSTRATION:

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 it is not enough. Bring spiritual groceries into your household and feed the souls of your family.

THE DOOR 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)

Here are some practical ideas based on Lydia’s example. Get the members of your home 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.

We do good works, not just for our children. We can also do good works so that our families can be an example to share Christ with others around them.

Our memory verse for the week, Philippians 1:6 says:

I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

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!

Photo by ALP STUDIO on Unsplash