Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady Her religious practice was deep-seated –She was about 300 miles away from home, but still she worshiped God. –She was a business woman, making costly dies for the finest fabrics, but still she worshiped God. –She was a Jewess living in a Gentile town. Gentile businesses, her competition, would not be “closed” on the Sabbath, and she might lose business. Still she worshiped God. –There was no synagogue of the Jews in Philippi (which was indicative of there being fewer than 10 Jewish men in the city), but still she worshiped God. –How do you think Lydia would have responded to verses like Hebrews 10:25 and Matthew 6:33? Her religious practice was deep-seated –She was about 300 miles away from home, but still she worshiped God. –She was a business woman, making costly dies for the finest fabrics, but still she worshiped God. –She was a Jewess living in a Gentile town. Gentile businesses, her competition, would not be “closed” on the Sabbath, and she might lose business. Still she worshiped God. –There was no synagogue of the Jews in Philippi (which was indicative of there being fewer than 10 Jewish men in the city), but still she worshiped God. –How do you think Lydia would have responded to verses like Hebrews 10:25 and Matthew 6:33?

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady She came into prominence b/c of her conversion –Why is Lydia’s name still known today?  B/c she was from Thyatira? B/c she was a business woman? –As a successful business woman, she was probably quite wealthy for her time:  She was a seller of purple—used by the wealthy  She “traveled on business” far from home  Her house was large enough to house a number of guests  BUT, what do these things mean to her 2,000 yrs later? –Her conversion is what’s important to her now. –On what do we place value?  Work? Money? Education? Good name? Position of authority?  How important will these be to us in 2,000 years? –Only thing that matters: our conversion (Mt. 16:26) She came into prominence b/c of her conversion –Why is Lydia’s name still known today?  B/c she was from Thyatira? B/c she was a business woman? –As a successful business woman, she was probably quite wealthy for her time:  She was a seller of purple—used by the wealthy  She “traveled on business” far from home  Her house was large enough to house a number of guests  BUT, what do these things mean to her 2,000 yrs later? –Her conversion is what’s important to her now. –On what do we place value?  Work? Money? Education? Good name? Position of authority?  How important will these be to us in 2,000 years? –Only thing that matters: our conversion (Mt. 16:26)

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady Her devotion was to God, not merely some system –Many people are loyal & devoted to their religion  For some, faithfulness to “my religion” more important than faithfulness to God – might be admirable loyalty, but misplaced –Lydia did not have a closed mind  She was teachable  NKJV – “heard us” NASB – “was listening”  Some won’t listen long if told to change their religion –What if Lydia had said to Paul, “What you say is true, but I’m satisfied with my religion”?  She would be remembered, but for a different reason  She’d be showing loyalty to her religion but not God –What man has taught us must yield to what Jesus taught Her devotion was to God, not merely some system –Many people are loyal & devoted to their religion  For some, faithfulness to “my religion” more important than faithfulness to God – might be admirable loyalty, but misplaced –Lydia did not have a closed mind  She was teachable  NKJV – “heard us” NASB – “was listening”  Some won’t listen long if told to change their religion –What if Lydia had said to Paul, “What you say is true, but I’m satisfied with my religion”?  She would be remembered, but for a different reason  She’d be showing loyalty to her religion but not God –What man has taught us must yield to what Jesus taught

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady The Lord opened her heart –Many believe He did it directly apart from the preaching  But her heart was already receptive to God & His truth  If He was going to do this, why a vision of a man in Macedonia?  If He doesn’t open all hearts—a respecter of persons (Ac. 10:34) –The heart is what the gospel works on (Matt. 13:15)  We understand with our hearts  Lydia’s heart was open to God, but not yet open to the gospel  Listening to the gospel opened her heart –Jesus Himself used the Word to operate on hearts  Luke 24:45-47  He opened their understanding by telling them what the Scripture says & explaining the proper application it –The Lord used & uses His Word to open hearts The Lord opened her heart –Many believe He did it directly apart from the preaching  But her heart was already receptive to God & His truth  If He was going to do this, why a vision of a man in Macedonia?  If He doesn’t open all hearts—a respecter of persons (Ac. 10:34) –The heart is what the gospel works on (Matt. 13:15)  We understand with our hearts  Lydia’s heart was open to God, but not yet open to the gospel  Listening to the gospel opened her heart –Jesus Himself used the Word to operate on hearts  Luke 24:45-47  He opened their understanding by telling them what the Scripture says & explaining the proper application it –The Lord used & uses His Word to open hearts

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady She & her family were baptized –This is the natural & proper response of one who is not a Christian and who hears the gospel (examples in Acts) –Jesus made baptism a condition of salvation (Mk. 16:16) –God opened her heart to “heed/obey/respond to the things spoken by Paul”  What was a part of that response?  “And when she and her household were baptized…” –The text does NOT say infants were baptized  We do not know that she had children.  We do not know, if she had children, if any of them were infants.  If had infants, they were not baptized—not proper subjects.  Does Acts 18:8 prove that infants believed on the Lord? She & her family were baptized –This is the natural & proper response of one who is not a Christian and who hears the gospel (examples in Acts) –Jesus made baptism a condition of salvation (Mk. 16:16) –God opened her heart to “heed/obey/respond to the things spoken by Paul”  What was a part of that response?  “And when she and her household were baptized…” –The text does NOT say infants were baptized  We do not know that she had children.  We do not know, if she had children, if any of them were infants.  If had infants, they were not baptized—not proper subjects.  Does Acts 18:8 prove that infants believed on the Lord?

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady She invited apostolic examination of her faithfulness –The apostle Peter knew Ananias & Sapphira were lying about their “gift” in Acts 5. Could Paul also judge hearts? –Lydia was not afraid to put her faithfulness on the line, knowing it was ultimately known anyway (cf. Heb. 4:13). –Are you willing for your religion to be examined by the apostles (i.e., in the light of their teachings in the N.T.):  Examine your conversion to Christ?  Examine your place in His church?  Examine the way you worship?  Examine your faithfulness? –How many of us would invite apostles home with us, but only on the basis, “If you have judged me to be faithful”? She invited apostolic examination of her faithfulness –The apostle Peter knew Ananias & Sapphira were lying about their “gift” in Acts 5. Could Paul also judge hearts? –Lydia was not afraid to put her faithfulness on the line, knowing it was ultimately known anyway (cf. Heb. 4:13). –Are you willing for your religion to be examined by the apostles (i.e., in the light of their teachings in the N.T.):  Examine your conversion to Christ?  Examine your place in His church?  Examine the way you worship?  Examine your faithfulness? –How many of us would invite apostles home with us, but only on the basis, “If you have judged me to be faithful”?

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady She was hospitable –She didn’t just invite them for dinner; she said to them, “Come to my house and stay.”  Make her house their dwelling while in Philippi (present tense)  “She persuaded/constrained/prevailed upon us.” –She was a new convert, but she opened up her house. –Hospitality in the N.T.:  House of Stephanas addicted themselves to it – 1 Cor. 16:15  One of the “good works” in 1 Tim. 5:10 (lodge strangers)  “some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:2)  “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9)  “distributing to needs of saints; given to hospitality” (Rm. 12:13)  Hospitality required in both lists of qualifications for elders –Can we be Christians and not be hospitable? She was hospitable –She didn’t just invite them for dinner; she said to them, “Come to my house and stay.”  Make her house their dwelling while in Philippi (present tense)  “She persuaded/constrained/prevailed upon us.” –She was a new convert, but she opened up her house. –Hospitality in the N.T.:  House of Stephanas addicted themselves to it – 1 Cor. 16:15  One of the “good works” in 1 Tim. 5:10 (lodge strangers)  “some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:2)  “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9)  “distributing to needs of saints; given to hospitality” (Rm. 12:13)  Hospitality required in both lists of qualifications for elders –Can we be Christians and not be hospitable?

Lydia: Characteristics of a Godly Lady Her religious practice was deep-seated She came into prominence b/c of her conversion Her devotion was to God, not merely some system The Lord opened her heart She & her family were baptized She invited apostolic examination of her faithfulness She was hospitable After Paul & Silas were beaten & imprisoned in Philippi, where do you suppose they went? –“They entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them” (Acts 16:40). Her religious practice was deep-seated She came into prominence b/c of her conversion Her devotion was to God, not merely some system The Lord opened her heart She & her family were baptized She invited apostolic examination of her faithfulness She was hospitable After Paul & Silas were beaten & imprisoned in Philippi, where do you suppose they went? –“They entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them” (Acts 16:40).