PAUL THE APOSTLE ( PART 24) | THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY | LESSON FROM PHILIPPI ( PART 2 )

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3124

PAUL THE APOSTLE ( PART 24)

THE SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY
LESSON FROM PHILIPPI ( PART 2 )

LYDIA: A WOMAN OF FAITH

She is the first Gentile convert in Europe under Paul's ministry. Ironically it was a vision of a man who called him to Macedonia in Greece. But it was a Gentile woman from Asia Minor who was the first person to believe the gospel of Christ!

She is described as a woman of Thyatira, a "seller of purple," who dwelt in Philippi ( Acts 16:14 Acts 16:15). She was not a Jewess but a proselyte. The Lord opened her heart as she heard the gospel from the lips of Paul ( 16:13 ). She thus became the first in Europe who embraced Christianity. She was a person apparently of considerable wealth, for she could afford to give a home to Paul and his companions. 

Her name means "from Lydia" in Greek. The place-name Lydia refers to an ancient region in Asia Minor which is today a province in Turkey. The Lydian people were descended from Lud, a son of Shem and grandson of Noah; thus the name could ultimately have been from the Hebrew 'Lud'. 

What life lessons can we learn from her?

1. The first life lesson we learn from Lydia is we must have a heart open to the gospel. 

The Bible tells us she is a worshipper of God - someone who is not a full Jewish proselyte.  A worshipper of God is someone who has not fully converted to Judaism.  A worshipper of God is someone who goes to the Jewish synagogues and worships with the rest of the congregation but has not formally converted to Judaism. 

2. The second life lesson we learn from Lydia is that a heart open to the gospel usually leads to a home open to hospitality.

She need not have done so for strangers sharing a strange gospel about a Jewish Messiah resurrected from the dead! 

But to her credit, her faith overcame her fear and personal misgivings. Her faith was followed by bold works of goodwill and hospitality.

3. The third lesson is she led by example, not coercion. 

She was water baptised after accepting Christ as her Saviour - a personal example that convicted her whole household to follow likewise.

Indeed, once your heart has been opened to the gospel and your home open to hospitality then you can live a life motivated by faith and not fear - as a testimony to others.

Abba Father, the house church planted in Lydia's home was dear to Paul as it was the first church to confirm his vision for the gospel.

Later, when he writes his letter to the Philippians, Paul expresses his gratitude in this way, “You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone” (Philippians 4:15).

No church shared with him and supported him except the Philippians.

They were the generous ones.  The hospitable ones.  The faithful ones.

And it all started with Lydia, a woman who chose faith over fear.

To God be the glory!