The Opened Heart: Lydia, Seller of Purple
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October 30, 2023, 1:51 pm
Filed under: Blogroll, Christian, Christianity, faith, Life, Theology, Uncategorized
Filed under: Blogroll, Christian, Christianity, faith, Life, Theology, Uncategorized
The Opened Heart
Acts 16:14-15 & Proverbs 4:23
Introduction: Here is an interesting story of a woman, named Lydia, who was not saved, but when she heard about the way to heaven, salvation: she gladly received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour.
This woman worshipped God; but she was not saved. I believe that she was a sincere woman; she was a religious woman.
She was a seller of purple: Purple was a most valuable color, obtained usually from shell-fish. It was chiefly worn by princes, and by the rich; and it was a very profitable business.
I. Her Heart Was Opened vs 14
A. How Lydia responded to the Word of God determined her
spiritual condition
1. she would either be saved
2. or she would remain unsaved
B. The Lord opened her heart
1. God did not force His way in
2. She either had to open it or leave it closed
3. the Holy Spirit of God spoke to her heart, in
that still small voice, compelling her to listen
to God’s Word being preached; compelling her to
be saved. The choice was hers.
C. Two people can hear the same salvation message in the
same service
1. One walks the isle and gets saved
2. The other refuses the Word and does not get saved
3. one responds by opening their heart to the Word of
God
4. The other does not open their heart to the Word of
God and remains unsaved.
II. Keep An Open Heart To God’s Word
A. After you are saved, keep your heart open to the
Truth of the Word of God
1. open to what you are to do and what you are not
to do
2. have a spiritual appetite - to grow and to learn
B. Church members, saved folks, one can hear the
message and respond.
1. Open their heart to God’s Word and does something
about it
2. Another will hear the same message with “nobody’s
gonna tell me what to do”
a. they do not open their heart to the Word of
God
b. they do not let God have His way in their life
c. they become callous to the Word or they know
everything so it seems
d. many refuse to obey what the Bible says
e. their heart’s are not opened; that’s sad
III. She Attended vs 14
A. Lydia was obedient, she had an obedient heart
B. An obedient heart aims to please
1. II Cor. 2:8-9: obedient in all things
2. Vs 15: she was baptized. This is the first act
of obedience that a person can do right after
they receive Christ as Saviour.
C. Every Christian needs an obedient heart: our heart
needs to be opened to the Word of God
1. It is NOT: I have to go to church
It is: I get to go to church
2. I get to witness to someone
3. I get to serve the Lord
4. I get to tithe
5. I get to give to missions
6. I get to get baptized etc.
IV. Lydia Had A Servant’s Heart
A. Vs 15: Come into my house: she constrained us; she
insisted they stay awhile
1. She had a willing heart, she wanted to serve the
Lord in whatever way was possible
2. She treated God’s servants with respect and was
hospitable to them
3. She wanted Christian fellowship
4. She wanted to learn more about God’s Word
B. An open and obedient servant’s heart brings revival
1. First, to the individual who has and opened and
obedient servants heart
2. Then, to those around who will be reached by the
person with the open heart
Conclusion: Let the Holy Spirit work in your heart and life.
Open your heart to the Word of God. Receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour: you can be 100% sure of Heaven.
Don’t fight it; give in to the Lord. Why remain unsaved and bound for hell? It just don’t make sense to do that.
After your saved, follow the Lord in Scriptural, Bible baptism, that’s the 1st act of obedience.
Open your heart to the Word of God, after you are saved, to walk in Christian obedience.
Do what the Bible commands us to do, don’t fight it ... God always wins.
Have a servants heart.
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