An Open Heart

Heritage Addition church of Christ

by Jim Bradshaw

Sunday Evening, Sept. 6, 2015

Acts 16:12-15

Heb 10:25 NKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves

together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Act 16:12-15 NKJV and from there to Philippi, which is the

foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we

were staying in that city for some days. (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. (14) Now a certain woman named

Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of

Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to

heed the things spoken by Paul. (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." So she persuaded us.

Down By the River to PrayerA. Paul, Silas, Timothy, and at least Luke came to Philippi.

1. Named after Philip the Macedon, father of

Alexander.

2. Site of decisive battle between Mark Antony and

Octavius (Augustus Caesar).

3. Foremost City could mean first city of this part of

Macedonia.

4. Colony of Rome.

B. No Synagogue.

1. Jewish synagogue required 10 adult males.

2. Women came to the river to pray (worship).

3. No Crowd was too small, even if it contained only

women; Gal 3:26-29

Down By the River to PrayerC. Lydia from Thyatira.

1. Seller of Purple

2. Possibly wealthy.

3. She worshipped God; may have been a proselyte. Lydia

not a Hebrew name.

4. She heard Paul and the others teaching.

D. We must worship God

1. To the Jew, certain things had to be performed at

Temple.

2. Synagogue grew out of need to worship during

Babylonian and Persian captivity

3. Lydia still worshipped God even without a Synagogue.

4. We can worship God anywhere;

Down By the River to PrayerJoh 4:20-24 NKJV Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,

and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one

ought to worship." (21) Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe

Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this

mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. (22) You

worship what you do not know; we know what we worship,

for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and

now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in

spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

(24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship

in spirit and truth."

God Opens DoorsA. The Lord Opened Lydia's Heart

1. Was this done through direct illumination?

2. Why would God choose to open some peoples heart

and not others?

3. That would violate God's love for all; John 3:16-17.

4. God wants all to be saved; 2Peters 3:9

5. Therefore verse can not mean God singled out Lydia

over others.

God Opens DoorsB. How did God open her heart?

1. Direct illumination, not possible. (Even Saul told where

to go).

2. Original Greek means "open thoroughly." (Lock &

Dam).

3. Allowed her to hear the words preached unto her.

4. Not the words of Paul or man.

God Opens DoorsC. Preaching Christ shines light on hearts.

1. 2Co 4:5-6 NKJV For we do not preach ourselves, but

Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants

for Jesus' sake. (6) For it is the God who commanded

light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our

hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of

God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2. The power is in the Gospel; Rom 1:16.

3. An Open Heart plus the Gospel leads to Salvation; Rom

6:17 NKJV But God be thanked that though you were

slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of

doctrine to which you were delivered.

Pay AttentionA. Sometimes we don't pay attention

1. T – Ball

B. Lydia Attended to the things spoken by Paul.

1. Greek - to take heed, to pay attention.

2. Because of her open heart she was going to

respond to God's word.

3. Still works today.

C. He that hath ears to hear let him hear; Matt 11:15;

13:19; Mk. 4:9; 4:23; 7:16; Lk. 14:35; Rev. 2:7; 2:11;

2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22; 13:9.

1. In essence pay attention.

2. Faith comes from hearing God's Word;

Pay AttentionRom 10:13-17 NKJV For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE

NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." (14) How

then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not

heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And

how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

"HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO

PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD

TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" (16) But they have not all

obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS

BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" (17) So then faith comes by

hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hard HeartsA. Why do people not Obey the Gospel?

1. Heb 4:6-7 NKJV Since therefore it remains that some must

enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not

enter because of disobedience, (7) again He designates a

certain day, saying in David, "TODAY," after such a long

time, as it has been said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR

HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

2. Act 28:27 NKJV FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE

HAVE GROWN DULL. THEIR EARS ARE HARD OF

HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED,

LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND

HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, LEST THEY SHOULD

UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN,

SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM." '

Hard HeartsB. Paul preached Jesus and baptism

1. Verse 15; when see she was baptized.

2. Same with Ethiopian Eunuch

3. Act 2:37-38

C. Does whole household justify infant or child baptism.

1. God's word is consistent and does not contradict.

2. Cornelius and house spoke in tongues and magnified

God (no Babies).; Acts 10:46.

3. Stephanas and his house devoted themselves to the

ministry of the saints; 1 Co. 16:15 (no infants or small

children).

4. Philippian Jailor; rejoiced and believed; Acts 16:34.

D. I hope your hearts are open today.