1. This Congregation meets at: 5:00 PM on the last Sunday of the MONTH.
Sunday Bible Class at 10:00 am.
Sunday Worship Service at 11:00 am.
Sunday Night Worship service at 6:00 pm.
Wednesday Night Bible Class at 7:00 pm.
5:00 PM on the last Sunday of the MONTH.
Please be so kind to turn off your cell phone. Let’s be reverent. We are worshipping God.

2. 45 lesson

3. Romans 15:4 (NKJV) 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

4. 1 Corinthians 10:11 11  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

5. James 5:17...
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

6. Nehemiah: The Builder for God
King Saul.
Daniel
Sapphira
the accomplice lier.
Part 2
Part 1
Dorcas

8. Lydia

9. Who was Lydia brothers?
Lydia was one of the most important characters in the New Testament.
From the city of Thyatira.
Was living in the city of Philippi.
A business woman.
A Seller Of Purple.
Has a family.
Wealthy?
Was Lydia Jewish or Gentile?
What is Lydia doing in Philippi?

10. 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?

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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?

15. 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”?

16. 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?

17. 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).