Lydia: Willing Service - Acts 16 & Philippians 1:1-11 - May 21, 2006

Sunday School Lesson – Lydia: Willing Service – May 21, 2006

This is lesson three (3) in our series, “Godly Women of Devotion.”

Background and focus scripture: Acts 16:11-15, 40; Philippians 1:1-11. (Acts 16:16-40 at the end of the lesson for background.)

Lydia is a well known lady among Christians. She is a business woman who has done very well for herself and shares her wealth. She is a seller of purple dyes and cloth. She is a Gentile and comes from the area known as Lydia which we know today as Turkey. Lydia is likely not her personal name. Some Bible scholars have speculated that her personal name is either Euodia or Syntyche (Philippians 4:2).

Lydia is from the city of Thyatira (thigh-uh-TIE-ruh). Thyatira had water which was especially suitable for achieving a brilliant and permanent color to the cloth when it is dyed.

Paul refers to Lydia as a “worshiper of GOD.” Such a reference usually meant that she was a Proselyte to Judaism.

Lydia had traveled a long way from home to sell her products in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia which is mountainous country north of Greece. Thyatira is located about 250 miles southeast of Philippi.

Our study will feature Lydia with a focus on the first church she helped establish in Europe (Philippi) and the church’s partnership with Paul. Paul uses a word “koinonia” which means fellowship or partnership. We need to have "Koinonia" in our churches today as a part of our nature as Christians in the body of CHRIST. The concept of koinonia is the church functions as a body. Our body is made up of many parts, yet we function as one. If we hit our finger with a hammer then our entire body responds to the pain. Often, when a fellow Christian experiences a problem, we are quick to criticize. Our response should be to go to the aid of, pray with, stand along side, as the LORD directs. Equally when there is good news, the entire body feels the joy. Our physical body functions so that every part of the body functions in the best interest of the entire body.

Let’s read Acts 16:6-10: Paul, Timothy, Silas and Doctor Luke Guided to Europe.
Evangelization of Europe
6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of • Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we[2] The use of we in this passage probably indicates that the author Luke is joining Paul’s missionary team here. immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.

GOD changes Paul’s direction and sends the team to Macedonia.

This is why we must have an intimate, trusting relationship with CHRIST. When HE speaks through the HOLY SPIRIT, how we respond depends upon the relationship we have with CHRIST - confident, trusting, doubtful, questioning, reluctant, obedient or any number of other responses depend upon what we know about CHRIST through our relationship with HIM.

Paul does not hesitate and is obedient and sets out for Macedonia.

Let’s read Acts 16:11-16:
Lydia’s Conversion
11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and his team (Silas, Timothy and Luke) are led via Samothrace (SAM-uh-thrays), Neapolis (nee-AP-oh-lus) and a ten (10) mile walk along an east-west highway called Via Egnatia to Philippi. Philippi mined copper and gold and it came under Roman rule in 168 BC.

They arrived in Philippi a few days before the Sabbath. Paul’s routine was when he arrived in a city; he looked for the local synagogue to preach the gospel. In order for an area to have a synagogue, there needed to be at least ten (10) Jewish male heads of households. Philippi was a popular retirement city for those who had served in the Roman Army.

We see from our scripture Philippi does not have a synagogue but Paul learns there is a group of women meeting down by the river. No men but women. Lydia is one of those women, “who worshipped GOD.” As stated earlier, this meant she was a Jewish Proselyte. She and the other women were seeking GOD. GOD promises that all who seek HIM will find HIM. GOD changed Paul’s direction to reveal JESUS to these ladies.
We learn that Lydia is a business woman from Thyatira who deals in purple cloth. Paul presents CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT reveals CHRIST to her. She asks JESUS into her heart and HE comes into her life in a mighty way. Not only does she accept CHRIST but she made sure all her household was presented the gospel of CHRIST. Lydia being an astute business woman knew the real thing when she saw it or heard it. She had been searching for GOD and she knew she had found HIM in JESUS. She immediately wanted all the people around her to know about this great find. Lydia and her household were baptized.

Lydia was a woman of means and she shared her means with others. In verse 15, we see that she invited Paul and his team to stay with her in her house. This meant she had a house large enough to accommodate the group and enough personnel to take care of them. It seems Paul may have been a little hesitant at first but Lydia knew how to get a decision. She may have thought for a brief moment that her being a Gentile, just maybe Paul did not want to come to her house.

I think this is priceless, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” End of discussion! Paul and team stayed with Lydia. This became the first church in Europe.

Much happens to Paul and his team during their stay in Philippi.
v Lydia becomes a Christian and establishes the first church in her home in Philippi.
v Paul encounters a slave girl whose masters were using her to make a profit from her because of an evil spirit within her. Paul delivers her from the evil spirit which upsets the girl’s masters because he destroyed their business but saved a young lady.
v As a result of casting the evil spirit out of the girl Paul and Silas are arrested and thrown into jail. Here is the first time we hear the tune “Jail House Rock.” Paul and Silas are in jail singing and then there is an earthquake. Paul’s and Silas’s shackles are released but they remain in jail. Their action result in the salvation of the jailer and his household.
v The city officials are embarrassed when they find out Paul and Silas are Roman citizens.
v Once they are released from jail they go to Lydia’s house where the church members have gathered.

The scripture, Acts 16: 16-40, captures these events and is copied at the end of this lesson.

Let’s read Acts 16:40 and Philippians 1:3-8:

40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.

Philippians 1:3-8:

Introduction or Greeting as Paul begins his letter to the Church at Philippi.
1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,[1] Ac 16:12–40; 20:3–6 including the • overseers and deacons. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[2] Or for your every remembrance of me 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you[3] Or work among you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,[4] Or because you have me in your heart and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I deeply miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Once Paul and Silas leave jail, they go to Lydia’s house. The fact that Luke mentions the brethren are there indicates that Lydia has established a church in her house. I am sure Paul tells them how GOD is so awesome. That through the circumstances they had encountered, GOD increased the number of believer’s in Philippi through their arrest and being thrown into jail. As a result a jailer and his household are now believer’s and will be joining the newly formed church. Paul’s story had to give courage to the new believer’s to go and tell the good news of JESUS.
Paul and the team leave Philippi. Paul maintains contact with the church at Philippi. In about ten (10) years Paul, while under house arrest in Rome, writes his letter to the Philippians.

Paul gives his greeting and we learn that the church has matured in CHRIST. Paul addresses the letter to all the saints including the overseers (Officers in the Church or Elders) and deacons (servants or those who serve). The church Lydia helped to establish is still going strong ten (10) years later and has been a consistent partner with Paul throughout these years.

Paul loves this church and its people because they have been faithful to CHRIST as expressed in their partnering with him from the first day he met them until now, ten (10) years later. It has been a joy to Paul to watch them grow and mature spiritually and he keeps them in his prayers.

There is much joy when you see an individual or a group of people who have accepted CHRIST as their SAVIOR grow, mature and live a consistent Christian life. Paul is saying every time you enter my mind, I think of you and pray for you.
Once we accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR and allow HIM to direct our lives, we are on a spiritual journey. When we were born our parents did not take us home, throw us in the crib, tells us that the milk was in the refrigerator, and the diapers were in the closet. NO! They had to care for us and nurture us until we grew and became self-sufficient.
The same is true once we are born into the family of GOD. It is a spiritual journey, a process of growth and maturing in CHRIST. It is all about relationship - Spending quality time with our FATHER through JESUS, read and study HIS word, talk to GOD through prayer, fellowship with Christians, serve as HE leads us to serve, build a healthy confidence in HIM by serving HIM and much more. Think of all the investment that has been made in us by those who loved and cared for us in order for us to be able to relate to this world in a healthy, productive manner.

As our life was shaped by the things, people and circumstances in our physical lives, so are our spiritual lives shaped. If we have been under sound teaching and know GOD through a healthy relationship with HIM through the enlightenment of the HOLY SPIRIT, then we grow and mature spiritually in a healthy manner. If we have been exposed or decide on our own what GOD is and isn’t, then we could have an unhealthy relationship with GOD.

We need to ask GOD to reveal to us our spiritual condition and to show us what needs to be changed in our lives to have a genuine, healthy, loving, intimate relationship with HIM.

The process of salvation involves justification, sanctification and glorification through GRACE. The final act of salvation is when we are fully redeemed and receive our glorified bodies.

Paul tells his friends that he misses them and they are partners with him in all that he is doing for CHRIST.
CHRIST tells us that even a cup of cold water will not go unnoticed when we serve him. When we support others in their calling to serve CHRIST, we also enter into a partnership with them and are in essence working along with them. Giving is important but it not a substitute for us getting involved as lead by the HOLY SPIRIT. Priorities are important and Paul addresses priorities as we continue.

Let’s read Philippians 1:9-11:

9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in[5] Or until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that [comes]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul is telling them not to loose their first love. Keep their eyes upon JESUS, continue to grow in knowledge and discernment so that they will have a purpose driven life and a purpose driven church focused upon the things that really matter.

We as Christians think that being busy equates to our Christian growth or spirituality. Often we are so busy, we neglect quality time with our LORD to build and maintain our relationship with HIM. Paul makes it clear to the Philippians, “Who you are in CHRIST is what really matters. Stay focused upon your relationship with CHRIST. Stay grafted in CHRIST, WHO is the vine, so that you will be a healthy branch manifesting the fruit of the SPIRIT, in your lives, as you obey the call of CHRIST to serve HIM. JESUS said “Apart from ME, you can do nothing.””

What really matters to you and to me? Are we overloaded doing the good things that we miss out on doing the best?

Ask the HOLY SPIRIT to review the priorities in our lives and to help us focus on that which really matters.

Acts 16:16-40:
Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction[3] Or a spirit by which she predicted the future and made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men are the slaves of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you[4] Other mss read us the way of salvation.” 18 And she did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated, and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.[5] Lit out this hour 19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews, 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

A Midnight Deliverance
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!” 29 Then the jailer[6] Lit Then he called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them up into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.

An Official Apology
35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!” 36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!” 38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas[7] Lit heard they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.