Conversion of a Working Mom
Acts 16:9-40
On this Mother’s Day we will look at a “working” Mom who got saved, named Lydia. She was the first convert in Europe—If you are of European descent, you owe a lot to Lydia! A very pretty name. But, how many women do you know named Lydia?
Three significant conversions in Acts 16:
- Lydia by the riverside (vs. 13-15)
- The soothsayer by the roadside (vs. 16-18)
- The jailer’s family by the fireside (vs. 23-34)
Everything we know about Lydia is found in three verses (vs. 14, 15, 40). I don’t remember ever hearing an entire sermon preached on Lydia. But God gives us a snapshot of how this “working” mom got saved.
It started with…
I. An open door for PREACHING the Gospel (vs. 6-12).
The events that directed Paul to preach the Gospel at Philippi were orchestrated by God. God opens doors for the Gospel!
A. The PROHIBITING of Paul (vs.6-8).
Psalm 37:23—“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Or, in Paul’s case, the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord also.
- The will of God is not always revealed in positives, but sometimes in negatives. Closed doors as well as opened doors may reveal God’s will.
- Did God stop Paul and Silas from going into Asia because there was no unsaved people there? No. God stopped Paul because there were some women praying in Macedonia asking God for help.
B. The PLEA for help (vs. 9-10). How many unsaved people are praying for help, but we are not surrendered to go to them?
It is not the responsibility of the lost to come to us. It’s our responsibility to go to them with the Gospel.
C. The PONDERING of the vision (v. 10— “…assuredly GATHERING”).
After considering all the factors involved (the closed doors… the circumstances… the call for help), they concluded it was God’s will to go to Macedonia. It was not a decision based on emotion, but on the evidence of God’s leading hand.
D. The PROMPTNESS to go (vs. 10-12). Once you know what God’s will is—DO IT!
II. An open heart is PREPARED for salvation (vs. 13-14).
Partial Sermon: FULL PDF HERE
