OPEN HEARTS THAT INFLUENCE AND IMPACT!!!
LYDIA AND THE PURPLE CALLING.
Our message today comes from Acts of the
“A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened…”
LYDIA is not introduced as a queen, a prophetess, or a miracle worker. She is INTRODUCED AS A BUSINESSWOMAN — a seller of purple. YET THROUGH HER, GOD WOULD OPEN A DOOR FOR THE GOSPEL IN EUROPE.
Let us look at LYDIA — and THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH SHE WAS MAKING.
In the ancient world, purple cloth was rare and expensive. It was ASSOCIATED WITH ROYALTY, WEALTH, HONOR, and AUTHORITY. KINGS WORE PURPLE. NOBLES WORE PURPLE. It SYMBOLIZED DIGNITY and DISTINCTION.
When Lydia worked with purple cloth, SHE WAS HANDLING SOMETHING VALUABLE. She was DEALING IN GARMENTS OF HONOR.
IS IT NOT POWERFUL that GOD USED A SELLER OF ROYAL CLOTH TO HELP ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?
BECAUSE OUR GOD IS A KING. AND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM CARRIES ROYAL SIGNIFICANCE.
LYDIA was from Thyatira, KNOWN for its dyeing industry. SHE WAS A SKILLED ENTREPRENEUR. SHE DID NOT WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITY, SHE CREATED IT.
But notice something more important than her career: the Bible says SHE WORSHIPPED GOD. SHE HAD SUCCESS — but SHE ALSO HAD SURRENDER.
Many People Can Handle Prosperity. But
Few Can Handle Prosperity And STILL KNEEL IN PRAYER.
Lydia teaches us that BUSINESS and DEVOTION CAN WALK TOGETHER.
SUCCESS and SPIRITUALITY ARE NOT ENEMIES WHEN GOD IS FIRST.
The Scripture says, “whose heart the Lord opened.”
She heard Paul preach. But hearing is not enough. THE HEART MUST BE OPENED.
GOD OPENED HER HEART — and SHE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY.
She was baptized. Her household was baptized. And she urged Paul and his companions to stay in her home.
She TURNED HER HOUSE INTO A SANCTUARY. She TURNED HER BUSINESS INTO A BLESSING. She TURNED HER PURPLE INTO PURPOSE.
There is something deeper about purple in Scripture.
When Jesus was mocked before His crucifixion, the soldiers placed a PURPLE ROBE on Him. It was meant to mock Him as “KING OF THE JEWS.”
Yet even in mockery, they were declaring truth. THE PURPLE ROBE SYMBOLIZED HIS KINGSHIP.
LYDIA, UNKNOWINGLY, was dealing in a color that PROPHETICALLY POINTS TO CHRIST — The KING of Kings.
What She Traded In Naturally Symbolized Something SPIRITUALLY ETERNAL.
And here is the essence: GOD WILL USE WHAT IS ALREADY IN OUR HANDS TO GLORIFY THE KING.
WE may not be a preacher. WE may not be a missionary. WE may simply be “selling purple.”
But WHEN OUR HEART IS OPEN, OUR WORK BECOMES WORSHIP.
Scholars believe LYDIA’S HOME BECAME THE FIRST CHURCH IN PHILIPPI. Before cathedrals. Before pulpits. Before choirs.
There was A WOMAN. A HOME. AN OPEN HEART. And PURPLE CLOTH.
REVIVAL does not begin in stadiums.
It BEGINS IN SURRENDERED HEARTS.
Lydia’s purple business financed ministry.
Her hospitality sustained missionaries.
HER OBEDIENCE OPENED A CONTINENT TO THE GOSPEL.
THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH WAS Royal identity – WE BELONG TO A KING. SACRIFICE – CHRIST WORE PURPLE BEFORE THE CROSS.
PURPOSE – What We Create Can Serve GOD’S KINGDOM.
INFLUENCE – ONE OBEDIENT LIFE CAN CHANGE NATIONS.
PURPLE is made by combining RED and BLUE dyes. RED often symbolizes SACRIFICE. BLUE often symbolizes HEAVEN.
Put them together and you see a beautiful picture of HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH THROUGH SACRIFICE. Is that not the Gospel?
And LYDIA, in her ORDINARY WORK, was LIVING OUT AN EXTRAORDINARY CALLING.
Maybe we are raising children. Maybe we are teaching. Maybe we are running a small business. Maybe we are working quietly behind the scenes. DO NOT DESPISE OUR PURPLE.
God is not asking us to change your occupation. HE IS ASKING US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS.
When the Lord opens our hearts, our house becomes holy ground. Our resources become instruments of revival. Our work becomes worship. Our ordinary becomes eternal.
Lydia did not preach a sermon in Scripture.
Yet HER LIFE PREACHED LOUDLY.
She shows us that we can be prosperous and pious. We can be influential and humble. We can handle royal cloth and still bow before the true King.
The essence of the purple cloth is this:
EVERYTHING WE TOUCH CAN EITHER CLOTHE THE WORLD OR CROWN THE KING.
Let's be like Lydia. Let our hearts be open. Let our homes be available. Let our resources serve heaven. Let our purple point to Jesus.
Let it be said of us, “The Lord opened her heart. The Lord opened his heart.”
LYDIA AND THE PURPLE CALLING.
Our message today comes from Acts of the
“A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened…”
LYDIA is not introduced as a queen, a prophetess, or a miracle worker. She is INTRODUCED AS A BUSINESSWOMAN — a seller of purple. YET THROUGH HER, GOD WOULD OPEN A DOOR FOR THE GOSPEL IN EUROPE.
Let us look at LYDIA — and THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH SHE WAS MAKING.
In the ancient world, purple cloth was rare and expensive. It was ASSOCIATED WITH ROYALTY, WEALTH, HONOR, and AUTHORITY. KINGS WORE PURPLE. NOBLES WORE PURPLE. It SYMBOLIZED DIGNITY and DISTINCTION.
When Lydia worked with purple cloth, SHE WAS HANDLING SOMETHING VALUABLE. She was DEALING IN GARMENTS OF HONOR.
IS IT NOT POWERFUL that GOD USED A SELLER OF ROYAL CLOTH TO HELP ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?
BECAUSE OUR GOD IS A KING. AND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM CARRIES ROYAL SIGNIFICANCE.
LYDIA was from Thyatira, KNOWN for its dyeing industry. SHE WAS A SKILLED ENTREPRENEUR. SHE DID NOT WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITY, SHE CREATED IT.
But notice something more important than her career: the Bible says SHE WORSHIPPED GOD. SHE HAD SUCCESS — but SHE ALSO HAD SURRENDER.
Many People Can Handle Prosperity. But
Few Can Handle Prosperity And STILL KNEEL IN PRAYER.
Lydia teaches us that BUSINESS and DEVOTION CAN WALK TOGETHER.
SUCCESS and SPIRITUALITY ARE NOT ENEMIES WHEN GOD IS FIRST.
The Scripture says, “whose heart the Lord opened.”
She heard Paul preach. But hearing is not enough. THE HEART MUST BE OPENED.
GOD OPENED HER HEART — and SHE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY.
She was baptized. Her household was baptized. And she urged Paul and his companions to stay in her home.
She TURNED HER HOUSE INTO A SANCTUARY. She TURNED HER BUSINESS INTO A BLESSING. She TURNED HER PURPLE INTO PURPOSE.
There is something deeper about purple in Scripture.
When Jesus was mocked before His crucifixion, the soldiers placed a PURPLE ROBE on Him. It was meant to mock Him as “KING OF THE JEWS.”
Yet even in mockery, they were declaring truth. THE PURPLE ROBE SYMBOLIZED HIS KINGSHIP.
LYDIA, UNKNOWINGLY, was dealing in a color that PROPHETICALLY POINTS TO CHRIST — The KING of Kings.
What She Traded In Naturally Symbolized Something SPIRITUALLY ETERNAL.
And here is the essence: GOD WILL USE WHAT IS ALREADY IN OUR HANDS TO GLORIFY THE KING.
WE may not be a preacher. WE may not be a missionary. WE may simply be “selling purple.”
But WHEN OUR HEART IS OPEN, OUR WORK BECOMES WORSHIP.
Scholars believe LYDIA’S HOME BECAME THE FIRST CHURCH IN PHILIPPI. Before cathedrals. Before pulpits. Before choirs.
There was A WOMAN. A HOME. AN OPEN HEART. And PURPLE CLOTH.
REVIVAL does not begin in stadiums.
It BEGINS IN SURRENDERED HEARTS.
Lydia’s purple business financed ministry.
Her hospitality sustained missionaries.
HER OBEDIENCE OPENED A CONTINENT TO THE GOSPEL.
THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH WAS Royal identity – WE BELONG TO A KING. SACRIFICE – CHRIST WORE PURPLE BEFORE THE CROSS.
PURPOSE – What We Create Can Serve GOD’S KINGDOM.
INFLUENCE – ONE OBEDIENT LIFE CAN CHANGE NATIONS.
PURPLE is made by combining RED and BLUE dyes. RED often symbolizes SACRIFICE. BLUE often symbolizes HEAVEN.
Put them together and you see a beautiful picture of HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH THROUGH SACRIFICE. Is that not the Gospel?
And LYDIA, in her ORDINARY WORK, was LIVING OUT AN EXTRAORDINARY CALLING.
Maybe we are raising children. Maybe we are teaching. Maybe we are running a small business. Maybe we are working quietly behind the scenes. DO NOT DESPISE OUR PURPLE.
God is not asking us to change your occupation. HE IS ASKING US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS.
When the Lord opens our hearts, our house becomes holy ground. Our resources become instruments of revival. Our work becomes worship. Our ordinary becomes eternal.
Lydia did not preach a sermon in Scripture.
Yet HER LIFE PREACHED LOUDLY.
She shows us that we can be prosperous and pious. We can be influential and humble. We can handle royal cloth and still bow before the true King.
The essence of the purple cloth is this:
EVERYTHING WE TOUCH CAN EITHER CLOTHE THE WORLD OR CROWN THE KING.
Let's be like Lydia. Let our hearts be open. Let our homes be available. Let our resources serve heaven. Let our purple point to Jesus.
Let it be said of us, “The Lord opened her heart. The Lord opened his heart.”
OPEN HEARTS THAT INFLUENCE AND IMPACT!!!
LYDIA AND THE PURPLE CALLING.
Our message today comes from Acts of the
“A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened…”
LYDIA is not introduced as a queen, a prophetess, or a miracle worker. She is INTRODUCED AS A BUSINESSWOMAN — a seller of purple. YET THROUGH HER, GOD WOULD OPEN A DOOR FOR THE GOSPEL IN EUROPE.
Let us look at LYDIA — and THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH SHE WAS MAKING.
In the ancient world, purple cloth was rare and expensive. It was ASSOCIATED WITH ROYALTY, WEALTH, HONOR, and AUTHORITY. KINGS WORE PURPLE. NOBLES WORE PURPLE. It SYMBOLIZED DIGNITY and DISTINCTION.
When Lydia worked with purple cloth, SHE WAS HANDLING SOMETHING VALUABLE. She was DEALING IN GARMENTS OF HONOR.
IS IT NOT POWERFUL that GOD USED A SELLER OF ROYAL CLOTH TO HELP ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM?
BECAUSE OUR GOD IS A KING. AND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM CARRIES ROYAL SIGNIFICANCE.
LYDIA was from Thyatira, KNOWN for its dyeing industry. SHE WAS A SKILLED ENTREPRENEUR. SHE DID NOT WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITY, SHE CREATED IT.
But notice something more important than her career: the Bible says SHE WORSHIPPED GOD. SHE HAD SUCCESS — but SHE ALSO HAD SURRENDER.
Many People Can Handle Prosperity. But
Few Can Handle Prosperity And STILL KNEEL IN PRAYER.
Lydia teaches us that BUSINESS and DEVOTION CAN WALK TOGETHER.
SUCCESS and SPIRITUALITY ARE NOT ENEMIES WHEN GOD IS FIRST.
The Scripture says, “whose heart the Lord opened.”
She heard Paul preach. But hearing is not enough. THE HEART MUST BE OPENED.
GOD OPENED HER HEART — and SHE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY.
She was baptized. Her household was baptized. And she urged Paul and his companions to stay in her home.
She TURNED HER HOUSE INTO A SANCTUARY. She TURNED HER BUSINESS INTO A BLESSING. She TURNED HER PURPLE INTO PURPOSE.
There is something deeper about purple in Scripture.
When Jesus was mocked before His crucifixion, the soldiers placed a PURPLE ROBE on Him. It was meant to mock Him as “KING OF THE JEWS.”
Yet even in mockery, they were declaring truth. THE PURPLE ROBE SYMBOLIZED HIS KINGSHIP.
LYDIA, UNKNOWINGLY, was dealing in a color that PROPHETICALLY POINTS TO CHRIST — The KING of Kings.
What She Traded In Naturally Symbolized Something SPIRITUALLY ETERNAL.
And here is the essence: GOD WILL USE WHAT IS ALREADY IN OUR HANDS TO GLORIFY THE KING.
WE may not be a preacher. WE may not be a missionary. WE may simply be “selling purple.”
But WHEN OUR HEART IS OPEN, OUR WORK BECOMES WORSHIP.
Scholars believe LYDIA’S HOME BECAME THE FIRST CHURCH IN PHILIPPI. Before cathedrals. Before pulpits. Before choirs.
There was A WOMAN. A HOME. AN OPEN HEART. And PURPLE CLOTH.
REVIVAL does not begin in stadiums.
It BEGINS IN SURRENDERED HEARTS.
Lydia’s purple business financed ministry.
Her hospitality sustained missionaries.
HER OBEDIENCE OPENED A CONTINENT TO THE GOSPEL.
THE ESSENCE OF THE PURPLE CLOTH WAS Royal identity – WE BELONG TO A KING. SACRIFICE – CHRIST WORE PURPLE BEFORE THE CROSS.
PURPOSE – What We Create Can Serve GOD’S KINGDOM.
INFLUENCE – ONE OBEDIENT LIFE CAN CHANGE NATIONS.
PURPLE is made by combining RED and BLUE dyes. RED often symbolizes SACRIFICE. BLUE often symbolizes HEAVEN.
Put them together and you see a beautiful picture of HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH THROUGH SACRIFICE. Is that not the Gospel?
And LYDIA, in her ORDINARY WORK, was LIVING OUT AN EXTRAORDINARY CALLING.
Maybe we are raising children. Maybe we are teaching. Maybe we are running a small business. Maybe we are working quietly behind the scenes. DO NOT DESPISE OUR PURPLE.
God is not asking us to change your occupation. HE IS ASKING US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS.
When the Lord opens our hearts, our house becomes holy ground. Our resources become instruments of revival. Our work becomes worship. Our ordinary becomes eternal.
Lydia did not preach a sermon in Scripture.
Yet HER LIFE PREACHED LOUDLY.
She shows us that we can be prosperous and pious. We can be influential and humble. We can handle royal cloth and still bow before the true King.
The essence of the purple cloth is this:
EVERYTHING WE TOUCH CAN EITHER CLOTHE THE WORLD OR CROWN THE KING.
Let's be like Lydia. Let our hearts be open. Let our homes be available. Let our resources serve heaven. Let our purple point to Jesus.
Let it be said of us, “The Lord opened her heart. The Lord opened his heart.”
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