Scripture: Acts 16:9-15; Psalms 67 and Rev. 21:22 - 22:5
Theme: Christian Role Models - Lydia
Proposition: In this passage we meet Lydia 1. A Successful Career Woman 2. A Woman with a deep conviction for God 3. A Woman Converted and Committed in Christ
INTRO:
Grace and peace this morning from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of our World!
This morning, if you had to list some of your role models, who would you list? Who are some of the people t hat have provided you with some much needed motivation and inspiration? The dictionary defines a " role model as a person whose behavior, example or success is such that others want to emulate them." People look at how they lived or how they are living and it provides them some extra incentive and encouragement .
It's interesting to look at who some of the role models have been over the years. Each generation seems to pick out its own role models depending on its own particular set of principles and values. As I was growing up our school teachers had us study the lives of individuals like Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Madam Curie, Thomas Edison and Betsy Ross. We were to read their stories and study their lives in hopes that by doing so it would help us to become people of integrity, creativity and intelligence. They were to be examples of just how much we could do for ourselves, our families and our communities.
Today, Luke shares with us the story of St. Lydia, a woman whom he believed was a great role model for the disciples of the Early Church. He shares her story to inspire and motivate us to be the best we can be for our LORD. For a few moments let's look at her life and glean from it some inspiration, motivation and encouragement.
I. Luke shares that Lydia was a successful career woman
In verse 14, we read that Lydia was a native of the city of Thyatira. Thyatira was located about 250 miles east of Philippi in the Roman province of Asia. Thyatira was also where one of the 7 major Churches of the book of Revelation was located. It was a church known for its faith, love, service and perseverance.
Thyatira was also a city known for its trade guilds or trade organizations. Ancient trade guilds operated much like our labor unions do today. They were industry specific, and they involved groups of workers who banded together to advance some common causes. Scholars tell us that “No other city seems to have had so many guilds as Thyatira: coppersmiths, bronze workers, tanners, leather workers, dyers, workers in wool and linen, potters, bakers, and slave dealers” (Biblical Sites in Turkey, by Blake and Edmonds, p.132).
Lydia had roots in the purple dye business. She had roots in the guilds that were able to produce the finest purple colored material in the Roman Empire. At that time the fad was to wear something purple. The color purple was sometimes applied to a woman's cheeks or lips as a cosmetic but by far the most important use of purple was in the clothes of the upper class. Everyone who was anyone wanted something bordered by the color purple, be it a toga, a robe or a head dress.
There were other guides in the Empire that could manufacture purple material but the dye they used didn't hold or last. After a few months of washing and wearing the dye would fade and the material would either look washed out or appear more red or blue in color. The people of Thyatira had perfected a way to dye the material so that the color purple stayed brilliant and lasted longer. No matter how many times you washed the material the purple color would hold fast.
That meant that the purple material from Thyatira was in high demand all around the Roman Empire. And like most things in high demand it also demanded a high price. To wear something purple in the 1st century meant that you were either rich, you had arrived or that you were well on your way up the social ladder. Purple clothing was a status symbol of the rich and powerful.
Church history tells us that Lydia was a purple merchant. She was in the import and export business of selling purple dyed cloth to all those around Asia Minor and Macedonia. From the best that we can glean from her story, Lydia either own her own business or worked for a wealthy merchant who would send her an large amount of product from Thyatira to Philippi where she would oversee its delivery and then market it all over the Macedonian area.
Luke shares that Lydia was quite successful in her business endeavors. Lydia owned her own home and had several servants to care for her. Most likely one of the main reasons she was in Philippi was it was known as a city that was receptive to women owning and running a businesses. Lydia's home town of Thyatira was more known as a "old boys club" town where men not only manufactured the product but they also ran the businesses.
History tells us that quite a number of women were known for their successful businesses in and around Philippi. It has been conjectured that Lydia and her husband had originally moved to Philippi to work together but that at some point he had passed away leaving her a widow. Instead of returning back home to Thyatira, she had decided to make it on her own. Others have conjectured that her husband had passed away while they were living in Thyatira and when she realized that she would have a better chance in Philippi she picked up her family and moved.
While we don't know the how or why she came to live in Philippi, we do know one thing for certain. Lydia possessed the knowledge, the willpower and the ability to successfully run a business in a day when most women couldn't have even imagine such a thing. She was a hard worker who possessed a no quit attitude. She was able to hold her own in a "man's world" and succeed. Lydia is a great example of a Proverbs 31 woman in action.
If this was all that we knew about Lydia she would be a great role model of how to make it against all odds. She would be a great example of how a person if they have enough determination and grit can make it anywhere. But Luke shares with us more about Lydia.
II. Secondly, we see Lydia's deep conviction of faith in God
I believe that Lydia possessed a deep conviction of faith in God. We don't know if she was Jewish by birth or by conversion. All we know for sure is that Luke tells us that on the Sabbath she had gone down to the river to pray with the other Jewish women. Luke tells us that "she worshipped God." I believe we can glean from these verses that Lydia was a lady of great conviction, commitment and courage.
Now, some believe that Lydia was simply a pagan who happened to be walking near the river at that time. I don't think so. As you read Luke's story, it is much more likely that Lydia was devout follower of Judaism. It would have been highly unusual for anyone who did not believe in Jehovah to be going around a Jewish prayer meeting. I believe if Lydia had been a pagan and had been worshipping other gods, I think she would have been busy at work on the Sabbath instead of being at the river joining others in prayer. She would have been fast at work importing and exporting her product making more and more money. She would not have set aside this time period to go down to the water to be with the other Jewish ladies for a prayer meeting.
At first, most Bible scholars thought that the reason these ladies were meeting down at the water was because there was no Jewish synagogue at that time in Philippi for them to attend. The only way a Jewish congregation could by the Law of Moses build a synagogue was to have at least 10 faithful Jewish male disciples. If they did not have 10 faithful male Jewish disciples they could find a place to worship and pray but they could not build a synagogue.
However, recent excavations of the western necropolis of Philippi have unearthed a Jewish burial inscription from the second century AD that mentioned a synagogue in Philippi (Koukouli-Chrysantaki 1998:28–35, pl. 11). So, with that added information we see that it is very likely that the reason they were meeting by the river is that was exactly where the local Jewish synagogue was located. The Jews of that area would have built it there so that before they went to worship and prayer they would have easy access to water for their purification rites and rituals.
So, the scene that Luke paints for us here, is a woman who is deeply consecrated and is confessing her faith in God. She possesses a deep conviction and commitment. She has put aside her business to observe the Sabbath and she has come down to the river to spend time in prayer with other faithful followers of the LORD.
All of this could not have been easy for her or for her career. Number one, she was a woman living in a man's world. Secondly, she was a business woman who had to work very hard to make a living. Thirdly, on the day when most of her competitors were working as hard as they could, she was observing Sabbath and was meeting with others for prayer and worship. I am sure that Lydia lost business because of her faith in God.
The city of Philippi was not a Jewish city nor did it have a large Jewish population. The best estimates are that 40% of the city were Roman immigrants with the rest of the population being Greek or native Macedonians. Philippi was a city in which the worship of Caesar was highly promoted and expected. Caesar was to be seen as the god above all other gods. Because of ancient history, the father of Alexander the Great, Philip was also worshiped and adored by a great number of people. Alongside of them, the city had temples dedicated to the worship of Isis, Apollo and other gods.
We see here then that Lydia possessed a deep conviction and faith. I am sure she was quite the sight coming down to the water dressed in her purple outfits. As a dealer of purple it would have been quite natural for her to wear something of that color. She would have been a walking advertisement for her product and business. She would have stood out and so each Sabbath as she walks through the city and goes to the local synagogue for prayer and worship others would have seen her witness. They would have known that Lydia lived by a set of convictions and commitments.
It would be easy here to get on a soap box and talk about how many good people today allow their business and their money dealing to keep them away from times of prayer and worship. It is amazing how many people religiously believe that they must either work on the Lord's Day or believe that they must open their business on the Lord's Day in order to survive. And yet, giant corporations like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A are proof that you can make millions in profit and still obey a day of Sabbath worship.
However, we know that each person must spend time with the LORD to decide how they are to live out their faith. I personally believe however, that Lydia here shows us the right way. The Lord's Day is a day that we should dedicate to worship, prayer and rest. It is a day in which we are to give to the LORD. It is a day in which we remind ourselves that God is in control of our world. Jesus tells us in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
III. Finally, we see Lydia's conversion and commitment
Luke tells us in verse 13 that Paul and his missionary team were led by the Holy Spirit to walk down to the city gate near the Krenides River.1 This was where a group of Jews would met each Sabbath for a time of prayer, worship and study. After the service Paul and his team stayed around for a time of fellowship. They wanted to connect with the Jewish believers living around Philippi. This was all a part of Paul's missionary strategy. He would start by sharing a time of worship and prayer with the local Jewish congregation. Then after the service, he would preach to those who would listen, the mission and message of Jesus. Then he would go out to the Gentiles at large and share the Good News of Jesus.
We see in verse 14 that Paul began to preach to the women that were standing around after the service. Lydia was a part of that group of women. She begins to soak in every word that Paul is sharing. As she focuses in on what Paul has to say, we see that the Holy Spirit is busy at work in her heart and life. There is this beautiful picture of human initiative and diving quickening taking place. Paul is doing all of talking but we know that the Holy Spirit at work. The Holy Spirit is testifying to the truth of Paul's words along with convicting Lydia that she needs to surrender her heart and life to Jesus.
If you close your eyes for a moment, you can picture Lydia sitting there listening to the Apostle Paul. You can hear the sound of the water as it flows in the nearby river. However, Lydia is not interested in listening to the water, instead, she has focused all of her attention on what Paul is sharing. She tunes everything out to hear what he is saying about Jesus. Nothing is more important right now than her understanding what Paul is sharing about Jesus and salvation.
We can hear Paul as he begins to preach how Jesus came from Heaven as the Son of God. He shares story after story about Jesus healing people, casting out demons and bringing deliverance to people's lives. He shares how Jesus preached about salvation, repentance and faith. Paul shares how Jesus taught that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no man could come to the Father except through Him.
We can hear Paul as the continues to share how Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. How that three days later Jesus rose from the dead and is now at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for everyone. We can hear Paul as he shares about how a person can be born again, baptized and filled with God's Holy Spirit whether they are Jewish or Gentile. Jesus has died so that all men, women, boys and girls can be redeemed, renewed and restored.
The more Lydia hears about Jesus, the more she is convinced that Jesus truly is the Messiah. That Jesus is the Savior of the world. She does not get upset by this new message she hears from Paul. She doesn't view what Paul is sharing to be challenging her Jewish faith, but immediately she recognizes that it is the fulfillment of all her Jewish hopes. With each word, the Holy Spirit witnesses to her to let her know that everything Paul is talking about is the truth. There is this wonderful spiritual revelation taking place in Lydia's heart. When Paul is finished speaking and gives the invitation, Lydia is ready to surrender her life to Jesus. She is ready to turn over all that she is to Jesus. She wants to publicly proclaim that Jesus is now her Savior and LORD.
As a side note it is interesting that in all of this story there is no overwhelming presence of a great miracle or sign. Lydia conversion is not as a result of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit or a healing miracle. Luke just tells us that when she heard Paul's teaching, she was convicted by the Holy Spirit and then was obedient in surrendering her life to Jesus.
All of this lets us know that in order to be saved all we need to do is to hear the Word of God and believe the message of Jesus that it shares. All we need to do is to repent and confess Christ as our Savior and LORD, be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and be filled with His Holy Spirit. Afterwards, we simply live a life of obedience to the leadings of His Holy Spirit as He teaches us and guides us. We simply do our best to grow in grace, mercy and love. We allow our LORD to redeem us, renew us and restore us into the image of Jesus.
Lydia then becomes the first European Christian convert. All of us here this morning that have European roots can thank her for helping bring the Gospel of Jesus to our ancestors. Her house becomes Paul's first missionary headquarters for his work in Macedonia. Led by God's Holy Spirit the Church of Jesus Christ is continually the move sharing the message of redemption and sanctification.
Lydia desired to make her conversion public through the sacrament of water baptism. She had everyone gather around to see her being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She wanted everyone to know that she was becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. But as we see, Lydia was not the only one that came to Christ that day. She goes back to her home and brings her whole household for them to hear the message of Jesus, be converted and baptized. She brings all of her family, her servants and their families. She is passionate about having everyone who lives under her roof know and experience Jesus as their Savior and LORD. She wanted everyone of them to experience what it meant to be free of sin and filled with God's Spirit.
Lydia did not believe in a silent witness. Instead, she begins to take on the work of a missionary/evangelist. Like the woman at the well, she goes back into her community and begins to share the message that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. She begins to call her friends and associates to tell them how Jesus can give them a whole new life. She begins to share how Jesus has transformed her and baptized her with His Holy Spirit.
After the baptism, Lydia invites Paul and his missionary team (Silas, Timothy, Luke) to come and stay at her house. At first, we see that the Apostle was a little hesitant. Luke doesn't share with us why he was hesitant, but he does share that Lydia would not take no for an answer. If Paul believed that she had been born again, that she was now a redeemed and Spirit-filled person then he would take her up on her hospitable offer.
I love the way she talks to Paul. It's straightforward - "If you judge me to be faithful to the LORD, come into my house and stay there." I think we see here a little more of Lydia's personality . We see that the same gifts that made her an excellent sales person allowed her to persuade Paul and his team to make her home their headquarters. We see her using the gifts that God had given her to be a good business woman to be a good hostess and evangelist.
From that point on, Lydia had an "open house" policy for Paul and for fellow Christians. Following Lydia's conversion, Paul's team ran into some serious trouble. After casting out a demon that was possessing a local slave girl, Paul and Silas were arrested. They were charge with preaching a pagan doctrine and causing a riot. The slave girl had a reputation of being able to tell the future and her owners had made a good living selling her services. Now that she no longer possessed, her fortune telling abilities were gone and her owners were highly upset. She was no longer marketable and they no longer had a thriving business. So, they started the riot and blamed the whole thing on Paul and Silas.
As a result both Paul and Silas were dragged into the city square where their clothes were torn off of them and they were severely beaten with wooden rods. Thinking them to be trouble makers they were then thrown into the inner prison. Once inside, they had their feet, hands and perhaps even their necks put into wooden stocks to further cause pain and injury.
Luke shares that Paul and Silas took it all in stride. They rejoiced that they had been found worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Around midnight while they were singing God's praises, the LORD miraculously frees them and they in turn lead the jailer and his family to Jesus. What looked liked the end of Paul's Macedonian Call became just another chapter of how the Holy Spirit was using them in every situation possible to share the Good News.
The next morning Paul informs the local officials that he is a Roman citizen and what they have done to him is against Roman law. No Roman citizen could be treated in the manner in which they have treated him. In fear of some kind of reprisal, Paul and Silas are quickly released from prison and asked to politely leave the area. The officials don't want anyone to know that they have illegally arrested and beaten a Roman citizen. If the right people had heard this news it would be the magistrates that would be beaten and put into the stocks.
Immediately, Paul and Silas go to Lydia's house to rest and recuperate. They had been severely beaten by rods and their clothes torn to pieces. Their backs had been cut to threads by the rods as they were beaten over and over again. No doubt both men could also use some new clothes and some much needed rest. Lydia was eager to provide both. It would have been interesting to see Paul and Silas as they prepared to continue their mission tour in the next few days. I am sure that Lydia provided them a new wardrobe made of some of that purple cloth. They may have left the prison in rags but they would leave Philippi dressed like royalty.
It's also worthy to note the closing words of verse 40. When Paul started preaching at the river his audience was made up of women. Now, in just a few days through the miracle that happen at the prison and through the influence of Lydia we see that Paul is encouraging not only the women of faith but the brothers of faith as well. Lydia had not wasted any time at all in sharing the message of Jesus. She had used the same gifts that helped her build a prosper career to begin the build the Church of Jesus.
That is the way it always is when we come to Jesus. The Lord has given all of us some very special gifts and talents. It is through those gifts and talents that we are able to make a living for ourselves and for our families. If we surrender those same gifts and talents to the Holy Spirit, we can also co-partner with Him to grow His Church. The Holy Spirit will empower those same gifts to do even more in our hearts and lives.
Lydia's home becomes a place of Christian fellowship. Many believe that her home became the first Christian Church in Europe. Think about that for just a moment. How would you like to know that your house was the first house that God anointed to be used as a place of prayer and worship? How would you like to know that it was in your living room that the first European Christians found Jesus and were baptized by the Holy Spirit.
When Paul later wrote his letter to the Christians at Philippi we know that Lydia was included in its number of saints. Lydia and her household were among those whom Paul numbered as co-laborers in the LORD.
Church tradition tells us that Lydia continued in her business career. She continued to import and export purple material. Tradition also tells us that she was instrumental in not only helping the Church to grow in Philippi but was also instrumental in helping the Church begin a new work in her home town of Thyatira. She used her contacts and her gifts to help the Gospel of Jesus spread in Philippi, Thyatira and everywhere else that Paul and his team would go. Lydia became a benefactor for Paul and his missionary team.
This morning, Luke has shared with us a story of a woman who could be all of our role model.
+Lydia was a woman who excelled in her career.
Living in a man's world she was one of those women who knew how to break the glass ceiling. She knew how to not only survive but thrive.
+She was also a woman who lived by her convictions and faith. Even in a pagan land, she practice her faith.
+And when she heard the message of Jesus she was open to receive and be transformed by Jesus. Her house became the headquarters for Paul's missionary work in Macedonia.
It is no wonder that later on the Early Church would see her as St. Lydia. It is no wonder that over the years her life has been celebrated in the life of the Church. Throughout Church History, Lydia has been seen as a woman whose life teaches us:
1) The importance of listening to the Word of God with an open and obedient heart
2) The importance of the sacrament of Christian baptism
3) The importance of evangelism
4) The importance of Christian service, generosity and hospitality
This morning, there are a lot of individuals that we may want to look up to as our role models. I believe one of the best ones any of us could find is here in the life of St. Lydia.
This morning, as our LORD invites us to His Table let us come with open and obedient hearts.
You are invited this morning to the LORD's Table, not because you must but because you may, not because you are strong, but because you are weak.
Come, not because any goodness of your own gives you a right to come, but because you need mercy and help.
Come, because you love the Lord a little and would like to love him more.
Come, because he loved you and gave himself for you.
Come and meet the risen Christ, for we are his Body.
Let us close by singing - Make Me A Servant (by Kelly Willard)
1 Most scholars believe that Lydia's baptism took place at the Krenides River while others point to the Gaggitis River.
