Sunday Evening September 6, 2015 sermon at the Heritage Addition church of Christ located in Booneville, AR

1. An Open Heart
Heritage Addition church of Christ
by Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, Sept. 6, 2015
Acts 16:12-15

2. Heb 10:25 NKJV not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

3. Act 16:12-15 NKJV and from there to Philippi, which is the
foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we
were staying in that city for some days. (13) And on the
Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where
prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to
the women who met there. (14) Now a certain woman named
Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of
Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to
heed the things spoken by Paul. (15) And when she and her
household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have
judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and
stay." So she persuaded us.

4. Down By the River to Prayer
A. Paul, Silas, Timothy, and at least Luke came to Philippi.
1. Named after Philip the Macedon, father of
Alexander.
2. Site of decisive battle between Mark Antony and
Octavius (Augustus Caesar).
3. Foremost City could mean first city of this part of
Macedonia.
4. Colony of Rome.
B. No Synagogue.
1. Jewish synagogue required 10 adult males.
2. Women came to the river to pray (worship).
3. No Crowd was too small, even if it contained only
women; Gal 3:26-29

5. Down By the River to Prayer
C. Lydia from Thyatira.
1. Seller of Purple
2. Possibly wealthy.
3. She worshipped God; may have been a proselyte. Lydia
not a Hebrew name.
4. She heard Paul and the others teaching.
D. We must worship God
1. To the Jew, certain things had to be performed at
Temple.
2. Synagogue grew out of need to worship during
Babylonian and Persian captivity
3. Lydia still worshipped God even without a Synagogue.
4. We can worship God anywhere;

6. Down By the River to Prayer
Joh 4:20-24 NKJV Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,
and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one
ought to worship." (21) Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe
Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this
mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. (22) You
worship what you do not know; we know what we worship,
for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and
now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in
spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
(24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship
in spirit and truth."

7. God Opens Doors
A. The Lord Opened Lydia's Heart
1. Was this done through direct illumination?
2. Why would God choose to open some peoples heart
and not others?
3. That would violate God's love for all; John 3:16-17.
4. God wants all to be saved; 2Peters 3:9
5. Therefore verse can not mean God singled out Lydia
over others.

8. God Opens Doors
B. How did God open her heart?
1. Direct illumination, not possible. (Even Saul told where
to go).
2. Original Greek means "open thoroughly." (Lock &
Dam).
3. Allowed her to hear the words preached unto her.
4. Not the words of Paul or man.

9. God Opens Doors
C. Preaching Christ shines light on hearts.
1. 2Co 4:5-6 NKJV For we do not preach ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants
for Jesus' sake. (6) For it is the God who commanded
light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2. The power is in the Gospel; Rom 1:16.
3. An Open Heart plus the Gospel leads to Salvation; Rom
6:17 NKJV But God be thanked that though you were
slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine to which you were delivered.

10. Pay Attention
A. Sometimes we don't pay attention
1. T – Ball
B. Lydia Attended to the things spoken by Paul.
1. Greek - to take heed, to pay attention.
2. Because of her open heart she was going to
respond to God's word.
3. Still works today.
C. He that hath ears to hear let him hear; Matt 11:15;
13:19; Mk. 4:9; 4:23; 7:16; Lk. 14:35; Rev. 2:7; 2:11;
2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22; 13:9.
1. In essence pay attention.
2. Faith comes from hearing God's Word;

11. Pay Attention
Rom 10:13-17 NKJV For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE
NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." (14) How
then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not
heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And
how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
"HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO
PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD
TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" (16) But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS
BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" (17) So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

12. Hard Hearts
A. Why do people not Obey the Gospel?
1. Heb 4:6-7 NKJV Since therefore it remains that some must
enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not
enter because of disobedience, (7) again He designates a
certain day, saying in David, "TODAY," after such a long
time, as it has been said: "TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR
HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."
2. Act 28:27 NKJV FOR THE HEARTS OF THIS PEOPLE
HAVE GROWN DULL. THEIR EARS ARE HARD OF
HEARING, AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED,
LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, LEST THEY SHOULD
UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEARTS AND TURN,
SO THAT I SHOULD HEAL THEM." '

13. Hard Hearts
B. Paul preached Jesus and baptism
1. Verse 15; when see she was baptized.
2. Same with Ethiopian Eunuch
3. Act 2:37-38
C. Does whole household justify infant or child baptism.
1. God's word is consistent and does not contradict.
2. Cornelius and house spoke in tongues and magnified
God (no Babies).; Acts 10:46.
3. Stephanas and his house devoted themselves to the
ministry of the saints; 1 Co. 16:15 (no infants or small
children).
4. Philippian Jailor; rejoiced and believed; Acts 16:34.
D. I hope your hearts are open today.